Walk Faithfully with Integrity

As we continue along the path today, we are reading in 1 Kings 9. We have the source of power to push us forward, the Holy Spirit to guide, and grace if we get out of alignment. These spiritual resources will create integrity that will lead us to a winning future with blessings beyond what can be imagined.

We know from our past readings, that Solomon had built the temple and at the end of construction, prayed to God. He dedicated the temple and celebrated with offerings to God. In today’s passage, God appears for a second time to Solomon to let him know that his prayers were heard.

God then goes on to say that He would establish Solomon’s royal throne which would rule over Israel. That he would never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel if he continued to walk faithfully with integrity of heart (v. 4). To serve Him only and not worship idols.

There is a progression in Solomon’s worship of God. Solomon is at the mid-point of his reign of Israel. The nation of Israel had reached a high point as Solomon had followed God. There is a warning though in this passage that Israel could be brought down if Solomon and his descendants no longer worshiped the ONE true God.

That’s a warning to us today too as we need to worship the ONE true God. Spend time each day in prayer and reading the Word. We need to always make every effort for growth and improvement in our spiritual life because we want to stay on the path the leads to blessings beyond what could be imagined.  

Lord … we spend time each day in reading your word and in prayer. Help us to stay on the path that leads to a bright future. You give us the power, the Holy Spirit to guide, and grace if we get out of alignment. Prepare us this day for what we need to do. The Way of Jesus guides us to truth, so today we pray in His name, amen!

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Handle with Care

A devotional thought from reading Psalm 64 is that simple truths are powerful. The thought was that both electricity and words need to be channeled for the right purpose.  Words used as lies become weapons for an enemy and electricity can kill if not handled in the proper way.

Index of devotionals

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

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Poetry Friday 06-23-2023

A poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by “Faith, Hope, and Love Connection” which emphasizes the need to express faith actively by loving God and your neighbor. To see God at work in their life and give praise for strength in times of trouble. To receive God’s love and the joy in hoping for change. To gain the victory and look forward to the everlasting reward.

Life around us can crumble and be in ruins but be inspired by the song He is With Us by Love & the Outcome and know that God is with us, and we will not be ruined. We can bear much fruit with God and can trust what He’s doing.

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Heart of Gratitude

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. –  Colossians 3:16

As mentioned in “Taking Action”, God gave Solomon a plan in building the temple and he took action on the plan. God has also designed a specific life plan for you. His word will teach and direct. Be dedicated to applying your faith, letting the Spirit work in you, and accept Divine assistance as you take action on the plan.

Celebrate each day by passing along thoughts of joy and peace to others to encourage them. Praise the Lord with songs of appreciation like today’s song The Goodness by TobyMac & Blessing Offor. Take in the lyrics of the song “Through the good, the bad, and ugly … I can see the sunshine above me” as a part of your own thoughts today. This day with God, know He is the goodness in your life!

Index of devotionals

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Taking Action

The flowing stream photo was taken at Garvan Woodland Gardens near Hot Springs Arkansas. As we read today in 1 Kings 8:54-66, may God’s Word flow into our hearts. Then as they form a part of who we are, may they naturally flow outward as we take action on activities that benefit our life and the lives of those around us.

God had a plan for His people when He brought them out of Egypt. He also has designed a specific life plan for us to set us free. This day with God, let us be dedicated to applying our faith, letting the Spirit work in us, and accept Divine assistance as we take action on the plan.

It’s important to hold onto our dreams! I heard one time this story told in the late 1800s of a minister who was skeptical when someone asked if man would someday fly. He had two sons … Orville and Wilbur.

In another story I heard, there was a boy who lacked the funds to attend college. Instead, the boy worked at a shop and wrote in his spare time. The boy’s first name was William … last name Shakespeare.

It all begins with a dream so dream with God and then create something just like Solomon did in building the temple. Today, we read that they dedicated the house of God with offerings to the Lord. Celebrating with a festival for 14 days. At the end of the celebration, they blessed the king. As the people left to go home, they were joyful and thankful for all the good things God had done.

It is important to always dream big. God can take these dreams and help not only achieve them but along the way, make others dream big too. In so doing, provided are more opportunities for all people to flourish. After our imagination is set free and God takes our dreams to a level never thought of before, be joyful and thankful just like the people in today’s reading.

This day Lord, it’s a glorious new morn that is dawning and now we prepare our hearts and minds to follow Your plan. We worship and praise You today for the dreams You give. We encourage others to dream so the future is one in which there are cures for diseases and inventions that help Your people to flourish. That there are great ideas for winning more souls to Your Way. We build on our experiences of the past and now step ahead on the pathway to our future.

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