The Great Physician Removes Our Burdens

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Our soul is in a constant battle with negative thoughts and attitudes of this world but the Word of God penetrates our soul like a surgical knife to cut out the bad to allow the good to flourish. So let Jesus the Great Physician remove our burdens this day as we concentrate solely on following God’s will.

Reading God’s word today in 1 Samuel 25, we note that David moved down into the Desert of Paran. His men were sent to request food from the wealthy land owner named Nabal. David and his men had shown kindness and had protected Nabal’s men but Nabal was described as always being mean in his dealings. He didn’t have any respect for David so he rejected the request of David’s men.

Nabal’s wife named Abigail was intelligent and beautiful. One of the servants told her about the request of David’s men and she acted quickly to provide food for David and his men. She loaded up the food on a donkey and followed her servants to David and his men.

Once they found David, Abigail showed respect to David and explained that her husband Nabal was wicked. She offered her gifts to David who accepting them. Abigail then returned to her home to find Nabal having a drunken party. The next day, Abigail told Nabal that she had given David and his men the food. Nabal’s heart began fail and he died ten days later.

Upon hearing the news of Nabal’s death, David asked Abigail to be his wife so she quickly got on a donkey and went to David to become his wife. We note here that David praised the Lord who had taken vengeance on the wrongs done to him by Nabal instead of avenging the wrongs on his own.

To evaluate our spiritual heart health, here are some questions to ask ourselves: Do I study the Bible on a regular basis? Do I have a regular prayer time? Do I sing the worship songs? Do I trust God to take vengeance on wrongs done to me or do I try to avenge the wrongs done to me on my own?

There is a healing feeling when we are accountable to others, confess our wrongdoing, and receive God’s grace. To let God take vengeance on wrongs done to us instead of trying to avenge them by ourselves. Temperance, self-control, and being a Christ follower is the best prescription for a sound mind and body. The trials we face in this world are not easy but we can look forward to better days ahead because our reward is with Christ.

We are praying today to You Lord our Great Physician. You can attend to our spiritual health. The vital signs of our health include daily reading of Your Word, being held accountable by other believers, willing to learn, and living life together sharing thoughts or ideas in how best to fulfill Your purpose. Also, sharing the Good News and letting You handle the burdens we face. The trials we face in this world are not easy but we can withstand because the future is in Your hands. Amen. 

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Patience in Your Trials

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  – James 1:2-4

David was done wrong by Saul and he couldn’t make it on his own. Noted in the post “Champions God the Distance”, he needed patience so God could set things up for total victory.

David faced trials, he was tested, and patience was needed . Some say that it’s a sign of weakness to not get even when a wrong is done but God can achieve even greater things if we have patience.

In the trials you face, be a champion with patience and let God’s power achieve more than you could achieve on your own. Thomas Edison failed over 9,000 times before inventing the light bulb. With God, you can do what the song The Distance by Gary LeVox says. If at first you do not succeed, try and try again.

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Champions Go the Distance

We may not feel good at times, we may feel lonely, we may feel inferior or just physically worn out but these are trials we go through that ultimately make us stronger. We face resistance in life but it builds up our endurance much like running the race to the finish even though out of breath. The struggle of lifting weights to build muscle or of water when swimming laps to burn those extra calories. Without resistance, the wings of a plane can’t produce lift and fly through the air. Without fighting against our fears, there is no courage. Next time your day is filled with challenges, smile at it, say thank You God, and keep going.

As we keep going today along the journey, we are reading in 1 Samuel 24. Saul and his men are continuing to pursue David. Saul enters a cave to go to the bathroom (v. 3) not knowing that David and his men were far back in the same cave. David’s men try to persuade David to kill Saul saying the Lord had given the enemy into his hands. Saul had taken off his robe and put it to the side so David snuck up and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

David insisted on sparing Saul because he didn’t want to kill the Lord’s anointed so he told his men not to attack Saul. After Saul left the cave, David followed and outside the cave called out to Saul “My lord the king!” David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground (v. 8).

So David didn’t “get even” because of the wrong Saul had done to him but repaid good for evil. Some say that it’s a sign of weakness to not “get even” when a wrong is done to you but the Bible teaches patience. Champions go the distance and patiently let God’s power achieve more than they could on their own.

This day with You Lord, we face challenges in this world. There are struggles just like we read in today’s passage about David being pursued by Saul. When our own strength can not get us to the finish line, Your strength takes over. That is why we go the distance and don’t stop until we get to the destination. There are those that may do us wrong and we can’t do some things on our own but You will help us finish the race strong. Amen.

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An Hour Provides the Power

Use the unlimited power of God to help a co-worker, neighbor or friend. This poem was written to encourage pressing on towards your destination.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

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This day with God,
Give Him an hour 
And He will provide 
Amazing power.

To warm your heart 
For every day 
With a brighter future
Coming your way.

You may feel down,
You may feel worn out,
You may feel lonely
So give Him a shout.

You face many things
That create resistance
But this makes you stronger
To go the distance.

The next challenge,
Know it can be done
By handing it over
To the mighty ONE.


Poem by Mark Shields – © 01-13-2022
Inspired by
“An Hour Provides the Power”
Thought - The friends of the paralytic were so determined to relief his distress that they made an opening in the roof and lowered him down to Jesus. In what ways can you go the extra mile to help a co-worker, neighbor, or friend?
Music - Be inspired by songs like Unrestrained…

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Directed by the Lord

A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way? –  Proverbs 20:24

As pointed out in the post “Accepting What Christ did on the Cross”, we have Truth which liberates the heart, mind, body, and soul to set us free. The Truth provides us with cohesive plan because the Spirit prompts every step we take.

Many seek experts in various fields of study to help in decisions but the steps we take that are directed by the Lord get us to places beyond what could be imagined. Listening for instructions in our prayers and reflection from His Word provide us with a great advantage when facing our enemies in life.

The Holy Spirit tells us where to go and what to do while our Father is freed up to take on the enemy. Like the song Good, Good Father by Chris Tomlin tells us, “The Father is perfect in all of His ways to us”. Loving us and giving peace to us.

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