Desire a Breakthrough

Posted on October 10, 2022 by Mark Shields

The metaphor in Psalm 42 is a flowing stream constantly replenishing thirst just as the constant flowing of God’s grace replenishing the soul so let us be patient with God’s timing because there will be a breakthrough in our difficult times.

In today’s passage, the psalmist is discouraged, depressed and feels cut off from God. There is a desire for peace and joy within the soul. To have insight into what actions to take for the unknown future. Satan uses discouragement to get us into the downward spiral of self-pity.

We read today that in the past, the psalmist went to the house of God and felt protection. There were shouts of joy and praise (v. 4) but now the soul of the psalmist is downcast (v. 5). Fortunately for us today, there is a solution for discouragement. The hope of every follower of Christ provides a lift in difficult times because the Holy Spirit is within. Because of Jesus, the Spirit is always available to guide and comfort.

After a rough day, you may want something to pick you up. Think about how great God is and that He’s bigger than your difficulties. Put you hope in God for He can meet that wish with an inspirational song, a good memory, a walk along a road surrounded with trees as the wind plays a mellow tune across space and time that brings an idea or thought with the hope of a breakthrough in your life.

This day with God, we are patient because we know there will be a breakthrough. Our God is a God of the possible. His grace keeps flowing and flowing like a never-ending stream of water to replenish our soul. We are always provided a lift even in difficulty because our thoughts are on the unseen, the eternal, and the supernatural. We believe our God of the possible will take care of the pressing challenges before us. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Poetry Friday 10-07-2022

Posted on October 7, 2022 by Mark Shields

A poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by the post “Victorious Finish” that gave reasons for the forewarnings of Jesus. One take away is to be persistent even when it is hard to be optimistic. Knowledge of what God promises gives endurance through our difficulty and we can take on the challenges with joyful awareness of God’s ability to bring a victorious finish.

This day with God, let us not pay attention to the world where disorder expands to fill the void of human failure. Instead, let us pay attention to God so there is order that fills the void with greatness. Give praise today with the song Here is Our King by David Crowder Band.

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Questions for Reflection for the Study of Psalms 42-51

Posted on October 6, 2022 by Mark Shields

The journey through the book of Job has come to a close and now the journey will go into Psalms. To help put our faith into practice, we need to be reminded of God’s goodness. The Psalms are personal and public poems of worship used as hymns to remind us.

The reading plan below will be used to hold me accountable as I share about God’s Word. To share about my study of Psalms, it’s important to have a plan. I’m thankful that Jesus is God’s plan for us and by accepting Christ as Savior; we have taken the steps necessary to make each day amazing!

Questions for Reflection

Psalm 42 – What does this psalmist desire? What does the flowing stream depict? What is the hope of the godly man?

Psalm 43 – How does this psalm continue and complete the theme begun in Psalm 42? What is the psalmist’s situation? What are his requests? What can you do to praise God now?

Psalm 44 – What experiences have these people and their forefathers had with God? How have these experiences made them feel toward God? What is their present situation? To what extent does this psalm offer a solution or explanation for the sufferings of people who trust in God?

Psalm 45 – How is the king described? How is the bride described? What is the bride asked to do?

Psalm 46 – How is God described in this psalm of praise in memory of national deliverance? What in your world makes you fearful? What is the appropriate response to knowing God is with you and is your helper?

Psalm 47 – What are the ways God is shown to be king of all the earth? How are the people to respond to their God? What song of praise can you think of now?

Psalm 48 – What is the focus of praise in this psalm? How is the city and God related in the people’s minds? What request does the psalmist make of all the people? What about God can you convey to those around you?

Psalm 49 – To whom is this psalm directed? For what purpose? What is the great equalizer for all people? Where is the psalmist’s confidence? In what ways will this wisdom help you overcome fear?

Psalm 50 – What is the dramatic action here? What is wrong with the worship of the Israelites? What sort of worship does God desire? How can you worship God now?

Psalm 51 -What are the requests David makes of God? What beyond simple forgiveness does he request? Against who has David sinned? How can we gain joy? What does David know about true worship?

Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment about any of the questions above. Also, I welcome any other thoughts or ideas, favorite inspirational videos, photos, or favorite Bible verses. Just add them to the comments or to a Facebook page I’ve set up at this link: This Day With God – A Spiritual Journey.

