Manna for Your Morning

So have courage, men! I trust God that everything will turn out as he told me. — Acts 27:25 (GW) Trust God. Everything will turn out just as the Word says. All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). And Jesus said, “In the world you’ll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world,” (Matthew 16:33). Let your heart be at peace, everything will turn out!

The quarrel was becoming violent, and the officer was afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces. So the officer ordered his soldiers to drag Paul back to the barracks. The Lord stood near Paul the next night and said to him, “Don’t lose your courage! You’ve told the truth about me in Jerusalem. Now you must tell the truth about me in Rome.”  — Acts 23:10-11 (GW) Whatever challenges come your way, be encouraged, knowing that the Lord stands near you. In Isaiah 43:2, He says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. — Acts 24:16 (NIV) May we, like the Apostle Paul, always strive to keep a perfectly clear conscience before God and man. Do not be like those who continually do wrong and end up having their conscience seared with a hot iron. Those who abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits run the risk of losing their capacity for truth all together. Pursue love in all your relationships, with knowledge and all discernment, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10).

I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. — Acts 20:23-24 (NIV) May our only aim be to finish the race and complete the task given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. No matter what hardships you may suffer in this life, do not be moved. Our lives are worth nothing unless we complete the mission given to us. Keep the main thing, the main thing and always share with others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

From one man he has made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth. He has given them the seasons of the year and the boundaries within which to live. He has done this so that they would look for God, somehow reach for him, and find him. In fact, he is never far from any one of us. Certainly, we live, move, and exist because of him. As some of your poets have said, ‘We are God’s children.’  — Acts 17:26-28 (GW) Since the time He formed us in our mother's wombs, God has been intricately involved with the details of our lives. He is never far away. He wrote each one of our days in His book before one of them came to be and then He stands by our side to help us walk each one out. For in Him we live and move and have our being. Praise God that He is near!

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. The other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the jail. All the doors immediately flew open, and all the prisoners’ chains came loose. — Acts 16:25-26 (GW) As a result of the prayer and praises of Paul and Silas, and the signs and wonders that followed, the jailer and his entire family became believers and were baptized that night. When you experience trials and hardships, continue to pray and praise God. Instead of looking at your circumstances, keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

So the jailer followed these orders and put Paul and Silas into solitary confinement with their feet in leg irons. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. The other prisoners were listening to them.   — Acts 16:24-25 (GW) Even though Paul and Silas were in prison, they didn't allow their outer circumstances to effect their inner joy and peace. No matter what circumstances exist in your life right now, don't let the enemy steal your joy. May praises and thanksgiving to God continually flow from your mouth. For great is the LORD Most High, who made heaven and earth! He is most worthy of our praise!

The Lord gave us the following order: ‘I have made you a light for the nations so that you would save people all over the world.’  — Acts 13:47 (GW) God is light, and there isn’t any darkness in Him (1 John 4:8). Believe in the light so that you will become people whose lives show the light (John 12:36). No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house (Matthew 5:15). Let the light and love of God brightly shine through you and be the magnet that draws others closer to Him!

We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. — Acts 14:15 (NLT) The things of this world are of no value, when compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul suffered the loss of all things, and counted them as rubbish in order to gain Christ (Philippians 3:8). Invest your time, energy and resources into the Kingdom of God. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be (Matthew 6:20-21).

When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas talked with them and were persuading them to continue trusting God’s good will. — Acts 13:43 (GW) My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, might I persuade you to continue trusting God's good will. It is the heart of God to be good to us. Our heavenly Father is generous and wants to bless us. God sent Jesus to uproot iniquity in us and bring us to a place of blessing and freedom (Acts 3:26). In John 10:10 (NLT), Jesus said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” Continue trusting in God's wonderful grace!

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying very hard to God for him. — Acts 12:5 (GW) While the church was earnestly praying to God for Peter, an angel from the Lord stood near Peter, and his cell was filled with light. The angel woke him up, and said, “Hurry! Get up!” At that moment the chains fell from Peter’s hands (Acts 12:7). When they came to the city gate, it opened up by itself and Peter was free. James 5:16 says, the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. How much more so, when believers stand together in agreement. Let us pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)!

