John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at finding refuge in God in times of trouble.

David wrote in Psalm 59:16-“I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”

David wrote this when King Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to take his life. In times of danger, David sought refuge in the Lord.

His grace is the safest place for our soul. In God’s strong, loving arms, we find comfort and peace with God. His strength is the theme of our songs. Isaiah 40:11 reveals this picture of God with His people. “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.”

Finding refuge in God in times of trouble is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Luke 5:29.

“Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors were eating with them.”

This came after Jesus approached Levi at the tax booth. He simply said to Levi, “Follow me,” and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.”

Tax collectors had tarnished reputations in the days of Jesus. They were labelled in the company of sinners. Levi was invited to go in a new direction to follow the way of Jesus. He abandoned his old way of life to embrace the new. And one of the first things he did to express his gratitude to Jesus was to hold a great banquet for Him. Expressions of praise can be demonstrated in different ways, and one of those ways is to show gratitude to Jesus and to honor His name in the presence of others.

The invitation of Jesus to follow Him 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 vigilance in the Christian life.

First Peter 4:7 says, “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind, so that you can pray.”

To be vigilant in the Christian life is to keep our eyes of faith focused on Jesus. His influence gives us clarity for what is really important in life. This helps to shape our priorities in the right place so that they align with the values of God’s Kingdom.

Vigilance will keep us alert to the schemes of the devil and help us to resist temptation. Vigilance will make us aware of the needs of people around us, so that we know better how to meet their needs and how to pray for them. And vigilance will purify our faith. Romans 13:11 urges us to wake up out of slumber. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Vigilance in the Christian Life is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Luke 5, verses 24 to 26.

Jesus said to a paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Jesus healed this paralyzed man to show that He had authority on earth to forgive sins. Whenever we see remarkable things from the hand of God, whether it affects us or someone else, that is an occasion to praise God. It could be the miracle of a new life born into the world, the miracle of someone trusting Jesus to save them from sin, breakthroughs from the bondage of sin, or the breaking of dawn to start a new day.

The remarkable things done by Jesus are reasons 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 faithfulness in prayer.

This call comes in Romans 12:12-Be faithful in prayer.

Being faithful in prayer involves being consistent in prayer. David wrote in Psalm 5:3, “Morning by morning, O Lord, you hear my voice. Morning by morning, I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

Being faithful in prayer also involves being earnest in our prayer. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

Samuel was a trusted prophet of the Lord who demonstrated faithfulness in prayer on behalf of the people he served. He said to them, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.”

Faithfulness in Prayer is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Deuteronomy 10:21.

Moses urged the Israelites to fear the LORD their God, to serve Him, and to hold fast to Him. Then Moses said, “He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.”

Moses was well aware of what happened on the way to the promised land, how the Israelites made an idol of worship while Moses was receiving the commandments of God. One of those commandments was, “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Moses was reminding the people that God was their source of strength, not idols. He was also pointing out how praise was a fitting response to the mighty hand of God that guided them toward the Promised Land. In ways that God has delivered us from slavery to sin, those are reasons to praise Him.

Great and Awesome Wonders are reasons 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 priority of making things right with those we have wronged.

Jesus highlighted this priority in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:23, He taught, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

Truth and grace prevail when relationships fractured by sin are restored. God cares about our relationships and calls us to seek reconciliation when we are aware that we have done something to hurt someone else. It is a humble, necessary step toward the path of a mended relationship.

The priority of making things right with those we have wronged is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

“Being confident in this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

God has a good work for us to complete while we live on the earth. The fruit of our labor in the Lord will have a lasting impact until the day of Christ Jesus. That means the good work He starts in us has the power to endure beyond our last breath on this earth.

This is a legacy of faith that leads us to be filled with gratitude and joy, for it is only by God’s grace and with His strength that we get to be included in the redemptive story of His gospel. First Corinthians 15:58 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

God’s good work in us is a reason to praise Him in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 7:17.

David said, “I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.”

There is a strong connection in the Bible between thanksgiving and praise. From a heart of gratitude, we are moved to lift up the name of the LORD Most High. It is our joy to give Him glory, knowing what He has done for us to rescue us from sin and shame.

What is more amazing is that through faith in Jesus, God declares us as righteous in His eyes. It is not our personal righteousness that He sees. It is His righteousness placed on us through Christ. Second Corinthians 5:21 says about Jesus, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

The righteousness 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 the prayer of Elisha for his servant.

They were surrounded by a hostile army. It was a strong force coming against them. The servant of Elisha was perplexed about what to do. Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then, Elisha prayed in Second Kings 6:17, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.”

Then, he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. God’s power was protecting them.

In our daily struggles, through temptations and opposition, God wants us to see the spiritual reality that if God is for us, who can be against us? The one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. God’s grace is strong enough to keep us in His love.

The prayer of Elisha for his servant is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com