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

This is an instrument of protection for the spiritual battles of our lives. In Ephesians 6:16, the shield of faith is mentioned as a defensive weapon in the armor of God. As we take up the shield of faith, we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Faith serves as a shield in the sense that it helps us to overcome fear, doubt, and temptation. The shield helps us to take our position on the spiritual battlefield and to stand firm when the forces of spiritual darkness attack us.

Ultimately, the LORD is our shield and protector. David wrote in Psalm 3, “Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him.’ But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”

Find encouragement in knowing God as our shield who protects us from the evil one in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

To take delight in something or someone is to find enjoyment and satisfaction in the source of our delight.

Psalm 37:4 instructs us to “take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

This passage is encouraging us to enjoy time with the LORD. Find satisfaction in His grace, because His grace is sufficient for our needs. Find joy in worshipping Him because He is worthy of our praise and delight.

As we delight in the LORD, He will rearrange our desires to His purposes. The words of the Bible will be meaningful in building our relationship with God. We will find joy in the journey of following Jesus and being in relationship with Him. We will take delight in God’s work among us, leading to changed lives for His glory.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Find encouragement in the opportunity to delight in the Lord in the Year of Endurance.

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

This was a turning point in the disciple Thomas, when Jesus appeared to him and showed him the scars in His hands. It happened after Jesus rose from the dead. Thomas struggled with believing that Jesus really rose from the dead. But after seeing Him alive, Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God.”

Jesus responded by saying, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

This is a moving encounter to show us the blessing of believing in the resurrection of Jesus. His scars prove that He is alive and is full of love, because it was love that moved Him to lay down His life for our sins. At His return, Jesus will be identified by His scars.  Zechariah 12:10 says, “They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him.”

Take the daily challenge to look for the evidence of God’s love in the scars of Jesus 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 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