Barnabas was sent to Antioch. When he arrived there, he was pleased to see what God had done for them out of kindness. So he encouraged all the people to remain solidly committed to the Lord. — Acts 11:22-23 (GW) It is the work of the enemy to distort the truth about the way the Lord wants people to live (Acts 13:10). I encourage you to continue in your faith, established and firm, without being moved from the solid foundation of Christ Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone. Stay solidly committed, constantly tuned in to the Holy Spirit within, so that you will not be distracted or diverted away from the Lord.

The Lord’s power was with his followers, and a large number of people believed and turned to the Lord. — Acts 11:21 (GW) We seldom fail to plug in our cell phones, iPads, iPods, and other electronic devices, so their batteries can be recharged. Let us faithfully plug into God and His Word, so we can receive power and strength to do His will. May we daily plug into Jesus, who is our Source, and recharge our batteries to their full potential! Amen.

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace. The number of people increased as people lived in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. — Acts 9:31 (GW) The early church had peace when the believers lived in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. May we live with a deep sense of reverence and honor for God. And be encouraged by the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. He is our Helper and comforter. Then you will live in peace.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. — Acts 4:13 (GW) Does your behavior and speech reveal to others that you have been around Jesus? We tend to become like those we hang around. When you spend time with Jesus, you start to resemble Him. You may have received no formal training, but God generously gives wisdom to those who ask for it (James 1:5). The Lord takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary. Spend quality time with the Lord, and those around you will be astonished and take note that you have been with Jesus!

So change the way you think and act, and turn to God to have your sins removed. Then times will come when the Lord will refresh you. He will send you Jesus, whom he has appointed to be the Christ. — Acts 3:19-20 (GW) If our thoughts and actions don't line up with God's ways, let us change the way we think and act. We are not to think according to the world or the way our flesh thinks. The behavior of a believer should be different also. Let us renew our minds with the Word, so we can think and act like our heavenly Father. Then we will experience times of refreshing from the Lord. Amen.

The believers had a single purpose and went to the temple every day. They were joyful and humble as they ate at each other’s homes and shared their food. At the same time, they praised God and had the good will of all the people. Every day the Lord saved people, and they were added to the group. — Acts 2:46-47 (GW) Amazing things happen when God's people come together in one accord. In Acts 2, the believers were devoted to studying the Word daily, fellowship, to the breaking of bread, to prayer and to praising God. As a result, miraculous signs took place, they were full of joy, generous and humble. The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. People liked what they saw and wanted to be a part. When the world sees the church loving God and really caring about each other, they will want to be a member of God's family.

Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Take your hand, and put it into my side. Stop doubting, and believe.”   Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”  — John 20:27-28 (GW)  Thomas had to see the risen Lord before he believed, but Jesus said, “Blessed are those who haven’t seen me but believe” (John 20:29). John 20:31 says, the miracles recorded in the Bible have been written so that we will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that we will have life by believing in Him. Stop doubting, and believe! We serve a miracle-working God. Our Lord is alive and there is nothing too difficult for Him!

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. — John 17:20-21 (NKJV) Jesus prayed that all who believe in Him would be completely united. Then the world will know that God sent Jesus and that God loved us even as He have loved Jesus (John 1:23). My beloved brothers and sister, let there be no division in the body of Christ. May we have equal concern for each other (1 Corinthians 12:25) and seek peace and unity. Psalm 133:1 says, how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. — 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT) Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine (2 Corinthians 4:17, GW). Whatever trials you are experiencing right now will last for a moment. This too shall pass. After a little while, God will perfect and establish that which concerns you. He will restore and strengthen you. God has called you into His glory through Christ Jesus, to do great things for His kingdom! Amen.

“When I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people toward me.” — John 12:32 (GW) Jesus draws all people unto Him. He didn’t come to condemn the world but to save the world (John 12:47). Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” If you are heavily burdened, cast your cares on the Lord and draw unto Him.

