Manna for Your Morning

“Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.” — Isaiah 50:7 (NLT) “Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God.” (Isaiah 50:10 NLT) Those who trust in Him will never be put to shame. (See Isaiah 49:23 NLT) Be determined to do God's will. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. (See Isaiah 55:9)  “No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from Me,” says the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17 AMP)

But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.  — Daniel 1:8 (NLT) May we be determined not to defile ourselves, but to be holy (set apart) and dedicated to God. Know for certain that no immoral, indecent, or greedy person—who is really an idol worshipper at heart—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Messiah and God. (Ephesians 5:5 TLV) You shall be holy, for the LORD our God is holy. …you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior]. (See 1 Corinthians 6:11 AMP)

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. — 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NKJV) No matter how difficult the battle, let us march on, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ! No looking back, only persevering and pressing on, continually advancing and taking ground for the Kingdom of God. All the challenges we encounter are part of the process to prepare us to fulfill the purpose and plan God has for our lives. If we don't give up, we will overcome and occupy our promised land. Let us invade the darkness with light. Invade hate and bitterness with His love and grace. The invaders charge. They climb barricades. Nothing stops them. Each soldier does what he’s told, so disciplined, so determined. They don’t get in each other’s way. Each one knows his job and does it. Undaunted and fearless, unswerving, unstoppable. (Joel 2:7-8 MSG) Be an invad...

Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies. — Psalm 108:12-13 (NKJV) With God’s help, we can be courageous and determined to persevere to the end, knowing that we have the victory. We win! Zechariah 4:6 (NIV) says, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Why try to fight battles in your own strength, when you can call on the name of the LORD? Philippians 4:13 says, we can do all things through Christ, because He is the One who strengthens us and empowers us to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives. Help me, O LORD my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy, that they may know that this is Your hand— That You, LORD, have done it! (Psalm 109:26-27 NKJV)

Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose ... — Ezra 4:4-6 (NKJV) When the people of Judah, returned from captivity to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, their adversaries came. First they acted like they wanted to help them, then they proceeded to continually discourage and harass them (for years). When we seek to fulfill the call of God in our lives, we can expect opposition, those who want to tear down what we are building. There will be those who come to frustrate the work of God, but greater is He who is in us and with us. Let us be relentless, persistent and determined as we carry out our God-given assignments. Keep building! Complete the work. Keep the faith.