John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at Elijah’s prayer for the turning of hearts back to God.

In First Kings chapter 18 of the Bible, Elijah invited people from all over Israel, (including hundreds of false prophets) to meet him at Mount Carmel. That is where he would lay down the challenge, “If the LORD is God, follow him, but if Baal is God, follow him.”

He prayed, “LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

God intervened in a miraculous way that caused all the people to cry, “The LORD-he is God! The LORD-he is God!”

Elijah’s prayer can reflect our desire to see people turn their hearts back to God and for us to be part of the solution.

Elijah’s prayer for the turning of hearts back to God is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from John 9, verses 36 and 37.

Jesus opened the eyes of a blind man. Then, He said to the man, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

The man asked, “Who is he, sir? Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

This man experienced two miracles in a short space of time. He gained physical sight, and spiritual eyes for seeing Jesus. He saw Jesus for who He is, and was moved to a place of worship.

The identity of Jesus and His marvelous mercy 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 fasting.

In the Bible, fasting is often connected with the practice of going without food to seek God more fervently.

Sometimes, people fasted to repent of sins. At other times, people fasted in a time of crisis, such as Queen Esther when her people’s survival was under threat. At other times, believers fasted to seek God’s direction or commit leaders to ministry. This happened in the early church.

There are right ways and wrong ways to do fasting. The LORD says in Isaiah 58, verse 6, “is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”

Fasting is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Colossians 3:17.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Gospel is good news that affects every area of our lives when we embrace Jesus fully. He becomes our reason for getting up in the morning. His will becomes our purpose. His grace is our source of joy. His love is our source of comfort. His Presence is our source of peace. His glory moves us to worship Him, not just on a Sunday morning, but also in the daily activities of life throughout the week.

His name is worthy of the very best that we have to offer Him.

The worthy name 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 value of God’s forgiveness.

We all need forgiveness, because at some point, according to the Bible, we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. This humbles us when we take that message to heart.

In Luke chapter 7, there was a woman who had lived a sinful life expressing her love for Jesus in a humble posture. Jesus was at the house of a Pharisee named Simon, and she was there, at the feet of Jesus weeping. She began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”

Simon did not view this favorably, but Jesus told him, “Her many sins have been forgiven-as her great love has shown.”  Then he turned to the woman and said, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then He said, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” That is what the amazing grace of God is able to do for sinners who turn to Jesus with a heart of faith and love.

The forgiveness of God is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 9, verses 1 and 2.

“I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.”

David faced many challenges and much opposition in his life. Looking at how God defended him and supported him through his times of adversity, he responded with a grateful heart.

He said, “My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you. For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.” He took note that the LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

When God does something wonderful that has an impact on our lives, that is an occasion to rejoice in the Lord and to say “thank you.”

The wonderful deeds of the Lord 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 our reason for living.

Paul addressed this reason in a sermon at Athens. He talked about the Lord of heaven and earth giving everyone life and breath and everything else. In Acts 17:26, he said, “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.”

We were called to be in relationship with God, and this door is opened when we put our faith in Jesus to save us from sin and lead us in His righteous path. He becomes our purpose. He becomes our identity. He becomes our living hope.

Knowing Jesus as our reason for living is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from First Chronicles 29, verses 12 and 13.

“Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”

David said these words as a public proclamation of praise to the Lord. The Israelites were embarking on a God-sized project-building a temple that would be a place of worship for God’s people.

David acknowledged that they were giving to the Lord only what was coming from His hand. That is the beauty of a thankful heart. Praise flows from the gratitude of God’s gracious hand, enabling us to build families, ministries, churches, and businesses that honor His holy name. Let the motto of our lives be something like this: By His grace, With His strength, For His glory!

That was David’s focus, and that can be our focus too.

God’s grace, strength, and glorious name are all 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 God’s knowledge of who we are.

David was aware of God’s incredible understanding in the prayer of Psalm 139, verses 1 to 4.

“You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, LORD, know it completely.”

God made us, and knows how we are wired. He sees what we do. He knows what we think. He knows us better than we even know ourselves. For some people, this knowledge is a source of comfort. For others, it might be unsettling if they are resisting God’s plan for their lives.

For David, such knowledge was too wonderful for him. It was his desire to follow after God’s own heart, to be near God, and to be led by God.

God’s thorough knowledge of who we are is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Colossians 2, verses 9 and 10.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

This declaration affirms Jesus as God. He was the Word who became flesh and made His dwelling among people 2,000 years ago. He came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

We are incomplete until we fully embrace His Divine love for us. Blaise Pascal was a French philosopher who once said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”

When we accept Jesus as Deity, embrace His love for us, and welcome His authority over us, He will reveal to us the sufficiency of His grace.

Knowing Jesus as God is a reason to praise Him in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com