See It and Believe It

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Mark Shields

This poem relates a batter in baseball seeing the ball to how we need to see in our mind what we need to do or say each day.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Sports and Lessons LearnedGreat athletes practice
not only for a physical feat
but also in their minds
as they set out to compete.

The hitter in baseball
visualizes the thrower
getting set for the pitch
as he leans lower.

The thrower rocks back
starting his windup
as over his head
his arms comes up.

Towards home plate
the ball is hurled
and the batter decides
should a swing be unfurled?

The batter sees
every detail of the ball
seeming bigger than usual
as he swings with his all.

He feels the ball hit the bat
on the sweet big part.
Jumping off the bat
And into the air it darts.

The lesson learned
as we go about this day
is that in anything we do
or anything we say.

The mind
has to see it
and believe it
to achieve it.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 01-12-2017

View original post

Posted in Devotionals, Poems | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Praise Be to the Lord

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Mark Shields

Praise be to the Lord,
   For He has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
   My heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
   And with my song I praise Him. – Psalm 28:6-7 

God is our strength in difficulties. He protects and leads in the right direction so our true potential is realized. Provided are opportunities for a bright future because our experiences can be our stepping-stones as the Lord carries us along the path. 

Let us be an overcomer even when things happen that should not or when those you thought you could trust do something that makes you not trust them anymore. Be able to forgive, step ahead, and be grateful for what you do have. Like in the song Carry Me by Josh Wilson, the Lord can carry us from sinking sand to solid ground.

Index of devotionals

 

Posted in Devotionals, Overcome Difficulty | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Strength and Shield

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Mark Shields

The nation had turned against David and in Psalm 28  he brings before God in prayer his situation. He trust in God to help overcome his enemies (v. 4-5). Our problems may not be as serious as David’s in this psalm but if we face a need or challenge, God will bless us with strength.

Verses 6-7 can be our own prayer if we use our experiences as stepping-stones along the path and believe our prayers will be answered. Like David, let us give praise to the Lord for being our strength and shield (v.7).

This day, think of issues or problems you are currently going through and lift them up before God in prayer. Leave them in God’s hands, believe He will hear this prayer, and be your strength and shield.

Image Source

Posted in Bible Study, Overcome Difficulty | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Be a Miracle for Someone Today

Posted on January 10, 2017 by Mark Shields

For in the day of trouble
   He will keep me safe in His dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent
   And set me high upon a rock. – Psalm 27:5 

As explained in the post “No Fear since He is Near”, David prayed for God’s power to get him through his difficulty. He desired God’s presence and His protection from enemies. David trusted in God and went to Him in prayer for strength. He was confident that God would pull him through.

Many of us in life, fear rejection from friends or relatives. But we don’t have to fear because like David, we can go to the Lord for strength. We may be rejected on earth but rejection is never permanent. What is permanent is our acceptance by God when we follow His Plan for Us. Be a miracle for someone today and reblog or forward this link. Always remember, by accepting Christ as Savior, you are never rejected in heaven.

David said in Psalm 27:6 that he would sing and make music to the Lord. Let’s do the same today as we praise Him with today’s video: Good Fight by Unspoken.

Index of devotionals

 

Posted in Applied Faith, Devotionals | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No Fear since He is Near

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Mark Shields

As recorded in Psalm 27 , there is no fear when we feel God is near. Like David says, “the Lord is our light, our salvation, and our stronghold”. David’s single desire was that he may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life (v. 4). He wanted to learn God’s way and be led down the straight path (v. 11).

We can all pray a similar prayer today. When we dream about what is needed, then we begin to believe it will happen. We then develop plans and know what steps to take. We take those steps and become more confident that our dream will come true.

I remember playing baseball in high school. The day before a tournament, our coach gave a talk about a guy who was a great golfer. He came down with an illness and was directed by his doctor to stay in bed for two weeks. Concerned that he would lose his edge for a major tournament coming up, he decided to practice in his mind.

Each ball he hit in his mind was perfect; straight down the fairway and further than he had ever hit a ball before. Over and over each day while he lay in bed, he played rounds of golf. After the weeks had gone by, the doctor then declared the golfer was over his illness. The golfer then went out to the golf course the first chance he got and shot the best round of golf in his life.

I took this inspiring story from my baseball coach and applied it to hitting a baseball. In batting practice before the first game of the tournament, I was seeing the ball good and hitting it solid. The first at bat, I saw the ball coming towards me and hit it solid. It jumped off the bat and went over the right field fence.

Friends, we can do the same today by practicing in our minds the type of life we would like to live. Here is a poem today about my home run to motivate us today to hit home runs for God.

Getting a jump on my day
and ready to write my story.
To be at my best today
and ready to bring Him glory.
 
Looking at the wall;
waiting for the pitch.
Then focused on the ball
and seeing every stitch.
 
The pitch is right in my zone.
There is no pressure at all.
For my mind has already shown
that the ball goes over the wall.
 
Getting a jump on my day
and ready to write my story.
To be at my best today
and ready to bring Him glory. 

Poem By Mark Shields – © 6-08-2013
Image Source

 

Posted in Applied Faith, Bible Study | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment