Manna for Your Morning

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. — 1 John 4:7-8 (NLT) Let us devote ourselves to loving one another and pursue peace with all men (Hebrews 12:14a NASB) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)  “Be angry, and do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26A NKJV) “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.” (Matthew 5:21-22 NLT) Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins ...

Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God … — 1 Chronicles 22:19 (NIV) Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. — Isaiah 55:6 (NKJV) The bling-bling of this world are distractions, designed to get your attention and steal your affections. In the eternal scheme, they have no real value, they are temporary and shallow. All they will ever do is leave you wanting more. There will always be something bigger, better and faster. When we seek the LORD first and foremost, we truly experience a deep and lasting satisfaction. His Spirit dwelling in us reaches every crevice, enlightens the dark places and fills the emptiness. And those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:10). Amen!

“‘... for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’” declares the LORD. “‘So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’” — Jeremiah 30:21-22 (NIV) When we focus on our sin, our failures and where we miss the mark, those things become bigger in our lives. Let us focus on our great God. Draw near to Him, and build an intimate relationship with Him. The more time we spend with the LORD, the more we become like Him and the things that are not in alignment with His nature will naturally fall out of our lives. Our only desire will be for more of God and not the things that keep us at a distance from Him.