To store up thoughts that are good for the soul, listen to a sermon. Download the free app in the App Store or on Google Play. Look for First Waco.

Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts

Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God: A Daily Study Guide to the Entire Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1978. Print.

“Sermons.” Sermons | FUMC Waco. N.p., n.d. Web.  <https://fumcwaco.org/resources/sermons/>.

“Bible.” The Bible – The Word of God – ChristNotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 2017. <http://www.christianity.com/bible/>.

Nicholes, Lou. “Recent Commentaries.” Family-Times.net – Devotional Commentary Index. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.family-times.net/commentary/>.

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

“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.biblegateway.com/>.

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The Spiritual Journey Continues Next Through Psalms 42-51

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Mark Shields

I would like to take this time to thank you for reading and liking the posts. This blog started from a small group several years ago with just a few followers and now has grown to over 2,520 followers. I’ve found it to be a great tool in my journey through the Bible and you, my readers are holding me accountable to daily Bible reading and study.

We live in a busy world with busy schedules and being able to share some thoughts about this spiritual journey with others across this world through the Internet is truly a blessing. Tomorrow, I will include Questions for Reflection that will spur thought and offer ideas for applying biblical principles at work, at home, and in all we do.

Here is a link to all the devotionals done so far.

Devotionals

Index of devotionals

If you would like to get notified with each new post, I invite you to click on the follow button on the far top right of this page to join me on this spiritual journey. Another way to keep up with my spiritual journey is through the Facebook page I’ve set up at this link: This Day With God – A Spiritual Journey.

Also, the concepts presented in God’s Perfect Timing offer ideas for using our time wisely and the lessons of God’s Plan for Us gives a method towards making an impact in the world in which we live. 

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Looking Back at Job and Stepping Ahead to Psalms

Posted on October 4, 2022 by Mark Shields

Over the last few months, I’ve been studying Job who had been a wealthy man but was struck by tragedy. He lost his children, his livestock, and his property. Then, he is afflicted with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head (Job 3:7). 

He reaches a time of great sorrow because of the anguish and misery he was going through. He agonizes over why God is letting these bad things happen to him. He says God made him, gave him wealth, showed much kindness to him but now God has allowed him to drown in affliction (Job 10:15).

Job became frustrated with his friends because they were giving advice that he already knew. He feels his friends do not respect him and look down on him. He wanted them to listen and show some sympathy, but they only saw his suffering and believed it was his fault for his situation.

Then Job begins to think the source of his troubles came directly from God who drew his net around him (Job 19:6), blocked his way (v. 8), and uprooted his hope like a tree (v. 10). Job says the hand of God has struck him (v. 21).

In Job 30, Job’s friends no longer respect him like they did in the past. In fact, they detest him and even his family has turned against him, so Job is discouraged. He feels like he’s being punished for his past faithfulness to God instead of being rewarded so he complains about his sufferings and that he has lost everything.

The ending of the Book of Job is a happy one as Job repents and his life turns around as he reunites with his wife, he has more children, his friends help him, and God blesses him with twice as much wealth as he had before.

God’s grace keeps flowing and flowing. The Spirit then prepares our hearts and minds for God’s Plan. We can reflect on the past so we can go forward using our experiences to build on this plan as we put our faith into practice.

To help put our faith into practice, we need to be reminded of God’s goodness. The Psalms are personal and public poems of worship used as hymns to remind us. In the weeks ahead, I’ll be sharing my thoughts along the journey of Psalm 42-51.

We need to be replenished throughout our day to satisfy our thirst. It may begin with an inspirational song, a good memory, a walk along a road surrounded with trees as the wind plays a mellow tune across space and time that brings an idea or thought with the hope of a breakthrough in our life.

Breakthroughs come by receiving the power of the Holy Spirit which is obtained by accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. Then stepping ahead with discipline and seeking the truth of God. Jesus demonstrates these positive steps to victory throughout the Gospel.

Things in this world can shake us up and fear can hold us back but we can run through the fire with Godspeed and not get burned. Our trust in God is a big plus and we will not be shaken for He is with us. With unstoppable hope, let us step ahead to victory by applying our faith and building a winning tradition of accepting the love of God in Christ.

Like Job, we can throw away a negative past that controls us and wants to keep us down. Instead, we can empty out that past from our mind with one thought. The thought that Christ died for all. Then, the load will be lighter so we can be lifted to a higher level of faith, hope, and love.

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