John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the prayer of Jacob seeking God’s help.

As Jacob was preparing to meet his brother Esau, he was in great fear, because Esau had been holding a grudge against Jacob.

In Genesis 32:10, Jacob turned to the Lord in his distress praying, “I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me….”

Jacob acknowledged he was unworthy and afraid. He also acknowledged the kindness and faithfulness of God. In our times of distress, we can be honest with God about the cares of our heart while acknowledging His care for us. Faith remembers the goodness of God in vulnerable moments.

The Prayer of Jacob seeking God’s help is worth examining for a faith focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Ephesians 1:6.

“To the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”

This is a message for the faithful in Christ, and one of the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ.

The glorious grace of God was revealed through Jesus Christ-in His earthly ministry of teaching, healing, and deliverance from evil. It was also revealed through His death and resurrection. Someday, Jesus will return and fully reveal the glory of His grace to His faithful followers. Now, we know in part, but then, we shall know fully what the glory of His grace looks like in the picture of eternity.

God freely gives His grace to those who are found in Christ. He does not give reluctantly or hesitantly, but freely, joyfully, and willingly. It is His delight to celebrate each follower of Christ as His beloved child.

God’s glorious grace 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 the blessing of a peacemaker.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

If we want to be the kind of peacemaker that Jesus described here, we can start by being at peace with God. This happens when we receive the grace that Jesus offers us by His death and resurrection from the grave.

His peace is a powerful light that shines through us to refresh others. St. Francis of Assisi prayed, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope.”

The blessing of being a Peacemaker is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Ephesians 1:5.

“In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

This is a message for the faithful in Christ, and one of the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ.

Every child of God has a place in His spiritual family. This is a tremendous blessing that reveals our place of belonging in the body of Christ. God is our Father. Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Other believers are considered our brothers and sisters in Christ. The love of God unites us into His household of faith. We have fellowship together, standing firmly on the foundation of the Gospel.

The spiritual blessing of adoption 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 value of praying for families.

The family is God’s idea.  Jesus talked about the family unit in Matthew 19:5, saying “for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife.” He also said, “what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

We can be praying for the thriving of families-that they may stay together and grow together. God’s Word calls for honor, respect, and dignity with how family members treat one another.

Jesus also said that a household divided against itself will not stand. We can remember those affected by divided households and strained relationships. Pray for God to help them find love in His arms of grace and in the family unit of God’s household.

Praying for families is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Ephesians 1:4.

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”

This is a message for the faithful in Christ, and one of the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ.

We are declared holy and blameless in his sight. What ultimately matters is how God sees us when He looks at the condition of our heart.

Where there is faith in Jesus, we are justified-declared “not guilty.” The grace of the Lord Jesus gives us a fresh start that leads us in a new direction. David prayed, “Keep your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.”

The spiritual blessing of being holy and blameless 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 David’s confession that led to forgiveness.

The blood of Jesus shed on the cross is the cleansing agent that heals our sickness called sin.

Even after we come to faith in Christ, we will need to be alert to the temptations to disobey God. David was a man after God’s own heart, who also sinned against God in very destructive ways.

He also experienced the miracle of God’s forgiveness. This is how it happened, according to Psalm 32:5. David said, “Day and night your hand was heavy on me: my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”. And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

The confession of David leading to forgiveness is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Ephesians 1:3.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Everyone who belongs to Jesus is blessed by the favor of His grace. This verse puts the emphasis on spiritual blessings rather than material blessings. The verses that follow identify specific ways that we are spiritually blessed in Christ. Some of them include:

Holy and Blameless in God’s Sight.

Adoption to Sonship.

Redemption through the blood of Christ

Forgiveness of Sins

The Riches of God’s grace.

These are blessings that money cannot buy, but can be received by faith in Jesus Christ to save us from sin.

Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ 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 Moses requesting God’s Presence.

It’s found in Exodus 33:15. God and Moses were having a heart-to-heart conversation. That is the kind of conversation that builds relationships.

God said to Moses, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Moses said to Him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?”

Sometimes, in our ambition to make things happen, we can move ahead without inviting God into our plans. It is better to go slower with God than to rush ahead of Him. Proverbs 16:3 puts it this way. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” The presence of God is the power source for productive plans.

The Prayer of Moses requesting God’s Presence is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK-Today’s Praise Focus comes from Deuteronomy 6:5.

Moses said to the Israelites, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Jesus later referred to this statement as the greatest commandment in God’s law. Nothing can be more focused that living a life that loves God with all of our being.

Flowing out of that experience of loving God will be a life of humble service that helps other people in their times of need. We will look for ways to draw attention to the name of Jesus as the focus of our worship. We will keep our priorities aligned to God’s purposes, and seek first His Kingdom and righteousness.  Love grows in our heart as we meditate on the love that God has for us and receive the precious gift of His grace.

First John 4:19 says that “we love because he first loved us.”

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com