John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to be committed to prayer.

Ephesians 6:18 encourages us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Every day is an opportunity to approach God in prayer with the confidence that He hears us, He loves us, and responds to the prayers of His people.

When someone comes to our mind, that is a good time to pray for them. God may be bringing a particular person to our mind so that we lift up their needs to the throne of grace. There are additional ways that we can be a supportive friend, but prayer is a good starting place.

Take the daily challenge to be committed to prayer on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to persevere in helping people.

God is watching us. He sees everything we do and knows everything about us. He is also able to remember every single thing we do with pure motives. One of the ways that we demonstrate love for God is by serving His people.

Hebrews 6:10 says “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

God saw their faithful service in the past, but He also noted their ongoing work of being helpful. And we can draw the conclusion that the writer is urging us to continue in the good work that God began in us. Remember the smile of God on you as you express His love  generously to people in need.

Take the daily challenge to persevere in helping 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 persevere in hope.

Through the frustrations and heartaches of life, we have a hope that helps us to press on in the faith, resting on the promises of God.

In Romans 8:22, the Apostle Paul wrote, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship-the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

This world will have good seasons and difficult seasons-joy, conflict, and pain. But God is planning a much better place in the future for those who follow Jesus by faith. His promises keep hope alive in our hearts, and keep us motivated to serve Him faithfully today.

Take the daily challenge to persevere in hope on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

God’s will for our lives is to express our faith in love. He wants us to have thriving relationships.

In First Thessalonians 4:10, the Apostle Paul commended that church for loving God’s family throughout Macedonia, and then said, “Yet, we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more.”

When it comes to sharing God’s love with others, there is always room for us to grow.

First Corinthians 13:6 tells us that love always perseveres.

It shows in the form of showing compassion to one another, forgiving one another, being kind to one another, offering encouragement to one another, and serving one another. There are many opportunities to demonstrate God’s love every day.

Take the daily challenge to persevere in love on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Here are some highlights on the Friday Time Capsule from the Countdown May 30, 1988.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5cy9GnyZSuRQbKssgQ7mef?si=fc1287e8c6184b28

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to use music as an instrument of worship.

Music is a gift from God and is a meaningful way to express our love for Him.

Throughout history, God’s people have lifted up their voices together in praise to God. Music can be a picture of how God desires for His people to live in unity with each other. We don’t all play the same instruments, nor do we all sing the same parts, but as we harmonize with the body of Christ, we lift up a beautiful song that glorifies God.

Ephesians 5:19 encourages us to be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Take the daily challenge to use music as an instrument of worship on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

To be in God’s grace is to have God’s favor. For those who have sinned against God, we don’t deserve God’s grace, but out of God’s abundant goodness and love for us, He gives His grace to bless us.

Grace is a gift to be received, not a paycheck to be earned. The life-saving impact of grace is highlighted for us in Ephesians 2:8. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

And Romans 3:22 says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith.”

That is what the death and resurrection of Jesus was all about-to offer the gift of grace to sinners like us, so that we might be redeemed, restored, and reconciled to Him.

Find encouragement in receiving the gift of God’s grace in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to store up heavenly treasures.

That is what Jesus instructed us to do in Matthew chapter 6. He said in Verse 19, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

While the treasures of earth last only for a little while, heavenly treasures are eternal and secure. They are out of the reach of bandits. They will not fade out, wear out, or rust out. They are precious trophies for faithful service to God.

First Timothy 6:17 and 18 highlights how we can invest in heavenly treasure. Put our hope in God rather than in our wealth. Do good, be rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to share.

Take the Daily Challenge to store up heavenly treasure on the Journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

This was the commitment of David, expressed in Psalm 145, verse 2. “Every day, I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.”

Not only is God worthy of our praise for today, but He is also worthy of our praise forever.

In this Psalm, David identifies the praiseworthy qualities of God. These qualities remind us why God is most worthy of our praise.

Here are a few of them: verse 6 talks about God’s awesome works and great deeds.

Verse 7 talks about His abundant goodness.

Verse 8 tells us that the LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love.

Our worship for God is meaningful when we acknowledge His awesome greatness, abundant goodness, and amazing grace.

Take the daily challenge to praise the LORD today and every day on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

One definition of Overcome is to defeat an opponent and prevail.

When Jesus died on a cross, it may not have appeared to most people that Jesus was prevailing, but three days later, He rose from the grave and overcame death.

When we face crisis situations or the pressures of daily life, we can be encouraged by the accomplishments of Jesus when He walked on the earth.

In John 16:33, Jesus said to His followers, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Because Jesus lives, we can live with the confidence that He is able to lead us to a place of life and ultimate victory. First John 5:5 asks the question, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Find encouragement in the grace of the Lord Jesus to help us overcome the pressures of the world in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com