Manna for Your Morning

Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract—let Your priorities be mine], and restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways. — Psalms 119:37 (AMP) Don't be ignorant of the devil’s devices, nor follow worldly ways. Distractions often draw us away from our heavenly Father, out of His Word, and down some dark alley or dead-end road that results in sin, death and destruction. Genesis 3:6 says: Eve saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes… Judges 14:1 (NLT) says: One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye. And in 2 Samuel 11:2, as King David was walking on the roof of the palace, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. In each case, what they saw with their eyes, led them down the slippery slope to sin.  Beware of the things that catch the attention of your eyes. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of...

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:2 (NASB1995) Let us look away from all that will distract us and focus our eyes on Yeshua. He is bigger than any challenge or difficulty you face. He is higher than any hurdle blocking your path. Pay attention to the One Who commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him? (See Luke 8:23-25) He gives sight to the blind, and opens the ears of the deaf. In Matthew 14:29-30, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Yeshua. But when he shifted his focus and saw the effects of the wind, he became frightened and began to sink. Instead of being fearful and letting the storms overtake you, put your faith in Yeshua. He is the real life preserver. He is the Son of God and Savior of the world. Let us hold fast our confession of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute t...

Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor. — Hebrews 12:2 (VOICE) The Amplified Bible adds: [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus … When we focus on current circumstances, which are always up and down, we can get distracted and drift away from God and His perfect will for us. Instead, stay focused on Jesus. He is always the same, and His years will never come to an end. When Jesus is our focal point, we maintain internal peace and calm, in the midst of external chaos. Believe in God, believe also in Jesus. (John 14:1) Trust God to provide what you need (strength, direction, wisdom, favor, healing, etc.) at just the right time.

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. — Colossians 3:1-2 (MSG) The enemy likes to distract us with the difficulties of the day. Don’t fall for his tricks. Keep your eyes on Jesus and what He is doing. See things from God’s perspective. How the world sees you is of no consequence, if you don’t buy into it. When you see things from His perspective, your thoughts about yourself line up with His Word. You are a child of the Most High God. You are loved, chosen, and accepted. You are more than a conqueror! And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. — Psalm 9:10 (NASB)

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. — Luke 21:34 (NKJV) Don’t let the cares of this world distract you and choke the living Word out of you. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. (Luke 8:14 NLT) These people let the enemy steal the Word away from them and therefore, it does not bear any fruit in their lives. 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 2:4 NKJV) As good soldiers of Jesus Christ, let us stay mission-minded and bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Selah. — Psalm 68:19 (NASB) I’m so glad that the Lord bears our burdens every single day. He never leaves us to bear the weight and pressure of our burdens alone. It doesn't matter how many we have, or the weight of them, He's got it. Don’t let the issues of this life distract you from keeping your eyes on Jesus, or draw you away from His Presence. Keep your mind set on fulfilling the purpose and mission our heavenly Father has for you. Seek first God’s kingdom and He will handle everything that concerns you. Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders— he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin. (Psalm 55:22 MSG) Blessed be the Lord, who bears our burden day by day, the God who is our salvation! Selah. (Psalm 68:19 AMP)

But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. — Mark 13:7-8 (NKJV) How are we to endure such turbulent times? We do this by looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarded its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) The Message Bible says: “Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.” May we never lose sight of the good and wonderful plan God has for each one of us.

My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. — Psalm 63:8 (NKJV) But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works. (Psalm 73:28 NASB). It is good for us to follow closely behind the Lord. The less distance the less opportunity for other things to distract us and the less likely we are to take detours away from the path He has us on.

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. — 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NLT) All serious athletes, train hard and consistently. Let us run our race with perseverance, keeping our eyes on the prize, not allowing the hurdles of life to be a stumbling block. Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Philippians 3:14, NLT). Let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus… (Hebrews 12:1-2, AMP)

She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. — Luke 10:39-40 (MSG) Jesus told Martha she was anxious and troubled about many things; (Luke 10:41 AMP), but Mary chose that good part. Be careful not to let the cares of this world distract you and pull you away from daily sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to His teachings. He has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). And His word has given us life (Psalm 119:50). Hang on to every word.

Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He has mercy on us. — Psalm 123:1-2 (NKJV) The devil wants us to take our eyes off of God. Either he tries to get us focused on our selves and the desires of our flesh, or he tries to distract us with things of this world. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), our wonderful Savior, the King of kings and the Lord of lords! Every day we receive new mercies, and God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Amen!

Since we are surrounded by so many examples of faith, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.  — Hebrews 12:1 (GW) Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. May we get rid of everything that slows us up and weighs us down. Focus on Jesus and allow nothing to distract you. Make it your only aim to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus gave you.