Manna for Your Morning

Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress. Psalm 71:3 (NKJ) May we always retreat to the Lord, our mighty rock. Jesus said, "remain in me, and I will remain in you," (John 15:4). Let us make the Lord our dwelling place. Abide in the shelter of the Most High and His peace and love will fill your heart and mind. In His sanctuary, we find rest and safety.

Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves. The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged. Psalm 69:30-32 (NLT) All who seek God's help can be encouraged because He hears you and He will answer. He knows what you need before you ask and He will provide. Honor Him with thanksgiving.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NKJ) Don't let the enemy steal your joy. The joy of the Lord is your strength. It will allow you to rise above the circumstances of life and rejoice in the victory we have in Jesus. Leave your sorrows at the foot of the cross and put on a garment of praise. May our heavenly Father anoint you with the oil of gladness, until your cup overflows. Praise God for each precious moment He gives you to enjoy life.

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Revelation 12:11 (NIV) We overcome the devil and this world by the wonder-working blood of Jesus and by the word of our testimony. Declare victory over the circumstances in your life! Proverbs 18:21 says, death and life are in the power of our tongues. Speak the Word of life over your struggles. "We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us" (Romans 8:37). "Everything is possible for him who believes." (Mark 9:23). Glory Hallelujah!

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death. Psalm 68:19-20 (NIV) Praise the Lord, who daily bears our burdens. Jesus says, "Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28,GW)

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) The LORD our God is with you, and nothing is too difficult for Him. He helps you and holds you up with His victorious right hand. With God’s help we will do mighty things (Psalm 60:12, NLT). Thank the LORD!

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5-6 (NIV) Why are you discouraged? Put your hope in the living God. He will deliver you from all your troubles. Amen.

Since we have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God, who has gone into heaven, let us hold on to the faith we have. For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. Hebrews 4:14-15 (NCV) Jesus is our great high priest, who understands our weaknesses and all that we go through. Never be afraid to bear your soul to Him. Isaiah 53:3 tells us, He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. He was oppressed and afflicted (Isaiah 53:7). Since Jesus has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested, (Hebrews 2:18). Let us approach the throne of our gracious God, with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Then he told me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'You will not succeed by your own strength or by your own power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord All-Powerful. Zechariah 4:6 (NCV) This word is as true for us as it was for Zerubbabel. We can try as hard as want, to accomplish things in our own strength but we will only experience real success when we rely on the power and wisdom of God's Holy Spirit within us. God didn't give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power (2 Timothy 1:7). According to John 16:13, the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. By His Spirit, we shall accomplish great and wonderful things.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.   — Psalm 57:1 (NIV) Let the troubles that come, pass right on by, while you find shelter in the shadow of His wings. Why stand out in the rain? Walk close to God and stay under the umbrella of His protection. When we stand behind our big God, He shelters us from the storm.

Give your worries to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let good people down. Psalm 55:22 (NCV) Give your worries to God. Let go of them and really trust the Lord to work it all together for good. Our heavenly Father is faithful. No matter how bleak the situation may appear, He will take care of you.

You are not pleased by sacrifices, or I would give them. You don't want burnt offerings. The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin. Psalm 51:16-17 (NCV) The sacrifice God desires is a broken spirit and a humble heart that is willing to obey Him. We worship God by giving our hearts to Him, with undivided devotion.

I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint. Habakkuk 2:1 (NLT) After you have made your requests to the Lord, wait and see what the He says. Earnestly seek our wise God with your questions, concerns and desires. He will hear and answer you with the heart of a loving and faithful Father. Just patiently wait upon the Lord.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:10-11 (NIV) May we cease from the flurry of busyness and sit still in the presence of our LORD. When we meditate on His goodness and all His marvelous works, there is no doubt that He is God and that He is exalted above all.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Psalm 46:1-3 (NLT) God is with us during the storms and in the fiery furnace. Have courage, knowing that He is by your side and always ready to help. He will provide all that you need.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Psalm 20:7-8 (NIV) Instead of trusting in your possessions, put your trust in the powerful name of the LORD. There is wonder-working power in the name that stands above all names. Lean on the LORD and He will give you the strength to rise up and stand firm.

