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

Questions for Reflection for Study of Joshua 7-12

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Mark Shields

The journey has taken me through the first six chapters of the book of Joshua. God chose Joshua to take over from Moses as the one responsible for leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. It seemed like an impossible challenge but with God, all things are possible and we can be all that God made us to be.

The first six chapters have inspired the following poem:

All You Can Be
Learn the playbook
To a successful day
By working to improve
In following the Way.

Use past experiences
To where life has lead
And current instructions
As you step ahead.

You will be unstoppable
As a key player on His team;
Making the impossible happen
From what used to be a dream.

You will do amazing things
Because God is with you.
He will clear the path
And get you through.

He will protect
And watch from above.
Bringing inner peace
And so much love.

In any battle faced in life;
Be it anxieties, trouble
Or worries about the future,
He can turn it into rubble.

So look at any challenge
Squarely in the eye.
Believe that God is bigger,
And tell it “goodbye”.

Success is in having a plan
And prayer is the key.
He will give you the upper hand
To be all that you can be.

By Mark Shields – © 02-23-2017

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The reading plan below will be used as I share over the next few posts. It’s important to have a plan. I’m thankful that Jesus is God’s plan for us and by accepting Him as Savior; we have taken the steps necessary to make this day with Him amazing! At this link: God’s Plan for Us is a post about accepting God’s plan or reaffirming our “YES” for Christ.

Joshua 7
What does Joshua do in the face of failure? What is the reason for Israel’s defeat? Who can we turn to when life falls apart?

Joshua 8
What is the plan in this second attack on Ai? Where does Joshua get his strategy? What is the reason for Israel’s victory?

Joshua 9
Why do the Gibeonites devise their plan of deception? Why are the leaders of Israel fooled by them? What can you do to avoid this kind of mistake?

Joshua 10
How is the Ammonites’ reaction to the invading Israelites different from the Gibeonites’? How does Joshua use this situation as a basis for engendering future trust in God? In what ways is God’s presence and power in your life today related to your future situations?

Joshua 11-12
How is Israel’s conquest of the north similar to its southern campaign in chapter 10 (locate the lands on a map)? What is God’s part and what is the Israelites part in the victory? What does this indicate about God’s relation to the movement of history?

Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment about any of the questions above. Also, I welcome any other thoughts or ideas, favorite inspirational videos, photos, or favorite Bible verses. Just add them to the comments or to a Facebook page I’ve set up at this link: This Day With God.

Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts
Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God: A Daily Study Guide to the Entire Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1978. Print.

“Sermons.” Sermons | FUMC Waco. <http://fumcwaco.org/resources/sermons/>.

“Bible.” The Bible – The Word of God – ChristNotes. <http://www.christianity.com/bible/>.

Nicholes, Lou. “Recent Commentaries.” Family-Times.net – Devotional Commentary Index. <http://www.family-times.net/commentary/>.

“Google Images.” Google Images. Web. <https://www.google.com>.

“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages. Web. <https://www.biblegateway.com/>.

Posted in Bible Study, Devotionals, Questions for Reflection | Tagged Bible Study, Challenges, Champion, Christ, Faith, God’s Plan, Holy Spirit, Hope, Leadership, Lessons, Life, Love, Prayer, Reflection, Scripture, victory | Leave a comment

Determination

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Mark Shields

A poem about the need for confidence and determination in order to fulfill your God given purpose. Be confident and determined for a great weekend my friends!

Step Ahead

Don’t dwell on the past;
look to the present
and to the future
with good intent.

Regardless of problems
criticisms, or events,
give the extra effort
and stay on offense.

Fit pieces together
by being resolute;
follow through on plans
and keep on the pursuit.

Turn it up a notch
when needed most
to meet the purpose
with no need to boast.

For God has done it all
by sending His Son;
not by your own works
but in what He has done.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 03-09-2017
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Posted in Poems | Tagged Accomplishment, Confidence, Courage, determination, Inspiration, Purpose | 3 Comments

Impossible Becomes Possible

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Mark Shields

Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with men is possible with God”. – Luke 18:27

If we are worried so much about what we need to do and not aware of what God can do, our true potential will not be realized. Just as shared in the post “Winning Battles”, God provides the power to make what seems impossible possible.

Worry only gives us stress and keeps us from being at our best. It takes away our freedom but confidence in God gives a lift as if on the wings of an eagle.

In sports, many times it is one missed opportunity that makes all the difference between victory and defeat; a dropped pass in football; a fielding error in baseball; a missed free throw in basketball. It’s the same in the game of life but if we take the opportunity to accept God’s plan for us, there is only victory.

Even though there are defeats in life, we have grace that provides the ultimate victory. Be lifted up today by this video Only Grace – Matthew West and know that God gives you the upper hand so that what seems impossible becomes possible.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Make Impossible Possible | Tagged Bible Study, Challenge, Confidence, Devotional, Faith, Plan, Potential, Sports, Trust, victory | 1 Comment

Winning Battles

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Mark Shields

Reading in Joshua 6, God makes a promise that Jericho would be delivered into Joshua’s hands (v.2). It seemed impossible since the wall around this old city was tall and thick but with God all battles are won. Like the instructions He gave Joshua, He gives us instructions in winning battles.

Just like in this passage, victory over our enemies starts by having a plan. By accepting God’s plan for us, all we need to do is follow and believe He will provide the power. He will give the upper hand to make what seems impossible possible.

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This day with You Lord, we can passionately believe in what we are doing. Just like with the plan you gave Joshua in handing the city of Jericho to him, we are given the plan to win our battles this day. Let nothing hold us up in our work and help us to know that one day at a time the impossible will become possible. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Make Impossible Possible | Tagged Bible Study, Challenge, Confidence, Devotional, Faith, Plan, victory | Leave a comment

Trust in the Name of the Lord

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Mark Shields

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. – Psalm 20:7

The Israelites had been through difficult times but as shared in the post, “Steadily Heading Towards the Victory”, God leads them through all of it. They came to the point when the battle at Jericho was in the near future and before the battle, God told Joshua how to prepare for battle.

It was a time of renewal. We need times of renewal in our lives today to win our battles. With God on our side, there is nothing we can’t do. We are ready to take on the challenges life brings our way just like in the song Through All of It by Colton Dixon.