Be Set Free

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.

The post “Building Integrity” points out that integrity doesn’t blow in the wind and vary to best meet our own desires. Integrity is there as a standard for us and it sets us free. Either we have it or we don’t. Our aim should be to become aware of mistakes, confess them, learn from them, and make the necessary adjustments so they do not happen again.

Like the song If We’re Honest by Francesca Battistelli points out, we build walls of doubt that we can’t get through but if we’re honest, there are things we can do. We can lay our doubt down at the cross and have faith in what we can be. For mercy is waiting on the other side and we can be set free. 


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Building Integrity

This day with God will be amazing because we are reading His Word which builds integrity in our life. We are more aware of mistakes made, we admit our wrongdoings, and make the necessary adjustments so they won’t happen again. Today, we as we read in Numbers 22, we note that Balak was king of Moab who wanted Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites. Balak was terrified of the Israelites because there numbers were great and their reputation of being a powerful force was growing after the defeat of the Amorites.

Balaam was a person who received hidden knowledge and would use occult power to grant blessings or put curses on people. He lived in Pethor near the Euphrates River and would charge a fee for his services. Balaam went wrong because he used his spiritual gifts to help the unrighteous. He would compromise his own standards of morality and truth, go against God, and accommodate his pagan friends for his own personal gain.

The take away for us is to use our spiritual gifts for God’s purposes. We need to listen to the Lord, do what He says, and be used for His great purpose. I remember one time when I was putting a chair together. I struggled because there was a missing part and everything didn’t line up. 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. Let us make sure our life plan lines up with what God has laid out and we are assured of a finished product of great usefulness.

Lord, in this prayer we are listening to You. Your plan for us is always greater and more beautiful than our own plan. Your standards are high and that is a good thing. You give us the Holy Spirit, grace, and power to help as we listen day by day to gain a life plan that You want us to have. Each day, we get prepared by studying Your Word, praying for direction, and living out the day with a sense of urgency. Amen.

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Surrender All and Let God Take Control

Life can be a struggle and even when we do amazing things, there is always the next big thing needed to be done. It is only when we surrender all and let God take control that there is staying power and meaning.

Mark Shields's avatarThis Day With God - A Spiritual Journey

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?– Matthew 6:25-27

Within the post “Refreshment for the Body and Soul”, God did something amazing through Moses and Aaron as water gushed out from a rock to supply the need for water to the people as they wandered in the desert. The only problem is that Moses and Aaron took the credit for this miracle rather than giving the credit to God.

In life, there’s always a new…

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Love from Above

This poem emphasizes that small things become big things. No one is perfect but if we build our lives on the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can reach the high standard because of His love from above.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

A sky scrapper is built
On a firm foundation
And my life is built
On God’s affirmation.

His love for all
To overcome the fall
Through His Son Jesus,
Grace is given to all.

Discipline from the Word,
Connected to love,
I look up high,
High in the sky above.

The Holy Spirit
Will always prep
Giving advice
That guides each step.

No one is able
To obtain perfection
But day by day
I seek His direction.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 05-21-2020
Inspired by “This Day with God Devotional – Leviticus 20”

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Today’s Play is to Win the Day

In all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. – Romans 8:37

Within the post “The Outcome of Faith”, written about was how the Israelites started winning their battles when they rejoiced in God for giving them the necessities of life and they praised Him. They had found a pattern for victory by gaining knowledge about their enemies, following God’s instructions for victory, and carrying out these instruction with faith.

Let us follow their example and strife this day to make a difference on God’s winning team. We can do it by being kind to a neighbor, by praying for our local church, lifting up a friend with encouragement.

In sports, the team tries to win each play and in life we try to win each day. There may be times when projects are due, bills are due, or for a business … payroll must be met. When people want to be in panic mode and complain, don’t follow or listen … just keep heading steadily towards the victory.

Have the attitude like in the song He Is With Us by Love & The Outcome. Believe that God is big enough to take on our challenges so we are victorious one day at a time. Then as we win day after day, others will start to notice and want to follow.
 

 

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