JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is compassion.
Recently, our family of listeners participated in a Compassion event to help kids in Kenya and in other parts of the world. Kenya has experienced some disasters in recent years that have led to malnourishment among many children.
But you responded to the need. 124 listeners became sponsors with Compassion International. Now, many children will face a brighter future because of the support of their new sponsors.
Isaiah 58:10 says, “If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday.”
Compassion is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is a good deed for God.
According to Jesus, this is how we let our light shine. In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:14 to 16, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
So, what can we do today to shine our light for Jesus? Look for opportunities, let love be the motivation, and watch how God works through those simple steps of obedience to encourage someone with the reality that they are loved by God.
A good deed for God is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in the world.
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Isaiah 9:2.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
New hope was born for us at the birth of Christ. Jesus fulfilled this Old Testament prophecy in His ministry.
He is the great light that we need to find our way out of spiritual darkness. The message of Jesus was to repent-to turn from selfish ways and false beliefs and turn toward Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. That is where the real hope for a brighter day can be found-following in His footsteps.
Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to walk into the light of God’s grace by following Jesus in the Year of Relationship.
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is 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.”
One of the reasons for Jesus coming to the earth was so that we might not remain in the darkness of our own sin. The light of Jesus brings the hope of a new day for our souls. We can begin again, change direction, and walk with Jesus in the light of His grace and truth.
By following Jesus, He will help us to see ourselves and others more clearly with value and dignity.
He will also give us clarity for going forward in God’s will. A prophecy in Isaiah 2:3 says that He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to come out of darkness into the radiant light of following Jesus in the Year of Relationship.
This week’s Praise & Worship Playlist has a Marvelous Light Theme tying all the songs together. It’s a lineup airing on Halloween, during that time of the year when there’s less sunlight in the day, and we’re still in a heavy season. I want to remind us that God is Light and darkness cannot overcome it. He is the Light of the world and we are called children of the light. There’s a lot of good songs to sing over your situation in this lineup, including “Let The Light In” by Cody Carnes, “Running To The Light” by Brandon Lake, “Shake The Dust Off” by Sean Curran, “Let There Be Light” by Bryan & Katie Torwalt, “Shine On Us” by Cory Asbury and more.
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is light.
Light has a way of breaking the darkness, just as the power of God is dependable for breaking the power of sin. John 1:5 says that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
We can trust in Jesus to overcome the forces of darkness because He is the light of the world. He made this claim in John 8:12.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
If we feel surrounded by darkness, whether it be the pressures of this world or the temptations by our own sinful desires, there is a light to lead us out of darkness. His name is Jesus. He is the source of light to shine on our hearts and give us the hope of an abundant and eternal life with Him.
Find encouragement in the light that Jesus provides to lead us out of darkness in the Year of Endurance.
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to take a step toward doing what is good.
The Apostle Paul wrote why this is important in Titus 3:14-Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
God put us here on earth to make a difference. He called us to be a light in the world-to reflect His heart of love for a broken world. One of the ways we shine that light is to do good deeds that glorify God in heaven.
When we see the good deeds of Jesus, we see that He was about proclaiming good news, healing, setting the oppressed free, and demonstrating love through humble service and sacrifice.
Take the daily challenge to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by doing what is good on the journey of faith.
Today’s playlist has brand new music from Kim Walker-Smith, Jason Upton, Mack Brock and Mosaic MSC. Plus, mini-themes of PEACE, GARDENS springing to life and LIGHT breaking through!
One of my favorite new songs in that GARDENS mini-theme is “Cherry Blossoms” by MoveSomebody. I talked with BJ & Lisa Sullivan and loved learning all about this song (and how the saxophone was instrumental in the recording process!)
Another song that is on my heart a lot this season is “Let The Light In” by Cody Carnes. I caught up with him recently and was thrilled to know it’s his pick for this season, too. He told me the story behind the song on the P&W Podcast. Listen right here!
Right at the beginning, God said “Let there be light”. That was it! Darkness lost. Just a spark and it still flees today. This morning’s “Marvelous Light” theme fills our lineup with songs celebrating the defeat of darkness. Whatever darkness you’re up against (depression, discouragement, confusion, sickness, grief)…I’ve got a feeling it won’t last very long. The playlist is below.
Bright hope to you,
Kristi Leigh, WJTL DJ
Kristi@WJTL.com
Song Title
Artist
Album
Year
6:00 a.m.
Light Will Shine
Hillsong United
Aftermath
2011
Live Alive (live)
Rend Collective
Campfire II-Simplicity
2016
In Your Light (feat. Jeremy Riddle)
Bethel Live
For The Sake Of The World
2012
Life Light Up
Christy Nockels
Life Light Up
2009
Lift Up the Light
Shane & Shane
The One You Need
2011
Joyous Light
Chris Tomlin
Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern
2004
Let There Be Light
The City Harmonic
We Are
2016
God of Our Yesterdays
Chris McClarney
Glimpses of Worship
2009
Let It Shine
All Sons & Daughters
Season One
2012
Old for New (Live)
Bethel Music & Hannah McClure
Starlight (Live)
2017
Pure Light
Matt Redman
Facedown
2004
Turn Your Eyes
Jadon Lavik
Roots Run Deep
2008
Salt & Light
Lauren Daigle
How Can It Be
2015
As Sure As The Sun
Ellie Holcomb
As Sure As The Sun
2015
Sunrise
Meredith Andrews
Deeper (Deluxe Edition)
2016
7:00 a.m.
Bright as the Sun
Hillsong Worship
Awake
2019
Marvelous Light
Charlie Hall
Flying Into Daybreak
2006
Never Lost
Catherine Mullins
Sing Like the Battle Is Over
2019
To the End (feat. Amanda Cook)
Mack Brock
Greater Things
2018
Morning Sun
Philip Herndon
Decade
2019
Shine On Us
Cory Asbury
Immersed
2007
Where His Light Was
Kristene DiMarco
Where His Light Was
2017
The Light Will Come
Phil Wickham
Cannons
2007
Into The Light
SisterBrother
TBD
2013
Step Into the Light (feat. Sean Curran) [Live from Passion 2019]
Passion
Single
2019
Let Me Feel You Shine
David Crowder Band
Give Us Rest-A Requiem Mass In C (The Happiest Of All The Keys)
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on First Peter 2:12.
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
The call to Christian integrity goes beyond mere words to a way of life that reflects the actions, attitudes, and teachings of Jesus Christ. One famous quote commonly associated with St. Francis of Assisi is, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.”
Jesus emphasized the importance of letting our light shine before others so that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.
Walking in the light of God’s goodness is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.
