John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at a prayer for strength in a season of sorrow.

It’s found in Psalm 119:28-“My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.”

Have you ever felt worn down by sorrow? It can steal our joy and energy. It’s hard to get up in the morning when our soul is filled with grief or sadness. We are not alone in those moments. God is close to the broken-hearted. He sympathizes with us in our weaknesses. He understands and He cares for us.

Prayer is a gift that allows us to approach His throne of grace anytime anywhere. God hears our prayers and answers prayer. The Bible is also a place where we can turn for hope and encouragement. That is where the evidence of God’s love for us leaps off the pages to connect with our heart. We are never helpless or hopeless when Jesus is in view.

Praying for strength in a season of sorrow is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from John 17:4.

Jesus prayed, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”

Each of us has a calling in life which includes the purpose of glorifying God. Jesus saw the accomplishment of His mission as the means to do that. The will of His Heavenly Father brought Him great fulfillment.

Jesus said to His disciples on one occasion, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” The good news is that God provides a way for us to complete our mission with the strength that He provides. Just as Jesus glorified the Father by His finished work, so we also glorify God when we carry out the work where God has called us to serve.

The calling of God on our lives 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 value of delegation in the early church.

If you ever felt overwhelmed by the workload, there is wisdom to be gained by what happened in the early church. Some areas of service were not getting done to meet certain needs.

In Acts 6:1, some widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group, enabling more leaders to emerge to address various needs. That is how deacons entered the ministry of the church.

The value of delegation in the early church is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 19:1.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

When David looked into the night sky, he saw a beautiful display of brilliant lights by the hand of his Creator.

The LORD himself said in Isaiah 40:26-“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”

The universe is a big place. Mankind continues to explore the frontiers of space and is fascinated by the mystery of what is beyond us. This draws attention to a big God who is familiar with the details of His creation.

The heavens and skies that God created are reasons 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 value of seeking God for help and strength.

In First Chronicles 16:11, David said, “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.”

David had intense seasons of struggle. Sometimes his life was in danger, but in those moments, he pressed into God and relied on His strength. In the process of these difficult seasons, God was building David’s faith and character.

Phillips Brooks once said, “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.” This is the type of prayer that trains us to depend on God for the support that we need in each season of life.

The value of seeking God for help and strength is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from First Corinthians 10:31.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Here is a question that we can consider before engaging in a particular activity: Does my involvement in a particular activity bring glory to God?

How we use food is one way we can bring glory to God. We can use it to care for our own physical well-being, which enables us to care better for others. We can thank God for the food He provides for us and enjoy every bite.

We can use food for hospitality as we welcome people into our homes and serve them a meal. First Peter 5:9 says, “Offer hospitality to one another, without grumbling.”

Isaiah 58:7 talks about sharing our food with the hungry.

God’s Provision of food 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 God’s wisdom to lighten the load for Moses.

Moses took this burden to the Lord in Numbers chapter 11, verses 13 and 14.

He said about the people, “They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.’”

The LORD said to Moses, “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people.” He promised to take some of the power of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on them. They would share the burden of the people with Moses so that he did not have to carry it alone.

God cares about the burdens of our heart. Leaning on His wisdom gives us greater support for the burdens we carry.

God’s wisdom to lighten the load for Moses is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Hebrews 7:26.

Speaking of Jesus, “Such a high priest truly meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.”

The focus of Hebrews is on the supremacy of Christ. He is superior to the angels, the prophets, Moses and the high priest.

His sacrifice on the cross was superior to the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament. Hebrews 10:4 tells us that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. But through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus, we are made holy by faith in Him. Forgiveness is complete for the follower of Jesus.

Knowing Jesus as our High Priest 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 response when God said “No.”

Sometimes, God answers our prayers with “No!” God has His reasons. He might reveal those reasons. He might not.

When David wanted to build a house for the Lord, the answer came back “No.” In First Chronicles 22:8, the LORD says, “You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest…..He is the one who will build a house for my name.”

Solomon was appointed to build the house of the Lord. David’s response was gracious. He said to Solomon, “May you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said you would.” He also prepared materials to help Solomon with the task.

Accepting God’s answer of “No” to our prayer requests is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Mark 5:19.

A man with many demons found deliverance from evil by the grace of Jesus.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “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.” So the man went away and began to tell how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

In what ways have you experienced the mercy of God? What are some tangible changes that Jesus has made in your life? Those changes become a living testimony of how He is at work in us, and that testimony can greatly encourage others to see the reality of changed lives by the Gospel.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com