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 Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Ezekiel 36, verse 26.
“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.”
The
Gospel is a message of hope for change. This change begins in the heart to
recognize the value of God’s grace to save us from our sins and transform us
into His likeness.
He
gives us new ambitions, so that our ultimate desire becomes pleasing God with a
faithful heart. Flowing out of that faithfulness is a willing heart to serve
God and to obey His Word. His love will compel us to express our faith in love.
Through Jesus, we are set free to receive a new heart that is focused on following Him.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Ezekiel 36:26.
God is saying to the house of Israel, “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.”
The Gospel offers us restoration and transformation of the heart. God was saying that a day is coming when a nation of people will have their hearts of stone replaced by hearts of flesh. Their resistance to God would give way to tenderness. They would become teachable. That is what happens when we open our heart to the good news of Jesus Christ. He puts His Spirit in us and moves our heart to have the desire to love Him and obey Him fully.
Walking with a new heart is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Promise of Hope is based on Second Corinthians 5:17.
“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!”
Through faith in Jesus, we are made new. This is evident in various ways.
In relationship with Christ, we have a new mind with a new attitude. Ephesians 4:23 says that we were taught to put off our old self and be made new in the attitude of our minds.
In relationship with Christ, we have a new heart. Ezekiel 11:19 says, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them.”
In relationship with Christ, we have a new home. Philippians 3:20 reminds believers that our citizenship is in heaven.
And in relationship with Christ, we have a new start. According to First Peter 1:3, “In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Becoming a new creation is a promise of hope for those who follow Jesus in the Year of Trust.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
