Manna for Your Morning

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” — Luke 24:5-7 (NKJV) Jesus bore our griefs and suffering. He carried our sorrows; He was afflicted. He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; (Isaiah 53:4-5). He endured the cross and His body was laid in a tomb. But on the third day it was said of Him, “He is risen!” We have been born again into a LIVING hope. The third day brought about VICTORY over sin and death, freedom and joy. We may have to go through some stuff, but remember the 3rd day! In Christ Jesus, our Savior, we already have the victory. Amen!

I will give you thanks, O LORD, with all my heart. I will tell about all the miracles you have done. I will find joy and be glad about you. I will make music to praise your name, O Most High.  — Psalm 9:2 (GW) Sometimes joy evades us, we have to seek it out. Let us find joy in the simple blessings of life: roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs. Find joy in the love of family and friends. We take all these things for granted, yet there are many who lack these needful things. Most of all, we can take joy in God, our Savior. Rejoice that our God loves you and that His Son, Jesus Christ died for us that we may have eternal fellowship with our heavenly Father. Find joy and be glad for all the wonderful works the LORD has done in your midst!

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”  — Luke 22:41-42 (NKJV) Jesus' selfless sacrifice upon the cross brought salvation to all mankind. Just as Jesus fulfilled His mission by being obedient to the Father's will, let us complete our God given assignments. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1). Whose salvation is depending on your obedience?

And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. — Deuteronomy 7:22 (NKJV) You shall not be terrified of them; for the LORD your God, the great and awesome God, is among you (Deuteronomy 7:21). Just as the Israelites occupied their Promised Land, little by little, you will possess your promise land, piece by piece. The LORD will deliver you from your enemies. You have been at this mountain long enough. It is time to advance and occupy your promise land. The gates of hell will not prevail over you, child of God!

Thus says the LORD to you: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” — 2 Chronicles 20:15 (NKJV) Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19, NIV). Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (1 Peter 5:7, NLT). With God on our side, who can stand against us? Our heavenly Father is the God of victories. Thank God who always leads us in triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14)!

In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]. — Psalm 5:3 (AMP) In the morning, lay your requests before the Lord, then watch and wait in anticipation, with a sense of expectancy. Here is what the Lord says to those who make the Most High, their dwelling place: “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” (Psalm 91:15-16) Call upon Him, watch, wait and listen. He will answer!

G od is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.   —  Psalm 46:1 (NKJV) Our help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber (Psalm 121:2-3). When you go through the storms of life, our God is a very present help. He will not abandon you or forsake you. Our God will not run out on you. No matter what troubles may come, look to the LORD, Almighty God and rely on Him to be with you and to help you get through it. He is ALL you need Him to be and even more.

Victory comes from you, O LORD. May you bless your people. Interlude  — Psalm 3:8 (NLT) Thank God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57)! We overcome, because He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). In all the challenges we face in this life, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us first. The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; (Numbers 6:23-25).

LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah  But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. — Psalm 3:1-3 (NKJV) No matter how hopeless the situation seems, in God, our hope is alive and we have the victory! He is our Helper. The LORD is a shield that surrounds us on all sides. As we abide in Him, our heavenly Father is our protective shield. And He will lift our heads up above our enemies all around us; (Psalm 27:6).

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.  — Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) We are not to lean on our own understanding. Everything is not going to make sense to us, from our limited human view point. We have to trust in the One who can see the whole picture from beginning to end. The LORD has the Master plan and His ways are higher than ours. Rely on, lean on and put your confidence in our heavenly Father. Seek His will in every situation and He will show you the way.

...they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. — John 6:19-21 (NKJV) May we eagerly receive Jesus, just as the disciples willing received Him into their boat. Let us receive Him in our hearts, and in our homes. May we take Him into our workplace and everywhere we go. With Jesus in our boat we can be certain that we will ENDURE the storms of life and arrive safely at our desired destination. With Jesus near, there is no reason to fear. Amen!

And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:19 (AMP) Cast the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully (1 Peter 5:7, AMP). We can give all our worries and cares to God because He cares and He is faithful to supply our every need. He is the God of more than enough. Amen!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. — Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) The Amplified version says, I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD (Psalm 31:24). Empowered by Christ, you can conquer all!

But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, — 2 Corinthians 2:14 (AMP) We are to release the pleasing aroma of Christ, a life-giving fragrance. Do you smell of His sacrificial, undying love and tender kindness? Do those around you get a whiff of the sweet smell of joy when you are around? May we fill the air with the pleasant aroma of Christ, His peace, His obedience, His goodness and His faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God’s word].  — Lamentations 3:24-25 (AMP) Let your hope in the Lord serve as an anchor for your soul, keeping you steady when the winds of adversity blow. For if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance (Romans 8:25). Diligently seek the Lord and His will. Wait hopefully and expectantly to see His deliverance and the fulfillment of the wonderful plans He has for you!

