JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Close.

One definition of close is to be very near to someone. When someone says they are close to someone, it signifies a relationship that is harmonious and peaceful. Lines of communication are open. There is comfort, affection, and trust found in a close relationship.

God’s heart is close to His followers. Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd. He cares for His flock. Isaiah 40, verse 11 says, “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”

We can find fulfillment in a close relationship with God by paying close attention to His voice and responding to His grace. Through the Bible, the cross, and the empty grave, His message consistently speaks of His love for us as He invites us to taste and see that He is good.

Discover how the word “Close” can have an impact on your life in the Year of God’s Word.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the LORD says in Revelation 3:19.

“Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”

God works through discipline to build wholly devoted disciples of Jesus. Hebrews 12:10 says, “God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Discipline does not seem pleasant when we are enduring hardship, but it brings out fruitful results if we are teachable through the process. So, when we are enduring a difficult trial, it is good to be sensitive to God’s voice. What is He saying to me through this experience? How does He want me to grow?

Revelation 3:19-That’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Sufficient.

The meaning of sufficient is “enough, adequate.”

In the Bible, God’s grace is described as sufficient. When the Apostle Paul suffered a thorn in his flesh, Jesus said to him in Second Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

God works through the circumstances of our lives, even the painful circumstances, to show us the sufficiency of His grace.

The thorns in our lives have value to keep us or make us humble so that we realize that our competence to do anything productive depends on the grace of God. The lesson of faith that Paul learned from his thorn was this: “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

Discover how the word “Sufficient” can have an impact on your life in the Year of God’s Word.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

This week’s theme is centered on bringing our praise and worship. The lineup is filled with whole-hearted songs, deciding to have that posture and response before the Lord. Listen for lots of calls to worship from the Psalms, especially Psalm 150:6 (“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”) There are also songs that remind us that God inhabits the praises of His people and that encourage us to enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise!

Kristi Leigh

Kristi@WJTL.com

Song Title	Artist	Year
6AM
Praise Him!	Pat Barrett & Katie Torwalt	2023
Simple Song	Elle Limebear	2025
Silence	JWLKRS	2024
Made To Worship	Aodh√°n King	2024
The First Hymn	Chris Tomlin & Ben Fielding	2025
Forever YHWH (ft. Tiffany Hudson)	Elevation Worship	2022
Sing His Praise Again (Oh My Soul) [Live]	Bethel Music & Jenn Johnson	2020
Praise The Lord (Brighter The Morning)	Sean Curran	2021
All Praise (Sing Praise)	Matt Redman	2020
Reason To Praise (feat. Cory Asbury & Naomi Raine)	Bethel Music	2021
Cant Help But Worship (ft. Naomi Raine)	Danny Gokey	2024
Praise Leads the Way (Live)	Here Be Lions	2021
7AM
Praise Is the Highway (Live)	Bethel Music & Brian Johnson	2019
Let Everything (Praise the Lord)	Pat Barrett	2019
Owe You Praise (ft. Chandler Moore)	Elevation Worship	2024
Lilys Song (Praise the Lord)	Kristene DiMarco	2015
High Praise (feat. Ryan Ofei & Mariah Adigun)	Tribl & Maverick City Music	2021
Thats Who I Praise	Brandon Lake	2024
Give Him Praise (Live)	Lifepoint Worship	2025
All Praises (Live)	North Point Worship	2022
The Praise Is Yours (Live)	Matt Redman	2022
Praise Will Be My Song	Bryan & Katie Torwalt	2016
8AM
Praise Upon Praise	Pat Barrett	2021
Psalm 42 (Loudest Praise)	Shane & Shane	2021
With Everything I Am (Live)	7 Hills Worship	2023
I Choose To Worship	Rend Collective	2020
Stand In Awe (ft. Paul & Hannah McClure)	Bethel Music	2022
Endless Praise	Charity Gayle	2021
Endless Alleluia (Live)	Bethel Music & Cory Asbury	2019
Psalm 150 (Praise The Lord)	Matt Boswell & Matt Papa	2021
Praises (Be Lifted Up)	Bethel Music & Josh Baldwin	2016
Praise	Elevation Worship	2023
Praise God (Doxology) [Live]	Thrive Worship	2022
9AM
Praise Opens Prison Doors (Live)	CAIN	2023
Praise Is a Weapon (Reload)	Mark & Sarah Tillman & Neon Feather	2021
Everything That Has Breath (Praise) [Live]	Jesus Culture & Bryan & Katie Torwalt	2023
I Will Praise (feat. Lindy Cofer) [Live]	Circuit Rider Music	2021
Praise You Anywhere	Brandon Lake	2023
Praise Your Name (feat. Desi Raines)	North Point Worship	2020
Praise Before My Breakthrough	Bryan & Katie Torwalt	2018
Praise Your Name (Live)	Corey Voss & Madison Street Worship	2019
Awe + Wonder (Live)	The Belonging Co	2019
We Praise You (feat. Brandon Lake) [Live]	Matt Redman	2020
Heart of Worship / He Shall Reign (Live)	Matt Redman	2024
Praise to the Lord (Joyful, Joyful) [Acoustic]	Shane & Shane	2020
The King Is In The Room	Phil Wickham	2025

