JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the value of devoted prayer.

Colossians 4:2 instructs us with these words: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

Here we see two elements of devoted prayer. The first is to be watchful. God calls us to a vigilant faith. This means, being in tune with people’s circumstances, being aware of their needs, and being proactive in prayer for them.

The second element is thankfulness. This means that we remember God’s blessings that have been poured out on our lives, and then respond with a heart of gratitude.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “If God has said much about prayer, it is because He knows how desperately we need it….The motto for this year must be….”Continue in prayer.”

The value of devoted prayer is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Micah 7:18.

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever, but delight to show mercy.”

At a conference room in Britain, various experts were discussing Christianity’s unique contribution among the world religions. They were debating this question for some time until C.S. Lewis entered the room. When he found out the subject of debate, he said in one simple phrase, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.”

Our sin makes us guilty in the eyes of God. But the blood of Jesus has the power to make us clean. That is the power of the Gospel to set us free from the penalty of our sin so that we can experience the joy of God’s salvation. Grace cannot be earned or purchased by us, but it can be received by faith in Jesus Christ and celebrated forever.

Pardon for sin is a reason to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the humility of a child.

In Matthew 18:4, Jesus pointed to a little child to make a point about greatness in the kingdom of God.

The disciples asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to Him, and placed the child among them. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Taking on the humility of a child will have an impact on how we pray to God. We will be honest and transparent. We will recognize God as greater than ourselves and rely on His love daily. We will look to Him to provide for us. Like a child with their earthly father, we can simply go to our Heavenly Father and call him Daddy.

The Humility of a Child is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Psalm 147, verses 1 and 2.

“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.”

This Psalm tells us that God is greatly exalted. He reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.

According to Colossians 1:6, the Gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world. This good news tells a love story of a God who has come to redeem people with sacrificial love. That was what the cross of Jesus was all about. Today, we can live with joy in the Lord’s love and with hope in God’s power to save us for eternal life in His holy presence. This Gospel is an open invitation for the people all over the world to come to Jesus and celebrate Him around the throne in heaven.

The awesomeness of God is a reason to praise Him in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at Paul the Apostle’s urgent plea for prayer.

In Romans 15:30, he said, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”

The Apostle Paul lived with the realization that he needed the prayers of God’s people, and he asked for prayer support. One of the ways we can share in the struggles of a missionary or pastor is to pray for them. What are their struggles? What are their obstacles? What kind of opposition are they facing? We can ask them for specific ways that we can pray for them. As we hear how God is working through them, we can also share in their joys.

Another application of this verse is to be willing to seek prayer support from other believers to join us in our struggles.

Paul’s urgent plea for prayer is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Philippians 2:9 to 11.

“God exalted him (Jesus) to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus came to this earth as a gift from God the Father. He was faithful to His mission. He never sinned. He came in humility to serve and sacrifice Himself for the sake of our salvation. His sacrifice was acceptable to God and sufficient for our greatest need for forgiveness. He suffered on a cross to accomplish God’s redemptive plan.  His love for us wins our allegiance. His faithfulness wins our loyalty. His name is worthy of our praise and devotion.

The Lordship of Jesus is a reason to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Luke 7:16.

“They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us’, they said. ‘God has come to help his people’.

Many people who saw the miracles that Jesus performed were responding this way. Their hearts were filled with praise for God. In addition, they were spreading the word about the miracles they were witnessing. News about Jesus was spreading. They were saying that God came to help. That is exactly why Jesus came to this world-to help us and save us. Love moved the heart of God to save us from our sinful condition. The miracle of Christ’s resurrection from the dead confirms the ability of Jesus to forgive us, cleanse us from sin, and raise us to new life in Him.

God’s Help through the appearance of Jesus is a reason to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the prayer of a tax collector in Luke 18:13.

His prayer was short, simple, and powerful. “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

There was another man who prayed at the temple that day. He was a religious leader known as a Pharisee. He prayed about himself, and thanked God that he was not like robbers, evildoers, adulterers, and even like this tax collector.”

But Jesus said it was the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who went home justified before God. Jesus said in Luke 18:14, “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

This humble prayer of a tax collector is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at our access to God’s presence through faith in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:18 refers to Jesus this way, “For through him, we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

The word “Both” in that verse refers to Jews and Gentiles. Jesus is the One who created the various ethnic groups in the world, and He invites people from all ethnic backgrounds to participate in His Kingdom. The way to gain access to His Kingdom is to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of our lives.

Just as Jesus builds bridges of love between people of different ethnic backgrounds, so He is also our link with God the Father. Jesus said to His followers, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” And so, in Jesus, and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Our Access to God the Father through Jesus is worth-examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com