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

Run with Perseverance

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Mark Shields

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. – Hebrews 12:1

Brought out in the post “Go the Distance” is that Paul was motivated by his faith in God’s complete deliverance in the end with the reward of eternal life in paradise. He was writing from prison but continued to be committed to God’s work to the end.

Brought out is that an athlete runs a race by the rules. A runner in a race goes the same distance as the other runners to win the prize. Let us be committed to finishing the race and never giving up but persistently heading toward the finish line.

Like Thomas Edison who failed over 9,000 times before inventing the light bulb, try and try again. Most of all, give praise to what Christ has done to free up what slows us down. As the song “Ever Be by Aaron Shust” give praise for what Christ has done to free up a past that slows us down and the opportunity to get on the fast track to a brighter future. God wants you to finish strong and win the race.

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Posted in Devotionals, Going Extra Mile | Tagged Devotional, Go Extra Mile, Gospel, Loyalty, Music, Perseverance, Praise, Reward | 2 Comments

Go the Distance

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Mark Shields

This day with God, as we continue our journey through the Word in 2 Timothy 1:15 through 2:13, Paul writes to Timothy about those who have been loyal to the spreading of the gospel message and those who have been disloyal. Those who have been loyal to the Way will inspire, re-energize, and give a boost to keep stepping ahead. Paul refers this as being refreshed and we should strive to do the same for each other today!

There are three metaphors used in this passage to describe the Christian walk. The first is a good soldier of Christ. We are to please the commanding officer only and not worry so much about our own wishes and the wishes of others. The second metaphor used is being an athlete. To receive the crown, an athlete must compete by the rules. The third metaphor used is a farmer whose crop flourishes because of the hard work put in from planting to cultivating to reaping.

Paul is motivated by his faith in God’s complete deliverance in the end with the reward of eternal life in paradise. He desires that others gain this increase in faith through getting the message out about Christ to as many people as he can. We should desire to do the same and go the extra mile to help get God’s work done.

As brought out in today’s passage, an athlete that runs a race has to compete by the rules. A runner in a race goes the same distance as the other runners to win the prize. Let us be committed to finishing the race and never giving up but persistently heading toward the finish line.

This day with You Lord, refresh us with new energy to finish the race strong. Help us to know where we are, gain a vision to step ahead, and go places beyond where we’ve ever gone before. There is always new growth in our spiritual life that leads to new places of joy and hope. Your Way provides us with a destiny that leads to abundance and purpose. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Going Extra Mile | Tagged Bible Study, Go Extra Mile, Gospel, Loyalty, Prayer, Reward | 1 Comment

Rekindle Enthusiasm

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Mark Shields

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. – Psalm 89:1

The post “Rekindle the Passion and Enthusiasm” offers some thoughts and ideas on how to rekindle passion and enthusiasm for the gospel message around the world. This day with God, let us step ahead enthusiastically by renewing our spiritual vitality with prayer, praise, and celebration with today’s song “Soul on Fire by Third Day”.

Receive the power of a soul on fire.
A passionate Spirit for this hour.
Our strength; providing extra power.
Our hope; filled with delight.
Our fullness; of unlimited might.
Our unity; together as one.
Bringing victory; having fun.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Enthusiasm | Tagged Courage, Devotional, enthusiasm, Gospel, Music, Passion, Poetry, Praise, Technology | Leave a comment

Rekindle the Passion and Enthusiasm

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Mark Shields

This day with God, be excited about what you may discover in His Word from 2 Timothy 1:1-14. Today, we read about Paul’s relationship with Timothy. He is a mentor to Timothy who is like a son to Paul and he writes this last letter to Timothy while in prison shortly before his death.

Paul gives some final advice to Timothy. Mainly to use his gift from God to rekindle the passion and enthusiasm for the gospel message even in a time of persecution. Paul was in a Roman prison already suffering for the gospel but tells Timothy to courageously stand firm in the faith and continue to do God’s work in leading the church.

We should do the same and use our God given gifts to rekindle enthusiasm in the gospel around the world. Inspire in others a passion for being faithful to God’s work. Reflect on the joys of the past and be excited for what’s to come about in the future. This day with God will be amazing because of the path laid out before us.

We may have a great cause that we have worked on throughout life but it just hasn’t come to fruition. Maybe there was not enough time or maybe there was a need for more help needed to add more energy or enthusiasm. The good thing is that the work done so far is not in vain. Our ideas and values can be passed on to future generations and they may have the energy and know how to make it happen. Also, new technology may develop in the future that will help make it happen.

This day with You Lord, we pray that we live life to the fullest and get the most out of this day. You have given us a purpose that will add to a brighter future. Your grace gives us a clean slate so we can forget our past. Each day, we are the benefactors of past experience as we learn more and enthusiastically work towards what You want us to be. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Enthusiasm | Tagged Bible Study, Courage, enthusiasm, Passion, Prayer, Technology | Leave a comment

Focus on What is Important to God

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Mark Shields

This day, focus in on what’s important to God. Stick to God’s plan for you and bring Him glory today. Take inspiration from this poem.

Step Ahead

Like the big umpire
Up in the sky
He makes judgment
From way up high.

Are you working His plan
Or dong things on your own;
Taking swings at life
Outside the strike zone!

Reflect on your life,
At essential things
To determine if
You’re taking the right swings.

When you swing at life,
Do it at the instant
When you are called
To what’s important.

Swing hard with visions, dreams,
And what you’ve heard;
From your quiet time
And from God’s Word.

The post, “Focus on What is Important to God” is about Micah prophesizing judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem. The people during that time were focused more on what was important to them rather than on what was important to God. This day with God, let us fix our eyes on everything that’s important to Him.

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