JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Isaiah 26:3.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

The peace that God provides for His people goes beyond human understanding. It’s the kind of peace that shines brightly in times of turmoil. It’s the kind of peace that grows out of a trusting relationship with Jesus Christ.

When our thoughts are focused on Jesus, we can live with the calmness that our lives are secure in His grace. Anxious times call for a strong and loving God who cares about us and has a good plan for our lives.

Philippians 4:8 gives us this focus point for our thoughts: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” This is how we can replace anxiety with peace.

The peace of God reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Jesus would often state his identity, starting with the words, “I am.” What was true of the identity of Jesus then is true of His identity now.

The promises Jesus made in the past will be fulfilled in the future.

The commands of Jesus that were given then are relevant today.

The love that Jesus demonstrated at the cross is reaching out to the world today to save those who are lost in sin.

In Hebrews 13:5, God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So today, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”

The unchanging nature of Jesus reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in First John 5, verses 4 and 5.

“Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Victory is ours through faith in Jesus Christ. He conquered the grave so that we might overcome the world. The system of the world tries to lure us into the trappings of pride, greed, and lust. But the power of God is at work in the lives of believers to reject that way of life and to embrace God’s purposes for our lives.

Those purposes include the way of love for God and love for people. Those purposes include worship for God, and encouragement for people.

Those purposes include trusting God and living out our faith with integrity. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, we live with a faith that endures through time and overcomes the world.

Victory in Jesus reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Psalm 94:18 and 19.

When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

When we feel overwhelmed by challenges or conflicts that lead to anxiety, there is a place to turn with our needs–the throne of grace. God may not take us out of our challenging circumstances, but He is able to support us in our time of need. His wisdom, compassion, and peace are available to guide us and relieve our anxiety. He truly cares for us.

Times of adversity remind us that we need God’s hand to support us. Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

God’s support reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in First Peter 1:18 to 20.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”

Even before sin entered the human race, God was putting a plan of redemption in place to rescue us from our desperate condition. The blood of Christ would be the payment needed to save us from sin. The good news is that Jesus did not remain in the grave following His crucifixion. He rose from the dead three days later. Verse 21 says, “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

God’s provision to save us reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Luke 7:47 and 48.

Jesus was talking to a Pharisee named Simon about a woman who put oil on his head and perfume on his feet.

“Her many sins have been forgiven-as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little. Jesus then said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

This exchange is encouraging for anyone who feels like they have blown it so many times that they feel like they are beyond redemption. Jesus assures us that forgiveness is available for anyone who calls on His name. It is quite common for the person who has been to the lowest places of depravity to rise to new levels of appreciation for the many sins that Jesus has forgiven. So, wherever we are on life’s journey, this story in the Bible reveals that we need Jesus. We need His grace. We need His forgiveness. We need His mercy. And as we are set free from guilt by faith in His name, we are filled with love and are moved to express our love for the Savior who died for us and rose again.

Forgiveness reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Psalm 46, verse 1.

God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble.

His grace is like a strong shelter in the midst of the storm. Jesus never promised an easy road on the journey of faith. In fact, He told His followers we would have trouble. But He also promised us His presence in the midst of trouble.

That perspective changes how we view times of trouble. The writer of Psalm 46 could view life through eyes of faith rather than fear. In light of God’s help, he concluded, “Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

In the midst of earth-shaking events, we can live with confidence that God is still on the throne. His helping hand is our source of strength.

The ever-present help of God in trouble reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Romans 3:23 and 24.

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

God’s grace has the power to change us from a sinner to a saint. The Bible tells us that righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. So, God covers the sins of the believer with the righteousness of Christ. We cannot earn God’s grace with human merit or buy God’s grace with any amount of money. Grace is a gift to be received by faith. When we believe the Gospel and follow Jesus wholeheartedly, we are set free from sin and experience the peace of God’s forgiveness.

Grace reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Matthew 5:43 to 45.

Jesus taught, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecuted you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Elsewhere, Jesus says that the Most High is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. It takes an extraordinary love to pray for our enemies and do good to them. But when we walk with Jesus, this way of love becomes possible. Jesus practiced what He preached. From the cross, He prayed about His persecutors, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ We had a hand in His death on the cross. We were the reason that He gave His life. God’s justice demanded the shedding of blood for our sins, and God’s love for us sent Jesus to die in our place.

Romans 5:8 says that “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God’s love for enemies reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Psalm 145, verse 13.

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.”

Political speeches and sales pitches will offer us many lofty promises, but those promises don’t always deliver according to plan. God’s Word, however, is dependable. We can trust the promises of God to be fulfilled according to His plan in His perfect timing. That is because God is true to His word. He has the power and integrity to fulfill what He says He will do. The fulfillment of prophecies in the Bible and the testimony of Jesus give us sufficient reasons to believe God’s promises.

The trustworthiness of God reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com