Spiritual Intelligence

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Mark Shields

The newest big thing is AI (artificial intelligence), but wouldn’t it be better to be connected to spiritual intelligence! Is AI the next idol to worship in the secular realm? It’s important to be connected to the ONE true God. As we find out in today’s passage, not being connected to the ONE true God leads to a dismal future.  

Reading today 2 Kings 17, several bad kings were not doing what was right in the eyes of God and the whole nation faced a very bleak future. The worship of other gods was practiced, and the anger of the ONE true God was aroused (v. 11). Then we read that God allowed the whole nation to be taken over by Assyria and the people were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria (v. 23).

The king of Assyria sent a priests to Samaria to live there and teach them how to worship the Lord (v. 28). Still there was confusion and hypocrisy as they worshiped the Lord, but also their own gods (v. 33). Think about today’s culture. Don’t we do the same today? There is confusion as many worship the Lord on Sunday, but also their own gods the rest of the week. Anything we put before God is an idol. Examples may include money, job, food, alcohol, and the list goes on and on.

The message for us is to know what God requires and to pay close attention. If we follow the next best thing in the secular realm, disorder will expand to fill the void of human failure, but if we focus on the ONE true God, order will fill the void with greatness.

This day with God, let us see His majesty in the things around us. Let us worship the ONE true God who became human and died for our sins. If Christ is our king and our love, we will be connected to the Holy Trinity which is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We will be brought back from cultural decline that leads to destruction in order to once again flourish.

This day with You Lord, we are thankful that You are the real Intelligence and not artificial. Things built by man are inferior but You Lord are supreme. Today, we put our total attention into Your majesty and worship the ONE true God who became human and died for our sins. Because we follow Christ our King, we are guided by and provided spiritual intelligence. We are properly connected to the power source with power beyond all comprehension. For in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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



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Things Fall In Place With Grace

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Mark Shields

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:8-9

Presented in “Going the Wrong Way” was how king Ahaz was leading his people the wrong way. He was a wicked king of Judah and his foolish actions included sacrificing his son in the fire as an offering to an idol.

Things domino from there as a coalition of Israel and Syria to the north invaded Judah inflicting heavy casualties. It was Judah’s darkest hour and Ahaz thought he had to go to extremes to get his situation straightened out so he paid Assyria to help in the war with gold taken from the temple.

We can be grateful that because of Jesus, we have a sure Way to get headed in the right direction when we get off track. All we need to understand is that His grace is enough. Then we can begin the process of correcting foolish actions with actions that are thought out so we can get back on track.

Let us worship today with the song Your Grace is Enough by Chris Tomlin and believe things will fall into place because of His grace.

Index of devotionals

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Going the Wrong Way

Posted on June 26, 2024 by Mark Shields

A guy is on his way home from work. His wife calls him and tells him to be careful because she saw on the news that some lunatic was driving the wrong way on the interstate. He says it’s worse than that … There are hundreds of them.*

Think about actions of the past that may get people going the wrong way and get them in a bind. It may be something like saying something out of anger, buying something that was not needed, or taking the wrong advice from someone. 

Foolish actions not only get us into a bind but also affect those around us. Our family, neighbors, co-workers, and community. Reading today in 2 Kings 16, Ahaz became king after Jotham’s death. He was a wicked king of Judah and his foolish actions included sacrificing his son in the fire as an offering to an idol. This detestable practice of idol worship along with offering sacrifices and burned incense at the high places set the stage for failure.

God was not with Ahaz and a coalition of Israel and Syria to the north invaded Judah inflicting heavy casualties. It was Judah’s darkest hour so Ahaz paid Assyria to help in the war. He paid with gold taken from the temple. He was totally under Assyria’s control and even allowed the king of Assyria to lead Judah rather than God.

It all started with idol, dominoes from there, and Ahaz got in a bind. Then, he took extreme measures to get his situation straightened out. The foolish actions of Ahaz caused his family and nation to suffer. We can be grateful that because of Jesus, we have a sure Way to head back in the right direction. All we need to understand is that His grace is enough. Then we can begin the process of correcting foolish actions with actions that are thought out and get us back on track.

Things will fall into place because of His grace. Because of the Savior, there is a change in behavior; following where He leads and doing good deeds; accepting the truth and teaching our youth; learning His ways and giving Him praise.

This day Lord, we are thankful for grace which the book of Truth tells us about. You give us the opportunity to be holy and receive the Spirit that guides us along the path. Your Word Lord coaches us towards holiness. Help us to make the right choices by following the Light as we read Your Word, apply it, and share it. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

*Short and Funny Jokes| Top 100. https://short-funny.com

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Peace and Eternal Bliss

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Mark Shields

Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you: do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. –  Deuteronomy 4:23-24

Noted in ”Blessings For Following His Way”, there was a definite correlation between the kings that followed God’s Way and those who did not. Those who worshiped the ONE true God and did right in His eyes were blessed with stability and peace. Those who did not had a nation filled with conspiracies, wars, and assassinations.

Let us worship the ONE true God today and celebrate with the song The Blessing by Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes & Elevation Worship.

May His favor be upon you,
Your family, and their children
For many generations,
And may there be peace
And eternal bliss.

Index of devotionals

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Blessings for Following His Way

Posted on June 24, 2024 by Mark Shields

Like in this photo, don’t follow atoms … they make up everything. Follow God who is the Truth. This day with God, let us worship the ONE true God who promises to bless those who follow His Way. The blessings consist of a future with purpose, peace, and a perfect place that is beyond what could be imagined.

Reading today in 2 Kings 15, there is a definite correlation between leaders that did right in the eyes of God and those who did not. The kings that did right in the eyes of God benefited like the kings of Judah written about in today’s passage.  Azariah was he king of Judah for fifty-two years. On the other hand, the kings of Israel did what was evil and their reigns were filled with mayhem, assassinations, and conspiracy.

The freedom of Israel was lost when her leaders turned from God. It’s the same in life today! If a person or nation turns away from God, they lose their freedom. The ideas for abundant living are not carried out because there is no incentive. Success is provided for a few rather than naturally occurring for the masses.

By applying the basic fundamentals of God’s principles, an individual or nation has more opportunities to prosper. What changes can be made to do more right in the eyes of the Lord? Some things that come to mind are to accept God’s grace. To pray for steps to take in the future, and to apply our faith.

Jesus made God’s grace available, so we are guided to loving relationships, nurturing families, and flourishing careers. There are many voices to listen to but trusting in the Holy Spirit for direction will lead us to places never imaging before.

This day with You God, we are focused on You who we obey. We pray that we follow Your Way and that our hearts do not go astray. You are the True God and the ONE who we worship today. Thank You for grace and the opportunity to come to You. There are many voices we could listen to but by accepting Your Son, there is grace and we are guided by the Holy Spirit. There are blessings now and into eternity for following Your Way and we are grateful. Amen.

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

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