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

Higher Plane

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Mark Shields

An airplane gains speed down the runway and the wind resistance flows under the wings to give the plane a lift until it is lifted higher and higher into the sky. To get to a higher level of enlightenment in our life, we must resist what is wrong. The things of this world give us no desire to do so and keep us down low but the power from the Spirit lifts us to new heights of joy and peace.

David didn’t have any joy or peace as recorded in the writing of Psalm 51. The background of this psalm is 2 Samuel 11:1 through 12:15 when David was in a very low place in his life. He had committed adultery with Bathsheba and then murdered her husband. The requests of David is for mercy and forgiveness from his sin. He also wants a pure heart, renewal of a steadfast spirit within, and the joy of salvation. Then beyond forgiveness for himself, he wants Zion to prosper and the walls of Jerusalem to be built up.

David had sinned against God and was constantly thinking about the negatives in his past which were causing sorrow. It’s the same with all of us when something like guilt, anger, or any other negative of the past needs to be released. It doesn’t always have to be from our past but maybe in the present like who we spend time with now, listen to on social media, or watch on TV.

Maybe something needs to be removed in our current routine that is causing these negatives to keep us at a low point in life. If we remove the negative habits, then we can be lifted to a higher place of joy and peace.

David knew that true worship starts with confession. After asking for forgiveness, a new heart with inward joy develops deep down in his heart. If we have peace and joy deep in our heart, it will catch on and others will desire the same life of living on a higher plane.

This day with You Lord, take away anything negative in our present or in our past that weighs us down. Erase it and replace it with the joy and peace we receive by knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. He died for all these negatives so we can focus on the future that is lived on a higher plane because of our faith, hope, and love. In Jesus name … Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Desire | Tagged Bible Study, Desire, Devotional, Faith, Holy Spirit, Hope, Joy, Love, Peace, Praise, Worship | 3 Comments

Keep Pace with Grace

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Mark Shields

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. – Hebrews 12:1

The main thought of “Seize the Day” is to be renewed day by day and to take the opportunity God gives through Jesus Christ to change the course of life. To run the race with service and worship towards the finish line.

Take inspiration from the song Go the Distance by Gary LeVox. Life can be a struggle and there may be trouble but with grace, you can keep pace. With Jesus, you can beat sin and go the distance to win.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Going Extra Mile | Tagged Devotional, Endurance, Faith, Future, Going Extra Mile, Guidance, Praise, Spirit, victory, Worship | 1 Comment

Seize the Day

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Mark Shields

Today’s passage starts with verse 1 of Psalm 50.

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
   speaks and summons the earth
   from the rising of the sun to where it sets.

Each day is a new day in which we have the opportunity to grow in our faith. There may be certain routines we can tweak or priorities we can adjust which allow us to step ahead into a brighter future.

Life is not always trouble-free and we may have to do some things that are uncomfortable or challenging but if we say “yes” to Jesus, we never have to go through them alone. We can press on knowing the Spirit is with us to guide our steps in order to find our place in the race and give the endurance needed to keep going towards the victory.

The dramatic action in today’s passage is judgment and God is the judge. He reproves the people of Israel for their sacrifices and their idol worship. In current times, our idols may consist of things like cars, boats, and large expensive houses.

The worship of the Israelites was an outward religion with formalism and hypocrisy in their worship. What God wants is true inward spirituality. He want us to apply our faith with a heart that is right (v. 8-9). With an attitude of faith, hope, and love.

Because of Jesus Christ, we can be thankful that God gives us all another opportunity to get our heart right. Those who take that opportunity can change the course of life so they please God with service and worship Him with love of neighbor as themselves.

This day with You God, we can seize the day and know that we are not alone. Each day, we have an opportunity to take in Your instructions. We have the Spirit with us to guide us in the steps that lead to victory. In Jesus name … Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Going Extra Mile | Tagged Bible Study, Endurance, Faith, Future, Going Extra Mile, Guidance, Prayer, Spirit, victory | 2 Comments

Poetry Friday 11-04-2022

Posted on November 4, 2022 by Mark Shields

A poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by the post “Inspiration to Aspiration”. When we aspire to follow God’s plan, we will pray like Jesus did. This will give us instructions for the tasks that need to be accomplished, the ability to keep going towards that purpose God has for us, the determination to overcome the difficulties, and the encouragement we will need to finish victoriously.

Today’s song Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher gives us the encouragement to keep going towards our personal victory. The song stirs in us the desire to receive God’s help in guiding our heart. To be set free, let us remember that holiness is Christ in you and me.

Posted in Poems | Tagged Aspiration, Encouragement, Inspiration, Momentum, Music, Poetry, Poise, Possibilities, Praise, Purpose, victory, Worship | Leave a comment

We Can Finish Strong Because the Battle Belongs to the Lord

Posted on November 3, 2022 by Mark Shields

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. – 1 John 5:4

One thought from “The Winning Tradition Relayed to the Next Generation“is that Bible Study is similar to an athletic workout, helping those participating to step ahead with faith and passing this faith to others. With unstoppable hope, let us apply our faith and build the winning tradition of accepting the love of God in Christ.

This day, we know how the story ends so we can do as the song See A Victory by Elevation Worship points out. We can see a victory because the battle belongs to the Lord and He never fails.