This Day With God – A Spiritual Journey | Share The Word

Hope Has a Name

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Mark Shields

Even in hard times, we can have joy because of hope. If life has many broken parts, the light of a new day will rise over the horizon to warm our hearts. As we read Psalm 71 today, keep in mind that hope has a name, and its name is Jesus so never get down because a new day will come around. Remember what Jesus went through on the cross. Remember the things people have gone through but come out stronger on the other side.

Enemies had been in pursuit of the author of today’s psalm for a long time. The theme of verses 1-9 is hope for a rescue. We are told that the writer of this psalm has been a youth and is up in age. He wants to finish strong on the last lap of his life journey. His experience with God has been a sign to many.

The author’s experiences signal miracles, wonder, how God has provided hope and deserves praise. God has made good on promises in the past and the author’s expectation for the future is more of the same. For God is faithful and is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

God’s past action has been a basis for hope. Since God is faithful and made good on promises, tell others about it so you produce hope for others. Hand over to the next generation an optimistic future shaped by your hope.

Lord … our future is shaped by our hope. You have given us hope because of Your past action and this hope makes us want to help others have this hope. To be a blessing to others as we help them to put their ultimate hope in Jesus. Nothing we face will be greater than what Jesus has provided for us in the Holy Spirit. Even in the hard times, we have hope because the light of a new day warms our hearts with joy and hopeful thoughts of a new day with You Lord. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Hope | Tagged Bible Study, Blessing, Holy Spirit, Hope, Joy, Optimism, Photo, Praise, Prayer | 2 Comments

Delight in the Lord

Posted on May 9, 2023 by Mark Shields

Take delight in the Lord,
   and He will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4

A take away from “Desire to Store Up Encouragement” is that challenges and decisions that require urgent resolutions are more easily handled if proper preparations are made. Prayer and listening to God through His word prepares you to make quick decisions with a plan of action.

So the best way forward is to put Jesus in charge. As the song Way Maker by Leeland points out, He is the Way maker, the miracle worker, the promise keeper, and the Light in darkness.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Desire, Devotionals | Tagged Challenges, Decisions, Desire, Devotional, Encouragement, Lake Tahoe, Praise, Preparation, Worship | 1 Comment

Desire to Store Up Encouragement

Posted on May 8, 2023 by Mark Shields

This photo reminds me how the water collects from rain or from melting snow from the surrounding mountains to create this amazing lake named Lake Tahoe. This day with God, we will store up encouragement from God’s Word to be used as a reservoir to tap into when needed.

Reading today in Psalm 70, David’s appeal was made because he was in a difficult time as his enemies had him where they wanted him. There is a sense of desperation with urgency expressed in his request to God. Problems requiring urgent resolutions are more easily handled if proper preparations are made in the first place.

There are pressing challenges to take on in life and tough issues to face. If we daily prepare by reading God’s Word, reflection, and prayer, we can be confident because prayer and listening to God through His word prepares us to make accurate decisions with quick action.

This day with You Lord, we come to You with pressing decisions to make. There are challenges we face. Like David, we have some urgency because the path forward makes all the difference in a loss or victory. Help us to desire storing up Your Word so it can be shared with others. Then Your wisdom will be known by them and they will have a reservoir of encouragement available. For in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Prayer | Tagged Bible Study, Challenges, Decisions, Desire, Encouragement, Lake Tahoe, Photo, Praise, Prayer, Preparation | 4 Comments

Great Transformation Over Time

Posted on May 7, 2023 by Mark Shields

The picture above was taken during a winter storm in 2021. The picture below was taken during the summer of that same year.

In a short time, great transformation can occur. With God by your side, you can set out each day to make minor adjustments to become in sync with His way. It may be simply tweaking the daily routine.

From Psalm 60, the nation of Israel had been slipping and suffered defeat after defeat until David began to pray and provide the leadership they needed. A thought from this reading is that with God, you can gain the victory but you also have a part to play by being disciplined in going to Him in prayer, working His plan, and being patient as God sets things up for the plan to be carried out.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Discipline, Thoughts From Devotional | Tagged Blessings, Devotional Thought, Discipline, Endurance, Photo, Prayer, Seasons, Transformation, victory | 3 Comments

Poetry Friday 05-05-2023

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Mark Shields

A poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by the post Focused on the Purpose of the Journey. Which emphasizes praying each day for the understanding of God’s purpose in your life. To Ask for patience and discipline to set out to achieve that purpose. Then as the song Lead Me On by Amy Grant points out, listen for directions as God leads you on.