John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Acknowledge.

This is a reality check where we have the courage to face the truth about ourselves and the truth about God.

This is the path of freedom for us. David acknowledged the truth about his selfish ways in Psalm 32:5. He said, “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Acknowledgement of God faces the reality of His worthiness to save us and restore us to Himself.

This is what we find in Hosea 6:3, “Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear. He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

Discover how the word “Acknowledge” can have an impact on your life in the Year of God’s Word.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the LORD says in Joel 2:12.

“Even now, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

It is not uncommon for brokenness to bring us to our knees and to cry out to God. We recognize our own inadequacies and turn to His sufficient grace to provide salvation for us.

God is close to a broken heart. After the Lord issued this invitation for the people to return to Him, the prophet Joel added, “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”

That word “Rend” means to tear apart. Sometimes people tore their garments in distress. Rending our heart would mean acknowledging our broken condition and repenting of our sins before the Lord. This is the path to forgiveness and spiritual healing.

Joel 2:12-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Thirsty.

This is the condition that drives us to search for a drink.

Jesus was able to take ordinary circumstances and turn them into life lessons. He did that in John chapter 4, verse 13 when having a conversation with a Samaritan woman by the well.

Jesus pointed to the physical water of the well and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.” But then He added, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus tapped into this woman’s spiritual thirst to reveal how she could experience the joy of forgiveness, peace with God, and the gift of eternal life.

Discover how the word “Thirsty” can have an impact on your life in the Year of God’s Word.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the LORD says in Malachi 3:6 and 7.

“I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you.”

In this book of the Bible, the Lord was confronting various issues of disobedience in the land. Yet, God kept the door of invitation open for the unfaithful to become faithful servants of God. We live in a time right now when God is inviting us to come to Jesus for the cleansing that we need. James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.”

Through Jesus, change is possible, and so is a close relationship with God.

Malachi 3:6 and 7-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Longing.

This word is often used in the Bible to describe a deep desire and yearning for God. It describes our heart-felt ambition to be near God.

We see this yearning expressed throughout the Psalms. One of those places is Psalm 119:81. “My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.”

There are many blessings from God’s hand to enjoy on the earth, but in a world broken by sin, we also know the pain of sickness, grief, death, and injustice.

The picture of eternity reveals better days to come for those who love the Lord and long for His salvation. C.S. Lewis once said, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” Heaven is where we find our longing for God fulfilled completely.

Discover how the word “Longing” can have an impact on our life in the Year of God’s Word.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the LORD says in John 12:46.

Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

This statement shows how the presence of Jesus is able to bring hope, righteousness, and joy into our lives. We can live a quality life of loving relationships with neighbors, family members, and with God Himself, because of the effective grace of Jesus in our hearts. The sinful nature loses control by the goodness and graciousness of God.

Isaiah 9:2 foretold the influence of Jesus in this way: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

 The presence of Jesus has brought light into the world. Faith opens the window of our heart to receive the light of God’s love.

John 12:46-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Advocate.

An advocate is someone who defends or pleads another’s cause.

An advocate is a helper and a friend. Because of our sins, we are in a place of guilt unless someone steps in to plead our case.

Thankfully, Jesus took our place on the cross and paid the penalty for our sin so that we can be set free from our guilty condition.

First John 2:1 says, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

The Holy Spirit is also a worthy advocate to help us live out the Christian life in a way that is worthy of the Gospel. Jesus said in John 14:16, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-the Spirit of truth.”

Discover how the word “Advocate” can have an impact on your life in the Year of God’s Word.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the Lord says in John 3, verses 20 and 21.

Jesus said, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

Stepping into the light of God’s grace and truth is the beginning of a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. Confession is a turning point from darkness into light, where we acknowledge our sins to God and express our need for His grace. This is a humbling and freeing moment that releases us from the guilt of our past. God is faithful to forgive us when we confess our sins to Him. Then, we walk in the light of His fellowship and freedom, enjoying the journey of knowing Him better and loving Him more deeply. Then, we will learn to dance in the light as we celebrate with joy what God has done in our lives.

John 3:20 and 21-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word from God’s Word is Act.

One definition of Act is “to behave in a certain manner.”

In a spiritual sense, our actions reflect how we live out our faith. When those actions are consistent with the way of Jesus, we express our faith in love. These are the kinds of actions that have a way of meeting needs and pointing people to the love of Jesus.

Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”

Discover how the word “Act” can have an impact on your life in the Year of God’s Word.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of God’s Word, this is what the Lord says in Isaiah 43:1 to 3.

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

If we belong to the Lord, we may encounter the waters of affliction. They are not meant to drown us, but to purify us. We may encounter the fire of adversity. They are not for the purpose of destroying us, but refining us. We can trust Him to be with us through the various seasons of life as our firm foundation.

Isaiah 43:1 to 3-that’s today’s God Quote for us to embrace for Life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com