Manna for Your Morning

Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God. Psalm 42:5 (GW) When your bright sunny sky turns gray and full of dark clouds, don't start crying the blues. When the raging waters and violent winds come, hold on. Even if your boat turns over, Jesus is your Life Preserver. In the midst of your darkest day, still praise God! Anchor your hope in the living God and you will not be disappointed. He is a safe harbor from the harsh winds and a refuge from the storms of life. He turns our mourning into gladness; He gives us comfort and joy instead of sorrow (Jeremiah 31:13). He fills our mouths with laughter and our lips with shouts of joy. Praise the LORD!

But I am oppressed and needy. May the Lord think of me. You are my help and my savior. O my God, do not delay! Psalm 40:17 (GW) Sometimes when we are in the thick of tough times, we may think the LORD has forgotten about us. We cry out for God to quickly come to our aid. Our hearts may cry out, "do not delay!" Let us remember, that God has everything that concerns us under control. While we wait for an answer, our heavenly Father is orchestrating events to come together at the perfect time, the appointed time. All of our days were written in His book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16), including the day of our deliverance. When our situation unfolds, our response is often utter amazement as we look at what God has done.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJ) Brothers and sisters, don't get hung up on what happened in days gone by. That is like driving down the road while looking in the rear view mirror. You will not get very far before you crash. Instead, keep reaching forward to what lies ahead. Press on toward the goal, to finish the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Be glad and find joy in the Lord, you righteous people. Sing with joy, all whose motives are decent. Psalm 32:11 (GWT) Sometimes joy isn't jumping up to meet us when we open our eyes in the morning. These are the days we have to find joy. However, as we think about the goodness of the LORD, and meditate on His mercy and His grace, joy knocks at the door. As we begin to thank our heavenly Father for waking us up this morning, joy begins to fill the very fibers of our hearts. When we begin to reflect on the lovingkindness and compassion of our God and count our blessings, joy bubbles up in our souls and spills over, into the lives of those around us. Never let the enemy steal your joy!

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJ) What great and mighty things would you like to see performed in your life? Call upon the LORD and He will answer you. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes (Deuteronomy 10:17). Wait patiently for the LORD and He will show you great and mighty things. Amen.

So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NKJ) May we realize the brevity of life. James 4:14 says, our lives are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Be wise and make the most of every moment our heavenly Father gives you. Keep God's commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity (Proverbs 3:1-2).

I will praise the LORD, who advises me. My conscience warns me at night. I always keep the LORD in front of me. When he is by my side, I cannot be moved. That is why my heart is glad and my soul rejoices. Psalm 16:7-9a (GW) Keep your eyes on the LORD and follow Him. With our heavenly Father by our side,  we cannot be moved. God is on our side to help us and fight our battles (2 Chronicles 32:8). He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! Let your heart be glad and your soul rejoice because we win!

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Psalm 90:1-2 (NKJ) The LORD has been our dwelling place and our refuge throughout every generation. He chose us in Him before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). From the beginning to the end, He is God, strong, mighty, and righteous. Eternal, permanent and self-existent. All-sufficient and all-bountiful. Full of power, majesty and splendor. Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty. The whole earth is full of His glory! Our heavenly Father is our Redeemer, our Provider and our Healer. He is God and there is no other!

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 1 Peter 4:12 (NKJ) Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you. In this world you will have trouble. Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3).  Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and become discouraged in your souls (Hebrews 12:3). Don't give up. Instead, be strong and take courage because Jesus has overcome the world!

Blessed are the people who know how to praise you. They walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. They find joy in your name all day long. They are joyful in your righteousness because you are the glory of their strength. By your favor you give us victory. Psalm 89:15-17 (GW) Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Let the sound of His praise be heard throughout the earth. It is good to give thanks to the Most High, and to sing praises to His name (Psalm 92:1). The LORD inhabits the praises of His people. May we walk in the light of His Presence and celebrate His abundant goodness and righteousness.

I will sing forever about the evidence of your mercy, O LORD. I will tell about your faithfulness to every generation. I said, “Your mercy will last forever. Your faithfulness stands firm in the heavens.” Psalm 89:1-2 (GW) Let us sing about the everlasting mercy of our heavenly Father. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. His tender mercies begin afresh each morning. Tell everyone about His great faithfulness. It endures to all generations. God's faithfulness is firmly established in the heavens. May His tender mercies fall afresh on you today!

