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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Psalm 46:10.

God’s Word speaks to us with this counsel- “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

The key to a confident faith is time spent with Jesus. Worship is a way of life that includes time alone with God-away from the noise of the day. We have many gadgets that can speak into our lives, and some of the content in our podcasts, broadcasts, and telecasts can be quite edifying. But there are no substitutes for intimate moments with God where we meditate on His Word and seek His face.

Luke 5:16 tells us that Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Finding a specific solitary place to be with God on a regular basis is an extraordinary step to shutting out distractions so that we can fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to be still and know the LORD in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Psalm 33:2 to 4.

“Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.”

Worship is a way of life that includes music. With a joyful heart, we can celebrate with shouts of joy for God’s grace and goodness. With a troubled heart, we can pour out our heart to God with words of lament and petition. This too can be a meaningful time of worship as we seek God in the midst of our trials. Music is given to us as a creative expression to glorify God.

Whether we sing from the hymnbook or the newest song on the radio, we have the opportunity to express our love for God in a way that honors His name and edifies our soul.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to use music as an instrument for worship in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6q67u0m17BBH3kDjzHW7BI?si=5459f5091fcf4d3d

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is First Peter 2:9.

But you are a chosen people-a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

When God transforms our heart to trust in Jesus, we live with the assurance that we belong to Him. He has given us a testimony of praise that reveals God’s mercy that was shown to us.

The goodness of His grace is the reason for our testimony. That is why He deserves the credit for the good ways that we are changed by the Gospel. The writer of Psalm 66:16 says, “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to declare praise for God for His mercy and acceptance in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is following the Golden Rule.

These are the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

How do we want to be treated by others? This is a good question to ask ourselves when considering how to treat others. This will keep us from using careless words from a self-righteous attitude. This framework will train us to be more considerate about the impact of our actions on others. How do we want to be treated by others? Go and do likewise.

The Golden Rule is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/54JZUaA27pcNqrRixbynnY?si=2f0ac067a3d34040

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Generosity.

This is the quality of being kind and unselfish with our resources, and is moved by a grateful heart toward a gracious God.

Proverbs 22:9 tells us that “the generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.”

Generosity is not measured in the amount of money or resources that we give, but the condition of our heart. There was a poor widow that put a small amount of money in an offering plate, but Jesus noticed what she gave, and commended her offering from a generous heart.

The Apostle Paul told a young pastor in First Timothy 6:18 to command those who are rich in this present world “to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

Where generosity flows, people’s needs are met and the hungry are fed. The giver and receiver are both refreshed in the process.

Generosity is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Titus 2:11 to 13.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

The grace of God not only saves us from our sins, but is also an incentive for holy living.  In gratitude for what Jesus did for us at the cross, we desire to live for Him with whole-hearted devotion as we anticipate the day when we see Him face to face. His love is the treasure of our heart that draws us closer to Jesus day-by-day.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to live under the influence of God’s grace in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com