Manna for Your Morning

Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: “Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise. I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.” — Proverbs 1:20-21, 23-24 (NLT) “...wisdom’s song is not always heard in the halls of higher learning. But in the hustle and bustle of everyday life its lyrics can always be heard above the din of the crowd. You will hear wisdom’s warning as she preaches courageously to those who stop to listen:” (Proverbs 1:21 TPT) …listen to what wisdom says, and treasure her commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on gaining understanding. (See Proverbs 2:1-2 NLT) All who listen to wisdom will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm. (See Proverbs 1:33 NLT)

Buy truth, and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding. — Proverbs 23:23 (NASB) Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her speech. In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the busiest corner she calls out: (Proverbs 1:20-21 MSG) Listen and be wise. Direct your heart in the way of the LORD. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5 NASB) For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (Proverbs 2:10-11 NLT)

Hosea put it well: I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved. In the place where they yelled out, “You’re nobody!” they’re calling you “God’s living children.” — Romans 9:25-26 MSG Isaiah maintained this same emphasis: If each grain of sand on the seashore were numbered and the sum labeled “chosen of God,” They’d be numbers still, not names; salvation comes by personal selection. God doesn’t count us; he calls us by name. Arithmetic is not his focus. (Romans 9:27-28 MSG)  God personally selected us to be called His living children. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. (Ephesians 1:4 NLT) He calls each one of us by name and He leads us, like a shepherd leads his sheep. (See John 10:3) In addition, He called us for a purpose. Beloved brothers and sisters, He has a wonderful plan for our lives. Don’t let the enemy keep you from fulfilling your purpose and livi...

And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved … — Joel 2:32a (NKJV) Call on the name of the LORD and be saved, for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (Acts 17:28) When you call, He will hear you. He is not far from each one of us; (Acts 17:27). “ And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. ” (Joel 2:28) God pours out His Spirit on all who believe in Christ and accepts Him as their Savior. He fills us and empowers us to fulfill the dreams and visions He has placed in our hearts. Call on His name today.

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example]. — Mark 1:18 (AMP) Believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.   (Acts 2:21) Put your trust in His name. The name of Jesus is higher than any other name. Higher than any sickness or disease. His name is greater and carries more power than any mountain that stands before you. May we follow Jesus. His disciples trusted Him enough to leave their old ways behind. They chose to follow Jesus and pursue a more abundant life. What old ways are you willing to leave behind to follow Jesus? In John 12:36, Jesus said: “While you have the Light, believe and trust in the Light [have faith in it, hold on to it, rely on it], so that you may become sons of Light [being filled with Light as followers of God].”

Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God. — Psalm 20:7 (NASB) If you are going to boast about anything, boast in the name of the LORD. Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8) His name is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10) Trust in the mighty name of the LORD, our God. Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. (Romans 10:13) O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. Interlude (Psalm 44:8 NLT) I don’t want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift—Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, the future—all of it is yours, and you are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God. (1 Corinthians 3:21-23 MSG)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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 11:28-30 (NIV) Jesus calls each one of us to come to Him. He has no pre-requisites or conditions, just come. It doesn’t matter how you come or what you are like when you come. The important thing is that we come, not just one time, but come and keep coming to Him on a daily basis. Once we come to Him, let us be teachable and learn from the best Teacher of all. Then we will find rest. When we rest in Him, we are free to experience the deepest peace ever. “ Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. ” (Matthew 11:29-30 MSG)

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today! — Psalm 95:6-7 (NLT) Of all the voices you hear today, listen to the voice of the LORD. It will be His voice that comforts you in the midst of the storm. His voice will give the direction and wise guidance you need. When others reject you, it's His voice that calls you to come near to Him. In Isaiah 55:3 He says, “Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live... ” He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 11:15)

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) Jesus calls all who are weary and carry heavy burdens to come to Him and He will give them rest. (Matthew 11:28). Release your burdens to the LORD and He will sustain you. (Psalm 55:22). He beckons us to come to Him, because His grace is enough for us. He supplements our weaknesses with His strength. Wherever we fall short, His grace fills in the gaps. He illuminates the dark places with His life-giving light. He turns our sorrow & sadness into joy & gladness. In His Presence, we can let go of disappointments and discouragement and cling to the living hope we have in Christ.

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. — John 10:2-3 (NKJV) I wonder if the secret to the popularity of Starbucks is that they call their customers by name instead of a number.  Our longing to be known and feel special, is a perfect complement to God's desire to have a personal relationship with each one of us. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls His own by name. Another person, whether pastor, priest or parent, can only tell you about God. The way to know Him and develop a personal relationship with Him is to consistently have that one-on-one time with Him. As we spend time in prayer, in His Word, and in worship, we nurture an intimate relationship with the Lord that grows deeper each day. Jesus is calling your name. Just come and keep coming.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. — Psalm 20:7 (NKJV) Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 124:8). “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved,” (Romans 10:13). The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10). Let us trust in and boast of the name of our Mighty God!

The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. — John 10:27 (AMP) Jesus is the good shepherd and He calls His sheep by name. His sheep consistently listen for his voice. They recognize His voice and respond by following Him, wherever He leads. John 10:5 says, His sheep will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. Be careful which voice you listen to and who you follow.

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. — Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV) In Hosea 4:6, the LORD says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Through knowledge the righteous will be delivered (Proverbs 11:9). When we lack wisdom in any situation, let us ask God for it and it will be given unto us. He gives generously to all, without finding fault (James 1:5). Wisdom prolongs the length of our days and brings riches and honor (Proverbs 3:16). Wisdom also brings success (Ecclesiastes 10:10). Wisdom calls aloud outside (Proverbs 1:20) Will you answer her call?