Digging Out of the Hole

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Mark Shields

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

In the previous passage, we noted the bad decisions of David. One thing led to another and then to cover for his sin, David committed more sin. Bad decisions of the past can put us in a hole for the future but God has a way to pull us out of that hole. Jesus has sent us a rope to pull us out of the hole. If we just stop digging deeper, we can begin to gain confidence for a brighter future.

The Lord initiates action by sending out people to help. Reading today in 2 Samuel 12, the Lord sends Nathan to explain how He feels about David’s actions. Nathan tells a story of a rich man who takes a lamb away from a poor man as food for a guest. He explains to David that he is the rich man in the story.

Because David set up the situation for Uriah to be killed in war and took his wife Bathsheba to be his own, God would bring calamity on David’s life. His son from Bathsheba would die of sickness. David says this in verse 23, “Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” During the difficult times of losing a loved one, David’s attitude was to keep in mind that someday he would be able to see him again in heaven.

We live in a broken world that knocks us down to the ground but faithfulness brings recovery and hope. We should faithfully pray and trust in God that things will become forever better because we have access to more power than we could ever imagine. We can be pulled up out of the hole to experience new highs in life.

God’s in charge and during difficult times, it is up to us to simply stop digging the hole deeper, decide what we can do to pull ourselves out, and start doing what we can by trusting God who will take care of the rest. Let us live in the moment and be pulled up by the plan He has for us.

We live in a broken world that puts us in a hole. There is inflation, there are health issues that set us back, and other difficulties faced but we can reach out for help and be pulled to new heights. Jesus has taken it all on himself. His sacrifice on the cross fulfills the plan so in His holy name we pray … Amen.

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Renewed in the Spirit of Your Mind

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Mark Shields

Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. –  Ephesians 4:22-23

Learned in the passage about David and Bathsheba and written about in “Keeping the Mind on the Tasks at Hand”, is that aimlessness leads to a lack of discipline which appeals to harmful desires that encourage wrongdoing.

Having a purpose keeps our thoughts on building a life that matters. Join in on the praise with the song One Day at a Time by Jeremy Camp. As the song says, press on one day at a time with a purpose to take in God’s word and share with others.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Discipline | 1 Comment

Keeping the Mind on the Tasks at Hand

Posted on December 26, 2022 by Mark Shields

Building a tall sky scrapper takes time but like in life, little things become big things and lead to the amazing with Gods help. Day by day, take a look at your daily routine. Are there little things you could tweak or fine-tune? Is there a purpose you have that keeps your mind on the tasks at hand?

We learn more about having a purpose and the discipline needed from verse 1 of 2 Samuel 11. It implies that David has lost his sense of purpose for his nation and is not in his place of responsibility. Instead of going off to war like other kings in spring, he stayed at home. Boredom set in and David lost his focus.

His attention turned to a beautiful woman he saw from the top of the palace as she was bathing down below. One thing led to another and before long, Bathsheba was in his bedroom. Aimlessness leads to lack of discipline; appealing to harmful desires that encourage wrongdoing and more unlawful activity to cover it up.

When Bathsheba sent word to David that she was pregnant, David developed a scheme to hide his wrongdoing by getting his military leader to tell Bathsheba’s husband named Uriah to come home from war. His hope was that Uriah and Bathsheba would sleep together so the assumption would be that it was Uriah’s child Bathsheba had conceived.

The scheme didn’t work out because Uriah felt guilty about being home from war while the other soldiers were living in harsh conditions fighting the war so he didn’t spend time with Bathsheba. David developed another plan. This time, he would get Joab to put Uriah back on the battlefield. This time, out in front where the fighting was fiercest so he would be killed (v. 15).

Joab followed David’s instructions so he was complicit in the scheme to kill Uriah. In this world of sin, one can easily get wrapped up in wrongdoing or help cover up the sins someone else has committed. This is when situations cause unethical activity among individuals and organizations.  

What are some ideas to overcome the temptations we face in this sinful world? Some ideas may include meditating on Scripture, learning the Word of God and then applying what is learned. Also, fleeing the temptation with discipline. Having a purpose in life helps with discipline; appealing to positive desires that lead to uprightness and order.

God … we live in a broken world with addiction, debt, and corruption but day by day, little adjustments make a big difference. Give us a purpose and the discipline to carry out that purpose. We can endure distress knowing that You will ultimately bless as we grow in faith and help others grow in their faith. Amen.

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Poetry Friday 12-23-2022

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Mark Shields

A poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by a sermon a long time ago. The main thought I received from the sermon is “Why put off a gift that you can use for a lifetime and beyond? The gift of God’s love for us through His Son”.

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Settle the Score

Posted on December 22, 2022 by Mark Shields

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. –  Matthew 6:14-15

A strategy to settle the score in a winning way was given in “Trust God for the Outcome”. The plan for us is grace.

Take inspiration from the song Grace Wins by Matthew West. In a war between debase and grace, rise up in victory to win the race with grace.

Index of devotionals

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