Manna for Your Morning

For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. — 2 Corinthians 7:5 (NIV) You may be harassed at every turn and troubled on every side, but let faith and endurance produce its perfect result so that you may be completely developed in your faith, lacking nothing. The Message Bible says, consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:4) Keep fighting the good fight of faith.

For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. — 2 Corinthians 7:5 (NKJV) The world has a way of wearing us out with daily dilemmas, conflicts and challenges. However, nothing is too difficult for our great God. Even though there’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! (Romans 5:3-5 MSG) Keep your hope in Christ alive and continually draw your strength from Him.

...when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, — 2 Corinthians 7:5-6 (NKJV) If you are troubled on every side today, know that in spite of your circumstances, you have the God of all comfort standing by your side. He comforts us in all our tribulation (2 Corinthians 1:4). His perfect love casts out fear, (1 John 4:18). The God of peace will speak peace to any conflict that has been stirred up against you. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday (Psalm 37:6).

For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. — 2 Corinthians 7:5 (NIV) No matter what harassment comes, instead of getting distracted by the enemy, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2). He is the Source of our faith, also its Finisher, bringing it to maturity and perfection (AMP). And His perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).

May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. — 2 Peter 1:2 (Amp) According to Psalm 34:10, those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. God has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). And we gain access to these good things by getting to know Him, personally and intimately. The best way to get to know someone is to spend time with them. As we spend time with our heavenly Father, our nature becomes more like His divine nature and we take on more of His characteristics. Amen.

Ever since we arrived in the province of Macedonia, we’ve had no rest. Instead, we suffer in a number of ways. Outwardly we have conflicts, and inwardly we have fears.  — 2 Corinthians 7:5 (GW) Are you experiencing conflict in a relationship? Whether it is your spouse, child, family member, friend, co-worker, boss, or business partner, God has called us to live in peace. Hebrews 12:14 says, make every effort to live in peace with everyone. Do you have fears? Be bold and confident in the Lord. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Praise the Lord!