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

Score Some Touchdowns

Posted on August 22, 2022 by Mark Shields

A good game plan is so important to winning in sports. A team will set out to execute the game plan in practice. Similarly in life, a purpose and plan is important. No one wins all the time because some are hamstrung … some are hobbled but with Jesus, all are upright and all is won so see the victory. You will never fail as grace will give power for you to prevail.

Today as we read Job 33, we set out to score some touchdowns by executing the game plan of God’s Word. We’ve noted that Job’s past included a large family and significant wealth. In his past, he rescued the poor and the fatherless, and was the father of the needy. People listened to his advice but now he has lost everything. He believes God is against him and considers him an enemy (v. 10).

Job’s friends are trying to help but they haven’t established contact with Job’s situation. They believe Job is being punished for some wrongdoing but Elihu seems to establish some contact with Job’s situation in today’s passage. Elihu had been sitting back all this time and had been listening to the conversation with the other friends. Elihu now wants to represent Job before God and enlighten Job with wisdom by speaking from the Spirit of God (v. 4).

This chapter teaches that God is the one that initiates our actions. We can seek wisdom through a close relationship with the Lord and by understanding His Word. Elihu speaks of dreams and visions (v. 15) and today we have the Word to help with instructions that push us into action.

The progression in restoring people from the depths of trials and suffering starts with God. Then we have our own facts and truth from the past. Most of all, we can pray and listen for solutions. Answers can come during reflection, through our trials, and through other people who can possibly help with words of encouragement or the wisdom from their own experiences.

God speaks to us even through books, movies, and music. I remember watching the movie “Something for Joey” about Heisman trophy winner Joe Cappalletti who was inspired by his little brother Joey who battled Leukemia. One game, Joey asked John to score 4 touchdowns for his birthday and he did. My friend, Jesus wants us to score some touchdowns.

Lord, this day help us to score some touchdowns. We don’t want to be just a fan but we want to get in the game. Help us to give it our all for the team. Lord, in life we face trials and hardships and think it’s impossible for getting a win but the Good News is that we have a Savior who can rescue us from defeat and bring victory!

Posted in Bible Study, victory | Tagged Bible Study, Grace, Photo, Prayer, Sports, Step Ahead of Competition, victory, Wisdom | 6 Comments

Poetry Friday 08-19-2022

Posted on August 19, 2022 by Mark Shields

A poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by the post “Faith Nutrients”. The lesson for us is that looking good on the outside is not as important as producing spiritual fruit with faith nutrients that grow on the inside and are shared to benefit others.

For more faith to make you fruitful, gain inspiration from the song Confidence by Sanctus Real.

Posted in Poems | Tagged Energy, Faith, Music, Nutrients, Patience, Poetry, Praise, spirituality, Strength, Worship | 1 Comment

Don’t Hold Back

Posted on August 18, 2022 by Mark Shields

His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not. – Jeremiah 20:9

We continue on the journey through the book of Job and share thoughts in post like “Spirit Will Be Aflame” so there is plenty of kindling to keep the fire burning with more wisdom and understanding as we enthusiastically seek God’s excellence and truth.

There is a vulnerability to mediocrity and deception in the things of the world so this day with God, we will release the Good News and share songs like Start A Fire by Unspoken. As the song says, start a fire in your soul and make it grow for nothing will remain the same since the Spirit is aflame. Let it burn so brightly so everyone can see and receive the warmth.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Enthusiasm | Tagged Conversation, Devotional, enthusiasm, Experience, Music, Praise, Reflection, Wisdom, Worship | Leave a comment

Spirit Will Be Aflame

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Mark Shields

This day with God, start a fire in your heart and soul. Let is spread and for nothing will remain the same since the Spirit will be aflame. We’ve been on a spiritual journey through the book of Job which is about a man who once had it all; health, wealth, family, and respect among his peers. Then he lost it all!

Job’s friends believe he is being punished but Job says he has done nothing wrong. In Job 32, we are introduced to another person named Elihu who had been sitting back listening to the conversation. Elihu’s became angry because Job had justified himself as righteous and the friends had not found a way to refute Job so Elihu began to speak. He had been silent because he was younger and thought wisdom was in those older who had experienced the things of this world.

He couldn’t hold back any longer with what he wanted to say and brings up a new thought to the conversation. He said maybe God brings suffering not to punish us but to keep us from sinning in the future. Elihu says that it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding (v. 8).

The thought for me in reflection on today’s passage is that the world brings us much to be thankful for but also brings much hardship like Job faced. If we can work at putting things into perspective, I think we gain some advantage. Daily going to God’s Word, reflection, and prayer help us understand that at the end of this life on earth, a new improved life is waiting for each of us. So today, let’s get excited about the right now and enthusiastically make each day in the future better than the past.

We are grateful each day Lord because we get to study Your Word and gain wisdom. We enthusiastically seek Your excellence and truth. Help us overcome the mediocrity and deception of the things of this world and fan the flame within our heart so it warms the soul of many. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Enthusiasm | Tagged Bible Study, Conversation, enthusiasm, Experience, Photo, Prayer, Reflection, Wisdom | 3 Comments

Let Us Absorb the Ways of the Lord

Posted on August 16, 2022 by Mark Shields

Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. – Psalm 25:4-5

Like noted in the post “Path to Excellence”, ever since the Garden of Eden the world has been broken. We get deceived and it’s hard to get it all together.

It is worldly deception entering into the heart that leads to mediocrity. There is a need to be honest with ourselves and have the attitude of knowing where we fall short and what we need to do. The solution is to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. We can then begin to absorb the ways of the Lord. When we accept the excellence and truth from the Lord, we have taken the first step at clearing the path of mediocrity so we can step ahead on path that leads to excellence.

Like pointed out in the song Truth Be Told by Matthew West, nothing is perfect in this world. The truth is rarely told so to fix it, we need to be honest and admit it. This day, let us accept Christ to help us fix it and be inspired to step ahead as we absorb the ways of the Lord.