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

Dedicate This Day To The Lord

Posted on October 2, 2024 by Mark Shields

Have you ever heard of athletes that dedicate a game to a loved one and it inspires them to play their game at the highest level? I once heard a story of a football player that dedicated a game to a loved one who was sick. A pass was thrown his way, and he jumped up to grab the ball at the highest point to intercept the ball. As we read today in Isaiah 15-16, lets dedicate our understanding of today’s word to the Lord.

We note today that God uses prophets during that time to warn the people of coming judgment. Today’s passage is a prophecy about Moab which was a kingdom whose territory today is located in southern Jordan. Moab had been an enemy of Israel and Judah.

In today’s passage, the Assyrian army came against them, so the Moabites fled. They ask Israel for help, but to receive their help Israel wanted them to worship their God. The pride of the Moabites made them say no, and they continued to worship their idols. God allowed the Assyrian army to destroy the land, and Moab is suddenly reduced to almost nothing.

The take away for me in today’s passage is that we need to share about God’s judgment, and relate it to judgment in our own nation today. If we continue to resist God, there will be consequences so our hope should always be in God when facing trouble.

This day with God, let us pray for His assistance in designing our life plan and how we can help others. Let us all dream about how rewarding it will be to carry this plan out.

Let us dedicate this day to the Lord and do what I alluded to at the begging of this post and catch the ball at the highest point so we can intercept and get our team on offense. Let us prepare with confidence and be determined to carry out God’s plan one step at a time.

This day God, we humbly go before You in prayer with confidence that our prayers will be answered. Give us a vision about our life plan and the desire to act on it. To catch faith at it’s highest point. To receive direction in being the best we can be in our calling. To listen, apply, and follow the dreams You give us. As we set out to fulfill these dreams, we dedicate this day to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Posted in Applied Faith, Bible Study | Tagged Bible Study, Confidence, Dedication, Faith, Hope, Photo, Prayer, Rewards, Sports, Team, Worship | 3 Comments

He Gives Us The Victory

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Mark Shields

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:5

A takeaway from “He Will Pull Us Through” is that nothing can hold us down. Destiny says we are empowered to be pulled to the top because of God’s plan. So prepare for and expect victory because our Savior loves, our Savior lives, and is always there for us.

Listen to the song Empty Me by Jeremy Camp. We must be emptied before we can be filled. Think of ways to be emptied of things like selfishness and pride. Then think of how you can be filled with God’s purpose.

Index of devotionals

Photo Source – “Bing.” Microsoft. N.p., n.d. Web. Images >.

Posted in Devotionals, victory | Tagged Destiny, Devotional, Faith, Power, Praise, Prayer, Purpose, victory, Video, Worship | 1 Comment

He Will Pull Us Through

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Mark Shields

We are never 100% prepared for anything in life. There may be times when we feel like we are underwater, sinking to the bottom of the abyss, and drowning. We must have faith that God will pull us through. He has a purpose in everything that happens.

From our previous studies, God used the Assyrians as instruments of wrath. They were looking like a sure winner against the people of Israel, but our response should be “hold on”. He has the whole world in His hands, and can pull His people up from the abyss.

Reading today in Isaiah 14, we are given a prophecy that the mighty empire that holds Israel captive will be destroyed. The Lord Almighty will rise up against them (v. 22). There will be repercussions like war, disasters, famine, and disease.

God’s victory over Assyria demonstrates that God’s plan always brings victory in our life if we let Him in so let us go to Him in prayer. Let us ask for direction and the will to carry them out knowing His power will provide what is needed to get us out of the abyss so we can see a brighter future.

Nothing can hold us down. Destiny says we are empowered to be pulled to the top because of God’s plan. So prepare for and expect victory because our Savior loves, our Savior lives, and is always there for us.

Father God … You are the good in this constant war between good and evil. We feel at times that we are drowning but if we hold on to You, we will be pulled up. We are emptied of selfishness and pride and filled with your purpose. Your plan of a Savior who loves, a Savior who lives, and a Savior who is always there for us pulls us up from the abyss, and we are thankful. Amen.

Photo Source – “Bing.” Microsoft. N.p., n.d. Web. Images >.

Posted in Bible Study, victory | Tagged Bible Study, Destiny, Faith, Photo, Power, Prayer, Purpose, victory | 1 Comment

Thought From Devotional 09-27-2024

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Mark Shields

A thought from reading John 10:1-21 is that Jesus is the good shepherd or the Word in the flesh so you can listen, understand, and obey; be led to the green pastures, take in the principles taught by Jesus, and be able to apply these principles in how you live.

Posted in Devotionals, Discipline | Tagged Bible Study, Character, Commitment, Confidence, Discipline, Follow, Lead, Listen, Obedience, Photo, Prayer, Truth, Worship | Leave a comment

Questions for Reflection for Study of Isaiah 14 – 22

Posted on September 26, 2024 by Mark Shields

We live in a busy world with busy schedules and being able to share some thoughts about this journey with others across this world through the Internet is truly a blessing. The below Questions for Reflection will stimulate thought and offer ideas for applying biblical principles. At all stages of life, the Bible is helpful in providing what is needed to thrive in life. If you have not done so yet, click the follow button on the top right side of this page to be notified of future posts.

Isaiah 14 – What is to be the repercussion from the collapse of the mighty empire that holds Israel captive? What will God’s victory over Assyria notably demonstrate? With Assyria looking like a sure winner, what would be your response to this oblique advice?

Isaiah 15-16 – What is the background of Moab-Judah-Israel relations (See 2 Kings 3)? To what is Moab suddenly reduced? What about today’s passage can be shared to stop our own national tragedy? Who should our hope be in when facing trouble?

Isaiah 17-18 – To what extent do you think God is working in the history of nations today? Why? What will enjoy peace in a land where humanity cannot work it out? Who do you trust more: God or humanity?

Isaiah 19-20 – How is the mighty Egypt to collapse? On what premises will a reconciliation in the Middle East be established between these mutually suspicious and hostile parties? What does major highway construction in the area (19:23) suggest about the traffic patterns? Where should a nation turn when facing internal and external pressure?

Isaiah 21 – Having often pointed to a dawning of peace and international recovery for the nations, what happens to Isaiah’s own twilight-dawn (See Isaiah 8:20-22)? With Assyria and Egypt reduced to impotence, what hope of dawn is left when the third Big Power is darkened? What answer is given to the call about the blackout (v. 11)? Is the answer encouraging? When God is judging, where is the only safe place for you?

Isaiah 22 – What was Jerusalem’s defenses? What reforms within the city does Isaiah demand? To what extent do you make yourself responsible to God in any position of authority you have? Why?

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.

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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. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://fumcwaco.org/resources/sermons/>.

“Bible.” The Bible – The Word of God – ChristNotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 2017. <http://www.christianity.com/bible/>.

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

“Bing.” Microsoft. N.p., n.d. Web. Images >.

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