Pathway to Our Purpose

Posted on December 12, 2022 by Mark Shields

As we read God’s Word, thoughts are given, ideas are brought out, and a pathway to our purpose removes any doubt about victory. In the previous passage, David prayed after he found out God gave him a purpose. That purpose was to build the temple and it drove David to carry out what God wanted. 

Reading today in 2 Samuel 8, God gave David victories wherever he went as many nations with great influence in the Mediterranean world succumbed to David. He steamrolled his enemies like an NFL running back. He struck down his enemies like a great baseball pitcher striking out each batter. With the spoils of war, David dedicated silver, gold, and bronze to the Lord.

God gives a purpose to his servants in various ways as they work together for victory. What role will you play on His team? See yourself as God sees you; someone worth so much to the team that He sent His son to die on the cross for you.

Prayer gives us a chance to have an open exchange with God who believes in us and is interested in our future. He gives us a plan but it is up to us to fulfill our obligations towards the attainment of that plan.

This day with You Lord, help us to focus on Your plan for us. Help us to be organized towards reading Your Word, collecting ideas, and being affirmed by prayer like David was in building the temple. We each have a great purpose so help us follow Your way to fulfill that great destiny which overflows with blessings. We are not alone and we have available the power of the Holy Spirit to help carry out our purpose in our daily walk along the path. In Jesus name we pray … amen!

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Poetry Friday 12-09-2022

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Mark Shields

A poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by the post with the same title at this link. When Jesus was crucified, it was a common occurrence in that society but there was something different about that Friday as pointed out in the post “Light Shines Brightest in the Dark”. God wanted those who witnessed the event to know that something of great significance occurred.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice at three in the afternoon and some thought that He was calling Elijah and Elijah would take Him down from the cross. We know now that Jesus breathed His last shortly after but as the song Rattle by Elevation Worship points out, the disappointment they felt on Friday turned into great excitement on Sunday when they found out the tomb was empty!

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The New Covenant

Posted on December 8, 2022 by Mark Shields

But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. –  Hebrews 8:6

In the old covenant, there was the Law. As brought out in the post “The Help of Friends”, the Spirit of God was in the arc of God. Today, we have a new covenant with Jesus as mediator.

Be inspired today by the song What A Friend We Have In Jesus by The Oak Ridge Boys. Jesus knows our every weakness so take them to Him in prayer. A faithful friend who gives us the opportunity to a future beyond what could be imagined!

Index of devotionals

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The Help of Friends

Posted on December 7, 2022 by Mark Shields

We are placed many times throughout life into difficult circumstances. Through it all, keep in mind that the God of the universe created over 100 billion galaxies with each galaxy having billions of stars but His greatest creation and who He loves the most are His people. The enemy is constantly plotting to get us off track but we can trust God to overrule our circumstances and friends can help along the way.

Such is the case as we read our passage today in 2 Samuel 7 as David shares with a friend named Nathan who was a prophet. David shares with Nathan about his thoughts of building a house for the ark of God. Later that night, the Lord came to Nathan in a vision telling Nathan to explain to David that He had been with David from the very beginning. From the time David had been tending sheep as a shepherd to becoming ruler over Israel (v. 8). 

God wants David to remember that He had been with David through it all to set things up for his success. God was the one who gave David his great victories and cut off his enemies (v. 9). God promises rest from his enemies and that through David’s offspring, a kingdom would endure forever (16).

So Nathan the prophet told David that God wanted him to build the house for the arc of God. The response from David is to pray about this news. Prayer gives us a chance to have an open exchange with God who believes in us and is interested in our future. Let us see ourselves as God sees us; someone worth so much that He sent His son to die on the cross for all.

This day with You Lord, we understand more now about friendships. That Nathan was a friend to David but most of all, that You Lord are our friend. What a friend we have and the Spirit lives in us so there is no longer the need for a temple because we are Your temple. Thank you Lord for this new covenant that is superior to the old. Amen.

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Good Judgment Comes From Experience

Posted on December 6, 2022 by Mark Shields

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. – Psalm 111:10

Within “Celebrate the Victory” is the account of Uzzah showing disrespect to God by touching the arc. This served as a warning to others that there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. By following the right way, we can gain small wins that will lead to the ultimate victory.

Jesus provides the Way and the Light shines bright along the path. Let us celebrate the victory that Jesus brings with the song The Way by Jeremy Camp.

Index of devotionals

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