Manna for Your Morning

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. — 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NLT) For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT) Realize that it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. (See Philippians 2:13 AMP) With God all things are possible. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. (See 1 Peter 5:6) For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please G...

“But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish.” — Jonah 1:3 (NLT) We can run but we can never hide from Yahweh. Psalms 139:7 (NLT) says: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!” In addition: You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. (Proverbs 19:21 NLT) Jonah planned to go to Tarshish, but instead God orchestrated a series of events and Jonah 3:3 says: “This time Jonah obeyed the LORD’s command and went to Nineveh…” We can be obedient and take the direct route, or we can go around the mountain forty times until our hearts are right and then fulfill the plans the LORD has for us. When all is said and done, know that His plans are good. Yahweh is a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love....

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. — 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT) No matter what the current set of circumstances may be, we can continue to rejoice. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 NKJV) For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT) And remember, our Heavenly Father is faithful to deliver the rig...

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. — Joel 3:14 (NKJV)  Deuteronomy 30:19-20 says: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;  that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days…” Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:11-12 NKJV)

  People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.  — Proverbs 21:2 (NLT) “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT) We may be able to fool people, but we can never fool our Heavenly Father. “The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.” (Proverbs 20:27) He examines our hearts and knows everything about us. (See Psalms 139:1) How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. (Psalms 19:12) Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10) And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkle...

“Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!” — Proverbs 14:23 (NLT) “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” (Proverbs 13:4 NLT) “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.” (Proverbs 13:11 NLT) Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10 NLT) “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11 NLT) “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Colossians 3:23 NLT) “So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life… (See Ecclesiastes 3:22 NLT)