JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to look for the evidence of God in a life of integrity.

One of the evidences of God’s existence is found in a person whose life is changed by His grace.

David prayed in Psalm 19:14, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

A person who says this kind of prayer and means it from the heart is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. David was a man after God’s own heart. He desired a relationship with God and pursued His will.

According to Ezekiel 36:6, this is how the LORD works to change someone’s heart and spiritual direction: The LORD says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

Take the daily challenge to look for the evidence of God in the changed lives of God’s people on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to look for the evidence of God in the value of His Word.

The Bible is a unique book, inspired by God, and written by different authors in different time periods. His wisdom in those words offers greater value than the riches of the world.

David wrote in Psalm 19:7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” Verse 10 adds, “They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold.”

If we take the message of the Bible to heart, it will be good news for our soul that leads us to follow Jesus. He will be our source of joy.

Take the daily challenge to look for the evidence of God in the wisdom of His Word on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

John@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to look for the evidence of God in the heavens.

Psalm 19:1 tells us that “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

God is the maker of the stars, the sun, and the moon. When it is their turn to shine, they send us a long-distance message that they were created by God. It is believed that there are 100 billion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy alone.

Isaiah 40:26 tells us to look up and take notice of God’s handiwork:

“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”

Take the daily challenge to look for the evidence of God in the brilliance of the heavens on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is “Wisdom.”

One way of looking at wisdom is “knowing how to apply truth to life’s decisions with sound judgment.” It is not just about having knowledge. It also involves knowing how to use knowledge with good discernment.

Wisdom has a starting place. Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. If we lack wisdom, God invites us to ask Him for it.

Wisdom has qualities that align with the nature of Jesus. James 3:17 tells us that the “wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

Wisdom is more valuable than money. Proverbs 16:16 says, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!”

Find encouragement in the wisdom that God gives us for living out the Christian life in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

Jesus told His followers at the Sermon on the Mount, “You are the salt of the earth.”

There would have been two main purposes for salt in Jesus’ day. Salt was used as a preservative and to enhance flavor.

How is that relevant to Jesus’ followers? Jesus calls His followers to be an influence in the world that keeps the world from spiraling into moral decay.  But restraining the world from evil is not the only purpose.  We are also called to enhance the flavor of the Gospel in the world so that people may have the opportunity to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Find encouragement in the opportunity to be the salt of the earth in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to put our confidence in God through the seasons of life.

The circumstances of life may change and bring hardship in our lives. Crops may fail. Our health may fail. The empty promises of another person may fail. Our plans may even fail. But the love of Jesus will not fail us. Neither will His promises. We can fully trust Him.

Nothing in all creation can ever separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. His love is the reason we can live with confidence and security.

Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Take the daily challenge to put confidence in God through the seasons of life on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to trust in God’s unfailing love.

That is what David did. He was one of the writers of the Psalms, and he wrote in Psalm 52:8, “I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. For what you have done, I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.”

Olive trees sometimes live for more than a thousand years, and they can be productive for many, many years. This is the comparison made with someone who trusts in God’s unfailing love. Our faith has opportunity to thrive and to stand tall for the glory of God as we praise the name of Jesus and put our hope in His name. He will not fail us. He proved His love for us at the cross. Then, He rose from the grave victorious over death. That is the same hope we have when we put our faith in Him-life beyond the grave.

Take the daily challenge to trust in God’s unfailing love on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

We don’t have to wait for the celebration of Christmas to find encouragement in this name.

At the birth of Jesus, the Bible records in Matthew 1:22, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet, ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him ‘Immanuel’, which means ‘God with us.’

God did not keep His distance from the human experience. He stepped right into it in the form of Jesus.

Jesus did not keep His distance from our pain and suffering and grief. Instead, He stepped right into it by going to the cross.

Jesus stepped into a world that needed a Savior, and showed us the way to a fulfilling relationship with God forever. God is not distant. He cares and is close enough to hear every humble prayer that reaches out to Him.

Find encouragement in the presence of God to meet us in our place of need in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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