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

Eternal Rewards of the Holy Spirit

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Mark Shields

Many people moved west during the eighteen hundreds as silver and gold was found in that region of the United States. The photo above is an old gold mine in Virginia City Nevada. We can be thankful that God rewards us as we search for golden nuggets found in His Word.

The truth of God’s word and the eternal rewards of the Holy Spirit are worth more than silver or gold. This day with God, let us read, observe, and listen so that we can document nuggets of gold that are useful in providing encouragement, enthusiasm, and sound advice.

Reading today in 1 Samuel 26, we know from our recent studies that the Lord brought Nabal down so David did not need to kill Nabal. We also know that David has had an opportunity to kill Saul before when Saul was in the cave.

Today as we read, there is another opportunity to kill Saul but David refrains. David’s reason for refraining from killing Saul is that Saul was the Lord’s anointed. David said the Lord himself will strike down Saul, his time will come, or he will go into battle and perish (v. 10).

Noted in verse 12 is the miraculous event of the Lord as He puts Saul’s men to sleep while David and Abishai walk into the army camp of Saul. Right beside Saul was his spear stuck in the ground near his head and his water jug.

As verse 23 states, the Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered Saul into David’s hands but he didn’t lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. David said that he had valued Saul’s life and hoped the Lord would value his life and deliver him from trouble.

Let us pray today that we may develop these same characteristics of David so that we may achieve God’s Plan for Us. The Lord rewards with achievement towards His plan as He provides insight to what to say or as He gives us an extra sense of knowing where to be at the right time. Achievement of earthly aspirations is a small reward compared to the eternal rewards of the Holy Spirit.

This day, we are praying to You Lord who promises a future with prosperity, purpose, peace, and a perfect place beyond what could be imagined. Each day is a new day in which You provide more than earthly rewards but eternal rewards. Grace is the currency of Your kingdom and the flow of grace from You Lord rewards with riches beyond what could be imagined. Amen.

Photo – Taken while on vacation to Lake Tahoe and San Francisco years ago. We spent a day touring Virginia City Nevada which is an old mining town depicted in the 1960-1970s TV series Bonanza.

Thought – As you read, observe, and listen, document nuggets of gold that are useful in providing encouragement, enthusiasm, and sound advice.

Posted in Bible Study, Rewards | Tagged Advice, Bible Study, Encouragement, enthusiasm, Faithfulness, Miracle, Photo, Prayer, Rewards, Righteousness | 4 Comments

Keeping Others in Mind

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Mark Shields

This poem points out that large crowds began to follow Jesus and at times He associated with people not thought of highly by society. The Pharisees raised criticism but in a calm, peaceful way and with reasoning, he simply stated His purpose.

Step Ahead

Large crowds followed
Beside the lake 
As He taught the Way,
People started to awake.

Awake to His teachings
Of being kind,
Always patient,
Keeping others in mind.

Having an impact
In who we become;
Learning the Way
From the Holy One.

So the Good News
Continues to spread out
And amazing things
Start to come about.

Free to be who 
God made us to be;
People of peace 
And living carefree.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 01-20-2022
Inspired by
“Keeping Others In Mind” Thought - Large crowds began to follow Jesus and at times He associated with people that were not thought highly by society. The Pharisees raised criticism but in a calm way and with reasoning, He simply stated His purpose. Music - Crowds would flock to be in the presence of Christ. Since people were drawn to Jesus, shouldn’t they be drawn to us?…

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Posted in Poems | Tagged Encourager, Faithfulness, Freedom, Friendly, Kindness, Peaceful, Pleasant, Poetry, Prayer | Leave a comment

Healing Feeling

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Mark Shields

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us. – Ephesians 1:7

There are times when we feel that life is broken. In the post “The Great Physician Removes Our Burdens”, noted was the broken life of Abigail who was involved in a terrible relationship with a wicked husband and David who was also broken because of the recent death of Samuel who was his spiritual confidant.

David allowed the attitude of vengeance to be taken out on Abigail’s husband named Nabal who had disrespected him. 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.

So this day with God, build great memories that last forever to help in times of worry or anger. Reminisce about good times or an old song to fill your thoughts with peace and joy. If broken from within, let the light meet the dark and then like the song Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North says, the healing will begin.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Physical and Mental Health | Tagged Devotional, Grace, Healing, Health, Joy, Music, Peace, Praise, Purpose, Reward, Worship | 1 Comment

The Great Physician Removes Our Burdens

Posted on January 19, 2022 by Mark Shields

Photo Source – Bing Images

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.

Posted in Bible Study, Physical and Mental Health | Tagged Bible Study, Grace, Healing, Health, Photo, Prayer, Purpose, Reward, Worship | 3 Comments

Patience in Your Trials

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Mark Shields

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.