Manna for Your Morning

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” — Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT) There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. (Proverbs 16:25 NLT) You can rationalize it all you want and justify the path of error you have chosen, but you’ll find out in the end that you took the road to destruction. (Proverbs 14:12 TPT) Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. — 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT) The Kingdom of God is about more than just talk. The words we speak, should line up with the Word of God, however, being a citizen in the Kingdom of God shows in our walk. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 NKJV) For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17 NLT) Our lives are to consist of doing good, pursuing peace and being full of joy. We do this, not in our human strength, but by the Holy Spirit, Who dwells within us. As we submit to Him, we have the same mighty power working in us and through us, that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. (See Ephesians 1:19-20) Let us walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance]... (See Galatian...

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. — Psalm 34:5-7 (NLT) Our true help comes from the LORD, our Creator, who made heaven and earth! He will guard and guide you, never letting you stumble or fall. God is your keeper; He will never forget nor ignore you. The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. (See Psalm 121 NLT/TPT) Keep your hope in the LORD, and you will not be disappointed. Look to Him for help and radiate with joy. My eyes are always on the LORD, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. — Psalm 25:15 (NLT)

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. — 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (TPT) In Matthew 24:13 (NKJV) Jesus says: “…because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” May our love for God and for others be a fire that burns warmer and brighter each day. The church in Sardis had a reputation that they were alive, but in reality they were dead. (See Revelation 3:1 NKJV) Live things continue to grow. Make sure you love all people and that your love continues to grow and overflow.  If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had suc...

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. — Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT) Ephesians 3:17 (NLT) says: “ Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ” We become deeply rooted and securely grounded in the Love of Christ as we trust in Him. Open your heart to Him and receive the unconditional, sacrificial love that He lavishes upon us. His everlasting love will keep you strong and enable you to withstand the storms of life. May you be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love be...

You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise. Come right into his presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name! — Psalm 100:4 (TPT) We have to be thankful in our hearts before our mouths can offer a sacrifice of praise. Having an attitude of gratitude enables us to give thanks. God, our hearts spill over with praise to you! We overflow with thanks, for your name is the “Near One.” All we want to talk about is your wonderful works! (Psalm 75:1a TPT) ...I will give my thanks to you, Yahweh, for you make everything right in the end. I will sing my highest praise to the God of the Highest Place! (Psalm 7:17 TPT) “ Amen! Praise and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen! ” — Revelation 7:12 (TPT)

Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. — Psalm 105:1 (NLT) Let there be no complaining, whining or grumbling. Instead, we can continually give our thanks to God because of who He is, not just for what He has done. Psalm 118:1 (NLT) says: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Our heavenly Father is love. He is a good and faithful Father. No matter what you are going through, give thanks to the Most High God. He is exalted on High and He reigns over all. … in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (TPT)

Even when it seems I’m surrounded by many liars and my own fears, and though I’m hurting in my suffering and trauma, I still stay faithful to God and speak words of faith. — Psalm 116:10-11 (TPT) In Psalm 119:30 (NASB), the Psalmist says: “I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me.” Let us choose to stay faithful to the LORD, in every season of our lives. Remain faithful in all that you do. “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” (Luke 16:10a NLT) …we are certainly not those who are held back by fear and perish; we are among those who have faith and experience true life! (Hebrews 10:39 TPT)  For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. (Hebrews 3:14 NLT) Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. — Isaiah 26:2 (NLT)

Fear and intimidation is a trap that holds you back. But when you place your confidence in the Lord, you will be seated in the high place. — Proverbs 29:25 (TPT) Confidence in the Lord, positions us in the safety of His high place. The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? (Psalm 118:6 NLT) Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 NLT) We can never look to men for help; no matter who they are, they can’t save us, for even our great leaders fail and fall. They too are just mortals who will one day die. (Psalm 146:3 TPT) So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! (Hebrews 10:35 NLT) Lord, it is so much better to trust in you to save me than to put my confidence in someone else . — Psalm 118:8 (TPT)

