Manna for Your Morning

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, — Hebrews 6:1 (NIV) The writer of Hebrews says, the believer’s were spiritually dull and didn’t seem to listen (Hebrews 5:11, NLT). They had been believers so long, they should have been teaching others. Instead, they needed someone to teach them again the basic things about God’s word. They were like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food (Hebrews 5:12). Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14, NIV). Let us be spiritually sharp and alert so we can consistently use our will to persevere, overcome obstacles and press on to maturity!

“For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”  — Isaiah 55:12 (NKJV) May we go out and come in with joy, for this is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. The joy of the LORD is our strength! Live each day with peace of mind and heart. We have the peace of Jesus. In John 14:27, He says, “peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” In John 16:33, He says, “in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Hallelujah!

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”  — Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12). Let us not think that we have figured out a better way to do life than our heavenly Father. God's way is tested and true and He only wants the best for you. Let us submit to His ways and align our thoughts with His thoughts. They lead to abundant life and good success.

Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.  — Isaiah 55:2 (NKJV) Let us feast upon the Word of God. Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” May we take in the Word of God and treasure it in our hearts, for His Word is life and it does satisfy!

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, — 2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV) God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. If it pertains to life AND it's godly, it has already been given to us. We receive these things, by getting to know, on a personal and intimate basis, the One who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Amen!

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the LORD. — Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) Don’t be intimidated by the sideshow distractions you see with your eyes or the bad report you hear with your ears. That is the enemy of your soul trying to induce fear and stop you from fulfilling God’s will for your life. Stand on the Word! God has not given us a spirit of fear. God’s Word says NO weapon formed against you shall prosper. He has already given us the victory in Jesus. This triumph over opposition is our heritage, as servants of the LORD. We are overcomers. Hallelujah!!!

“Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely upon his God.”  — Isaiah 50:10 (NKJV) For anyone out there who doesn’t know where you’re going, anyone groping in the dark, Here’s what: Trust in God. Lean on your God! (Isaiah 50:10, The Message) Learn to lean on the LORD. On the day you face disaster, or troubles of any kind, the LORD is your support (Psalm 18:18). He is our refuge, and strong tower, a shelter in the storm. The LORD is a beacon of light in the darkness. Rely upon our God. He is an immovable rock of strength.

This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea. — Isaiah 48:17-18 (NIV) Our heavenly Father only wants the best for us. When we obey Him, we will experience a deep and constant flow of peace. And when the stormy waves come in, one after another, it will be well with our souls, because the LORD will show us what to do, and which way to go.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” — Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead (Philippians 3:13). The LORD is making a way for you, to bring you through the wilderness and the wasteland! Be alert and pay attention. Perceive what the LORD is doing!

Love... is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. — 1 Corinthians 13:5 (AMP) God’s love in us, is other-focused. Love cares more for others than for self. (1 Corinthians 13:5 , The Message). As imitators of our heavenly Father, let us do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, (Philippians 2:3).

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I 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 43:1-2 (NKJV) Our greatest comfort and source of all peace is knowing that no matter what we go through in this life, the LORD is with us. Nothing is too difficult for Him! If God is for us who can stand against us? Have no fear, the LORD is near!

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. — Matthew 9:36 (NKJV) While observing some sheep on Friday, I gained a visual understanding of why the Word says we are like sheep. Without the shepherd, the sheep wander around aimlessly. The only time they made any progress is when the shepherd gave them direction. Just like the sheep, we need our Shepherd. Jesus is the good shepherd, who gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11). Jesus is moved with compassion to guide and protect us. He refreshes and restores our souls and leads us on the right paths. Instead of wandering through life aimlessly, always follow the Good Shepherd, no matter where He may lead.

I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images. — Isaiah 42:8 (NKJV) God created the heavens and spread out the earth. He gives breath and spirit to all who walk the earth (Isaiah 42:5). Let’s not spend more time on facebook or in front of the television, than we do in fellowship with our heavenly Father. He is our constant Companion. Let’s not set aside the BEST, in search of something better. God gave us His best when He claimed us as His own, brought us into His family and lavished His love on us. May we give Him all the glory and praise, He is so worthy!

The living, the living man, he shall praise You, as I do this day; The father shall make known Your truth to the children.  — Isaiah 38:19 (NKJV) Parents give your children full reports on God's faithfulness. Make known His truth to the broken hearted, for He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds (Psalm 147:3). Make known His truth to those who are down and in despair, for the LORD, is a shield around us, our glory and the One who lifts our heads up high (Psalm 3:3). Make known His truth to those who are overwhelmed, because the LORD is our everlasting peace. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.  — Isaiah 38:17 (NIV) Our great God has lovingly delivered our souls from the pit of corruption (Isaiah 38:17, NKJV). In His love, our bitter experiences are changed to sweet. He causes all things to work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28). The magnitude of His love is so large, nothing can separate us  from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. In His love, we are able to love our neighbors and our enemies. In His love, there is patience, forgiveness and kindness. Always, live your life in His LOVE!

