John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to embrace the peace that God offers us through Jesus Christ.

The prophet Isaiah described the coming Messiah as the Prince of Peace. Jesus becomes our source of peace when we trust Him as our Savior and Lord. He will establish peace among the nations in the future, but right now, He is our pathway to peace with God through forgiveness of sins and the promise of a hopeful future with Him.

That same prophet said in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.”

We can trust Jesus to be the anchor that keeps us together when our world feels like it is falling apart. He will be our source of hope, our reason for praise, and our place to turn for unfailing love.

Take the Daily Challenge to embrace God’s peace on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

The arrival of Jesus brought the promise of peace, stirring praise among God’s people and angels.

In Luke 2:13, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Peace is a good reason for praising God. His favor extends to those who humbly recognize our need for grace. The love of Jesus is our source of peace, breaking down our barriers of pride and selfishness that keep us from knowing God. His peace is not based on favorable circumstances, but rather has its foundation on the favor of God.

Romans 5:1 says, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Find encouragement in the gift of peace that comes through knowing Jesus Christ in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

The definition of this word is “greatly surprised; astonished.”

We have a reason to be amazed at the birth of Christ. His arrival marked a major step forward in God’s redemption plan for us. God came to earth and was made in human likeness. He humbled Himself and would go to the cross to save us from our sins. Christmas reminds us of when God came near to us.

The shepherds were eyewitnesses to the manger scene, and heard the angelic announcement concerning Jesus birth.

Luke 2:17 says, “When they had seen him they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

Find encouragement in the amazing grace of God in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

Many predictions of human origin fail to materialize, but in the course of time, the prophecies of the Bible prove to be reliable.

Here are just a few prophecies about Jesus’ birth which came true hundreds of years later.

Isaiah 7:14 said “the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”  That happened when Mary gave birth to Jesus.

Micah 5:2 predicted Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus. That was fulfilled in Matthew chapter 2.

And when Jesus went to Egypt, Matthew quoted Hosea 11:1 to link that event to a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

Second Peter 1:21 tells us that “prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Find encouragement in the prophecies of the Bible to give us hope in Christ in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

According to Micah 5:2, Bethlehem was small among the clans of Judah, and would be the birthplace of the Messiah.

This was the prediction about Jesus in that passage, “Out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

In Matthew 2:1, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea.”

Jesus could have been born in a larger city or a more strategic place to be noticed. But instead, He was born in a small town not far from Jerusalem.

One insight to gain from Bethlehem is that God loves to work through places and people that others consider to be insignificant. He works through ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary purposes. This can be our reality when we make room for Jesus to be the guiding influence of our lives.

Find encouragement in Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus to see what He can accomplish through us in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

The Bible directs us to Jesus Christ as Savior, who is qualified to redeem us from sin and to save our souls.

This is one of the reasons why we can celebrate Christmas with so much hope: We have a Savior in Jesus Christ. We needed a rescuer because of our sin, and God saw our need. He did something about it by sending us His precious gift.

In Luke 2:11, the angelic announcement to the shepherds echoes through the centuries around the world to this generation:  “Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Find encouragement in knowing Jesus as Savior, Messiah, and Lord in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to build up others with our words.

Ephesians 4:29 instructs us with these words, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

If we are going to meet people at their point of need, we will need to use words that are wholesome and filled with encouragement.

Ephesians 5:4 tells us that obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking are out of place for God’s holy people. Instead, we are called to speak words filled with truth and thanksgiving, in a spirit of love.

One of the great encouragers in the early church was Barnabas. Through his words to the believers in Antioch, “a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” That is what can happen when God’s Spirit directs our words to build up others in the faith.

Take the Daily Challenge to build up others with wholesome and encouraging words on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3oanEeZ54I2nodaNrcr65E?si=28ec6646881048b2

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to express praise for the Lord.

When we read the Psalms, we find many words of praise that express the joy of knowing God. Many of us relate with the Psalms, because we can put those words into the context of our relationship with God and personal experiences.

When we express praise for God, we invite others to celebrate God’s goodness and greatness with us.

David wrote in Psalm 34, verses 1 through 4- “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

Take the Daily Challenge to express praise for the Lord on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com