John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the burden of Nehemiah, turned into a prayer and mission.

In Nehemiah 1:3, the report came to Nehemiah in Persia from Jerusalem that the wall was broken down, and its gates burned with fire. Nehemiah responded by sitting down and weeping. Then he prayed to the God of heaven with reverence and humility.

He asked God for success to have favor with the king. He then approached the king with a request to rebuild Jerusalem. Nehemiah 2:8 relates the outcome: “Because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.”

One of the ways that God accomplishes His purposes in us is to turn our burdens into prayer and steps of obedience to His plan. Where He guides, He provides us with the support we need.

The burden of Nehemiah, turned into a prayer and mission, is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Acts 28:15.

The writer Luke records, “And so we came to Rome. The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled….to meet us. At the sight of these people, Paul thanked God and was encouraged.”

On his voyage to Rome, Paul experienced dangerous weather conditions. He was refreshed at the sight of those who belonged to the family of God.

It is always good to recognize the blessing of sweet fellowship with other believers. Whenever they offer acts of kindness or hospitality, that is an occasion to be thankful to God. In times of trouble, the support from God’s people is a welcome sight that encourages us to remain faithful to God.

Support from the family 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 pursuit of what is right in the Lord’s eyes.

This becomes the longing of our heart when we fix our eyes on Jesus, and love Him as our Lord and God. His righteousness shapes our character.

When we see the example of Jesus, we see how He modeled service and sacrifice for His followers. We see true integrity and no hypocrisy. We see courage in the midst of opposition. We see perfect love reaching out to rescue a world that needed a Savior.

So, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus today, and He will help us pursue a life of love and holiness. Second Timothy 2:22 says, “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

The pursuit of what is right in the Lord’s eyes is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 32, verse 11.

“Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart.”

In this Psalm, David expressed the blessing of God’s forgiveness. For a period of time, David was silent about his sins, and his bones were wasting away. His strength was sapped. That is what can happen when we cling to our sins instead of clinging to God.

But after acknowledging his sin to God, his guilt was removed, and he lived in the joy of God’s unfailing love. The Lord gave David a glad heart. This can be our experience when we let go of our sinful ways and turn to Jesus for a new direction. He will put a new song in our mouth that overflows with praise, joy, and thanksgiving.

A glad heart in God’s unfailing love 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 favorable response to humility.

Jonah obeyed the Lord to give a warning to Nineveh that it would be overthrown in 40 days. The Ninevites responded to this message with belief and humility. They put on sackcloth and fasted in their brokenness.

In Jonah 3:8, The king proclaimed, “Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

That is exactly what happened. God responded to the urgent prayers of the Ninevites with compassion, and did not bring on them the destruction He had threatened.

James 4:6 has this word of wisdom for all of us: God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.”

God’s favorable response to humility is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 145, verses 9 and 10.

“The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people extol you.”

Everything God does draws attention to His glory. Not everyone pays attention to His mighty acts, but when we do pay attention and acknowledge Him, we are blessed by noticing what He has done.

Here are some of God’s magnificent deeds by His outstretched arm-the Creation of the world, Deliverance of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, His merciful hand on a cross pierced for our transgressions, His gracious touch on a person’s life to make them a new creation in Christ, and the eternal place He is preparing for those who love Him.

The merciful and mighty hand 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 how we can recognize the Savior’s voice.

The best way to recognize the voice of Jesus is to follow Him personally and meet with Him regularly. This is sometimes called “quiet time”, when we call out to Him in prayer and study His Word.

What was the mission of Jesus? What does He love and hate? What is His purpose for our lives? What did Jesus teach? These are some important questions that can be explored as we open the Bible and read from the red letters in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

His truth is trustworthy. His love is unfailing. His grace is amazing. His voice calls out to us with the words, “Follow me.” In John chapter 10, Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd.” Verse 3 says, “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

Recognizing the Savior’s voice is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 145, verse 8.

“The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”

Where would we be without the gracious heart of God? We would be lost and without hope. We do not have to dwell on this question constantly, but sometimes this reflection helps us to appreciate the various dimensions of God’s grace that we do have. He gives us time and opportunity to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. He waits patiently for us to get rid of the idols in our hearts. He forgives time and time again. And beyond that, He is eager to reach out with His love and bless us with good things from His gracious hand.

In mercy, He does not give us the judgment we do deserve.

In grace, He gives us blessings from above that we do not deserve.

The gracious and compassionate heart 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 humble posture of kneeling in prayer.

In prayer, we enter the throne of grace, recognizing that we are in the Presence of God who is greater than us. Sometimes, the Bible describes the people of God bowing down in worship and kneeling in prayer.

One of those times was when Paul said good-bye to the elders at Ephesus. Their farewell is a moving scene of worship and fellowship.

Acts 20:36 says, “When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.”

Kneeling is not the only meaningful way to express worship for God, but it is one way.  Psalm 95:6 invites us to “bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.”

The Humble posture of kneeling in prayer is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Ephesians 2, verses 6 and 7.

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages, he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

This passage highlights the power of God’s saving grace to lift us out of our sinful condition to a place of honor in His heavenly presence. This glorious destiny is not something that we earn or deserve on our own merit. It is only because of God’s grace that we can look forward to the future beyond our final breath on this earth. God’s forgiveness is real and complete, and is available to us through faith in Jesus Christ. Eternity is a long time to enjoy the presence of the Lord.

The riches of God’s grace is a reason to praise Him in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com