Manna for Your Morning

“Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side!” — 2 Chronicles 32:7 (NLT) King Hezekiah spoke these words to the people in Jerusalem when it was being attacked. No matter how circumstances may appear to you today, do not be afraid, nor discouraged. Remember, He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (See 1 John 4:4) “We have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Be greatly encouraged. (See 2 Chronicles 32:8 NLT) “ Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble in dread before them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.” — Deuteronomy 31:16 (AMP)

Bless and affectionately praise the LORD, O my soul, and all that is [deep] within me, bless His holy name. Bless and affectionately praise the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits; Who forgives all your sins, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you [lavishly] with lovingkindness and tender mercy; — Psalms 103:1-4 (AMP) May we always remember the good things Yahweh has done for us, and continually give Him thanks. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in compassion and lovingkindness. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence]. (Psalms 103:8, 11 AMP) Bless the LORD, all you works of His, in all places of His dominion; Bless and affectionately praise the LORD, O my soul! — Psalms 103:22 (AMP)

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence]. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.  — Psalms 103:11-12 (AMP) Yahweh is gracious and compassionate; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. Yahweh is good to all, and His compassions are over all His works. (Psalms 145:8-9 LSB) The LORD upholds all those [of His own] who fall and raises up all those who are bowed down. (Psalms 145:14 AMP) Yahweh is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works. Yahweh is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. (Psalms 145:17-18 LSB) All Your works, O Yahweh, shall give thanks to You, and Your holy ones shall bless You. (Psalms 145:10 LSB) For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, and You have delivered my soul from Sheol below. (Psalms 86:13 LSB) I will exalt You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your ...

Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.” — Acts 10:34-35 (NASB1995) There is no favoritism, with our heavenly Father. God, our Savior, desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4 NASB1995) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13 NKJV) And consider the patience of our Lord [His delay in judging and avenging wrongs] as salvation [that is, allowing time for more to be saved]… (See 2 Peter 3:15 AMP)  Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. — Isaiah 55:6 (NKJV)

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) Instead of insisting on doing things our own way, let us always seek the counsel of the LORD. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts. (See Isaiah 55:9) Our heavenly Father wants what is best for His children, like any good parent. And He is faithful to show us the way. Psalm 23:3 (NLT) says He guides us along right paths, bringing honor to His name. Let us be committed to following His lead. In Him, we are to live, move and have our being…for we are His offspring. (See Acts 17:28 NKJV) 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) Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. (Galatians 5:25 NLT)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, you are now made holy, and each of you is invited to the feast of your heavenly calling. So fasten your thoughts fully onto Jesus, whom we embrace as our Apostle and King-Priest. — Hebrews 3:1 (TPT) Fasten your thoughts onto Jesus, then the lies of the enemy will not be able to get you to wander or doubt. Gaze upon Him, and join your life with His, (stay connected). We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. (Hebrews 12:2a TPT) Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. (Psalm 34:5 NLT) Fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:9-10 NLT)

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. 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 12:1-2 (NLT) What are you watching? The nightly, negative news, the stock market, your bank account? The Word of God instructs us to fix our eyes on Jesus, not current earthly circumstances. Jesus is the answer. The Amplified Bible says, “[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith…” (Hebrews 12:2). If our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we will not compare our race to another person’s course. With our eyes on Jesus, we will not be able...

LORD, you light my lamp; my God illuminates my darkness. With you I can attack a barricade, and with my God I can leap over a wall. — Psalm 18:28-29 (CSB) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Live as children of light— (Ephesians 5:8 CSB) …if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin… — 1 John 1:7 (AMP)

The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. — Isaiah 58:11 (NKJV) The LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:1-3 AMP) He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength (Isaiah 40:29). Our heavenly Father is able to breathe life into dead bones (Ezekiel 37:4-10). He will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; He will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with His eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8 AMP)

If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. — Proverbs 29:18 (MSG) God has a purpose and a plan for every day that you are alive on the earth. Let there be no confusion, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6).  In Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB) the LORD says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” May we continually seek God and His will for our lives and attend to what He reveals. Our Pastor is teaching us to “find God in everything and take Him everywhere.”

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. — 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) How do we escape the hidden traps of the enemy? By being aware and alert to his wicked schemes. We must also know God’s Word and rely on His great wisdom and mighty power in every area of our lives. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11 NKJV). This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels (Ephesians 6:12 MSG).

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” — John 6:37 (NKJV) Most of us know the pain of rejection. Even Jesus was despised and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:3). Rejection often leads to feelings of being unwanted and thoughts of not being good enough. It sometimes creates a pretense that we don’t need anyone. Thank God that our past experiences with flawed humanity, is not the end of the story! Jesus, the good Shepherd, calls us to COME to Him. Jesus says He will never cast out those who come to Him. In the Amplified version, He says, “I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me.” He holds on and doesn’t let go. No matter who you are and no matter what you have done, Jesus loves you and wants you close to Him. He will comfort you in all affliction.

Remember how short my life is, how empty and futile this human existence! No one can live forever... — Psalm 89:47-48  (NLT) Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone (James 4:14 NLT). Live life with a sense of urgency. Let us make each moment count toward something that is going to last, the kingdom of God. As we reach out and touch others with the genuine love of God and share the Good News about Jesus, we are changing lives and making an eternal difference in the world.

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. — Acts 9:15 (NKJV) A vessel is a hollow container used to hold something. Just as Saul was chosen, you are vessel, chosen by God that His Holy Spirit may dwell in you. Without the Spirit of God living inside of us, we are all empty vessels. Before He formed you in the womb, the LORD knew you (Jeremiah 1:5). He created you on purpose and with a purpose. You are not a mistake and God has not forgotten about you. Let us be vessels for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work (2 Timothy 2:21).

Yes, the LORD will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase.  — Psalm 85:12 (NKJV) Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good and perfect. Our God is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made (Psalm 145:9). No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:9). Rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has done for you and your household. Praise the LORD, for we shall experience increase in our land.

How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues. Psalm 31:19-20 (NIV) Our heavenly Father has an abundance of good things stored up for those who fear Him, an endless supply. He lavishes His goodness on those who abide in Him, blessing them in the sight of all. In His Presence, we are hidden from the schemes of man. In His shelter, we are safe from tongues that speak against us. May we honor God in all that we do and dwell in the shelter of His Presence.

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go." Isaiah 48:17 (NKJ) The LORD teaches us how to make our efforts successful. He shows us what is best. The LORD our God reveals truth and gives wisdom. He leads us to a full, prosperous life of joy, peace and love. Acknowledge Almighty God as the source of your strength and power. Learn from the One who holds all knowledge. Allow Him to show you the way and your plans will be established.

The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace. Psalm 29:11 (NLT) Jehovah Jireh is our Provider. He knows what we need, even before we ask, and He makes provision for us. When we are tired, weak or weary, the LORD gives us strength to continue on. When anxious thoughts come our way, He is the source of our peace. Let us rely on the LORD in all situations. Amen. Love, Jackie

For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14 (NIV) God leads His people today, just as He led the Israelites in the desert for forty years. His Holy Spirit who dwells in us, directs us in the way we should go. He will show us the way in every situation. When you don't know what to do, seek the LORD, our guide even to the end. Love, Jackie