Manna for Your Morning

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13 (NASB) The nearness of God is our good... (Psalm 73:8). Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. (Ephesians 2:18 NLT) We have been given 24-hour access to the throne room of God. That's better than backstage passes for your favorite artist/performer. This is more exciting than club or box seats at the football game of your choice. What an honor and privilege, that we can approach the throne of God with confidence. So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness. (Hebrews 4:16 TPT) Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. — Isaiah 55:6 (NASB)

In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,  for You will answer me. — Psalm 86:7 (NKJV) When we encounter trouble of any kind, we can call upon the LORD and He will answer us. After Peter had gotten out of the boat, he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him (Matthew 14:29-31) When we cry out to Jesus for help, we give Him in all His power and glory, access to intervene in our situation. I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will find and feel my presence even in your time of pressure and trouble. I will be your glorious hero and give you a feast. — Psalm 91:15 (TPT)

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works. — Psalm 73:28 (NASB) When Jesus gave His life on the cross, to redeem us, the veil of the temple was torn in two. We now have access to the throne room of our heavenly Father. Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. (Hebrews 4:16 AMP) The blood of Jesus has given us access and His Holy Spirit within  us is available to assist us every minute of the day. As you draw near to God, you will receive mercy, and find grace to help when you need it most. Why tackle life's challenges in your own strength, when you can have the supernatural help and power of Almighty God working on your behalf?

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ — Matthew 7:22-23 (NKJV) No one wants to hear Jesus speak these words: “I never knew you; depart from Me” But we must realize that a religion is not going to save us. Being a member of God’s family and living forever in His Presence is all about having a relationship with Jesus the Christ. For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18 NASB). Philippians 3:10 (AMP) says, “ And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers] …” Our greatest pursuit in life is to know Him and be kno...

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. — Hebrews 4:14-16 (MSG) Only because of Jesus, do we have 24-hour access to God. He destroyed the barrier that separated us from our Heavenly Father. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God (Hebrews 4:16a NLT). Take the mercy. Accept the help!

Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise,  who shout on parade in the bright presence of God. Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who you are, what you do—they can’t keep it quiet! Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us— you’ve been so good to us! We’re walking on air! All we are and have we owe to God, Holy God of Israel, our King! — Psalm 89:15-18 (MSG) Passwords give access. We enter His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4). Some passwords of praise: Everything that has breath! Make a joyful noise! Acknowledge Him! Worship Him! Just do it! Seven times a day and all day long praise the LORD because of His righteous decrees (Psalm 119:164 AMP). He is worthy to be praised!

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).

  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13 (NKJV) At one time we lived in this world without God and without hope. Through Jesus we both have access by one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18). Now, therefore, we are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (Ephesians 2:19). We are no longer outsiders, but sons and daughters of the Most High God. The only walls between us and our heavenly Father are the ones we have built. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16 NLT). Amen!

For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah — Psalm 61:3-4 (NKJV) When the storms of life hit, our mighty God is a safe refuge. He is a strong tower to shelter us from the storm. We have been given free access and a standing invitation, let us dwell in Him at all times. Draw near unto the LORD and trust Him. Trust in His power to protect you from the adversary. In Him we are safe. The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10).

May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. — 2 Peter 1:2 (Amp) According to Psalm 34:10, those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. God has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). And we gain access to these good things by getting to know Him, personally and intimately. The best way to get to know someone is to spend time with them. As we spend time with our heavenly Father, our nature becomes more like His divine nature and we take on more of His characteristics. Amen.

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. — Hebrews 4:14-16 (The Message) Jesus is our compassionate High Priest. He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. Jesus is in touch with everything that we go through. He has restored us back into a right relationship with God, that of Father and son or daughter, and has given us access to His kingdom. Why try to do it on your own when you can accept the help we have in Christ Jesus?