This Day With God – A Spiritual Journey

🎵 Worship Song Sunday Inspired by Jeremiah 16

Posted on August 30, 2026 by Mark Shields

All week, my heart has leaned into the study of Jeremiah 16 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 found 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 hope that anchors to the living God —Jesus Christ—who broke the power of death so that new life became possible, stretching all the way into eternity.

Second Shot of Grace

Link to song published at Suno – Link

Verse 1
I was carryin’ a past that felt heavy on my back,
Days with no joy, nights painted black.
Walkin’ the wrong road, wanderin’ off track,
But God stepped in and gave me somethin’ I lacked.
A second shot at life, a brand‑new start,
A gracious new beginning for my weary heart.

Chorus
’Cause hope rises up in the livin’ God,
Steady and strong when I give Him a nod.
Jesus Christ handed me that second shot,
Said, “Come on child, give it all you’ve got.”
I’m walkin’ in His ways, where the future’s bright,
A life made new in His perfect light.

Verse 2
He laid my debts down at the foot of the Cross,
Broke death’s power so I’d never feel lost.
Now I’m standin’ in freedom, redeemed and understood,
A new life that’s better, a life that’s good.
It stretches on forever, secure and true,
A promise that holds me and carries me through.

Bridge
So I lift my voice in praise today,
To the ONE who set us free all the way.
Grace for you and grace for me,
A country‑road hymn of victory.

Final Chorus
Yeah, hope rises up in the livin’ God,
Steady and strong when the storms hit hard.
Jesus Christ gave me that second shot,
And I’m runnin’ with joy for all He bought.
Now and forever, I’m walkin’ free—
By His grace, by His love, eternally.

Posted in Hope, Worship, Worship Song | Tagged Cross, Desire, Eternity, Faith, Freedom, Grace, Hope, Joy, Love, Praise, Redemption, Reflection, Scripture, Song, Strength, Truth, victory, Worship | 2 Comments

✝️ Statements of Faith Friday 08-28-2026

Posted on August 28, 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 16, 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 and throughout the week ahead as the Spirit guides, reminding us that God’s Way is hopeful, full of promise, and victorious.

Statements of Faith Inspired by Jeremiah 16

God gives me a second shot at life — a gracious new beginning shaped by His mercy.
He wipes away the negative past, even the seasons when joy and celebration were missing.
When I walked the wrong path, He did not abandon me; He called me back with love.
Hope is found in the living God, Jesus, and I anchor my life in Him.
Jesus Christ gives me that second shot—to get things right and to walk in His ways.
With Him, I can reshape my future into something strong, purposeful, and redeemed.
He laid my debts on the Cross; nothing I owed remains on my shoulders.
He broke the power of death, so fear no longer rules my story.
New life became possible for me, and it stretches into eternity — secure now and forever.
I praise the ONE who set us free — grace for you, grace for me, and freedom for all who believe.

Posted in Hope, Statement of Faith | Tagged Celebration, Courage, Empowerment, Encouragement, Eternity, Freedom, Grace, Hope, Joy, Love, Mercy, Praise, Purpose, Redemption, Statements of Faith, Strength, Truth, Victorious, Weekend | 1 Comment

✨ Thoughts for Thursday 08-27-2026

Posted on August 27, 2026 by Mark Shields

Our thoughts are powerful catalysts, sparking the momentum that propels us forward on the path God has designed. They give us hope, energize, direct our steps, and ignite our passion like fuel to a flame as we carry out God’s plan for us. Below is a thought from Jeremiah 16.

A mulligan in golf is a second shot—a gracious chance to try again in a friendly game. In a far deeper way, that’s what God offers us in life. Through the new life we have in Christ, our living hope, we joyfully receive His mercy and begin again. He places a second shot in our hands, inviting us to take it—to step into His grace, to get things right, and to walk in a future that stretches with His goodness now and forever.

Posted in Hope, Thoughts From Devotional | Tagged Energy, Eternity, Goodness, Grace, Hope, Joy, Mercy, Momentum, Passion, Photo, Thoughts From Devotional | 5 Comments

Our Hope is in the Living God

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Mark Shields

That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. – 1 Timothy 4:10

Explained in “A Second Shot” is a mulligan in golf—a gracious do‑over offered in a friendly game. In a far greater way, that’s what God gives us in life. Through the new life we receive in Christ, He offers us a fresh beginning, a redeemed chance to get things right. It’s a second shot that reaches into our present and stretches into eternity, shaping a future that is secure now and forever.

Be inspired by the song Living Hope by Phil Wickham. Jesus Christ is our living hope—the One who broke the power of death so we can boldly say “nope” to its grip. We praise the One who set us free, opening the way to life that never ends. His grace pours out without limit, covering you and covering me, reminding us that freedom and hope are gifts we could never earn but can joyfully receive.

Index of devotionals

Thanks for reading. Please like, follow, and pass on to others … Give hope now and joy that last forever!

Posted in Devotionals, Hope | Tagged Christian Music, Devotional, Eternity, Freedom, Gospel Music, Grace, Hope, Joy, Praise, Prayer, Redemption, Savior, Worship | 2 Comments

Second Shot

Posted on August 24, 2026 by Mark Shields

Have you ever heard of a mulligan shot—a gracious second shot that lets a player reset and try again in a friendly game of golf. That’s a beautiful picture of what God offers us in a new life with Christ. He gives us a fresh start, a redeemed beginning, a chance to take another swing at living with purpose and faith. And this second shot isn’t just for our own growth; it’s an opportunity to shape the present and give hope to the generations that follow.

Reading Jeremiah 16, God reveals to the prophet a future so heavy with judgment that joy and gladness would vanish from the land. The normal joys of life—marriage, celebration, and feasting—would come to a halt, silenced by the weight of the people’s rebellion. Even the customs of mourning would be stripped away; there would be no comforting meals, no shared expressions of grief, only a stark emptiness that reflected the spiritual desolation of the nation.

The reason for all this trouble was clear: the people were facing the consequences of their idol worship and their refusal to walk in God’s ways. The Lord allowed this judgment not out of cruelty, but to shake them awake—to get their attention and draw their hearts back to Him. Through the severity of these moments, they would come to recognize His unmatched power and might, understanding that He alone is God and worthy of their worship.

God’s power and might were unmistakable in the way He orchestrated the events leading to their exile. Nothing happened by accident; He Himself set the stage, allowing defeat to fall upon a nation that had turned from Him. Yet the same God who can bring a people low is also the One who can lift them up. He holds both judgment and restoration in His hands, able to bring defeat when necessary or victory when hearts return to Him.

We can be thankful that God has also set things in place for us—not for exile, but for redemption. Through Jesus, He brings us victory, restoring what was broken and offering us a new beginning. In Christ, we’re given a gracious second shot to get things right, to walk in His ways, and to shape a future marked by His mercy and strength.

🙏 Father, with You there is always hope. You are the One who rescues us from the circumstances that overwhelm us. Jesus took the initiative on the Cross, stepping toward us long before we ever turned toward Him. His resurrection is our unshakable hope, the proof that new life is possible. Because of Him, we get a second shot—a fresh start and a future that is wide open, bright, and free.
Amen.