Manna for Your Morning

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends  you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. — Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT) The LORD will make known to us the path of life. (See Psalm 16:11) When we let the distractions of the enemy draw our attention away from God, we lose our sense of direction, and end up on some desolate dead end road. But our heavenly Father is faithful to guide us back to Him. May we give attention to the Word of God and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. (See Hebrews 12:2) The LORD says, “ I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you .” (Psalm 32:8 NLT) Follow His lead. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me . — Psalm 139:9-10 (NASB)

So we do not set our sights on the things we can see with our eyes. All of that is fleeting; it will eventually fade away. Instead, we focus on the things we cannot see, which live on and on. — 2 Corinthians 4:18 (VOICE) Don’t look at the things which we can see with our natural eyes, for the things which are visible are temporary. Instead let us focus our attention on the things which are invisible, for they are everlasting and imperishable. Fix your eyes on our great God. May we have eyes to see His amazing love and great grace. “ Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory. ” — Isaiah 6:3 (NASB)

Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. — Romans 12:2 (NCV) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:1-2  MSG) Instead of being shaped by this world, let us be ambassadors for Christ who influence the worl...

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. — Proverbs 3:6 (MSG) There are many voices clamoring for your attention, but make sure you listen for God’s voice and follow it. Listening to the wrong voices will cause you take detours off of the path of life and you will end up on a dead end road. Paying attention to God's voice will keep you on the right track. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:6  NLT) Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. (Proverbs 3:5 TPT)

And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.” — Matthew 21:13 (NASB) Why pray? It takes our attention off of the problem and puts it on the One who can solve it. Prayer draws us deeper into the Presence of Almighty God. In His Presence is our peace, and our protection. Proverbs 18:10 (NASB), says: The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe . When we pray, we enlist the help of our heavenly Father, and it opens the door for the power of His Holy Spirt to work in us and through us. Our prayers help us to persevere and receive the promises of His Word. In Matthew 21:21-22 (NASB), Jesus said, “ Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. ” Our prayers can chan...

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. — Psalm 37:23-24 (NASB) We are never alone. The LORD is our constant companion. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (Matthew 6:34 MSG)  He delights in every detail of our lives. (Psalm 37:23b NLT) When we stumble He is there to catch us. When we cry, He puts our tears into His bottle (Psalm 56:8)  The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8 NLT) Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way. (Psalm 16:11 MSG)

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. — Romans 12:2 (MSG) As we focus on our heavenly Father and all His wonderful attributes, we will become more like Him (loving, kind, gentle, etc.). When we pay close attention to His Word, we allow God to transform us by changing the way we think. He will mold us and shape us and bring the best out of us. May we be captivated by His love and thankful for all that He is doing in our lives here and now.

So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He’s the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do... — Hebrews 3:1-2 (MSG) For most people, the Christmas season is full of busyness, —looking for the perfect gift, finding a good bargain, the following of traditions, traveling, etc. May we never let the sideshow events take our attention away from the main attraction. May all of our activity and the focal point of our thoughts be on Jesus Christ and all He has done for us. Being born in a human body, being whipped and beaten, shedding His blood and giving His life to set us free. He gave us the victory over sin and death. The main attraction of every season is the extreme love God has for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. The call is for us to come to Him. No matter what we do, or run out of time and energy to do, may we keep Jesus Christ as the centerpiece of our lives. And may His...

Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah — Psalm 62:8 (NKJV) If we want to enjoy the peace of God every minute of the day, we have to walk along the path of fully trusting God, no matter what may come. Don’t let your mind get carried away on the train of worry, anxiety and doubt. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (Matthew 6:34 MSG) As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. (Psalm 18:30)

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. — Hebrews 3:1 (NIV) If we want to rise up to another level of living and being, we have to elevate our thoughts. There is no other name higher than the name of Jesus. Let us fix our thoughts on Him. The New Living Translation says to think carefully about this Jesus. The Amplified Bible instructs us to thoughtfully and attentively consider Him. As we fix our thoughts on Jesus, we will be more likely to follow Him. As we give attention to Him, we will become more like Him. So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He’s the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. (Hebrews 3:1-2 MSG)

Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God … — 1 Chronicles 22:19 (NIV) Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. — Isaiah 55:6 (NKJV) The bling-bling of this world are distractions, designed to get your attention and steal your affections. In the eternal scheme, they have no real value, they are temporary and shallow. All they will ever do is leave you wanting more. There will always be something bigger, better and faster. When we seek the LORD first and foremost, we truly experience a deep and lasting satisfaction. His Spirit dwelling in us reaches every crevice, enlightens the dark places and fills the emptiness. And those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:10). Amen!

