Manna for Your Morning

The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory. — Psalm 64:10 (NKJV) The LORD is in our midst. How blessed are we to be called and chosen to come near to God and abide in Him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice with all your heart! God has given us so many reasons to pour out our praises to Him. When we trust in Him, our hearts are not heavy and we can habitually offer up a sacrifice of praise to the LORD. In Him, we have all we need. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength! (Nehemiah 8:10 NLT)

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. — Psalm 63:1 (NKJV) Before that first cup of coffee, seek God. Look to the LORD, before checking the latest events on Facebook. Instead of glancing at the morning news, get the Good News. Seek God FIRST and He will direct your steps. Seek the LORD while He may be found,
 call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6). This world will leave you thirsting for more, but Jesus gives living water that truly satisfies. Whoever believes in Him shall never thirst (John 6:35).

My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Interlude — Psalm 62:7-8 (NLT) God is our safe place. He is our Rock of unyielding strength (Psalm 62:7b AMP). When the winds of adversity come, lean on the LORD. No matter what the doctor’s report says trust in the LORD and put your confidence in His Word. No matter how much negative news invades your atmosphere, completely rely on God! He is able to deliver you from all your troubles.

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. — Psalm 61:1-2 (NKJV) Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope and expectation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken (Psalm 62:5-6). When your heart is overwhelmed, wait on the LORD to show you the way. Step by step, He will keep you on the path that leads to ultimate victory in the battles you face.

But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love . — Psalm 59:16-17 (NLT) God shows us His unfailing love as He keeps watch over us through the night, and wakes us up to see a brand new day, with fresh new mercies and compassion. Trust Him to help you get through whatever comes your way each day, for His unfailing love never ceases. Count on His unfailing love to lead you along the path of life, and keep you from stumbling. Surely His goodness and unfailing love will pursue you all the days of your life, and you will live in the house of the LORD forever (Psalm 23:6). Hallelujah! (Now that's something to sing about.)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. — Psalm 51:17 (NKJV) When something is broken, we tend to throw it away. However, God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). When our lives are shattered and our spirits broken, God picks up all the broken pieces. He washes them off and puts them back together. The Master molds our spirits, and gives them a new shape. He restores purpose for every piece. He makes us whole again and strengthens our spirits. When you are battered, bruised and broken, instead of growing bitter, receive the blessing of letting God make you even better.

I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? — Psalm 56:10-11 (NLT) I will continually praise the LORD, in the morning, at noon, and through the night, for all the great things He has done and all the wonderful promises He has yet to fulfill in my life. No matter how much time it takes for God to work everything together for good in your life, keep praising the LORD. Trust Him. He knows what He’s doing. He has it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for (Jeremiah 29:11 MSG)!

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! — Psalm 56:8-9 (NLT) Whatever concerns you, is a concern to God. He sees every tear that rolls down your cheek and He knows the sorrows of your heart. Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall (Psalm 55:22 NLT). God is your helper and He is working for your good. Praise the LORD!

And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor and glorify Me. — Psalm 50:15 (AMP) Who do you call, in your distress? As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me (Psalm 55:16). The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth (Psalm 145:28). The LORD hears your voice when you call to Him (Psalm 4:3). His line is always open, and He answers when we call. For God is good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon Him (Psalm 86:5). Oh, give thanks to the LORD, who is worthy to be praised! Call upon His name forevermore!

Is anything too hard for the LORD? — Genesis 18:14 (NKJV) With God all things are possible (Mark 10:27 NKJV). Keep your hope in Him alive. There is a time and purpose for everything that happens in our lives. Each one of our days were recorded in His book, before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16). He recorded the days of our preparation, our times of waiting, the times of testing and faith-building. The days of our troubles were written in His book, as well as the days of our deliverance. It will all come together for good, in God’s perfect timing. Don’t give up on God! Every word He has spoken to you will come to pass. Until then, seize this day for His purpose and glory!

  ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts . — Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) It is not in our own power and strength that we overcome, but by the Spirt of the LORD. Be filled and led by the Holy Spirit who dwells in you. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God (Roman 8:14 NLT). As we live and walk in His Spirit, we are aligned to God’s will and we are victorious in the battles of life! He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4 NKJV).

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. — Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) The eternal God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t grow tired or become weary (Isaiah 40:28 GW). Those who wait upon Him, receive new strength. Wait upon Him, with hope and a sense of expectancy. Spread your wings and soar high, close to the LORD. He will give you the strength to run with purpose and not grow weary. You will walk to fulfill your mission and not get tired.

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?” — 2 Samuel 7:18  (NKJV) With our busy, multi-tasking lifestyle, many of us have our conversations with God, on the go. However, it is so important for us to consistently withdraw from the world and sit before Him. Turn off the cell phone and allow no other distractions, as you fellowship with the God of all creation. Simply delight yourself in His Presence. It takes time with our heavenly Father, to become more like Him. Pour out your heart to Him and listen for His still small voice. As we spend time with Abba Father, we receive the answers to all our questions, we gain strength and we experience deep peace and great joy. Amen!

We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed. — 2 Corinthians 4:8-9  (NCV) Look at the troubles before you, as opportunities for God to display His greatness. No matter what hostile environments we must endure, God is there with us. We are not abandoned nor forgotten. We may get hurt, but we are not destroyed. Never give up the hope of living the abundant and fruitful life Jesus came to give us (John 10:10).

