Manna for Your Morning

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) Our great God delights in every detail of our lives. He directs our steps and makes our plans succeed. Cast all your cares on the LORD, and He will sustain you (Psalm 55:22). The LORD upholds the godly with His mighty hand.

Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Do not be preoccupied with an evildoer who succeeds in his way when he carries out his schemes. Psalm 37:7 (GW) When we surrender to the LORD, we stop trying to force our way and relinquish control (what little we thought we had). We give up our ways for His higher and better ways. We submit to a heavenly Father who loves us and wants only the best for us. Life is so much sweeter when we wait patiently for Him, for His perfect will. Wait. He will give the answer. He will show you the way. God will provide whatever you need: healing, wholeness, peace, joy, direction, etc. The list goes on and on. And it will come to pass in His perfect timing.

Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers. 1 Timothy 4:7-10 (The Message) Let us exercise ourselves toward godliness everyday, performing workouts in love and kindness. Physical training is good, but godliness is profitable for all things. Living a disciplined, godly life promises benefits in this life and in the life to come. In addition to ensuring we are physically fit, may we make certain that we are spiritually fit also. Totally throw yourself into living for God, the Savior of all.

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:5-6 (NLT) Commit every action you take and every word that comes out of your mouth to the Lord. Make sure every thought you dwell on honors God. When we trust God enough to consistently follow His ways, we abide in His wonderful, loving Presence and He helps us fulfill our purpose.

Trust the Lord, and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful. Be happy with the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4 (GW) Lean on the LORD and decide to do good. Make being faithful to God and being faithful to do His Word a lifestyle, a daily practice. Delight yourself in the LORD and you will become more like Him, wanting the same things God wants. Then your efforts are crowned with success and you will have those things you desired.

The Lord asked Moses, “Is there a limit to the Lord’s power? Now you will see whether or not my words come true.” Numbers 11:23 (God's Word) Our God rules in power and glory. God formed the mountains by His power and armed Himself with strength (Psalm 65:6). He split open the sea by His power (Psalm 74:13). And by His power, God raised Jesus from the dead, (1 Corinthians 6:14). There is no limit to the LORD's mighty power. Have no doubt or fear. The LORD is able to bring you through your circumstances. We overcome with the LORD on our side. Nothing is too difficult for Him.

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. Psalm 36:7-9 (NKJ) No price can be put on the precious love we have in God. His love never fails. Let us abide under the shadow of His wings. When we take up residence in God, we are abundantly satisfied. He is the fountain of true and eternal life. Drink from the river of His delights. In His light we can clearly see.

Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long. Psalm 35:27-28 (NKJ) Let the LORD be magnified! We serve a big God, who delights in the well-being of His people. Our God is bigger than any mountain that stands before you. He is larger than any trial or obstacle. The LORD is stronger and more powerful than any raging storm and He will still be there after the storm has subsided. Give more attention to the God you serve than any distraction of the enemy and all will go well with you. May we sing the praises of God all day, everyday. The LORD be magnified!

I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught. John 14:27 (The Message) Jesus, the Prince of Peace, left us with the lasting gift of His peace. If you are worried, upset and distressed, you have allowed the enemy to steal your peace. Let the peace of Christ rule in your minds and hearts. A heart at peace gives life to the body (Proverbs 14:30). In the midst of any storm, we can experience God's peace, which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7). He gives His peace at all times and in every way. Amen.

Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath. Psalm 34:17-18 (The Message) When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. He stands ready to rescue. He is near to the brokenhearted and saves those whose spirits are crushed. When life knocks the wind out of you, He will help you to breathe easy again.

Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. Psalm 34:12-14 (NLT) The recipe for a long and prosperous life: Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). Speak the truth in love. Do not grow weary in doing good (2 Thessalonians 3:13). Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts and make every effort to do what leads to peace, including bearing with each other and forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you.

O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. Psalm 34:8-9 (NAS) The goodness of the LORD is sweeter than honey. His kindness is the most beautiful thing our eyes can look upon. Take refuge in Him and you will experience the wonderful blessings of abiding in His loving Presence. God honors those who truly honor Him, and they lack nothing.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me ... to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” - Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) The birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ marks a very pivotal point in time, that compares to no other. Before Christ, the priests could not enter the holy place whenever they wanted (Leviticus 16:2). To come at the wrong time or with the wrong kind of offering meant death. After Jesus hung on that blood stained cross and said, “It is finished,” the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Jesus became the sacrifice for all, and the door was opened for believers, to enter the Holy Place and worship Almighty God. Those who accept Christ as their Savior can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, where we receive mercy and find grace (Hebrews 4:16). In Jesus, we have been given access to the throne room of God and His Holy Spirit lives within us. What a beautiful gift and priceless treasure! Seize every opportunity to fellowship ...

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:1-3 (NKJ) Let the praises of the LORD, continually flow from your lips. If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD. Put no confidence in the flesh. May we magnify the LORD, always! When we hear about God's greatness, it gives the afflicted and the helpless reason to hope. Be glad and rejoice for the LORD reigns. In good times and bad, let us exalt the name of the LORD!

