Manna for Your Morning

“At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power. — Daniel 8:23-25 (NLT) Titus 1:10 (NASB1995) warns us that there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. (2 John 1:7 NASB1995) Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Know the truth, the Holy Scriptures. Fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith. (See 2 Timothy 4:7) Indeed, all who desire to...

You may think that the situation is hopeless, but God gives us more grace when we turn away from our own interests. That’s why Scripture says, God opposes the proud, but He pours out grace on the humble. — James 4:6 (VOICE) Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, (1 Peter 5:6). So I’ve learned from my experience that God protects the childlike and humble ones. For I was broken and brought low, but he answered me and came to my rescue! (Psalm 116:6 TPT) He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah. (Psalm 66:7 NASB)  But the humble of heart will inherit every promise and enjoy abundant peace. (Psalm 37:11 TPT)

We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. — 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (MSG) No matter what you are going through right now, know that God is right by your side. Even when we don’t know what to do, we can be certain that God knows. Be led by His Spirit and He will guide you along the best pathway for your life, to fulfill the plans and purpose He has for you. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. — Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. — 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT) We can be broken and yet blessed. As we admit our weaknesses to God, He activates His strength in us. The beauty of our brokenness, is that it allows the light of the LORD to work in us and shine through us. Our cracks allow His love, mercy and grace to enter our hearts. The more broken we become the brighter His light can shine. Then when others look at us, they see the greatness and glory of God. The battles we experience, can actually make us better instead of bitter. When you are battered by troubles, let them produce God's best in you, and that is what will come out of you. But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand. (Isaiah 64:8 NASB) My beloved, don’t appraise the masterpiece ...

For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you. — Isaiah 54:10 (NLT) Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The earth may quake but His unfailing love for you will not be shaken. 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 NLT) He will be with you in the fire, in the flood, and in the storm. My love won’t walk away from you, my covenant commitment of peace won’t fall apart.” The God who has compassion on you says so. (Isaiah 54:10 MSG)

“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you. — Isaiah 54:10 (NLT) Know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (Deuteronomy 7:9 NKJV) God does not change. (Malachi 3:6) While the world around us is constantly changing, His love is sure and steadfast. His covenant of love is sealed with the blood of Jesus. May we be deeply rooted and securely grounded in His love. (Ephesians 3:17)

“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.” — Matthew 6:14-15 (MSG) Never cut yourself off from God. As we pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), we keep the channel of communication open and maintain that vital connection with our Mighty God. Our entire walk with Christ is based on our connection to Him. To know Him, we must connect with Him. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches, without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). What we have in this connection is a bond of love that can never be broken. It is an everlasting covenant, which is not like a contract which can be dissolved. With this connection, we have peace and confidence in knowing that He is always with us.

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. — Jeremiah 18:4 (NKJV)  It’s not so much about being perfect as it is about being teachable and remaining on God’s wheel so He can mold us into the person He created us to be. When life events cause our vessels to be cracked and broken, our story is not over. God is not finished with us yet. Not only will He will make us new, He is also able to use us in whatever condition we are in. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves (2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT).

For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. — Psalm 21:6 (NKJV) When we focus our attention on the presence of the LORD and give His Holy Spirit access to every area of our being, we become exceedingly glad. He makes us full of joy in His presence. (Acts 2:28 & Psalm 16:11). In the light of His Presence, darkness has to flee, bondages are broken and strongholds are destroyed. In His presence, our mourning turns into dancing (Psalm 30:11). The mountains that stand before us, become molehills when we look to our Mighty God, and remember that He is with us. The battle belongs to our great God and He is well able to establish all that concerns you. That is cause for exceeding gladness to well up inside of us! Don’t let the enemy steal your joy. The joy of the LORD is your strength.

“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you. — Isaiah 54:10 (NLT) Your world may be falling apart, but His unfailing love will remain. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (Romans 8:35 NLT). No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NLT). None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. (Romans 8:38 MSG)

“Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.” — Luke 24:30 (NKJV) In all of these accounts: Matthew 26:26, Mark 14:22, and Luke 24:30, Jesus blessed the bread before it was broken. Just because we have been broken by some horrific events in our past, doesn't mean that we are not blessed. We can be both at the same time, blessed and broken. We may be struck down, but never destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:9 AMP). After Jesus was beaten, and  crucified, He received the blessing of sitting at the right hand of the Father. We too will be broken as we receive our blessings and go from one glory to another. Brokenness builds strength and tenacity in us, and increases the capacity we have to give to others. It adds a richness and depth to our life experiences than if we never had anything to overcome. In our brokenness, we have bits and pieces of ourselves that we can share with those God brings into our lives an...

