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

An Amazing Future in His Presence

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Mark Shields

Jacob was told by Isaac in Genesis 28 to go find a wife among the daughters of Laban, his mother’s brother. On his way, he had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven (v. 12). In the dream, God promises Jacob and his descendants the land on which he was lying.

Jacob woke up and responded with praise toward God. He described the land as the gate of heaven and marked the place with the stone he had used as a pillow. He poured oil on the stone, set it up as a memorial pillar, and called the place Bethel which means “the house of God”

From this point, he became a changed man and got right with God. He asked that God remain in his presence as he continued his journey; providing food, clothing, and safety. He also promises to give back to God a tenth of what was given.

This day with God, give all the praise to Him because from this point forward, we can count on Him to bless us with the joy of an amazing future. We are right with God and because when we are right with God, we are right with those we go through life with.

With God’s guidance through His Word, we stay on track and headed in the right direction. Like Jacob who marked the place with a stone, mark this day as the turning point to an amazing future in God’s presence.

Posted in Genesis, Optimism | Tagged Dream, Future, God, God’s Word, Guidance, Isaac, Jacob, Joy, Life, Optimism, Praise | 3 Comments

Making the Needed Adjustments

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Mark Shields

History is a great teacher and we must learn from history to help in making the needed adjustments in life. In the account of Jacob getting Isaac’s blessing in Genesis 27, we are given a sad chapter of everyone doing the wrong thing and examples of how the world has become a broken place.

In this account of God’s written Word, each parent had their favorite child. Rebekah convinced her favorite son to trick his father and receive his blessing instead of Esau. The results were disastrous. Rebekah never saw her son again, Jacob’s brother wanted to kill him, Esau became the founder of an enemy nation, and Jacob was exiled from his family for years.

God has provided the path for us to follow but it’s not always followed and the results are disastrous. Our prayer should always be that God searches inside us and clears out what should not be there. Here’s a video to inspire this desire: Search Me Lord – Gaither Vocal Band.

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

Index of devotionals

Posted in Genesis, Integrity | Tagged Bible, Blessings, Community, Family, God, Guidance, Integrity, Isaac, Jacob, Life, Nation, Prayer, Truth | Leave a comment

Results of Getting off the Path

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Mark Shields

Isaac began to get off God’s path later in life. As noted in Genesis 27, Isaac was toward the end of his life and could barely see. He decided it was time to give his oldest son Esau his blessing. Esau was a good hunter so Isaac asked Esau to go hunt for game and prepare it for a meal. Then he would give Esau his blessing before his death.

Rebekah overhead this conversation. She was closer to their other son named Jacob who enjoyed staying around the house rather than hunt. Rebekah thought up this scheme to trick her husband into giving his blessing to Jacob rather than the older son Esau.

Sure enough, the scheme was carried out and the blessing to Jacob was binding. Isaac was furious and had to explain to his favorite son Esau what had happened. Satan was attacking Isaac through his own family as this deceptive plan was carried out.

The lack of integrity has disastrous consequences for a family, community, or nation. When people are tricked into voting a certain way or buying a certain product that turns out not to be what they were told, they are harmed and the world becomes a broken place. Families can be torn apart by strife. History tells us in Isaac’s family that Rebekah never saw her son again, Jacob’s brother wanted to kill him, Esau became the founder of an enemy nation, and Jacob was exiled from his family for years.

This day with God, let us pray to learn and apply Godly principles found in the Bible. Lord, we pray that You search inside us and clear out what shouldn’t be there. That we learn from what is found in your Word and from history so we know the proper way to live, give, and love. The way that is the clear path for us to follow.

Image Source

Posted in Genesis, Integrity | Tagged Bible, Blessings, Community, Family, God, Integrity, Life, Nation, Prayer | 1 Comment

The Flood and the Blood

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Mark Shields

I’ve been studying in Genesis and wrote a poem about the flood; that God rewarded Noah with a covenant. The rainbow is the symbol of this covenant. We know now that the flood didn’t fix things so the ultimate plan of Jesus dying on the cross was needed and by accepting Jesus, the future is bright. Have a wonderful Easter weekend my friends!

Step Ahead

After the flood
All had perished
Except those with Noah
Who God always cherished

Then He made a covenant
To never flood the whole world
The sign of this covenant
A rainbow skyward curled

A peaceful reminder
To take care of each other
Build each other up
And encourage one another

To respect each person
Gaining progress along the way
And praising God for transformation
Each and every day

The flood didn’t completely fix things
So an ultimate plan was needed
And God flooded the earth with grace
Through Jesus who interceded

Overflowing with thanksgiving
Giving hope to our tomorrows
When there will be a day
With no pain or sorrows

As we step ahead
Things will surely improve
We will never be alone
As He directs our every move

View original post 3 more words

Posted in Devotionals | 2 Comments

Planting Seeds for God’s Blessings

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Mark Shields

In the post Influence Future Generations, the thought was about offering our children the way that brings victory for the future. We owe it to those we love to be the best we can and to plant seeds for God’s blessings. Here’s today video to inspire this thought: My Savior My God by Aaron Shust.