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the LORD says in Ezekiel 36:26 and 27.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

This was a statement that God made about the Israelites, which reveals how they have a future hope. That is the same kind of hope that we have for a changed heart by the Gospel of Jesus.

God’s love breaks down our resistance to His authority over us. We come to recognize that God is good, and His plan for our lives is good. His grace has the power to move us to live with the desire to follow the Jesus way. That’s the way of love, truth, compassion, and forgiveness.

Ezekiel 36:26 and 27-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Strong.

The meaning of strong is “powerful, having or using great force or control.”

Strong is one word used to describe God. When we trust in Him, He becomes the stronghold of our lives. He becomes our Mighty God, our strong Advocate, and worthy Savior. Satan is a real enemy who seeks to destroy us.

First John 4:4 says, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” That is the key to being an overcomer against the forces of evil-knowing Jesus as the source of our strength.

Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Discover how the word “Strong” can have an impact on your life in the Year of God’s Word.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the Lord says in Mark 5:19.

Jesus said this to a man who had been possessed by demons, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

After this, the man went away and began to tell how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

If Jesus has transformed your life, you have a testimony of His amazing grace to share with others. Psalm 66:16 says, “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.”

Mark 5:19-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Awe.

This is where reverence for God’s holiness and wonder for God’s love meet. We are aware that we are in the presence of someone greater than ourselves. We are humbled and amazed in the presence of God. When we stand in awe of God, our hearts are moved to praise.

An expression of awe is found in Exodus 15:11, just after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea safely on dry ground and delivered them from the hand of the Egyptians. “Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you-majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”

In Luke chapter 5, when Jesus performed miracles, “everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe, and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.”

Discover how the word “Awe” can have an impact on your life in the Year of God’s Word.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the LORD says in Genesis 4:6 and 7.

“Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain was angry after God did not look with favor on his offering. God was reasoning with Cain to turn away from sinful temptation. This is a good message for us to heed when our mind and heart take us to dark places spiritually. Stop. Turn around. Do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Let the voice of the Lord be our guiding influence.

The Gospel is our key to freedom. Romans 8:1 tells us that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Where the Spirit of God reigns over us, sin and death lose control. The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Genesis 4:6 and 7-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Genuine.

The meaning of genuine is something that is authentic.

A person with a genuine faith is not perfect, but they are sincere about living out their faith in a way that honors God. They are motivated by God’s love to live for His glory.

One of life’s realities that bring genuine faith to light is a trial-some kind of hardship that comes into our life. It could be sickness, grief, or some kind of persecution. God is at work in times of testing.

Peter was addressing believers experiencing hardship, and he encouraged them with these words on First Peter 1:6 through 8.

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Discover how the word “Genuine” can have an impact on your life in the Year of God’s Word.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com