Manna for Your Morning

“But you are God’s chosen treasure —priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world.” — 1 Peter 2:9 (TPT) God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. (See 1 John 1:5 NASB1995) He has called us out of the darkness to live in the light. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! (Ephesians 5:8 NLT) With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. (Ephesians 4:17 NLT) Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. (See Philippians 2:15 NLT) “For at one time you were not God’s people, but now you are. At one time you knew nothing of God’s mercy, because you hadn’t received it yet...

For the eyes of Yahweh move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is wholly devoted to Him. — 2 Chronicles 16:9a (LSB) May your heart be loyal to the LORD our God, all of your days. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. And when the enemy attacks, in the day of distress, the LORD will support you. (See Psalms 18:8 NLT) You can do all things [which He has called you to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers you [to fulfill His purpose...] (See Philippians 4:13 AMP) In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. (Ephesians 6:10 AMP) After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. — 1 Peter 5:10 (NASB1995)

“so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else. Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.” — 1 Kings 8:60-61 (NASB1995) Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. (Matthew 24:4-5, 11 NASB1995) Do not be deceived. Look away from all the distractions and keep your eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. (See Hebrews 12:2) Let us incline our hearts to Yahweh and be wholly devoted to Him. Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) says to guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. “What I say to you I say to everyone, ‘Be on the alert [stay awake and be continually cautious]!’” (Mark 13:37 AMP) For you do not know the day, nor the hour of our Lord's return.

They have seen the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep. — Psalm 107:24 (NLT) Don’t fall for the distractions of the enemy. He brings drama in your life to get your eyes off of Jesus, then you start following Jesus at a distance (like Peter). This leads to doubt, a disconnection and detours away from the good plans our heavenly Father has for you. Instead, go deeper in God, and be devoted to Him with all your heart. Press into His Presence. Press into praise & worship and His Word.  In Luke 5:4 (NLT), Jesus told Simon, “ Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish .” Today, Jesus calls us to go deeper. We are not to passively linger on the shores, as a spectator. When we plunge into the depths of His Presence and faithfully follow where His Holy Spirit leads, we experience His peace, and joy. We engage with His power, and see the miracles of hearts and lives being changed to the glory of God. Even when building a house, we have to dig dee...

But you are God’s chosen treasure—priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world. — 1 Peter 2:9 (TPT) Let us be devoted to the One who called us out of darkness and made us members of His royal family. This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.  (Romans 8:15-16 MSG) No matter “ what ” happens, know “ who ” you are: a child of God. And remember our heavenly Father is with you and He always takes care of His children.

Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him. The one who doesn’t love has yet to know God, for God is love. — 1 John 4:7-8 (TPT) Beloved brothers and sisters, let us be vessels of God’s love. As He continually pours His love into us, let us be devoted to unselfishly love and seek the best for one another. In Matthew 5:44-45 (TPT), Jesus says: “love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. For that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly Father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil.” Lavish the love you generously receive from God on all who come your way.

It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding. He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest. He protects those who treat others fairly, and guards those who are devoted to him. — Proverbs 2:6-8 (GNT) If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn’t find fault with them. (James 1:5 GW) He watches over the way of His saints. He will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; He will guide you with His eye. (Psalm 32:8 NKJV) Listen to the still small voice of His Holy Spirit within you and He will show you the best way to go.

Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving. — Colossians 4:2  (AMP) I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (1 Timothy 2:1 NLT) But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. (1 Peter 4:7) The LORD will be very gracious to you at the sound of your voice; when He hears it, He will answer. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5:16 NLT)

Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens] … — James 1:16-17a (AMP) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, but never set your affections on the gifts themselves. Set your affections on the Giver of the gifts only. Be completely committed and devoted to the LORD, our Sustainer. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) Our ultimate delight, satisfaction, and fullness of joy are found in His Presence.

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. — Romans 12:11-12 (MSG) The best way to stay full of His Spirit and on fire for the LORD, is to keep a constant connection with Him throughout your day, through prayer, praising and the giving of thanks. Let the difficulties and challenges draw you closer to Him. Look to our great God in cheerful expectation of the deliverance He will bring about in your life. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person is powerful and produces wonderful results. Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2 AMP)

When he arrived and saw the grace of God [that was bestowed on them], he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with an unwavering heart to stay true and devoted to the Lord. — Acts 11:23 (AMP) With true, genuine devotion and unwavering faith, let us stay true to the Lord. When we are true to the Lord, it’s His way or no way. While His way may seem harder and longer, His way is the only way that leads to fullness of joy and everlasting peace and the abundant life. Being true to the Lord means we remain in His love, when betrayed, we forgive, when lied about and mistreated, our response is unconditional love. When we stay true to the Lord, our deepest affections and heart's desire is for more of His Presence, in our lives. I encourage you to stay true and devoted to the Lord!

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  — James 4:6 (NKJV) Humility is the acknowledgement that anything we accomplish in this life is only by the grace of God. Humility recognizes that everything we have belongs to Him. God empowered us with the strength, wisdom and all that we needed to come this far. Romans 12:3 (AMP) says, [not to have an exaggerated opinion of your own importance]. So, don’t get puffed up with pride. Instead, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, (1 Peter 5:6, NKJV). Be thankful for all of your successful endeavors and continue to depend on and be devoted to God, with all your heart.

Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. — Acts 11:22-23 (NKJV) I encourage you all, to continue with the Lord, each and every moment of your life. No matter what, stay solid in your commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, with your whole heart. Be totally devoted to doing the will of our heavenly Father and fulfilling the mission He has given to you. Then when we see the grace and favor of God at work in our lives, it will make us glad!

The Lord says, “These people worship me with their mouths and honor me with their lips. But their hearts are far from me, and their worship of me is based on rules made by humans.”  — Isaiah 29:13 (GW) Sometimes, we can get so caught up in trying to say the right things, and do the right things but our hearts are not necessarily in it. We are just going through the motions. But, the eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose HEARTS are fully committed to him (2 Chronicles 16:9). God wants our hearts to be devoted to Him. When we set our affections on the LORD, we form a bond that is not easily broken and we truly belong to Him.

A sinner may commit a hundred crimes and yet live a long life. Still, I know with certainty that it will go well for those who fear God, because they fear him. Ecclesiastes 8:12 (GW) The LORD says, “those who honor Me I will honor,” (1 Samuel 2:30). When we sincerely reverence the LORD, with hearts that are fully devoted to Him and put Him first in our lives, it will go well with our souls. Isaiah 3:10 says, tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.