The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease.  — Lamentations 3:19-22 (NLT) God does not withhold His tender mercies from us. Great is His mercy toward us! The LORD crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies (Psalm 103:4). Every morning we receive fresh, new mercies and compassions. He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3).  The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy (Psalm 145:8). Go boldly to the throne of grace, so you can obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  — John 7:37 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). In Revelation 21:5-7, Jesus said, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” What a glorious future awaits us! Come to Jesus and drink freely from the fountain of living waters, for we shall overcome. Amen!

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. — Romans 12:9 (The Message) Let us hold on for dear life to what is good. God is good and God is love! He is full of grace and mercy. May we imitate our heavenly Father and love others deeply, from the center of our hearts. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them! God's love for us never runs out, it is constant. May our love for others never fail!

Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, — 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 (NIV) Don't rely on yourself and what you can do in your human strength, rely on God and what He can do in the supernatural. Only He can bring the dead back to life. What we can learn in all of our suffering and troubles is to trust God. He has delivered us and He will continue to deliver us again and again! When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD lifts up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19). Amen!

“For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the LORD.’” — Jeremiah 39:18 (NKJV) Because you have put your trust in the LORD, no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Your life shall be as a prize to you, a life in the eternal realm, in the Presence of our great God forever. Wow! How awesome is that? We are WINNERS! So let's press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Philippians 3:14, NLT).

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ — Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV) Evening and morning and at noon pray, and cry aloud, and the LORD shall hear your voice (55:17). God's ear is attentive to the prayers of His people. Let our heavenly Father be the first one you call, not the last resort and something you do only when you are desperate. Have constant dialogue with Him. He is faithful and He will answer you!

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. — 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) No matter what comes your way, always remember, you are not abandoned. God's love will never run out on you. When you pass through the waters, the LORD will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you (Isaiah 43:2). “The LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) He is with you and will deliver you from all your troubles!

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!  — Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT) Can we still praise God, when things are not going the way we think they should go? In spite of how things may appear, may we truly find joy in Almighty God, who saves us. Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name (Hebrews 13:15).

‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. — Jeremiah 32:17 (NKJV) God created the heavens and the earth. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our LORD and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit. (Psalm 147:4-5). God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions, when Daniel was thrown in the lions den (Daniel 6:22).   God gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did (Romans 4:17).  He gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). You can fully rely on God. There is nothing He can’t do!

The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”  — Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV) The Message Bible says it this way: “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!” With an everlasting love, our heavenly Father draws us to Himself. Be captivated with His love!  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19).

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:12-13 (NKJV) As children, many of us enjoyed playing hide & seek. However, as children of God, we want to always seek the LORD and His will and He says when we search for Him with all of our heart, we will find Him. Now is the time to seek and find! The Amplified version says, to seek the LORD, inquire for, and require Him [as a vital necessity]. His constant Presence in our lives is a vital necessity. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” — Jeremiah 17:7 (NKJV) The person who trusts in the LORD, shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah 17:8). Seasons come and seasons go, but the LORD remains faithful through them all! Do not fret, fear or be anxious. No matter how hopeless things appear, be confident that our great God will provide everything you need, in every area of life.

“For I am with you to save you and deliver you,” says the LORD. “I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible.”  — Jeremiah 15:20B-21 (NKJV) The LORD is with you as a mighty, awesome One (Jeremiah 20:11). God is near, not far off. He will save you and deliver you from all your troubles (Psalm 34:17). He will  protect and guide you. He is our hope in the day of doom (Jeremiah 17:17). Amen.

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD. — Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NKJV) If you are going to brag, brag on this: that you truly understand and know the LORD. May we consider all the things of this world as rubbish, in comparison to the great “I AM!” He is the LORD and there is no other!

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”  — Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV) God was intimately acquainted with you, before you breathed your first breath. He formed your inward parts and knit you together in your mother’s womb. He wrote all your days in His book before one of them came to be. Just as the LORD had a plan for Jeremiah, He created you with a purpose. His plans for you are for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Amen!

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.  — Isaiah 59:1 (NIV) Don't suffer shipwreck in regard to your faith. Keep your trust in the LORD, our God. He is mighty to save! His arm is longer and reaches deeper than any situation you may be facing, including  the effects of sequestration. You are safe and secure in the arms of our heavenly Father. Let Him quiet your troubled soul with His love.