JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Psalm 55:16 and 17.

As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.

God hears the prayers of His people, whether we express them out loud or under our breath. He listens to every word that comes from the heart that is longing after Him. Attentiveness is one way of showing that we care for someone else, because we are eager to hear what they have to say and what is important to them.

The Bible tells us that God is attentive to the prayers of the righteous. He cares for us, and that is why we can trust Him with the burdens of our heart.

The listening ears of God reveal 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 29:4.

The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.

The voice of the LORD still speaks today, through His creation, through the life and ministry of Jesus, and through the Bible. God communicates the greatness of His character and the greatness of His love for us. The voice of the Holy Spirit guides the believer in the footsteps of Jesus.

The voice of the LORD is also an inviting voice, calling us into relationship with Him. Jesus often said, “Follow me” and “Come to me.” In John 10:27, He said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

The voice of the Lord 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 Isaiah 66:2.

The LORD declares, “These are the ones I look on with favor; those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”

One definition of favor is “Demonstrated Delight.”  God delights in humility, and He honors us with His favor when we acknowledge Him with a humble heart.

Having the favor of God is like having God’s face directed toward us expressing His delight with a smile. His ears are in tune with our voice, His voice speaks encouragement and wisdom to our heart. His heartbeat is for us to be with Him. The way to be found in God’s favor is to respond to God’s love with a heart of faith and humility.

Second Corinthians 6:2 says “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you”. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. That word “Now” indicates the opportunity that we have to be in a relationship with God today.

The favor 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 13:7.

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

This word of instruction is in the context of faithful leadership. When pastors and overseers are faithful to the Lord, we can be inspired by their godly example.

We can find encouragement in their sermons, as they explain how to live out the words of God in the Bible.

We can find encouragement in their way of life. The quality of their lives will move us to be more like Jesus. Their example of service will motivate us to find our place in God’s plan.

Faithful Leaders in the Church reveal the goodness of God and are reasons 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 Second Thessalonians 1:3.

The Apostle Paul wrote this word of encouragement to the church there:

“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.”

God did not intend for us to travel the journey of the Christian faith alone. We are made for relationship. Thankfully, God has provided a support system for us to grow in our walk with God. It’s called the Church. It is not made of perfect people, but it does have people who are learning to know God better and are walking in His love.

The church is designed by God to be a household of faith, where we treat each other as members of one family, dearly loved by God. When the church is functioning on a foundation of faith and love, God’s light is shining brightly, and we are blessed with encouragement.

Faithful Brothers and Sisters in Christ reveal the Goodness of God and are reasons 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 Acts 3:19.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

The Gospel brings refreshment to our soul when we humbly receive God’s gift of grace. Jesus is ready to embrace us with open arms when we acknowledge our need for Him to save us from our sins.

God does not despise us when we honestly admit our moral failures. Instead, He helps us to break free from our sins by forgiving us and showing the way forward. He breaks our darkness with His light. He turns our ashes into beauty. He turns our turmoil into peace. He brings rest to our soul with His saving grace.

Refreshment from the Lord 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 1, verses 8 and 9.

About the Son, God says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

What a blessing to have the king of heaven reigning as the king of our heart! He establishes His righteousness in us and uproots wickedness. He brings us into the kingdom of God where there is joy and fellowship. He gives us a place of service, where we can honor His name by helping people in their time of need. The throne of God is also secure for the child of God. His kingdom will never end. Hebrews 12:28 says, “Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

The Throne 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 Psalm 50, verse 23.

The LORD says this: “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”

In Second Chronicles chapter 29. King Hezekiah said to the people, “You have now dedicated yourselves to the LORD”. Then he had the assembly bring “sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.”

God’s salvation is a precious gift, made available by the testimony of Jesus. Today, we have opportunities to express our thanks to God with a generous response. It might be expressed in supporting the work of the local church or a missionary overseas. It might be expressed in sharing our resources with a neighbor in need. Sometimes, giving in the name of Jesus involves personal sacrifice. God notices, and is honored by our offerings that flow out of a grateful heart that is dedicated to Him.

The Salvation 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 Matthew 5:1.

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.”

What followed was the Sermon on the Mount which included a list of blessings pronounced for various kinds of people—-the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who crave righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those persecuted because of righteousness.

This teaching has impact for anyone who seeks God’s blessing for our lives. We don’t have to speculate on the attitudes and actions that please God. We have the teachings of Jesus in the Bible to show us the way forward. They are light for our pathway and have value for revealing God’s will to us. Because of the teachings of Jesus, we have direction for living a life that is blessed by God.

The teachings of Jesus reveal the goodness of God and are reasons 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 16:18.

Jesus said, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Jesus Christ built the church on the firm foundation of His identity as the Son of the Living God. He is the Head of the Church. He loves the church, and proved that love by dying for the church. When we go to church, we are not just going into a building. We are going into a house of worship to celebrate the Lord with God’s people.

Jesus has a mission for the church. He said in Matthew 28:19, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” That ministry continues to reach lives for the Gospel to this very day.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com