We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. Psalm 33:20-22 (NLT) Put your hope in God and Him alone. He is our Help and our Shield. In Isaiah 49:23, the LORD says, "those who hope in Me will not be disappointed." In Him, our hearts find joy because we have relied on and trusted in His holy name. His unfailing love surrounds us all the days of our lives, and it will not be shaken. Hope in God alone.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT) Let us continue to pray for the people of Japan, as desperate efforts are still underway to avert a catastrophic meltdown. Pray for the rescue teams, military troops and everyone involved. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much (James 5:16).

What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. Psalm 31:19 (The Message) God has a stack of blessing ready and waiting for everyone who worships Him. A faithful person abounds with blessings (Proverbs 28:20). How great is the goodness of God. What marvelous grace and love the Father has lavished on us, that He called us His children! The blessings of the LORD shall come upon us and overtake us, as we obey the voice of our heavenly Father (Deuteronomy 28:2). His blessings accrue on a good and honest life (Proverbs 10:6). Worship God and thank Him for all of His wonderful blessings!

For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. Psalm 31:3-4 (NKJ) The LORD is our strength. If you grow weary and faint, draw strength from the source of all power and strength, the LORD, our God. He pulls us out of the enemy's traps, and leads us and guides us to our destination. We can soar high on wings like eagles, when our strength is renewed by the LORD.

So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! Hebrews 12:12-13 (The Message) Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us (Hebrews 12:1). It is so important for us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we run our race. Do not get distracted by the things of this world, or you may trip and fall into one of the enemy's traps. May we help each other out along the way and run to win!

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever. Psalm 30:11-12 (NIV) Sing praises to the LORD. Our God turns our mourning into joyful dancing. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. The LORD changes our darkness to light and replaces the rain with warm, bright sunshine. He lifts us up from the low valleys and sets us up on the mountaintops. We cannot thank Him enough for all He has done. Do not be silent. Praise the LORD!

Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:4-5 (NIV) God gives kindness, mercy and favor. His favor surrounds us like a shield. The favor of the LORD, grounds us like a strong mountain. His favor rests upon us and establishes the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17). Enjoy the LORD's favor. We may have seasons of sadness, but they will give way to rejoicing and laughter.

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, Exodus 34:6 (NIV) Our great God abounds in lovingkindness and truth. He is slow to anger, and full of mercy and grace. His grace is sufficient for us. The LORD is patient and always ready to forgive, not wishing for any to perish but for all to repent (2 Peter 3:9). The compassions of the LORD never fail, they are new every morning. God is good and always faithful. Praise the name of the LORD!

O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Psalm 30:2-3 (NKJV) God restores health to our bodies and heals our physical and emotional wounds. He keeps us alive and causes our souls to prosper. When you are down and out cry out to the LORD, our Healer and He will answer.

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:4 (NLT) Our heavenly Father has given us many precious promises in His Word. And no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ, and in Him “Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Through these promises we are able to share in God's divine nature, because they help us to escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. One of His great promises is that if we seek the Kingdom of God first, above all else, He will give us everything we need (Matthew 6:33). We shall not want. Amen.

The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him. Psalm 28:7 (AMP) As we put all of our confidence in the LORD and lean on Him, He helps us. Our hearts are filled with joy because we know that God is working for our good. May we continually lift up to the LORD songs of praise and thanksgiving.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! Psalm 27:13-14 (NKJ) Don't let the temporary difficulties you face in this life cause you to lose heart. Believe that you will see the goodness of the LORD in this land of the living. Be strong, and courageous. Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). God will strengthen your heart. Wait on the LORD, fully expecting His deliverance.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! Psalm 139:17-18 (NLT) Never listen to the enemy when he says, "God doesn't care about you." The thoughts God has about you outnumber the grains of sand. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He keeps track of all our sorrows and collects all our tears in His bottle. He has recorded each one in His book (Psalm 56:8, NLT). We can lie down and sleep in peace because the LORD keeps us safe (Psalm 4:8). When we wake up, He is still with us! Praise the LORD.

One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4 (NIV) May we abide in the house of the LORD all of our days. One day spent in God's house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches (Psalm 84:10, The Message). He hides us in His sanctuary and keeps us safe. In His Presence, there is fullness of joy and refreshment for our souls. Gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and delight yourself in His Presence.

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Proverbs 21:21 (NIV) I so appreciate that the Word says,"whoever." That lets us know we are included. Anyone and everyone who actively pursues righteousness and love finds abundant, glorious life, prosperity of health and soul, and honor with God and with man. When we consistently practice doing what is right in God's sight and abiding in love in our interactions with others, we truly find our lives are full to overflowing with good things.

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14 (NKJ ) When the Israelites were being pursued by their enemies, God opened the sea for them and they went through on dry ground. However, the LORD swept their enemies into the sea. Not one of them survived. Don't be afraid or dismayed. Our heavenly Father still delivers His people today. Any battle that comes your way, belongs to the LORD. Hold your peace and watch the LORD rescue you.

You have granted me life and lovingkindness; And Your care has preserved my spirit. Job 10:12 (NAS) God saw our unformed bodies. His hands fashioned and made us. Our Creator knit us together with bones and sinews and clothed us with skin and flesh. In lovingkindness, He gave us the breath of life. He knows the number of hairs on our heads. The LORD chose us in Him before the creation of the world. His continual care preserves our spirits. Hallelujah!