John Shirk

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

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

If there is one thing we learn from the Gospel, it is that the lost matter to God, and He has the power to reach the lost with His arm of salvation.

In Luke 15, Jesus talked about a woman who loses one of her ten silver coins. She does an all-out search through the house until she finds it. Jesus did something like this when He came to earth. He was seeking the lost and rejoiced whenever they were found.

Second Peter 3:9 explains that God’s patience with the lost is the reason He has not yet returned. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Who do you know that needs the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ? Pray for them. Love them. Be patient with them. Reach out to them, and look for opportunities to share the Gospel in a timely way.

Praying for the Lost is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 22, verses 30 and 31.

“Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn; He has done it!”

That word “posterity” refers to future generations. There is a deeply personal connection with the Lord when we praise Him from the heart. There is also a public proclamation that connects others with the Lord when we share the Gospel openly with courage. Public praise is a form of boasting in the Lord. And look what happens when we are faithful to share our enthusiasm for the Lord with future generations. They too will proclaim His righteousness. They will remember the cross and empty grave, and rejoice in the redemptive work of Jesus that He has accomplished.

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 value of seeking God as our source of help and hope.

These are the words of Psalm 119, verses 146 and 147-“I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.”

Each morning is an opportunity to gain perspective on our day by focusing on the Lord. His truth and grace give us guidance and confidence to face the challenges of each day with the awareness that God sees us, knows us, and loves us.

The Bible is filled with lessons of faith to teach us and encourage us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is worthy of our trust.

Seeking God as our source of help and hope is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Revelation chapter 1, verses 5b and 6.

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

Our true liberty depends on what Jesus did for us at the cross when He shed His blood for our sins. He took our guilt upon Himself so that we might be set free to serve God with a heart of praise. That is the ultimate sacrifice in human history where true love was displayed in a powerful way-powerful enough to redeem us and give us a place in His household of faith forever.

The blood of Jesus, shed for our sins, 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 Paul’s prayer to supply what the church needs.

In First Thessalonians 3:10, Paul wrote, “Night and day, we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.”

Paul prayed for the church regularly and sincerely. Leaders in the church are prompted by love for their congregations to pray this way. They are eager to be in relationship with those that they serve. They want to be instruments in God’s hand to lead their flock to the Good Shepherd, so that the church might rely on the sufficiency of His grace. Paul’s prayer reflects the heart of a leader who cared for those he was called to serve.

Paul’s prayer to supply what the church needs is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from First Peter 1, verses 6 and 7.

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Charles Stanley has described adversity as God’s most effective tool for the advancement of our spiritual lives. There is value in the trials of our lives to grow stronger in our reliance on Christ. Character is built as we identify with the sufferings of Christ. No one said it would be easy, but hard times do have a purpose for the follower of Jesus. He allows us to go through the fire of adversity so that our faith might genuinely reflect God’s glory as a radiant witness for Jesus.

God’s refining process to purify our faith 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’s request for prayer support.

This happened throughout his writings to the churches. One of these places is Second Thessalonians 3, verses 1 and 2.

“Brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith.”

Just as Paul the Apostle recognized his need for prayer support, we also need prayer support from God’s family. This is in part, what it means to grow together in the body of Christ as we share the concerns of our heart with others and pray for each other.

Paul’s request for prayer support is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Matthew 14:32 and 33.

Referring to Jesus and Peter, “when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”

The men in the boat were disciples of Jesus. They had just witnessed Jesus and Peter walking on the water in windy conditions. They had seen Jesus demonstrate His command over the wind and the waves. They saw Jesus multiply a boy’s lunch into a feast for 5,000 people. Jesus was doing extraordinary miracles, which led the disciples to believe and acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com