John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we remember the promise of God to be with us.

Through our challenges, struggles, conflicts, dangers, and temptations, we are encouraged by the promises of God for a hope and a future. We also have the comfort of His presence today to be near in our time of need.

Hebrews 13:5 and 6 reminds us that God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So, we say with confidence, ‘the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

God has us here on this earth for such a time as this. He has a purpose for us to fulfill that relates to His glory. Living for His glory and walking in His grace frees us to trust in God to be our source of help and hope for today and forever.

The promise of God to be with us is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 18, verses 1 and 2.

“I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

David wrote this Psalm after the LORD delivered him from the hand of his enemies. He said in verse 3, “I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.”

There is something refreshing about freely expressing our love for God in a personal way. Followers of Jesus can identify spiritually with what David experienced physically. The devil seeks to steal, kill, and destroy us. He is our adversary. But Jesus has appeared as our Advocate to defend our cause. Because we have trusted in Him for salvation, He is qualified to save us from our enemies and give us ultimate victory over sin, death, and the schemes of the devil. We can find our security in His saving grace.

Knowing God as our Source of Strength 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 prayer request of Moses for the favor of the Lord.

We all need the favor of God to shine on us if we want Him to shine through us.

In Psalm 90:17, Moses prayed, “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hands.”

This was a prayer for guidance. We need God’s direction to give us meaning and purpose for what we do.

This was also a prayer for strength. Only with God’s strength do we have the capability of accomplishing God’s will for our lives.

Committing our efforts to Jesus helps us to remember the Lord of our work as we work for the Lord.

The prayer request of Moses for the favor of the Lord is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from First John 1:7.

“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Jesus died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins. That is where we can find true forgiveness.

In John Bunyan’s famous book Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character Christian is on a journey. He has a burden on his back, which is released when he comes to the cross of Christ. That is where our guilt is removed and where our peace with God begins. That is where the light of His grace shines on us and enables us to move forward in faith and in the freedom of His love.

The blood of Jesus, shed at the cross 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 the impact of God’s mercy.

The writer of Psalm 116 wrote in verses 1 and 2: “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”

In this case, the LORD delivered the writer from death. Spiritually speaking, this is true for anyone who calls on the name of Jesus for salvation. He provides mercy to save us from the wages of our sin, which is death. He hears our plea, responds to our need, and saves us from our sin. When this happens, we can respond with a heart of gratitude and praise for sparing us from condemnation. This changes our whole outlook on life. We see the goodness of God. His mercy is an opportunity to love Him more deeply and keep praying to the One who has set us truly free.

The impact of God’s mercy is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from First Peter 3:15.

“In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Acknowledging Jesus as Lord is the foundation for a vibrant testimony that tells of His grace and goodness. He gives us a message of hope to share with others. Out of the overflow of our heart, our mouth speaks with reverence for Christ and respect for the people God puts in our pathway. That is because we recognize the worthiness of Jesus to be praised, and the dignity of each person who was made in God’s image.

The worthiness of Jesus to be our Lord 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 call to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

It’s found in Psalm 122:6-“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure.”

Jerusalem is described in the Bible as the holy city. It’s meaning is “City of Peace.” So, when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are praying for its meaning to become its reality. Jesus wept over Jerusalem when He appeared to its people, saying “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

But a day is coming when according to Zechariah 12:10, the LORD “will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.” Their eyes will be opened to the One who was pierced for our transgressions.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Isaiah 57, verses 18 and 19.

The LORD says, “I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near” says the LORD, “And I will heal them.”

The comfort of the LORD brings refreshment for the weary soul who is discouraged and downcast. There is hope and forgiveness for the person who approaches God with humility.

Earlier in this chapter, the LORD says, “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” As His grace encourages us and turns our hearts toward Jesus, He gives us a new song filled with praise.

The comfort of the Lord 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 David’s invitation for God to inspect his heart.

It’s found in Psalm 139, verse 24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

David was willing to do spiritual inventory on the condition of his heart. That requires humility to open our heart for God to search us and reveal anything in our lives offending Him. It is also the way to turn from those ways and learn to walk in the ways of Jesus.

He is our source of peace and forgiveness. He is our wisdom for living in God’s will with integrity. And He is the way that leads us to heaven beyond our last breath on earth.

David’s invitation for God to inspect his heart is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Luke 24:51 to 53.

Speaking of Jesus and His disciples, “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”

That is how the book of Luke ends-with a description of the disciples praising God. That is where the testimony of Jesus leads His people.

We are moved to thanksgiving. We are grateful for His gift of grace that lifts us out of the deep depravity of our sin.

We are moved to worship, because Jesus is worthy of our praise and adoration. His death and resurrection leave us with a sense of awe.

We are moved to joy, because His love is proven to be faithful and true, and is our source of security and confidence.

The testimony of Jesus is a reason to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com