John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to take up the full armor of God.

Ephesians chapter 6 gives us a clear impression that the Christian life is lived out on the spiritual battlefield. We are engaged in a struggle that is winnable, but we need God’s help to overcome.

Verse 10 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

To fight the good fight of faith, we need to be able to properly identify our allies and enemies. We also need to use the armor that God provides for us to take our stand for Christ and to stand against the devil’s schemes.  The armor of God is useful for helping us to stand firm in the faith during life’s daily struggles.

Take the daily challenge to put on the full armor of God on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Sovereign.

One definition of Sovereign is “possessing supreme or ultimate power.”  When someone says, “God is in control”, they are referring to the Sovereignty of God. For the follower of Jesus, that truth is a source of comfort.

The word “Sovereign” appears almost 300 times in the Bible.

One of those references is Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

And in Isaiah 25:8, in the picture of eternity, we read that He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.

Find encouragement in the Sovereignty of God to be our source of strength and hope in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Birth.

Jesus talked about the birth of a baby as a moment that brings joy to a mother’s heart.

We can imagine the joy and excitement of God’s heart to see new life formed in people who come to faith in Jesus. This is what Jesus described as being “Born Again.”

This spiritual birth is a clean, fresh start for our heart. Our sins are no longer held against us by a holy God.  We are forgiven and welcomed into God’s eternal family.

First Peter 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”

Find encouragement in experiencing the new birth of a living hope in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Foundation.

A strong foundation is necessary for any building to stand the test of time. We also build our lives on a certain foundation of beliefs or ideas. The Bible points us to the one sure foundation that is dependable for our faith.

In Isaiah 28:16, the Sovereign LORD says, “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.”

Later, in the New Testament book of First Peter, this statement was applied to Jesus, and says, “The one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” We can rely on Jesus Christ to be the sure foundation for our times. All other ground, in the spiritual sense, is sinking sand.

Find encouragement in building our lives on the grace and truth of Jesus for our firm foundation in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to run the race of faith with excellence.

To be excellent in our area of giftedness does not mean perfection. It means giving our best with what we have been given.

Athletes at the Olympics have been gifted in certain events. We will not see someone who trained in a swimming event competing in gymnastics. Each athlete will compete in the event where they excel.

First Corinthians 14:12 encourages us to excel in those spiritual gifts that build up the church. How do we find our place of service in the church? Find out how God has gifted us to serve where we can excel.

First Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Take the daily challenge to run the race with excellence on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5k96IDp6UbWBDVn6Phd77V?si=2221c2bcbde7476f

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Contentment.

To be content is to be satisfied with what we have in our current circumstances.

In Philippians 4:11, the Apostle Paul said he learned to be content whatever the circumstances. He had learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

He also said in First Timothy 6:6 that “godliness with contentment is great gain.”

The secret to godly contentment is finding our source of help and strength in God. Through Jesus Christ, we learn that His grace is sufficient for our needs. That means that our happiness does not depend on the stuff that we own or how much money we earn. Our heart is greatly encouraged by the assurance that God knows us as His beloved child.

Find encouragement in the contentment of being in a day-by-day relationship with Jesus in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to run the race of faith with a forward focus.

If you ever watch a footrace, you rarely see athletes looking back. They know by doing so, their progress would slow down, and as a result, they could lose the race.

The Apostle Paul gives us direction for our focus by his example. He did not want to look back on his journey with regrets or with a sense of retreat. He was focused on moving forward with Jesus, step by step. He was on a journey. He had not yet arrived, but he was making good progress.

This is what he wrote in Philippians 3:13, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Take the daily challenge to run the race with a forward focus on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to run the race of faith with purpose.

Have you ever heard of an Olympic athlete who shows up at the games without training for their event?  In reality, each athlete has invested an enormous amount of time, energy, and training to fulfill their dream of representing their country, and to win a gold medal.

The Apostle Paul looked to the dedicated athlete and said to the church in so many words, “we can learn from their example as we apply it to the Christian life.”

He wrote in First Corinthians 9:24, “Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

If we keep our focus on Jesus, He will give us incentive to run a good race with every step we take.

Take the daily challenge to run the race with purpose on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com