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.

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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

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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.

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Pulled Up From The Deep Waters

Posted on May 4, 2023 by Mark Shields 
Rescue me from the mire,
   do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
   from the deep waters. – Psalm 69:14

Mentioned in “Wrongs Made Right” is that life can be disappointing with things that you have no control over and things in your past that weigh you down but God has a way to lighten the load. So during adversity, keep hoping and believing that God will pull you up out of the deep waters.

As the song Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United says, call upon God for help. Summon the King of heaven for help and He will pull you up.

Index of devotionals

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Wrongs Made Right

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Mark Shields

A burglar broke into a house and while he was sneaking around he heard a voice say, “Jesus is watching you.” He looked around and saw nothing. He kept on creeping and again heard, “Jesus is watching you.” In a dark corner, he saw a cage with a parrot inside. The burglar asked the parrot, “Was it you who said Jesus is watching me”. The parrot replied, “Yes.” Relieved, the burglar asked, “What is your name?” The parrot said, “Clarence.” The burglar said, “That’s a stupid name for a parrot. What idiot named you Clarence?” The parrot answered, “The same idiot that named the rottweiler Jesus.”*

There are those that may try to break in and steal what is valuable to us and take away what our nation was built upon which is “One Nation Under God” but we can do what David does in Psalm 69 in the situations we face. We may not do anything wrong but there are some that want to bring us down because of what we believe. We can go to God and ask that justice be served … that wrongs be made right.

In today’s Psalm, David pictures himself as up to his neck in deep waters. In a state of despair where his enemies hated him for no reason. His life was in grave danger so he prays for help. Once David reaches out for God’s help, he is assured that all wrongs would be made right.

Life can be disappointing with things that we have no control over and things in our past that put up obstacles for our future but God has a way to remove those obstacles. So during adversity, let us keep hoping and believing that God will pull us up out of the deep waters.

Jesus has made the path clear so our past is a clean slate and our confidence for the future is increased because we have access to more power than we could even imagine. Summon the King of heaven for help to pull through and press on so the obstacles are pushed over to become our stepping stones to where we want to go.

This day with You Lord, the enemy wants to sink us but our faith brings us across the water to a place of recovery and hope. We push the obstacles over and make them stepping stones across the deep waters. We go from strength to strength fueled by the power of grace. We trust in You Lord to get us through in Jesus name. Amen.

*“Jokes – Your Daily Dose of Really Funny Jokes: Laugh Factory.” Jokes – Your Daily Dose of Really Funny Jokes | Laugh Factory, www.laughfactory.com/jokes/popular-jokes/all-time/30.

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