JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Micah 4:5.
“All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.”
This chapter reveals the blessing of belonging to God and His Kingdom. The prophet lays out a vision of the future where God teaches us His ways so that we may walk in his paths.
The word of the LORD will go out from Jerusalem. Nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. No one will make them afraid.
Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of grace, truth, and peace in the Year of Vision.
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Philippians 4, verses 6 and 7.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer is a spiritual weapon that fights against our anxious thoughts. Prayer gives us access to the throne of heaven. When we communicate with God, we have the opportunity to tell Him the cares of our hearts. God invites us to place our burdens on Him. He can handle our concerns and replace the anxious thoughts that weigh on our mind with His peace.
Billy Graham once said, “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, “O God, forgive me”, or “help me.”
Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of prayer and peace with God in the Year of Vision.
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!
Hello! I hope you and your family are doing well. There’s a lot going on, and it can be very easy to feel overwhelmed. So, I have a special theme for this morning: songs of wholehearted trust and unshakeable peace. The lineup includes songs based on popular Bible verses like Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6 and Lamentations 3:22-23. We’ll focus on His goodness in keeping His promises—and we’ll remember: He is still in control.
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Psalm 29:11.
“The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.”
God is our source of strength. Whatever good accomplishments flow out of our lives is ultimately because He gave us the strength to be successful.
God is also our source of peace. His love for us speaks at the cross and tells us that we matter to God.
Jesus invites us to follow Him with a faithful heart, and offers to replace our guilt with His righteousness. In saying “Yes” to this invitation, we are no longer isolated from God, but restored to a meaningful friendship with God. His love surrounds us, and we find comfort in His love.
Through Jesus, we are set free to celebrate His strength and peace.
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Romans 5, verses 1 and 2a.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”
In the presence of violence and conflict, many of us crave peace. We want wars to end. We want crime to stop. We want the arguments and disagreements to disappear from our relationships. There are some types of conflict that we cannot control, but there is a pathway provided by Jesus that leads us to peace with God. That way is the good news of His grace, which we can receive as the ultimate gift.
He will be faithful to bring us into a peaceful relationship with God and to separate us from the guilt of our sins. There is no more war with God when our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus.
Through Jesus, we are set free to have peace with God forever.
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Luke 22:51.
Jesus said to Peter, “No more of this.” Then, He touched a man’s ear and healed him.
Peter had just drawn the sword and used it on the servant of the high priest. That was when Jesus stepped into say, “No more of this”-meaning, No more violence. He was telling Peter to put away his sword.
Earlier, Jesus told the disciples to take two swords, but clearly, it was not for the purpose of preventing His arrest. Jesus told Pilate at His trial, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
The words of Jesus inspire us to use peaceful means in our defense of the Gospel in the Year of Redemption.
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Psalm 23:2.
With the LORD as my shepherd, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.”
In a relationship with God, we can rest in His grace. His love will be our source of peace and confidence. In a works-oriented religion, a person tries to earn the favor of God with good deeds, but with that mindset, there is never any true security that we have done enough to please our Maker. When we see God’s love through the cross, we see His grace as a gift to be received by faith, not a paycheck to earn by our good deeds.
Our yearning for peace with God is satisfied in Christ, and our thirst for righteousness is satisfied by the gentle flow of His grace.
Through Jesus, we are set free to enjoy God’s rest and refreshment.
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Philippians 4:8 and 9.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-thing about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Sometimes, we can be disturbed by our thought patterns. Fear and anxiety paralyze us from moving forward in God’s will. Self-righteousness keeps us from loving people. Complaining thought patterns keep us from the joy of thanksgiving. But if we fix our thoughts on Jesus, a new way of thinking will emerge that focuses on the virtuous qualities of the Bible.
Through Jesus, we are set free to focus our thoughts on Jesus and experience His peace.
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in John 14:27.
Jesus
told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give
to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid.”
The
peace of God is a wonderful treasure and is available for those who trust in
Jesus completely. Just before Jesus died, He was talking about peace that was
better than anything this world could give.
With
faith in Jesus, we are able to rest in God’s grace. We don’t have to prove our worth to Him. He has proved His
love for us.
With
faith in Jesus, we have a secure relationship that is built on sure promises of
blessing.
With
faith in Jesus, we have a Savior, who does not count our sins against us. We
are forgiven and reconciled to God through Jesus.
The words of Jesus inspire us to embrace the peace that Jesus offers us in the Year of Redemption.
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Matthew 5:9.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
One of the purposes of those who follow Jesus is to be agents of reconciliation. Second Corinthians 5:19 tells us that God has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We have good news to share with the world that God’s forgiveness is available through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no greater way to be a peacemaker than to be an influence for the Gospel, where people come into relationship with God and experience His peace.
Another way to be a peacemaker is to have a mediating role between two conflicting parties. This takes wisdom and patience to rebuild relationships that have been strained by conflict.
God’s peacemakers in the world will be called God’s children in His kingdom.
Walking as a peacemaker is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.
