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

Poetry Friday 01-20-2023

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Mark Shields

A poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by the post with the same title at this link about how the Israelites had escaped slavery in Egypt and finally made it to the Promised Land but didn’t completely finish God’s plan. Unfortunately, they half way completed the plan and this would come back to cause their downfall.

As the song Truth Be Told by Matthew West explains, it is it so hard to admit it but being honest is the only way to fix it. We must be honest with ourselves and strife to know where we fall short. We need to completely follow the ONE true God but many times we do like the Israelites and compromise with the enemy.

Posted in Poems | Tagged Holy Spirit, Honesty, Integrity, Leadership, Life, Music, Plan, Poetry, Praise, Servant, Worship | Leave a comment

Light of the World

Posted on January 19, 2023 by Mark Shields

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

A thought from “Confidence in His Guidance” is that when you pray and develop a plan each day with God, there is confidence because you know that you will do the right things that will lead to success.

Things 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.

Let us celebrate today with the song Let The Light In by Kari Jobe (feat. Cody Carnes ). It’s time to let the light in and reflect out so the path to a brighter future is made clear.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Accurate Thinking, Devotionals | Tagged Counsel, Decisions, Devotional, Future, Grace, Guidance, Praise, Success, Thinking, victory, Worship | 1 Comment

Confidence in His Guidance

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Mark Shields

Jesus has paved the way to a clear path so you can constantly go for advice or insight and listen to God for guidance. It’s going to be a great day because God has given you the resources needed to step ahead with confidence.

Reading today in 2 Samuel 17, Absalom seeks advice in how to overtake his father. The advice to Absalom from Ahithophel is to kill David and then the whole army would surrender. The advice to Absalom from Hushai is to have an all-out attack on David’s army with Absalom leading the way.

Ahithophel pictures David and his men as being weary and weak. On the other hand, Hushai pictures David and his men as experienced fighters that are as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs (v. 8). Hushai’s counsel is accepted over Ahithophel’s because they believed the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom (v. 14).

Leaders, executives, and families many times rely on others to help make decisions but when all is said and done, nothing provides more advantage than the one on one time with God. Prayer is our greatest power. When you pray and develop a plan each day with God, there is confidence because you know that you will do the right things that will lead to success.

This day with You Lord, give us a plan. You are the light so that we can see the Way. You are the Way, the Truth, and the life. Let us take in this lesson of today, trust in the Holy Spirit for guidance, and always be growing in faith. Your lessons will help us meet adversity, put things in perspective, and prompt us to step ahead to victory. Amen.

Posted in Accurate Thinking, Bible Study | Tagged Bible Study, Counsel, Decisions, Guidance, Prayer, Success, Thinking, victory | 3 Comments

Endure Distress and God Will Bless

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Mark Shields

And call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. – Psalm 50:15

David faced some tough times as discussed in “Take Hold of What the Day May Bring” but in tough times, we can keep thinking about how God loves us and has a plan for us.

Endure distress and God will bless.

Set out with a new perspective today with inspiration from the song Lion by Elevation Worship (Feat. Chris Brown & Brandon Lake. Make this song your battle cry as you take on the challenges of this day and know that God will bring you through. You can overcome the difficult experience, have faith it will get better, and be lifted to new heights.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Bible Study | 3 Comments

Take Hold of What the Day May Bring

Posted on January 16, 2023 by Mark Shields

Because of this broken world, we face struggles in life but faith brings recovery and hope so keep the faith. Each new day, take hold of what the day may bring to help and pray that joy can reside as you strive to make the difficulty subside.

The key people in 2 Samuel 16 are David who faces two terrible humiliations in today’s chapter. The other is the steward of Saul’s household named Ziba who helps David with supplies and food as David was leaving Jerusalem when he was running from his son Absalom who was trying to take over Israel. Another person is named Shimei who provides the first humiliation when he curses David along the way.

Ahithophel is another key person in today’s passage who gives advice to both David and Absalom. In today’s passage, Ahithophel advises Absalom to sleep with David’s wives in front of all of Israel, so we then get today’s second humiliation of David.

David responds to the humiliations with some poise. He didn’t allow his nephew named Abishai to cut off the head of Shimei in the first humiliation. He also takes the second humiliation of being disgraced by Absalom having sex with his wives in broad daylight with some poise. David expected trouble within his household so he was prepared. Remember from 2 Samuel 12:11 that calamity was promised within the household of David as punishment for what happened with Bathsheba.

The lesson for each of us is that when faced with humiliation, we should respond with poise. In tough times, keep thinking about how God loves you. Know that he will bring you through. You can get through difficult experiences, things will get better, and you will be lifted up high again to do great things in the future.

This day with You Lord, help us to endure distress and know You will bless. Things in life can be disappointing and we can react in the wrong way but You are always available to remove the obstacles and bring recovery. Christ has entered in with grace and we are thankful that we can take hold of what the day may bring so we can overcome. Amen.