John Shirk

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

First John 4:16 says, “we know and rely on the love God has for us.”

To rely on God’s love is to lean on Him with all our weight. We trust His grace to be sufficient for us and to save us from our sins.

What are some reasons that we have to rely on God’s love? Here are a few ways that His love is described in the Bible. In First John chapter 3, God’s love is described as great.Jesus implied His love was the greatest, and that it would find ultimate expression at the cross when He laid down His life for us.  Psalm 136 describes God’s love as enduring forever. It never ends. And Psalm 86 describes God’s love as abounding. It overflows from His heart into the world.

Look into the ways that God’s love is described in the Bible and find encouragement by the nature of His love.

Take the daily challenge to fully rely on God’s love on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to remember God’s Promises.

This focus point helps to build our faith in the Lord as we reflect on fulfilled prophecies and the fulfillment of His love for us. In the days of Moses, the LORD promised that He would rescue the Israelites from the hand of the Egyptians and bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Many years passed before this promise became reality, but when it did, the writer of Joshua 21:45 noted, “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”

This is an example of God’s faithfulness to His people. Second Corinthians 1:20 says, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.”  The cross and empty grave were also fulfilled promises of God, which demonstrated His love for us.

Take the Daily Challenge to remember God’s Promises on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK -In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to rejoice in the Lord.

It was Nehemiah who said, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Having joy does not mean that we are always happy about our circumstances. But the joy of the Lord does lead us to a place of serving God with a willing heart and worshipping God with a grateful heart.

First Chronicles 16:10 says, “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.”

The salvation of God gives us a glad heart. His promise of a new life, abundant life, and eternal life in Christ brings joy to our soul. We are encouraged by God’s faithful love for us, and rejoice in His goodness, greatness, and graciousness toward us.

Take the Daily Challenge to rejoice in the Lord with a heart of worship on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

This is found in Ephesians 6:16. The Bible tells us that this piece of God’s armor enables us to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

This means that there are times when Satan will attack us. It could be with accusations to condemn us, or it could be with temptations to deceive us.

The shield of faith protects us from these attacks. When Satan launches the flaming arrow of despair, the shield of faith defends us with hope. When Satan launches the flaming arrow of hatred, the shield of faith defends us with the love of Christ. When Satan launches the flaming arrow of worthlessness, the shield of faith defends us with the truth that we are valuable to God. Faith is effective for putting out the destructive fires of the evil one.

Take the daily challenge to stand firm by taking up the shield of faith on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to be ready to share the Good news of Jesus Christ wherever we go.

Wherever Christ’s followers are serving as His ambassadors, Jesus is represented in that place.

Ephesians 6:14 motivates us to stand firm in the faith with ready feet. The New Living Translation says, “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.”

The good news that we have to share with others is the forgiveness and eternal life that is given us through faith in Jesus Christ. God’s love moves us to share the testimony of Jesus so that others may turn to Christ and be saved from their sins.

Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.”

Take the daily challenge to stand firm with ready feet to share God’s good news on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to put on the breastplate of righteousness.

This challenge is found in Ephesians 6:14, which encourages us to stand firm with the breastplate of righteousness in place.

The breastplate of righteousness guards our heart. That source of righteousness is Jesus Christ, and is given to us through faith in His name. In First Thessalonians 5:8, we are instructed to put on faith and love as a breastplate.  These are the qualities that protect our heart from corruption and compromise, and give us the ambition to do what is right in the eyes of God.

Take the daily challenge to stand firm by putting on the breastplate of righteousness on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to put on the belt of truth.

Ephesians 6:14 instructs us to “stand firm then, with the belt of truth, buckled around our waist.” There is great freedom that we can enjoy when we are surrounded by the truth.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” If we are familiar with the truth, we will be in a much better position to recognize the lies of the enemy, and to resist those lies, when our enemy tries to lure us into temptation.

Bank tellers recognize counterfeit bills because they are so familiar in dealing with real money. In a similar way, we can recognize deception and resist temptation through a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. In John 8:36, Jesus said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Take the daily challenge to stand firm by putting on the belt of truth on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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