David answered ... “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all adversity, — 2 Samuel 4:9  (NKJV) God delivered David out of all his troubles. So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him (2 Samuel 5:10). I believe the secret to David’s success was that he habitually inquired of the LORD (2 Samuel 2:1, 5:19, 5:23, 21:1). Then he followed through and did as the LORD commanded him (2 Samuel 5:25). As we abide in God, we too can go from adversity to advancement. Keep seeking God's will in every situation and the setbacks you experience in life will eventually propel you forward into the glorious destiny God has for you!

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! — Psalm 46:10 (NKJV) Take a long, loving look at God. For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth (Psalm 47:2). Recognize and understand that He is above your circumstances. He is above everything! Know that He is greater than our enemies who work against us. We are of God and have already overcome them, because the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Amen!

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.  — 2 Samuel 3:1 (NIV) In 1 Samuel 16:13, David is anointed as king and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward, but he had to endure many trials before the Word of the LORD was fulfilled and he became king. In the meantime, the wars he fought made him grow stronger, instead of weakening him. The battles we fight may last a long time, but God is faithful. His word that goes out from His mouth will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11). Amen! May we grow stronger and stronger as we fight the good fight of faith!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  — Psalm 46:1 (NKJV) God is always ready to help us in times of trouble. Do not trust in man or man-made devices and schemes. God is the one who gives us victory over our enemies. Through God we will push down our enemies; Through His name we will trample those who rise up against us (Psalm 44:5 NKJV). Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14)!

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. — Psalm 43:5 (NIV) We get discouraged when we keep looking at the problems and challenges we face. May we fix our eyes on Jesus, the solution to all of our problems. He is the answer to every question. He holds the key to every closed door. Keep your hope in Him alive! Hope is the anchor of your soul. It will hold you firm and secure in God.

He must increase, but I must decrease.  — John 3:30 (NKJV) Need more of God in your life? What about in your heart? This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while we slip off to the sidelines (John 3:30 MSG). Today is the day, now is the time, give God complete access to all of you: your heart, your thoughts, your mouth, etc. May we be led by His Spirit, in all that we do and say, then we can experience His fullness in our lives. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9 NKJV).

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 is our protector and provider. He is our help and our deliverer (Psalm 40:17). The LORD preserves us and keeps us alive (Psalm 41:2). He is our Savior. His faithfulness reaches to the clouds (Psalm 36:5) You can count on Him! Nothing is too difficult for our God. Hallelujah!

LORD, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. — Psalm 40:11 (NLT) God is not trying to hold any good thing back from you. He is trying to get something to you. We don’t always follow God’s direction because we think our way is faster or easier. Just know that God is always working for our good. His love and truth are all that keeps us together (Psalm 40:11b MSG). What seems like a delay, may be a time of preparation. He is preparing you for what’s next. The LORD is not holding back on you, so don't hold back on Him. Give God your all!

David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God. — 1 Samuel 30:6 (AMP) After David and the people who were with him wept until they could weep no more, David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God. Then David and his men pursued their enemies and overtook them. They recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and nothing of theirs was lacking, (1 Samuel 30:18,19). There may be situations that cause you to be distressed and weep, but find strength and encourage yourself in the Lord. Don't let the enemy steal anything from you. Recover all!

  I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. — Psalm 40:1-2 (NLT) When your life seems to be in the pits, cry out to the LORD and look up. Wait patiently and expectantly for Him (Psalm 40:1 AMP). The LORD will hear your cry and lift you out of the pit of despair. As the mud and mire of life pulls you down, He will draw you out and set your feet on solid ground.

Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. — Psalm 37:5-6 (NKJV) Even though a man’s heart plans his way, it is the LORD who directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9). For good and lasting success, commit everything you do to the LORD and trust Him to bring it to pass in His perfect timing. The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way... (Psalm 37:23 AMP).

Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. — Psalm 37:3-4 (NKJV) I appreciate that this Scripture says to feed on “ His ” faithfulness because we know that the LORD is always faithful. Sometimes our faith may grow weak, but His, continuously stands strong for all eternity. As we daily enjoy the benefits of God’s everlasting faithfulness toward us, we learn to trust in and lean on Him, at all times. Delight yourself in the Presence of Almighty God and feed on His faithfulness forever.

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. — Psalm 36:7,9 (NKJV) In order to see the fireworks that were displayed last night, we had to stand in just the right spot. Likewise, we need to stand in the light of the LORD and He will open our eyes to see the light. We can only put our trust in Abba Father when we get close enough to dwell in the shadow of His wings. Draw near to our great God and He will draw near to you! He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings (Psalm 91:4 NLT).

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;” — Luke 4:18 (NKJV) Our Heavenly Father sent Jesus to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity] (Luke 4:18 AMP). Today as we celebrate America’s Independence, declare your independence as a disciple of Christ. Announce your fredom from the schemes of the enemy. He no longer has the power to oppress you, unless you give it to him. Celebrate the freedom and victory we have in Christ. Hallelujah!

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery . — Galatians 5:1 (NIV) Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can’t come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through (John 8:34-36 MSG). In our pursuit of happiness, let us remember that true liberty and abundant life are found in Jesus, our Lord and Savior. He paid the ultimate price with His precious blood and gave His life for us all!

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; — Psalm 34:19 (NIV) Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you (Psalm 34:17 MSG). None of those who trust in Him shall be condemned (Psalm 34:22 NKJV). The Message Bible says, no one who runs to him loses out (Psalm 34:22). As long as we run to Him and rely on Him, we WIN! We cannot lose because our great God ensures our victory. Hallelujah!

The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. — Psalm 34:10 (NKJV) Seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides (Matthew 6:33 AMP). Instead of being so preoccupied with getting “stuff,” which is here today and gone tomorrow, focus on staying connected with and abiding in our eternal, Almighty God. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).