This Day With God – A Spiritual Journey

Allowing Him to Lead

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Mark Shields

From the study of Jeremiah 7 and written about in the blog post “Spiritual Shape”, was the message delivered by Jeremiah to the people who had neglected their spiritual health with false religion and the worship of idols.

The lesson for us is to be committed to disciplined, continuous effort, choosing the path that almost always leads to constructive, life‑building results. Instead of drifting through our days, allow God to lead us, trusting His wisdom over our own impulses. As we follow His direction, we will gain the strength and clarity to execute His plan with purpose and confidence, living out the calling He has placed on our lives.

Here is a song to inspire as we go forward sung by Ben Fuller and Carrie Underwood called If It Was Up To Me. We often try to take the easy way, following our own plans and assuming we know what’s best, but the truth is that God’s plan far surpasses anything we could design for ourselves. Life isn’t ultimately up to us—it’s up to Him. When we release our grip and trust God for the path forward, we discover a direction that is wiser, stronger, and more purposeful than anything we could have imagined on our own.

Index of devotionals

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Posted in Devotionals, Discipline | Tagged Christian Music, Clarity, Commitment, Confidence, Devotional, Discipline, Effort, Gospel Music, Lesson, Prayer, Purpose, Strength, Trust, Wisdom, Worship | 2 Comments

Spiritual Shape

Posted on June 15, 2026 by Mark Shields

When someone spends all day on the couch watching TV, their body inevitably drifts out of shape—and that’s exactly how many people treat their spiritual lives. We slip into lazy habits, wondering why our faith feels weak or unsteady. Just as the body needs the right equipment for a good workout, our soul needs the Scriptures to build strength, balance, and endurance. The Bible is our training gear, the essential tool that conditions the heart and keeps our spiritual life healthy and strong.

Reading today in Jeremiah 7, we note that the people were using the wrong equipment for a healthy spiritual life. Jeremiah delivers this bold message while standing at the gate of the Lord’s house — the very entrance to the Jerusalem Temple where worshipers streamed in and out each day. From that strategic doorway, he confronted the people at the heart of their religious routine, calling them to examine the gap between their temple attendance and their daily obedience. His location wasn’t accidental; it was a divine stage where God’s warning and invitation could not be ignored.

As worshipers streamed into the Temple courts, Jeremiah confronted them with a sobering warning about the dangers of false religion. He spoke to people who believed their rituals, sacrifices, and temple visits were enough to please God, even while their hearts chased idols. Standing at the very doorway of their worship, he exposed the emptiness of outward religion without inward obedience, calling them to abandon their idols and return to genuine faithfulness.

Just as in Jeremiah’s day, we need deep spiritual reform in our own time—a return to self‑control, self‑discipline, and wholehearted devotion to the one true God. His Word is our compass, His Spirit is our guide, and His plan calls for obedience rather than empty routine. When we turn back to Him with sincerity and surrender, He reshapes our lives with purpose, clarity, and renewed strength.

🙏 Lord, help us to be committed and disciplined, giving continuous effort as we follow You each day. Lead us, God, into the fullness of Your purpose for our lives, and make us spiritually fit—strong and ready—to carry out Your game plan. Strengthen our hearts, steady our steps, and guide us so that everything we do brings honor to You. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Discipline | Tagged Bible Study, Clarity, Devotion, Discipline, Endurance, Faith, Faithfulness, Guidance, Health, Obedience, Photo, Prayer, Purpose, spirituality, Strength | 2 Comments

🎵 Worship Song Sunday Inspired by Jeremiah 6

Posted on June 14, 2026 by Mark Shields

All week, my heart has leaned into the study of Jeremiah 6 to build something that lasts—not just for today, but for every tomorrow. I’ve sought truth that stirs me now, igniting a deeper desire to walk in God’s Way. And I’ve listened for something I can carry forward, a sound that keeps me stepping ahead in faith by transforming spiritual insights into song. Out of this pursuit, a worship song has emerged—born from scripture, shaped by reflection, and filled with encouragement to be called according to His purpose. To rise and be the Light like spiritual lifeguards — ready to reach into the deep darkness and help rescue those who are drowning.

