John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Exodus 15:11.

This is the song that Moses and the Israelites sang after they crossed the Red Sea safely on dry ground.

“Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you-majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”

God miraculously delivered the Israelites from captivity in Egypt. Exodus 14:31 records that when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

The good news of Jesus is also a picture of deliverance. At the cross, Jesus stretched out His hands and displayed the wonder-working power of His grace to deliver us from the chains of sin. He is uniquely qualified to save us from sin and guide us to the Promised land.

“The wonder-working power of grace to set us free” 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 importance of removing barriers to prayer.

The writer of Psalm 66:18 wrote, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the LORD would not have listened.”

It is humanly possible to put up barriers with God by our selfish motivation. This happened in the early church and was addressed by James. He said in chapter 4, verse 2, “You quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”  Prayer can be a time for us to get rightly aligned with God as we confess our sins with a humble heart. And then change course. This is the key to seeing the goodness of Jesus more clearly.

Hebrews 12:1 urges us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.

Removing barriers to prayer is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the value of waiting on God.

Sometimes, God delivers on His promises later than we anticipate. When Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit, they waited 50 days. He also told them He is coming back again. Today, followers of Jesus are still waiting for the fulfillment of that promise.

Jesus taught us to be persistent in our prayer life, and patient in His timing. Waiting on God is not a passive experience. There are some productive ways to use our time wisely while we wait for God to act.

Trust God completely, Walk in His ways, and serve Him daily.

Lamentations 3:25 and 26 says, “The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

The value of waiting on God is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Hebrews 1:3 and 4.

Speaking of Jesus, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So, he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”

Jesus shines brightly in human history as the Savior of the world. His radiance also shines brightly in heaven as the name who is worthy of praise. He stands apart as the only One who is qualified to save us from sin. He deserves our gratitude for the love that He has proven for us at the cross. After Jesus rose from dead, He ascended to heaven, where He is currently honored on the throne at His Father’s right hand.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Psalm 30, verses 11 and 12.

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.”

The disciples of Jesus would have identified with this Psalm when it came to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The night before He died, Jesus told them, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

The resurrection of Jesus raised the hopes of His disciples to experience joy and celebration in His presence. On this journey of faith, there are moments of tears and sadness, but because of God’s saving grace, it is temporary. Eternal destiny reveals a day when there will be no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain for God’s people. He will wipe every tear from the eyes of the redeemed.

The garment of joy 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 prayers of David on his bed.

David said to the Lord in Psalm 63:6-On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

It can be a busy and noisy world. We have access to devices that David never had. There are so many voices that seek our attention. So, it is important to be intentional about finding a quiet place to focus on God.

Nighttime is an opportunity to reflect on God’s goodness with a heart of gratitude. If we have anxious thoughts, we can bring them before His throne of grace, meditate on His Word, and seek His peace. David was moved by joy when he considered God’s love for him.

He wrote in Psalm 63:7, “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.”

The Prayers of David on his bed are worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Philippians 4:4.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

The Apostle Paul was moved by the joy of the Lord, and he wanted to impress this quality on the people of God. Because God is good all the time, we can rejoice in the Lord always, not just sometimes.

We can rejoice in the Lord always when we keep the good news of Jesus in view. His saving grace is the reason for our hope, and has the power to carry us through the trials of this life.

The joy of knowing 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 fasting of Queen Esther in a time of crisis.

Her people were facing the threat of genocide. Esther had influence to do something to stop it. She was Queen in Persia, but she was not free to enter the king’s presence at any time. In fact, she could lose her life in approaching him unless he extended the gold scepter to her.

She sent word to her cousin Mordecai about her plan to go to the king to intervene in Esther 4:16: “Go, gather together all the Jews….and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther called her nation to prayer and fasting, and God intervened on their behalf.

In times of crisis, we are not helpless. We have a loving God who hears the cries of our heart and responds with grace and compassion.

The fasting of Queen Esther in a time of crisis is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the prayer of David seeking God for instruction.

If we want to understand the heart of David in pursuit of God, we can examine some of his prayers. They reveal a heart that is teachable and open to correction. They reveal a heart that understood the wisdom of God to be higher than his own.

In Psalm 25:4 and 5, David prayed, “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

The prayer of David, seeking God for instruction, is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Second Samuel 22, verses 31-33.

“As for God, his way is perfect: the LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.”

When we have faith in God, we are entrusting ourselves to Someone far greater than ourselves. His ways and wisdom are greater. His love is the perfect standard. His righteousness is infinitely pure. His power is the source of our strength. In Him, we live and move and have our being. We can trust His words to be true. We can depend on His grace to lead us home into His glorious Presence, where He is honored as He deserves.

The perfection of God is a reason to praise Him in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com