Many rulers believed in Jesus. However, they wouldn’t admit it publicly because the Pharisees would have thrown them out of the synagogue. They were more concerned about what people thought of them than about what God thought of them. — John 12:42-43 (GW) Are you trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? What our heavenly Father thinks of us, is of utmost importance. May we never be more concerned about what people think about us than what God thinks about us. To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Ecclesiastes 2:26). Live for an audience of One!

Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”  — John 11:43-44 (NIV) Are you still wrapped up in worldly ways? Lay aside the ways of this world. God's ways are higher. Offer yourselves to God as people who have come back from death and are now alive (Romans 6:13). As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity (Colossians 3:12-14).

“ The Father loves me because I give my life in order to take it back again. No one takes my life from me. I give my life of my own free will. I have the authority to give my life, and I have the authority to take my life back again. This is what my Father ordered me to do.” — John 10:17-18 (GW) Jesus gave His life to save us. He held nothing back, He gave all of Himself. Wherever He went, Jesus met the needs of the people around Him. Even on the cross, He extended salvation to the criminal on the cross beside Him. Let us follow the example of Jesus and be givers. May we exercise our free will to pour life and love into the empty lives of those around us. If they don't know Jesus, they are empty and the greatest gift we can give anyone is the unconditional love of Christ.

The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them out of the pen.  — John 10:2-3 (GW) Jesus calls you by name. He is intimately acquainted with you. He knows the number of hairs on your head. You have not been forgotten. Jesus is the good Shepherd. He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him (John 10:14). Jesus knows everything about us, the best and the absolute worst. Yet, He still loves us. What an amazing love we have in Jesus!

“Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me.”  — John 6:37 (GW) When you don't know where to go, Jesus says,  “ COME! ”  Though man may reject you, Jesus never turns away anyone who comes to Him. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). His arms are always open, ready to embrace you. Jesus loves you with an everlasting love and His love will never run out on you!

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ”  — John 6:66-68 (NKJV) When you experience challenges and hardships in your walk with the Lord, never be tempted to go back to the life you had before you chose to follow Jesus. Endure the hardships, and do not grow weary. Jesus is the ONLY Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) and He will never leave you or cast you aside. If anyone thinks they can make it through this life without Him they are lost, deceived and spiritually dead. At all times, follow Christ!

Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” — John 4:50-51 (NKJV) The son of a government official was sick. When the official heard where Jesus was, he went to Jesus and asked Him to go to Capernaum and heal his son, who was close to death. Jesus just spoke the word and the man 's son was healed. Do you take Jesus at His Word? Jesus said, “With God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27) In Mark 9:23, He also said, “Everything is possible for the person who believes.” Have not doubt. There is nothing too difficult for Him!

John answered, “People can’t receive anything unless it has been given to them from heaven. You are witnesses that I said, ‘I’m not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’ He must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance.” — John 3:27-28, 30 (GW) The disciples of John the Baptist complained to him that everyone was going to Jesus to be baptized. John realized he was not competing with Jesus. He realized it was not about him, but about doing the will of God. John said, “This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.” (John 3:30, The Message). May we, like John, stay humble, submit to God and be true to the mission He has given each one of us. Let us follow God’s will for our lives as His Holy Spirit leads and guides. Amen.

For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ. — John 1:16-17 (Amp) "Grace is having whatever you need when you need it." —Pastor Matthew Pollock. Out of the fullness of Jesus Christ we have all received one gracious blessing after another. We experience God’s unfailing love and faithfulness through Jesus Christ. What true kindness and compassion is poured out on us, as children of God, that we continuously receive one gracious act after another! Be joyful and thank God for His abundant supply of GRACE!

The Word gave life to everything that was created,  and his life brought light to everyone.  The light shines in the darkness,  and the darkness can never extinguish it.  — John 1:4-5 (NLT) All things were made through the Living Word, Jesus Christ, and without Him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:3). He is the source of life, strength and hope. Jesus came that we may have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). The life He gives, brings light to everyone. Connect to the Source so you can experience a full life and let His light brightly shine through you.