Link to song published at Suno – Link

🎵 Rise and Be the Light🎵

Verse 1
An army roaring in the distance,
Like a tidal wave in the night.
Hooves are shaking the earth beneath us,
A wake‑up call to turn our hearts to light.

A world drifting toward destruction,
Truth abandoned, love pushed aside.
Hearts closed off from Your correction,
Integrity lost in the shadows we hide.

Pre‑Chorus

But even as the darkness gathers,
Your voice is calling through the noise.

Chorus

We will rise and be the light,
Shining hope into the night.
You have called us, You have chosen,
We are Yours, our hearts are open.
By Your power we stand strong,
For Your glory we press on.
Let the world see Jesus’ love
Shining bright through us.

Verse 2
Once proud cities now are trembling,
As the roaring of the sea draws near.
Chaos surges through the nations,
A tide of fear, confusion, and tears.

Yet in the shaking You awaken
A people formed by grace and truth.
Equipped and empowered for this moment,
To carry light in all we do.

Pre‑Chorus

For even when the world is breaking,
Your hope is rising in our souls.

Chorus

We walk in courage, we walk in truth,
Your Spirit leading all we do.
Bringing healing, bringing change,
Till every heart reflects Your name.
We walk in courage, we walk in truth,
Your Spirit leading all we do.
Let Your love break through the dark,
Shine Your light in every heart.

Bridge

Final Chorus

We will rise and be the light,
Shining hope into the night.
Chosen, called, and fully Yours,
We carry love to every door.
By Your power we stand strong,
For Your glory we press on.
Let the world see Jesus’ love
Shining bright through us.

Posted in Wisdom, Worship, Worship Song | 1 Comment

✝️ Statements of Faith Friday 06-12-2026

Posted on June 12, 2026 by Mark Shields

As we set sail into the future God has prepared for us, our statements of faith serve as anchors, ⚓ keeping us grounded and aligned to His Way. Set in the powerful truths of Jeremiah 6, these declarations are more than words—they strengthen our resolve and renew our hope. Whether spoken aloud or written in a journal, they carry the potential to give us a lift and empower us like wind in our sails. Let them be a source of encouragement this weekend as the Spirit guides throughout the week ahead, reminding us that we are called according to His purpose. We stand as spiritual lifeguards—ready to reach into the deep and save the drowning.

✨ Statements of Faith Inspired by Inspired by Jeremiah 6

I stay spiritually awake and alert, refusing to drift into moral decay.
My heart remains open to God’s correction, shaping me with wisdom and truth.
Integrity is my foundation, untouched by corruption or compromise.
Even when the world roars like a tidal wave, I stand firm in God’s strength.
I rise as a light in my generation, shining with purpose and conviction.
God has given me a divine role in the healing of my nation.
My life carries eternal impact because I walk in God’s calling.
I am chosen, equipped, and empowered for such a time as this.
I make a difference for God’s glory wherever I go.
Courage fills me as I walk in truth, even when others turn away.
I bring healing, hope, and positive change through the Spirit’s power.
My presence pushes back darkness and reflects the Light of Jesus.
Love flows from my life so the world sees more of Him.
I am a vessel of peace in a world shaken by disorder.
God’s purpose in me cannot be drowned out by the noise around me.

Posted in Purpose, Statement of Faith | Tagged Courage, Empowerment, Healing, Hope, Integrity, Love, Peace, Power, Purpose, Statements of Faith, Strength, Truth, Wisdom | 1 Comment

✨ Thoughts for Thursday 06-11-2026

Posted on June 11, 2026 by Mark Shields

Our thoughts are powerful catalysts, sparking the momentum that propels us forward on the path God has designed. They shape our perspective, energize, direct our steps, and ignite our passion as we carry out God’s plan for us. Below is a thought from Jeremiah 6.

God gave Jeremiah a clear vision and a purpose—to sound the alarm and call people back before disaster struck—and in the same way, God has shaped your life with intention and meaning. When you pray and listen for His direction, you begin to discern the life plan He has crafted specifically for you. As you learn to see yourself through His eyes—capable, called, and deeply loved—you can aim your life toward the purpose He designed. And as you walk in that calling with courage and obedience, God can use you as a catalyst for positive change in your city, your state, and even your nation, just as He used Jeremiah in his time.