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

Focus on the ONE True Leader

Posted on June 12, 2021 by Mark Shields

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:1-2

The post “Focus on the Way” pointed out that once Joshua died, the Israelites lacked leadership and lost their way. The judges helped the people to understand the Way of the Lord but upon the death of a judge, the people would fall back to their destructive habits.

Today, we have the Bible to instruct us in the Way. We also have the example of Jesus who showed us the Way and the Holy Spirit to provide the power to follow the Way.

Here is a video of our leader today. Enjoy the song Here is our King by David Crowder Band. The Way of Jesus gets us back on track, helps us fix our eyes on what is important, and to be the people we need to be with total focus on an eternal paradise beyond what could be imagined.

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Posted in Devotionals, Focus | Tagged Amazing, Destiny, Devotional, Focus, Leadership, Music, Praise, Worship | 1 Comment

Setting Out Along the Journey

Posted on June 11, 2021 by Mark Shields

Begin each day with prayer and step ahead on the journey with confidence.

Step Ahead

Complacency
And lack of effort
Like wondering
In a desert.

So let us get away
From this desolate zone
And trust God when
The future is not known.

To explore, dream, 
And discover new ways
To be at our best
With fervor ablaze.

Beginning each day’s 
Journey with prayer,
Encouragement,
And faith in His care.

Gathering daily
The lessons we learn
And giving praise
To God in return.


Poem by Mark Shields – © 06-03-2021
Inspired by
“Setting Out Along the Journey”
Photo Source – Bing Images

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Posted in Poems | Tagged Discovery, Dreams, Exploration, Initiative, Journey, Poetry, Prayer | 1 Comment

Focus on the Way

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Mark Shields

This day with God, our attention is undivided and thankful for the path provided. It’s a wonderful time of praise for the ways God has guided. We continue to follow the path as we now read Judges 2:6 through 3:6 and we will continue to follow the steps necessary to make each day with God amazing!

Investigating today’s passage, the Israelites were completely dependent on an obedient leader. After the death of Joshua, the Israelites didn’t have a true leader and it only took one generation before they were completely disobedient to God. They started worshiping other gods and the ONE true God was not with them; therefore they were defeated by their enemies.

Then the Lord provided a way for the people to get to know him by raising up judges who kept them in line with His way. This saved them against their enemies for a while but once a judge died, they got out of line again. They stopped walking in the way of the Lord and returned to their evil practices.

The Israelites disobeyed the specific command of driving out the nations that worshiped other gods. The Lord had told them to break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire (Deut. 7:5). When the Lord delivered these nations into their hands, they didn’t destroy them totally. Instead, they intermarried with them and their children followed other gods.

The judges helped the people understand the Way of the Lord and today we have the Bible to instruct us in the Way. We also have the example of Jesus who showed us the Way and the Holy Spirit to provide the power to follow the Way. This day with God, let us focus on what matters by showing people the Way of Truth that leads to an eternal destiny rather than on a personal worldly legacy.

This day with You God, we have available to us the guiding principles taught by Christ who came down to earth in the flesh to be with us. Your mercy and grace enters into our life and the Way of Jesus leads us to our destiny in paradise which is beyond what we could ever imagine. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Focus | Tagged Amazing, Bible Study, Destiny, Focus, Leadership, Photo, Praise, Prayer | 4 Comments

Being Honest is the only Way to Fix It

Posted on June 9, 2021 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

Shared in the post “Line up with the Plan” was how the Israelites had escaped slavery in Egypt and finally made it to the Promised Land but didn’t completely finish God’s plan. Unfortunately, they half way completed the plan and this would come back to cause their downfall.

As the song Truth Be Told by Matthew West explains, it is it so hard to admit it but being honest is the only way to fix it. We must be honest with ourselves and strife to know where we fall short. We need to completely follow the ONE true God but many times we do like the Israelites and compromise with the enemy.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Integrity | Tagged Devotional, Holy Spirit, Honesty, Integrity, Leadership, Life, Music, Plan, Praise, Servant, Worship | 1 Comment

Line Up with the Plan

Posted on June 8, 2021 by Mark Shields

God brought the Israelites from oppression in Egypt to the Promised Land with the help of Moses. Then Joshua took over as leader with a servant attitude. His leadership impacted people during his time and continues to impact us today.

After the death of Joshua as recorded in Judges 1 through 2:5, the men of Judah along with their fellow Israelites the Simeonites fought against the Canaanites. They then attacked Jerusalem and took it. Then they drove out the Canaanites living in the hill country to the south and in the western foothills.

The Lord was with the men of Judah but they did not completely drive out those who worshiped other gods. They did not completely follow God’s command but compromised with the enemy so this left a remnant of those against the ONE true God.

Our God has total integrity and delivers on His promises. He delivered on His promise to the Israelites in leading them out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. We can do so much more with God by our side and if we obey His commands, there will always be brighter days ahead.

The lesson from today’s passage is to fully follow God’s commandments. We should serve the ONE true God and totally finish the job He gives us. Let us not leave things unfinished because that will open up a possible come back by the enemy. Compromise with the enemy is a trap we can get caught in when we half way do something.

God is consistent with His nature but His people are not consistent. The Israelites did not completely deliver on their end so eventually this would set up traps for their future. We are to serve the Lord our God with all our heart and with all your mind.

I remember one time, my wife and I were putting together a new office chair. We struggled because the screw holes didn’t line up. We got three out of four in but the fourth one just wouldn’t fit. When things don’t line up, you don’t have a chance. It’s the same with our life plan. If it doesn’t fit with what God wants, it’s not going to work.

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

This day with You Lord we ask that our life plan lines up with Your plan for our life. Help us to be honest with ourselves and know when we fall short so we can correct our ways. You have high standards but because of Jesus, You give us grace, the Holy Spirit, and the power to reach that high standard. Amen.