Manna for Your Morning

Thus the children of Israel were subdued at that time; and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the LORD God of their fathers. — 2 Chronicles 13:18 (NKJV) To prevail means to prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious. In Matthew 16:18 (NLT) Jesus says, “ Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. ” We are the church and the powers of darkness will not prevail against us, when we rely on the Lord. Trust in the Lord [and rely on Him with unwavering confidence]. (Psalm 31:6b AMP) “They will fight against you, but they will not [ultimately] prevail over you, for I am with you [always] to protect you and deliver you,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 1:19 AMP) O LORD of hosts, How blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, relying on You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectation]. (Psalm 84:12 AMP)

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. — Acts 12:5 (NKJV) Peter was in prison, bound with chains, between two soldiers and sentries guarded the entrance. In response to the prayers offered by the church, God sent His angel, the chains fell off, Peter walked out of the prison and when they came to the city's iron gate, it opened for them all by itself.  Never underestimate the power of prayer! No matter how hopeless a situation may appear, stay in constant prayer. I believe when we take our eyes off of ourselves and fervently pray for others, miracles happen. Chains of bondage fall off of people, doors open and our enemies cannot hold us down. Let us continue in prayer for one another and expect great things from our mighty God!

When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord . — Acts 11:22-23 (NLT) When the church in Jerusalem, heard that a large number of Gentiles had believed and turned to the Lord, they sent Barnabas to encourage them. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord (Acts 11:24 NLT). We too should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. (Romans 15:2 NLT). So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault (Romans 14:19 MSG). Don't be part of the demolition, tear down crew. Instead encourage and build each other up. Amen.

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” — Isaiah 29:13 (NIV) These people were going to church and saying the right things, but God did not have their hearts. After being asked which is the most important commandment? Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ” (Matthew 22:37 NKJV) Won’t you give Him your heart today?

And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together). He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent]. — Colossians 1:17-18 (AMP) In Jesus, all things are held together. Have you ever noticed how your life tends to fall apart when you leave Jesus on the sidelines? Everything in our lives should sit in the shadow of our great and awesome God. Keep Jesus at the center of your life and let everything else revolve around Him. Let Him occupy the first and most precious place in your heart, and every corner and crevice thereafter. Just as Jesus gave us open access to the throne room of God, we should also give Him FULL ACCESS to our hearts, our minds and our lives!

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.”  And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” — Genesis 28:16-17 (NKJV) Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you (1 Corinthians 6:19)? And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed (Romans 13:11). May we (the church and body of Christ) have a spiritual awakening and always be aware of His presence within us, and His mighty power which is at work in us to bring about the perfect will of God.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. — Hebrews 12:14 (NIV) It is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) God has called us with a holy calling. Let us strive to live holy lives. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness (Romans 6:19, NIV). We are to be presented to Jesus as a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that we should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27, NKJV). Let us press on to maturity and holiness!

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. — John 6:63 (NKJV) When will we, the church, take a stand for Jesus? If not now , then when? Let us stop consulting our flesh about how we "feel" instead of just saying "Yes!" to the Lord. Yes, I will go to church. Yes, I will pay my tithe. Yes, I will tell others about Jesus. Yes, I will love my neighbor as I love myself. Yes I will forgive. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Romans 8:13-14, NKJV). Amen!

Acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. — 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV) In the parable of the lost son, the older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in to the celebration of the return of the prodigal son (Luke 15:28-30). Even though the older son stayed with his father and served him, while the younger son did his own thing, his heart was not with him. Likewise, we can be in church every week and still have a heart that is far from the heart of God. May we examine our hearts and make sure the affections of our hearts are in perfect alignment with the things that please our heavenly Father. Amen.