Thought From Devotional 05-03-2024

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Mark Shields

Nicodemus knew as pointed out in John 3:1-21 that Jesus was from God. Jesus then tells Nicodemus that to see the kingdom of God, one must be born again by being born of water and the Spirit (v. 5).

Like the force of the wind, we do not know where it comes from or where it is going but we hear the sound and can see that it moves objects. Just like when the sails gather the power of the wind to move a boat. So it is with the Spirit, we can see the results of what it produces.

The Spirit works in you telling you what to do and the purpose God has for you. Providing the power to push you through. So set sail and let God take you to new places never imagined before!

Photo Source – “Bing.” Microsoft. N.p., n.d. Web. Images >.

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Your Effort will Reap a Harvest

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Mark Shields

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

This day with God, covet opportunities to verify the unbelievable and be a witness for others.

Noted in “Persistence in the Whirlwind of Life” was that before Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind, he asked Elisha what he could do for him. Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit.

That’s a good lesson for us today. To continue to follow spiritual aspirations and never stop because our effort will reap a harvest beyond what could ever be imagined.  

Let us take inspiration from the song Unrestrained by Jeremy Camp and give it our all as we follow Jesus.

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Persistence in the Whirlwind of Life

Posted on May 1, 2024 by Mark Shields

Life can be a whirlwind but we covet opportunities to verify the unbelievable and be a witness for others. There are obstacles and setbacks but we must keep going, be patient, and persistent at not letting them get us off track. We pick ourselves up and get back on the road again.

In 2 Kings 2, we are told that the Lord would take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah had told Elisha not to go with him. Elisha could have just did what Elijah said to do and stayed behind but he would not leave Elijah, and he continued to walk with him.

Elisha was tested several times about continuing to go with Elijah, but he demonstrated the quality of loyalty to Elijah and said the following:

“As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”

After not following the advice from the company of prophets at Jericho who knew what was going to happen, Elisha kept going to help and support his friend. He faced the danger but stuck with his good friend and spiritual teacher until the prophecy was carried out, and Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind.

Before Elijah was taken, he asked Elisha, what he could do for him. Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit. That’s a good lesson for us today. To continue to follow our spiritual aspirations. Don’t stop but give the effort with confidence that we will reap a harvest beyond what could ever be imagined.

All Elisha wanted was to carry out the purpose God had given him. Later in this chapter, we note that Elisha was given great spiritual power. One power he demonstrated was to make the water pure so it would provide health and allow the land to flourish. Another instance noted was the curse he put on the boys who jeered him at Bethel. The boys were mauled by two bears who came out of the woods (v.24).

This life can be a whirlwind but even in difficulty, the storm is calm when we follow Jesus. Thank you Lord for opportunities to verify the unbelievable and witness to others about Your great power. Like Elisha following his spiritual teacher, we aspire to follow Jesus with confidence that our effort will reap a harvest. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Photo Source – “Bing.” Microsoft. N.p., n.d. Web. Images >.

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Solid Support

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Mark Shields

Stand Firm and you will win life. – Luke 21:19

A takeaway from “Falling Through” is that when faced with difficulty, the ONE true God should be consulted. He is the “rock” who has the power to heal, to give shelter, to give hope, and guarantees a solid path to a bright future. When we walk with God, we are walking on His solid principles for support and will not fall through.

Praise God that His Word has solid principles to stand on. Like the song This is the Stuff by Francesca Battistelli points out, it is during our frustration that we can give God our appreciation. If stuff happens, God can clean up the mess and bless. 

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Falling Through

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Mark Shields

While going through college, I worked for a carpenter in my hometown during summers and other times throughout the year when we had holiday breaks. If you go up in an attic, it’s important to walk on the wooden support beams of the ceiling rather than the ceiling itself so you don’t fall through.

In 2 Kings 1, noted is that the king named Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room. The resulting injury was serious. Instead of going to the ONE true God in prayer about his injury, he had some messengers consult with Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron.

An angel of the Lord told Elijah to meet the messengers in order to relay the message that the king was not consulting the ONE true God … that the king would not get better and would die. When the messenger’s gave a description of the appearance of the man they met, it was obvious that Ahaziah knew it was Elijah.

The king sent a captain with fifty men to Elijah for him to come down from the top of the hill (v.9). This is where God’s power and reality are demonstrated. Fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and the fifty men. So the king sent another captain along with fifty men to Elijah. After fire consumed this captain and fifty men, a third attempt was made.

This time, the captain begged Elijah to not consume them with fire and to come down in order to meet the king. Elijah respected their life and came down, but he still told the truth when he met with the king. The truth being that because he had consulted a false god rather than the true God of Israel, he would never leave the bed he was lying on and would die (v. 16).

The lesson for us is how our attitude toward God and his messengers should be. When faced with difficulty, the ONE true God should be consulted. He is the “rock” who has the power to heal, to give shelter, to give hope, and guarantees a solid path to a bright future. When we walk with God, we are walking on His solid principles for support and will not fall through.

This day with You Lord, we step ahead trusting things will support us but there is only ONE who we can trust to support us. You are our solid support during difficulty in this broken world. You bring recovery and hope. We can stand firm with You, so that whatever we face or whatever the challenge, You provide solid principles to stand on as we step ahead. For it is in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

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