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! 1 Peter 1:3-4 (The Message) In Jesus Christ, we are new creations. We can let go of our old ways and fully experience a brand-new life. God has given us everything to live for, a glorious future in heaven and a full life here on earth. He has given us a life of purpose and passion. We can walk in freedom and forgiveness, our hearts overflowing with joy and peace. Our brand-new life is established on the eternal foundation of God's unfailing love. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:15 (NKJ) Jesus affectionately calls you friend. As a loving and compassionate friend, Jesus shows us the way to an abundant life, full of everlasting peace and overflowing joy. When we learn from Him, we find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:29). Live your life with Christ, just as you do your best friend, spending time and being real. Frolic in His love and share it with others.

Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I should put my hope in God and keep praising him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:11 (NCV) Are you like Martha? She was worried and upset about many things (Luke 10:41). Instead of letting your worries and concerns choke the life out of you, put all your hope in God. Cast all your cares on the LORD. He said the battle belongs to Him. Keep praising Him for who He is, for what He has done, what He is doing and what He will do.

Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God. And here's why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot, This most patient God, extravagant in love, always ready to cancel catastrophe. Joel 2:13 (The Message) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Our heavenly Father is extravagant in love and full of kindness. Because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, saves us by His grace (Ephesians 2:4-5). Draw near to the LORD, our God.

I'm after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings. Hosea 6:6 (The Message) The greatest thing we can do is love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30) and keep Him first in our lives and hearts (Matthew 6:33). God doesn't want us caught up in religion and rituals. He is after RELATIONSHIP. God wants us captured by His love and loyal in our love toward Him. He wants us to know Him intimately as Abba Father or Daddy. Nothing we desire on this earth can compare with our heavenly Father, the One who created us and wants to spend eternity with us.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT) The Lord delights in every detail of your life. You are not forgotten, as the enemy would have you believe. Our heavenly Father is intimately involved with anything that concerns you. Take each step according to His direction and you will never fall. The Lord holds you by the hand as you journey to the wonderful promise land the Lord has for you.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV) There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears (Philippians 1:5:6, The Message). The Apostle Paul tells us that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). And 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Let us keep our eye on the prize and know in our hearts and minds that God will do it. He will bring us through to a victorious finish that will make us forget all about the troubles we experienced along the way.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5 (NKJ) The LORD is forever faithful. He keeps all the promises He has made. He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3). He is faithful to be with you through the floodwaters and through the fire. Great is His faithfulness. He remains faithful even if we lose faith. When you trust the LORD, you will not be disappointed.

Lord, your love reaches to the heavens, your loyalty to the skies. Your goodness is as high as the mountains. Your justice is as deep as the great ocean. Lord, you protect both people and animals. God, your love is so precious! You protect people in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:5-7 (NCV) The precious love of God is so deep and wide, it fills the earth and reaches the heavens. His goodness is taller than the highest mountain. In the shadow of His wings, we find shelter from the storm. May you know the depth and height of God's precious love for you.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT) God takes our sorrow and gives us something to dance about. He removes our dark, heavy clothes of mourning and gives us a light garment of praise. Give thanks to the Lord always!

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from your hand, O king. Daniel 3:16-17 (NIV) The LORD, our mighty God is able to save us from anything the enemy brings our way. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a blazing furnace that had been heated seven times hotter than usual because they refused to worship the god of Nebuchadnezzar. These three men trusted God and they came out of the fire unharmed. Neither their clothes nor their hair was burned. They didn’t even smell like smoke (Daniel 3:27). If you are in the heat of battle, do not fear, our God is able to save you.

I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. Psalm 30:1-3 (NLT) The Lord rescues us from the clutches of our enemies and gives us the victory. He restores our health and keeps us from falling into the pit of death. Give God some praise!

Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:6-7 (NLT) Burst out in songs of thanksgiving when you think of how the Lord has helped you. His ear is always open to hear your cry. The Lord is our strength to keep us from growing weary and faint. The Lord is our protective shield against the darts of the enemy. He is the source of all our joy and peace. Praise the living God!

I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you." So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NCV) Don't be afraid to admit your limitations. When we are weak, the power of Christ can work through us. Its a perfect combination: His power and our weakness. In addition, the Lord extends His grace which is enough for us to endure and persevere.