Manna for Your Morning

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. — 1 John 4:10-12 (NLT) God loves us, and His love never fails. May we come into an intimate experience with God’s love, and trust in the love He has for us. (See 1 John 4:16 TPT) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. (Romans 8:38 NLT) Let us be imitators of God and extend unfailing love to everyone He brings our way. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. (Romans 12:9a NLT) Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do. (1 Corinthians 16:14 TPT)

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. — Hebrews 12:14 (NLT) So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness… (Isaiah 61:10a NASB) Worship the LORD in holy attire; tremble before Him, all the earth. — Psalm 96:9 (NASB)

“ My flock strayed through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to search or seek for them. ”— Ezekiel 34:6 (NASB) Isaiah 53:6 says, all of us, like sheep, have gone astray. Let us stay close to our loving Shepherd. Our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (See 1 Peter 5:8) Jesus is the good shepherd, Who lays down His life for the sheep. In John 10:14 (NASB), He said: “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me,” Jesus is the good Shepherd who will leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost. Closely follow Him. He will lead you beside quiet waters. He will restore your soul and guide you in the paths of righteousness for His name sake. (See Psalm 23:2-3)

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” — Romans 8:35, 37 (NLT) “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:17) “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NLT) So be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (See Joshua 1:9) We shall triumph over trials, tribulations and troubles, because we are more than conquerors, in Christ . Amen. 

Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. — Psalms‬ ‭73:23-26‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) No matter how circumstances may appear, God remains the strength of your heart. He gives strength to the weary, and to the one who lacks might He increases power. (Isaiah 40:29 NASB) Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. (1 Chronicles 16:11 NASB) “ But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. ” — Psalms‬ ‭73:28‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

“ O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. ” — Psalms‬ ‭86:5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) “A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” (Psalms‬ ‭84:11‬ ‭NLT)‬‬ He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! (Psalms‬ ‭103:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬) Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing. (Psalms‬ ‭34:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬) Amen.

Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” — John 11:43-44 (NLT) Anything we stay in after the Lord has called us out, is dead. Come forth, out of the dead things. Don’t let the old man keep you bound to things of your past. Be loosed. Jesus has set us free! Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB) God called us out of darkness so we can experience His marvelous light. He called us out of the grave so we would have life, and have it abundantly. (See John 10:10)

Do the riches of his extraordinary kindness make you take him for granted and despise him? Haven’t you experienced how kind and understanding he has been to you? Don’t mistake his tolerance for acceptance. Do you realize that all the wealth of his extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance? — Romans 2:4 (TPT) “I am God—yes, I Am. I haven’t changed. And because I haven’t changed, you, the descendants of Jacob, haven’t been destroyed. You have a long history of ignoring my commands. You haven’t done a thing I’ve told you. Return to me so I can return to you,” says God-of-the-Angel-Armies. (Malachi 3:6-7 MSG)  Return to the LORD Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. (Psalm 103:4) He has loved you with an everlasting love. With lovingkindness He has drawn you to Himself. (See Jeremiah 31:3) May we declare His lovingkindness in the morning, and His faithfulness every night. (See Psalm 92:2 NKJV)

.. .’ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of armies. — Zechariah 4:6b (NASB) “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NLT‬) Victory comes by the Spirit of God, not by our limited human strength. “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” (Galatians‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬) Guard your heart from any darkness: bitterness, unforgiveness, pride, etc. His light shines through as we walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. ( See Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬) “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Galatians‬ ‭5:25‬ ‭NLT‬‬) Amen.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. — Psalm 62:6 (NLT) O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love. (Psalm 59:17 NLT) His unfailing love for us is powerful; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. (See Psalm 117:2) All who are oppressed may come to Yahweh as a high shelter in the time of trouble, a perfect hiding place. For everyone who knows your wonderful name keeps putting their trust in you. They can count on you for help no matter what. O Lord, you will never, no never, neglect those who come to you. (Psalm 9:9-10 TPT) I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. — Psalm 16:8 (NLT)

From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. — Psalm 130:1-2 (NLT) I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! (Psalm 121:1-2 NLT) For the same God who made everything, our Creator and our mighty maker, he himself is our helper and defender! (Psalm 124:8 TPT) You can count on, trust in and rely on Him. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, both now and forever. (Psalm 125:2 NLT) I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. — Psalm 130:5 (NLT)

Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God. — 1 Samuel 30:1, 6 (NLT) When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more. (1 Samuel 30:3-4) After David inquired of the LORD (See 1 Samuel 30:8), he was able to recover all that the enemy had stolen from them. (See 1 Samuel 30:18-19) Let us continually find strength in the LORD, our God. He is the limitless source of power and strength. Find strength in our mighty God to recover all the enemy has stolen from you. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all...