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Selah. — Psalm 68:19 (NASB 1995) Our heavenly Father does not want us bowed down under the weight of a heavy load. However, we must give our burdens to the Lord, if we want Him to bear them. Psalm 55:22 (AMP) says: Cast your burden on the LORD [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail). Release your cares to Him and do not pick them back up again. Never forget the good things he does for you. He forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. He redeems you from death and crowns you with love and tender mercies. He fills your life with good things. Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s! (See Psalm 103:2-5 NLT) Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. — Psalm 103:1 (NLT)

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. — Philippians 4:6-7 (TPT) The season is upon for a time of extreme busyness: shopping, baking, decorating, attending gatherings, etc. If you allow yourself to be pulled in different directions, you will be distracted from the main thing. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the good gift and perfect gift, Who is from above, and came down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Spending time with Him and growing in intimacy is more important than following man-made traditions. Let the Holy Spirit lead you in the details of your life. His way is the way of peace.

At each and every sunrise you will hear my voice as I prepare my sacrifice of prayer to you. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart. — Psalm 5:3 (TPT) Lay your requests before the LORD and wait patiently for Him to speak to your heart. Listen with a heart that is ready to respond appropriately to His instruction. Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]; (Hebrews 10:23 AMP) He will bring healing and wholeness to every area of your life. O LORD, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. — Psalm 5:1-2 (NLT)

Overcome every form of evil as a victorious soldier of Jesus the Anointed One. For every soldier called to active duty must divorce himself from the distractions of this world so that he may fully satisfy the one who chose him. — 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (TPT) We are to overcome evil, not let it overtake us. First John 5:4 (NASB), says whatever is born of God overcomes the world. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21 NASB) No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Timothy 2:4 NASB) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 NLT) And arm yourself with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (See Ephesians 6:17) For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay aler...

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. — 1 Kings 19:12 (NKJV) After your world has been shaken, listen for the still small voice of the LORD. After your fiery furnace experiences, listen for the sound of His gentle whisper. He continually speaks. Keep standing before the LORD. In Numbers 9:8 (NKJV), Moses said to them, “ Stand still, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you. ” Stand still and hear what the LORD is speaking to you.

The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands. — Psalm 25:8-10 (NLT) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12 NKJV) The ways of the LORD lead to an abundant, and fruitful life. He has set before us life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life. (See Deuteronomy 30:19) The LORD shows us the proper path, it is up to us, to make the decision to follow. Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. (Psalm 119:1 NLT) Be a faithful follower of the LORD. Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. — Psalm 25:4-5 (NLT)

The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. — Psalm 14:2 (NLT) True wisdom comes in continually seeking the LORD and His will. Those who [diligently] seek Him and require Him [as their greatest need] will praise the LORD.
 May your hearts live forever! (See Psalm 22:26 AMP) 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) I heard your voice in my heart say, “Come, seek my face;” my inner being responded,“Yahweh, I’m seeking your face with all my heart.” — Psalm 27:8 (TPT)

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. — 1 Peter 5:6-7 (AMP) These two verses are often used separately, but I believe they go together as one. First we must set aside pride and admit that we can't do anything of value without God. He gives us the strength, wisdom and knowledge. In John 15:5 (NLT), Jesus said, apart from Him we can do nothing.  Once we humble ourselves and acknowledge that we need Him, we are able to cast all our cares upon Him, in full assurance that He is able to handle everything that concerns us. And we realize how much He cares for us with deepest affection, because He is faithful to deliver us from all of our troubles. He is the ...

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. — Colossians 3:14 (NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Colossians 3:12-13 NLT) However, love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity. (See Colossians 3:14 TPT) Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. (1 Corinthians 13:4 TPT)  And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 AMP) ...let love be the beautiful prize for whic...

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. — Mark 4:39 (NKJV) Jesus is the Prince of Peace (See Isaiah 9:6) and His peace is to rule in our hearts and minds. In John 14:27 (NLT), Jesus said: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” When Jesus spoke to the storm in Mark 4:39, all at once the wind stopped howling and the water became perfectly calm. Jesus said His disciples would do even greater things than He. We are to speak to the storms of our lives, and bring about a great calm. Don’t let the enemy steal your peace. “ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. ” — John 16:33 (NKJV)

The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. — John 15:19 (NLT) Jesus chose us and called us to come out of the world. Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. (1 John 2:15-16 NLT) In John 17:15, Jesus did not ask the Father to take His disciples out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. As believers, we live in this world, but the world is not to live inside of us. We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit (See Ephesians 5:18) We are not to be under the sway and influence of this world, but to influence the world for the Kingdom of God. Amen.

“ Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified! ” — Psalms 40:16 (NASB 1995) What our minds continually dwell on, tends to grow bigger and bigger, in our sight. Therefore, let us fix our thoughts on the LORD and He will be magnified in our hearts, in our lives, and on the earth. Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT) says: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD God is the eternal Rock.” When our thoughts focus on YAHWEH and the fact that His Presence is always with us, we experience perfect and constant peace. And we realize that no matter how big the mountain before us may seem, our awesome God is bigger and all-powerful. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods. (1 Chronicles 16:25 NKJV)  “ Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; and let them say continually, “The ...

Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. — Psalm 90:10, 12 (NLT) Every day of your life was recorded in His book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (See Psalm 139:16 NLT)  James 4:14 (NLT) says: Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. Since all of our days on earth are numbered, let us make the most of our time. Be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes. (See Ephesians 5:15-16 TPT) When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every ...

“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. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ ” — Acts 17:27-28 (NLT) Some people spend their whole lives searching for temporary things that can never satisfy. Seek the everlasting, Almighty God and Jesus, His Son. In John 6:27 (NLT), Jesus said “…don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” Seek the Lord, for in Him we live and move and have our being.

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. — 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NLT) Now, the “Lord” I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, and wherever he is Lord , there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17 TPT) First, the Spirit has to be Lord of your life, in your heart, over your thoughts, etc. Then we can be progressively transformed into His image from one degree of glory to an even brighter level of glory, because we are submitted to the authority and power of His Spirit. We are not only to see His glory, but to reflect it as well. Don’t be like the person who observes themselves in a mirror. Then, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person they are supposed to look like. We are to reflect the glorious light, unconditional love and amazing grace of our...

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. — 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NASB) My dear friends, don’t let the present troubles and trials get you down. I pray that you remain strong and do not lose heart. All this is proceeding along lines planned all along by God and then executed in Christ Jesus. When we trust in him, we’re free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go. (Ephesians 3:11-12 MSG) ...thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57 NASB)

So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. — Revelation 12:17 (NASB) The devil has declared war against the children of God. First Peter 5:8 (NASB) says our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. He does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy. (See John 10:10 NKJV) And some of us go into battle without our weapon: the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (See Ephesians 6:17) When Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, Jesus answered each temptation with the Word by saying, “It is written…” Then the devil went away. (See Matthew 4:1-11) In order to fight the good fight of faith, we need to speak the Word of God and declare it in the midst of temptation, over every mountain and in every dark valley. As we speak the Word, battles are won and we are more than conque...

“ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light. ” — Matthew 11:29-30 (AMP) Jesus said His burden is light and His yoke is easy. Join your life with King Jesus. Live in union with Him. As we walk alongside our Lord and Savior, He gently guides us along the right path, and daily bears our burden. (See Psalm 68:19 NASB) Why try to do things the hard way, on your own and in your limited human strength? Our help comes from the Lord. It is not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit working in us and through us that we gain victory and have good success. The LORD knows the good plans He has for each one of His children and only He can guide us safely to the glorious destination He has for us. “... Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’l...

“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” — Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT) Our Mighty God is in our midst. He is a victorious warrior Who saves. If God is for us, who can ever be against us? His perfect love expels all fear. “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT)

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. — John 1:14 (NLT) “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:10) In Mark 2:17 (NLT), Jesus said: “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” If you are lost or sick, Jesus is calling you. Come to Him and receive your healing and be made whole. Jesus came that we may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. (See John 10:10 AMP) From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. (John 1:16 NLT) “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time...

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. — Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) The Passion Translation says, to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us. Since the Word says to run, implies a sense of urgency. We need endurance because it's a marathon and not a short sprint. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (Hebrews 12:2 NLT) In order to successfully complete our race, we need to look away from all that will distract us, continually focus our eyes on Jesus, and keep our trust in Him. Those who trust in the LORD will find new strengt...