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NKJ) No matter what we go through, every child of God is victorious over the world because He who lives in us is greater than the dark forces in this world. We defeat the devil by the blood of the sacrificial Lamb of God, Jesus, and by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). We have overcome. Praise the LORD!

Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead. Psalm 86:11-13 (NIV) May our hearts be undivided, singly sold out for the LORD. Let us love Him with all our hearts. Learn His ways and honor Him in everything you do and say. Great is His love toward us. He is our deliverer. Glorify His name forever!

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. Psalm 85:5-7 (NIV) Our heavenly Father abounds in love toward all who call upon Him. When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and to forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Our God is good, all the time! His unfailing love surrounds us. His ear is always open to hear our prayers. When you are in distress, call upon Abba Father and He will answer.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 84:11-12 (NKJ) The LORD generously gives us grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who do what is right. Those who put their trust in God are blessed with peace and joy. Our hearts and minds can stay in peace and we can keep a smile on our faces, because we know that our heavenly Father is working all things together for good. With God on our side, we cannot lose. He has already given us the victory!

Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. Psalm 72:18-19 (NIV) Praise the LORD! Our great God is full of power and majesty. The whole earth is filled with His glory. He is the one and only wonder-working God! May you be filled with awe as you see the marvelous things the LORD does in your life!

After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10 (NIV) I believe the secret to Job's restoration was that he was a faithful man of praise and prayer. When Job was confronted with catastrophe his first reaction was to praise God. In Job 1:20-21, Job fell to the ground in worship and said: “...may the name of the LORD be praised.” Then Job's restoration came AFTER he had prayed for his friends. What lessons can we learn from Job? 1) That we have to continue to praise God in the face of adversity. 2) We need to exercise perseverance during the trials and 3) to be men and women of prayer. Amen.

“My days are passing by. My plans are broken. My dreams are shattered.” Job 17:11 (GW) Even though Job was in a state of total desperation, he persevered through the pain and emotional devastation and God brought it all together for him at the end. The LORD restored Job’s losses and gave Job twice as much as he had before. The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. After his ordeal, Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations (Job 42:10, 12, 16). When it seems like your plans are broken and your dreams are shattered, endure the hardships and be confident that God will work it all out. May He give you double for your trouble and make the rest of your life, the absolute best of your life!

“Even now, look! My witness is in heaven, and the one who testifies for me is above, the spokesman for my thoughts. My eyes drip with tears to God But my witness will plead for a human in front of God. The Son of Man will plead for his friend!” Job 16:19-21 (GW) In the midst of his trial, Job knew the Son of Man was pleading to the Father on his behalf. In our troubles, let us be confident that even though the devil accuses us, before God day and night, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (Revelation 12:10 and 1 John 2:1). Brothers and sisters, He calls us " friend " and He pleads our case before the Father. Glory hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus.

But I will always have hope. I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell about your righteousness, about your salvation all day long. Even then, it is more than I can understand. Psalm 71:14-15 (GW) First Timothy 6:17 instructs us to put our hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). Our hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. (Hebrews 6:19, NLT). Regardless of the hardships you encounter, always have hope. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off (Proverbs 23:18).

I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, Which has horns and hooves. Psalm 69:30-31 (NKJ) Let us sing our praises to God and thank Him for all He has done in our lives. Thank Him for the abundant love and compassion He gives to us, every moment of every day. Our God is so worthy to receive all praise and thanksgiving. This pleases the LORD more than animal sacrifices. Magnify the LORD today and always!

Righteous people cry out. The LORD hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to those whose hearts are humble. He saves those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:17-18 (GW) The LORD hears His people when they cry out to Him for help. He rescues us from all our troubles. If you are experiencing any kind of trouble, call upon our heavenly Father. If your spirit is crushed, cry our to the LORD. Be confident that He is working everything that happens in your life together for good (Romans 8:28). God will bring you through all that concerns you!

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his holy people, For those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Psalm 34:8-10 (NIV) Yes, the LORD is good! Revere and worship Him, you, His saints! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear (Psalm 34:9, AMP). We will not lack anything that is beneficial to us. Some things may appear to be good, with our limited vision, but our heavenly Father knows everything and He knows what is beneficial for us. We can be assured that if its good for us, Father God will open the door for us to have it. Amen.