My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you. — Psalm 17:5 (NLT) O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. (Psalm 63:1-5 NLT) Don't waver from following the LORD. Stay on the path that leads to a full and glorious life.

“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” — Acts 17:30-31 (NLT) He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. (Romans 2:6-8 NLT) So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness.  The wicked walk under God’s constant curse, but the righteous walk under a stream of his blessing, for they seek to do what is right. — Proverbs 3:33 (TPT)

But for us, there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. — 1 Corinthians 8:6 (NLT) Live for the one and only, true and living God. Our real identity and purpose are in the Lord. It is through him that we live and function and have our identity; just as your own poets have said, ‘Our lineage comes from him.’ (Acts 17:28 TPT) “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:27 NLT) You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NLT)

Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. — Isaiah 45:22 (NLT) Our salvation is not found in a political party, our bank account balance nor a religion. God did not call us into a religion, but into a relationship with Jesus the Christ, Immanuel. There is no one else who has the power to save us, for there is only one name to whom God has given authority by which we must experience salvation: the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:12 TPT)  Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. (Jeremiah 17:7 NLT) To live like this is all the more urgent, for time is running out and you know it is a strategic hour in human history. It is time for us to wake up! For our full salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11 TPT)

Yet what honor you have given to men, created only a little lower than Elohim, crowned with glory and magnificence. You have delegated to them rulership over all you have made, with everything under their authority, placing earth itself under the feet of your image-bearers. — Psalm 8:5-6 (TPT) In Genesis 1:27, God created human beings in His own image. As children of God, we are to bear His image. God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5) With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. (Ephesians 4:17 NLT) Live as children of the light. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. (Ephesians 4:24 NLT) God is love. (See 1 John 4:8) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) Are you bearing His image?

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.  — 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NLT) Second Corinthians 1:10 (NLT) says, God did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. Just as God rescued the Apostle Paul, He will rescue you too. God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1 NLT) Place all of your trust and hope in the God who raises the dead.

Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions. — Proverbs 4:25 (TPT) The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road. (Proverbs 21:8 NLT) Don’t turn to the left or the right and avoid taking detours and shortcuts. They often lead to dead ends. Instead, live in alignment with God’s instruction manual. Passionately pursue His purpose and plans for your life. He will guide you with His counsel, and lead you to a glorious destiny. (See Psalm  73:24 NLT) I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. — Proverbs 4:11 (CSB)

“In those coming days,” says the LORD, “the people of Israel will return home together with the people of Judah. They will come weeping and seeking the LORD their God. They will ask the way to Jerusalem and will start back home again. They will bind themselves to the LORD with an eternal covenant that will never be forgotten.” — Jeremiah 50:4-5 (NLT) If we have strayed away, in any part of our hearts, let us return home into the arms of our loving, heavenly Father. May we sever the ties to this world and bind ourselves to Elohim, our Creator. In Jeremiah 24:7 (NLT) God says: “I will give them hearts that recognize me as the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.” May we have a heart that recognizes Him as the Most High God, the all- sufficient One, the Everlasting God. He does not change (See Malachi 3:6) and God shows no favoritism. (See Acts 10:24) He is Immanuel, God with us!

“ Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. ” — Isaiah 55:3 (NLT) There are many voices in the world today, some lead to fear and despair, others to peace and life. Let us discern which voices receive our attention. And in all situations, first seek the voice of God. Come to the LORD with your ears wide open. May we be like Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He taught. (See Luke 10:39 NLT) Listen and heed His instruction. Yahweh is the one who makes a way in the sea, a pathway in the mighty waters. (Isaiah 43:16 TPT) As we listen to Him, He will lead us along the right path. First Kings 19:12 (NKJV) says: …and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. Don't get distracted by external circumstances, continue to listen for the voice of the LORD. 

But those who wait for Yahweh’s grace will experience divine strength. They will rise up on soaring wings and fly like eagles, run their race without growing weary, and walk through life without giving up.  — Isaiah 40:31 (TPT) Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option. (2 Corinthians 4:8 TPT) We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:9 NLT) After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10 NASB) Amen.

Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. — Isaiah 55:6-7 (NLT) Zechariah prophesied about John the Baptist that he would prepare the way for the Lord. …that the Lord’s people will receive knowledge of their freedom through the forgiveness of their sins. All this will flow from the kind and compassionate mercy of our God. A new day is dawning: the Sunrise from the heavens will break through in our darkness, (See Luke 1:77-78 VOICE) Today, is a new day. Seek the Lord. Receive His mercy. Know the truth. We are forgiven and free. Fulfill His purpose and live a rich and satisfying life. (See John 10:10 NLT)

Jesus answered, “If you drink from Jacob’s well, you’ll be thirsty again, but if anyone drinks the living water I give them, they will never be thirsty again. For when you drink the water I give you, it becomes a gushing fountain of the Holy Spirit, flooding you with endless life!” — John 4:13-14 (TPT) “Listen! Are you thirsty for more? Come to the refreshing waters and drink. Even if you have no money, come, buy, and eat. Yes, come and buy all the wine and milk you desire— it won’t cost a thing. Why spend your hard-earned money on something that can’t nourish you or work so hard for something that can’t satisfy? So listen carefully to me and you’ll enjoy a sumptuous feast, delighting in the finest of food. (Isaiah 55:1-2 TPT) In Revelation 21:6 NLT, Jesus says: “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” Come and drink. With triumphant joy you will drink deeply from the wells...

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household, — Ephesians 2:19 (AMP) We are not called into a religion, but into a relationship with our heavenly Father through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are God’s holy people, and members of His family. Let us live as children of light. …prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness], (Philippians 2:15 AMP) Be a beacon of His light. With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hea...

“ Do not call to mind the former things, or consider things of the past. Behold, I am going to do something new, now it will spring up; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. ” — Isaiah 43:18-19 (NASB) Don’t let the disappointments and failures of yesterday keep you from the fruitfulness of today. Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 NASB)

Yeshua is the name of Jesus in Hebrew. As I wrote His name this morning, the first 3 letters stood out and I began to reflect on all Yeshua said “yes” to. He said yes to leaving the glory of heaven to being born in a manager. He said yes to live in a sinless life, in a human body.  Jesus said yes to the restoration of all who were brought to Him. Matthew 15:30 (NASB) says, large crowds came to Him bringing with them those who were limping, had impaired limbs, were blind, or were unable to speak, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them. Jesus accepts all who come to Him.  He said yes to being stripped, beaten and spit upon. Yes, to shedding His blood, being nailed to a cross and giving His life to restore humanity to a relationship with our Heavenly Father. When the time came, He was risen and gained victory of death, the devil, and sin. Glory hallelujah to our risen Savior! Say “yes” to Him each and every day. Let us be faithful men and women w...

looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:2 (NASB) Look only to JESUS, not to a human being or the government. They continually change but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) You can rely on Him. Fix your eyes on Jesus, our risen Savior. “The LORD your God is in your midst, a Warrior who saves.” (See Zephaniah 3:17 AMP). He saves His people from the penalty of their sins. (See Matthew 1:20-23 MSG) Look only to Jesus, our Righteousness, and our Redeemer. Let us look away from all that will distract us, and keep our eyes on Jesus, the Champion who initiates and perfects our faith. (See Hebrews 12:2 NLT) Hope in Him, our Healer, and the One who makes us whole.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, and by His stripes (wounds) we are healed. — Isaiah 53:5-6 (AMP) He was despised and abandoned by men, a man of great pain and familiar with sickness; and like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we had no regard for Him. However, it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore, and our pains that He carried… (Isaiah 53:3-4a NASB) On the cross, Jesus said, “ It is finished !” and He bowed His head and [voluntarily gave up His spirit. (See John 19:30 AMP) Jesus paid the debt for our sins, that we would have life and life more abundantly and enjoy an eternal life in the Presence of our heavenly Father.  “ Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. ” — Revelation 5:12 (NLT)

As for God, His way is blameless. The word of the LORD is tested [it is perfect, it is faultless]; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the LORD? Or who is a rock, except our God, the God who encircles me with strength and makes my way blameless? — Psalm 18:30-32 (AMP) ...the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NLT) The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace. (Psalm 29:11 NLT) Seek and deeply long for the LORD and His strength [His power, His might]; Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually. (Psalm 105:4 AMP)