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. — Psalm 29:11 (NIV) When we continually give our attention to problems, it produces anxiety, doubt and fear. It drains our energy and clouds our ability to think clearly. Let us focus on the LORD. As we keep our eyes on our mighty God and draw closer to Him, we maintain our peace. As we cast all our cares on Him and trust Him to provide the answer, we are able to draw strength from the LORD's limitless supply. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3 NLT)

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. — 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NKJV) A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders (2 Timothy 2:4 MSG). As good soldiers of Jesus Christ, we have received a call: a set of orders. Instead of getting entangled in the affairs of civilian life, and having an unauthorized absence (UA) from our place of duty, let us give our attention to fulfilling the mission the Lord has entrusted to us, that we may please our Commanding Officer. That means we must endure hardship, and stay alert and fully engaged in our God-given orders: assignments that tell us where to go, when to go and what to say.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” — John 10:27-28 (NKJV) Jesus is the god shepherd. He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand… (Psalm 95:7a NKJV) Many voices  clamor for our attention on a daily basis. The voices of the enemy, and the angels of darkness who pose as angels of light chatter regularly. The world constantly makes demands on our attention. The voice of the Master, is the only voice that matters! Listen to Him. Let us stay attuned to the voice of our Lord and Savior. As we closely follow Jesus, we are able to clearly hear His voice, louder than any other. And no one will be able to snatch us away from Him. Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks: “Don’t turn a deaf ear … ”  (Psalm 95:7 MSG)

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. — Luke 2:19 (NIV) Mary pondered the words that were prophesied about her Son. When we ponder something we continually think about it. The thought just keeps grabbing our attention, until it gets deep into our heart. Some of us ponder the negative things others have spoken to us. Others ponder people and why they said or did something to us. Let all of that go. If it didn’t kill you, it made you stronger and better. Let us treasure all the awesome words our heavenly Father has spoken to us through His wonderful Word. Ponder all the promises He has spoken to you and know that He is a Promise Keeper. Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. (Joshua 21:45 NIV). Just as He did for Israel, He will do for you. Ponder that!

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  — Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) If you need peace, you need more of God’s Presence. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Draw near to Him and experience His deep and abiding peace. His peace ranks above earthly circumstances. That means that His peace cannot be moved by any of the events that take place on this earth. Jesus gave us peace as His parting gift. “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.” (John 14:27 NKJV). Instead of focusing on problems, focus your attention on His Presence and He will keep you in perfect peace.

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. — Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV) Let us not restrict our giving of thanks to a day or a season. May we always have a heart full of gratitude for all God has done and is doing in our lives. Continually give thanks to our heavenly Father. God doesn’t just want weekend and holiday visitations. He wants full time custody. As children of God, dearly loved by the Father, we have His attention and affection, every moment of every day. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name (Psalm 100:4).

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. — Matthew 6:34 (MSG) When we declutter our minds with thoughts of the past and worries about the future, we are free to rejoice in the good things God is doing today. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34B NIV). Enjoy this present moment, that God has given to you. He is doing amazing things today. Delight yourself in His Presence and let Him guide you each step along the way.

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! — Acts 16:25-26 (NLT) I have often heard that life is not so much what happens to you, it's more about your response to what happens. Paul and Silas were dragged, had their clothes torn off, were beaten and thrown in prison. However, they didn’t let their circumstances get them down. They were praying and singing hymns to God. No matter what your circumstance, turn your attention to God, who holds the universe in His hands. Are there things in your life that need to be shaken? Do you have some doors that need to be opened? A little prayer and praise goes a long way. And it also has a profound impact on those around you, just as Paul and Silas effected the prisoners around them. How are you reacting to...

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9a (NLT) The Apostle Paul was given a thorn in his flesh, to keep him from becoming proud. Three different times he begged the Lord to take it away and each time, the Lord directed Paul’s attention back to Himself. (2 Corinthians 12:7-8) We all have some thorny things in our lives that continue to prick us and make us uncomfortable. They constantly call for our attention. Sometimes we pay too much attention to our weaknesses, those things that consistently challenge us. That will cost us our peace and our joy. Instead, let us remember what the Lord said, (His grace is all we need), and shift our focus to the Lord. Then, His power is able to work in us and through us, to bring about God's perfect will in our lives. His grace strengthens us to be and do all that we are called to be and do. His grace gives us what we need to live a successful and fulfilled life. In His grace, we r...