Manna for Your Morning

“ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. ” — Matthew 11:29-30 (NASB) A yoke joins two to work as one. When Jesus invites us to put His yoke on, it is an invitation to join our lives with His. As His disciples, we are to learn from Him. For in him we live and move and exist. (Acts 17:28a NLT) In the same way you received Jesus our Lord and Messiah by faith, continue your journey of faith, progressing further into your union with him! (Colossians 2:6 TPT) If we are tired and worn out, it is because we have been trying to do life in our own strength, without Him. When we put His yoke on, it’s a collaboration. We work together. He leads and guides and does the heavy lifting, we just need to follow and follow closely. When we stay yoked with Jesus, we find rest and renewal for our souls. In Matthew 11:30 (MSG) Jesus says: “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay...

Come, let’s shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let’s march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns! — Psalm 95:1-2 (MSG) Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)  says: “The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Just as He rejoices over us, let us rejoice and take pleasure in His Presence. “See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” Isaiah 12:2 (NLT) Most of all, friends, always rejoice in the Lord! I never tire of saying it: Rejoice! Keep your gentle nature so that all people will know what it looks like to walk in His footsteps. The Lord is ever present with us. — Philippians 4:4-5 (VOICE)

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.” — Isaiah 42:9 (NKJV) Forget those things which are behind and reach forward to the new things which are ahead. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19 NLT) Let us stop looking for what is convenient, step out of our comfort zones and into the new things God has for us. The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB)

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God,  — Psalm 146:5 (NKJV) We have been born again into a living hope. (1 Peter 1:3) Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5 NKJV). This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary (Hebrews 6:19 NLT). Hope continually in the LORD, and praise Him more and more.  Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD. (Psalm 31:24 NKJV)

“You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; — Matthew 5:14 (AMP) For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true (Ephesians 5:8-9 NLT). If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7 NLT). We don't have to hide. He called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). In the light we have abundant life, peace, and joy. So let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16 AMP). Be the light of hope to those around you.

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 8:38-39 (NLT) Just because you are going through a difficult time, don’t think for a minute that God is mad at you. God is not mad at you. The flow of our heavenly Father’s love is constant. God’s love doesn’t change based on our behavior. God does not change and His love is unconditional. He created you in love. He wakes you up day after day, and pours out new mercies and compassions on you. He watches over you moment by moment and leads you in the way you should go. He protects and provides for you all the days of your life. Know that God is working all things in your life together for good.

  Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. — Psalm 63:7-8  (NKJV) Let God lead, He knows the way. You follow His lead and stay close enough to be in His shadow. Peter followed Jesus at a distance and he ended up denying Him (Luke 22:54). The greater the distance, the more opportunity for distractions and detours to occur. Joshua wholly followed the LORD (Joshua 14:9) and he experienced great victories and good success. Let us be committed to following the LORD, wherever He may lead us.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” — John 14:1 (NKJV) Do not let your hearts be troubled, distressed or full of anxiety. In order to be kept in perfect peace we must believe in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Completely trust in and rely on our heavenly Father and our Savior. Our God is mighty and powerful and above all. He is above all of your circumstances. Everything we go through in this life has come to pass, but our God stands forever. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). And this is the victory that overcomes the world —our faith, our strong, immovable and fixed belief in God, the Father and the Son (1 John 5:4). Amen!

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.  — Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV) Ecclesiastes 11:10 tells us to  banish anxiety from our hearts. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6). Meditate on the Word of God. It is good and it will make your heart glad. His Word is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). It will outlast any circumstance in your life. Those who love God's law have great peace; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble (Psalm 119:165, AMP).

I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2 (GW) Our heavenly Father is an endless source of strength. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29). Praise God! We can do all things through Him who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). Our God is Savior. With His saving power, He delivers us out of our troubles. He saves us from the flames of hell by offering the gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus. The LORD is our shield. In the shadow of His wings, He protects us and keeps us safe. In our heavenly Father, we have everything we need. Glory hallelujah!

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:3 (NIV) Psalm 1:2 reveals the actions of the person who is like a fruitful tree. It says, he delights in the law of the LORD, and meditates on the Word day and night. Giving time to God's Word renews our minds (Romans 12:2) and helps us live according to His Holy Spirit within us. When we are controlled by the Holy Spirit, we bear the fruit of love, peace, and kindness in abundance. Instead of getting offended and striking out at those who "push our buttons," we will give grace and exercise self-control and patience. Instead of having a bad attitude, we will be full of joy. May we be Spirit-led and our lives will be fruitful and prosperous. Amen.

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37 (NKJ) In trouble, hardships or persecution we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ, who loves us. Follow Jesus and He will lead you to victory. In Him, we overcome and have great success. Praise the Lord! Love, Jackie

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) We are tempted when we are enticed by our own evil desires and literally dragged away from God's will (James 1:13). But praise God, He always provides a way for us to escape temptation. When we submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee. Amen. Love, Jackie