JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 6:18.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Prayer is part of the armor of light that enables us to fight the good fight of faith.
There is power in prayer. As we seek God, we draw closer to Him. Prayer opens our eyes to the needs around us. Prayer gives us opportunity to intercede for others, which means that we go to God on their behalf. When someone comes to our mind, that is a good time to pray for them and lift their needs to God’s throne of grace.
This Light Reflection inspires us to be committed to praying for others in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is “Pray.”
Author Ray Stedman has said that when you take the whole range of Bible teaching on the subject of prayer, you will find that prayer is simply conversing with God. As the famous hymn declares, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!”
Jesus taught us to how to pray in Matthew chapter 6, verse 9.
“Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts and we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Find encouragement in prayer to the God who made us and loves us in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Matthew 6, verses 5 and 6.
Jesus said, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders turned prayer into a spectator event. Jesus tells us that the purpose of prayer is not to impress a crowd, but to spend time in communion with God. In those quiet places of prayer, God will meet us and be there to strengthen our faith in Him.
Walking with pure motives in prayer is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from First Kings 8:28.
Solomon prayed, “Give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.”
This is the verse connecting with the theme for the National Day of Prayer today-“Lord, Hear Our Cry.”
This theme emphasizes our need to trust in the unfailing character of God, who is sovereign over all governments, authorities, and people. The National Honorary Chairman, Dr. Jack Graham, has written a prayer for this special occasion. This is part of that prayer:
“We come to You in the Name that is above every name-Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our hearts cry out to You. Knowing that You are a prayer-answering, faithful God-the One we trust in times like these-we ask that You renew our spirits, revive our churches, and heal our land. We repent of our sins and ask for Your grace and power to save us. Hear our cry, oh God, and pour out Your Spirit upon us that we may walk in obedience to Your Word. In Jesus’ name, our Savior, Amen.”
Humbling ourselves to Pray for our nation is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
Keep listening throughout the day for reports from WJTL listeners. Call the WJTL Listener Hotline with your report – 717 397-8090. Tell us your name, what school you are at and a brief description of what is happening. Check out the National See You at the Pole website for info on this year’s theme, history and more!