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” — Mark 1:40-41 (NLT) The great I AM is always willing. He heals the sick, restores the broken, and gives life to that which is dead. Jesus is moved with compassion, to answer the needs of those who seek Him. Ask in faith and look expectantly to Him, our provider. He is the source of our strength, and hope. Give thanks and praise the Lord for his unfailing grace, mercy and compassion.

Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” — Nehemiah 2:17, 18b (NKJV) Even though their enemies tried to stop the work of God, Nehemiah and his team successfully completed the wall. At times, our lives may seem to be no more than a pile of rubbish, broken pieces of debris scattered about. But God is in the business of restoration. He will use every piece of our broken lives and make something beautiful. Let us rise up and actively engage in what God wants to do in our lives. Out of the rubbish, Nehemiah re-built the walls of Jerusalem. What will you build for the LORD, with the rubble of your life?

…God lives forever and is holy. He is high and lifted up. He says, “I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are sad and humble. I give new life to those who are humble and to those whose hearts are broken.”  — Isaiah 57:15 (NCV) Our God is exalted on high and He is also a God who dwells with His people. Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear (Isaiah 59:1 NIV). You are never out of His reach. He gives new life to those who humble themselves under His mighty hand. He restores crushed spirits and revives repentant hearts. “ I, even I, am He who comforts you… ”  Isaiah 51:12 (NKJV)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. — Psalm 51:17 (NKJV) When something is broken, we tend to throw it away. However, God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). When our lives are shattered and our spirits broken, God picks up all the broken pieces. He washes them off and puts them back together. The Master molds our spirits, and gives them a new shape. He restores purpose for every piece. He makes us whole again and strengthens our spirits. When you are battered, bruised and broken, instead of growing bitter, receive the blessing of letting God make you even better.

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;” — Luke 4:18 (NKJV) Our Heavenly Father sent Jesus to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity] (Luke 4:18 AMP). Today as we celebrate America’s Independence, declare your independence as a disciple of Christ. Announce your fredom from the schemes of the enemy. He no longer has the power to oppress you, unless you give it to him. Celebrate the freedom and victory we have in Christ. Hallelujah!

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) God's doing a new thing in my heart. I desire more of Him, but more importantly I want Him to have more of me. He will cherish every broken piece of ourselves that we give to Him. And when the Master has fashioned it with His hands, we will be amazed at the masterpiece He has made! The Apostle Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). Let us die to self and live for Christ, where we lay all our concerns on His altar and live for an audience of One. Let Him do something new in you! He will create rivers of living water in dry wastelands.

Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice. — Psalm 51:16-17 (MSG) When we think our way is better than God's way, it is pride. Instead of following the behavior of this world or man-made traditions, let God transform you into a new person by taking your heart in His hands and molding it to be more like His. The sacrifice God desires is a broken and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). We truly worship God when we humbly lay our hearts on His altar and follow His ways.

The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.  — Psalm 121:5 (NLT) When calamity comes, people have a tendency to ask, “Where was God?” He is where He always is, right by your side. His eye constantly watches over you. He is there to catch every tear that rolls down your cheek. When someone does you wrong and you are devastated, all the broken pieces of your heart fall in His hand. He is there to bring healing and restoration. He carries you when you don't have the strength to walk. Our heavenly Father turns your sorrow into joy. Every tear that was sown reaps a harvest of joy. Those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing (Psalm 125:6, The Message).

So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” — John 6:12 (NKJV) After Jesus fed the five thousand with five barley loaves and two small fish, He had the disciples pick up the broken pieces, so that nothing would be lost or wasted. Likewise, God gathers up the broken pieces of our lives and uses them to prepare us for a greater purpose. Joseph had to endure the pit and the prison, before he got to the palace. In the midst of our pain and disappointments, God’s power is working all things together for good. If we keep moving on, and stay on the path He has for us, we will see the manifestation of all God’s wonderful promises, in our lives.