The LORD is honored because he lives on high. He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the foundation of your future. The riches of salvation are wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is your treasure. — Isaiah 33:5-6 (GW) The LORD is exalted above all. He is a strong, sure foundation. In order to out last the storms of today and stand strong in the future, we must build our lives on Him. God keeps all of our days stable and secure. He provides an abundant supply of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. A treasure is something that is highly valued and placed in great esteem. The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is our treasure and His (Isaiah 33:6, AMP). Amen!

The Lord says, “These people worship me with their mouths and honor me with their lips. But their hearts are far from me, and their worship of me is based on rules made by humans.”  — Isaiah 29:13 (GW) Sometimes, we can get so caught up in trying to say the right things, and do the right things but our hearts are not necessarily in it. We are just going through the motions. But, the eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose HEARTS are fully committed to him (2 Chronicles 16:9). God wants our hearts to be devoted to Him. When we set our affections on the LORD, we form a bond that is not easily broken and we truly belong to Him.

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. — 1 Peter 4:12-13 (The Message) Do not let your faith draw back when you encounter various trials. James 1:2-3 tells us to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials of many kinds, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance.  Patiently endure until your testing is over. Then you will be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:4)!

In that day a man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel.  — Isaiah 17:7 (NKJV) Let today be the day, you consider the One who made you, your Creator. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker (Psalm 95:6). Hold the Holy One of Israel in high regard and consider the things of this world as rubbish. Our Heavenly Father loves us with an everlasting love. We are His treasured possession and He takes great delight in us!

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. — Isaiah 26:3 (AMP) Is your mind inclined to have thoughts about the LORD or has something else captured your attention? Fix your thoughts on the LORD, and He will keep you in the gentle flow of His perfect and constant peace. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). No matter what circumstances are like on the outside, let His perfect peace rule in your hearts and minds, at all times!

Therefore my people have gone into captivity, Because they have no knowledge;  — Isaiah 5:13a (NKJV) The LORD called Jesus to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness (Isaiah 42:6-7). Why do so many people allow the enemy to hold them captive in areas of their lives? Jesus gives us the answer in John 8:32, He said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” We must KNOW the truth before it can make us free. The entirety of God's Word is truth and it endures forever (Psalm 119:160). Let us meditate on His Word, day and night, and be set free in every area of our lives!

Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. — Psalm 51:11 (NKJV) Of all the wonderful blessings our heavenly Father gives, of all the good and perfect gifts that come from above, I am most thankful for His Presence in my life. With His Presence, we have purpose, protection and provision. His Holy Spirit dwelling within us, is our source of strength, peace and power. “When we don’t have the Holy Spirit, what we have is a distressing spirit,” (Pastor Matthew Pollock). Let’s keep God at the center of all that we do and say, today and always.

Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.  — Ecclesiastes 10:12 (NIV) May our speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, (Colossians 4:6a). Just as attractive and enjoyable as a well-seasoned meal, are words sprinkled with grace. Gracious words highlight the positive in others and always has a good report. Words of grace are never critical, but always full of love and understanding. Everything we say should be kind and well thought out so that we may have the right response for everyone. Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! (Proverbs 15:23, NLT).

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. — Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NIV) It is not how you start, but how you finish that really counts. Where you’re going is much better than where you have been and what you have gone through. Be patient and persevere through the trials. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail (James 5:11, The Message).

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. — Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) In order to thrive, we must have a vision for our future. With no plan failure is inevitable. As we make our plans, the LORD will direct our steps (Proverbs 16:9). “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not tarry,” (Habakkuk 2:2-3). Get a vision and run with it!

There is nothing better for people to do than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their work. I saw that even this comes from the hand of God. — Ecclesiastes 2:24 (GW) In Philippians 4:11-13, the Apostle Paul says “for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Let us learn to be content where we are, at this moment, and still strive to reach the goal God has assigned to each one of us. Instead of complaining and whining, focus on winning in every area of your life!

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.  — Proverbs 29:25 (AMP) The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1) The fear of people and what they think, will hinder us from doing God's will. Let us put our trust in the Lord and keep it there. God is a shield to those who put their trust in Him (Proverbs 30:5). Do not be moved by what you can see, but by the God you believe in. T otally R ely U pon our S trong T ower!

Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;  — Proverbs 24:3 (NKJV) It takes wisdom to build a house on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. He is the Chief Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6). We have to dig deep into the Word of God and gain understanding, then we are able to establish our house on the solid rock of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). And when the storms of life come, the floodwaters beat vehemently against the house, but it stands firm because it is well built. The house will not crumble or be washed away because it has a good, strong foundation (Luke 6:48).