Manna for Your Morning

But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; in You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute. — Psalm 141:8 (NKJV) The most effective and beneficial move we can make, in any and every situation is to keep our eyes on the LORD, our God. As Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was able to walk on the water, but when he looked at the external conditions, the wind, around him, he got fearful and started to sink (Matthew 14:28-30). With our eyes on Jesus we can do the extraordinary. In Matthew 14:19-21, Jesus took five loaves and two fish, and looked up to heaven. He then proceeded to feed five thousand men, besides women and children. They all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the leftover fragments (Matthew 14:19-21). When we look to the Provider, He will take care of the provision. Instead of examining the complexities of the challenges, keep your eyes on the Lord and entertain the possibilities of our great God. We keep looking to the LORD our God for his...

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. — 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV) When God opens doors of opportunity, do not be surprised when you encounter adversaries and opposition, as you pursue what God has for you. The fiery darts of the enemy will come. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV). Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV). For you have the victory!

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. — 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV) Whenever a door of opportunity is wide open, make sure the door was opened by the Lord. If He sets before you an open door, no one can shut it  (Revelation 3:8). Know that any good work you undertake will meet some opposition. Continue to take each step by faith. And stay alert, sin is crouching at your door and it desires to have you. Keep your eyes and heart open for every great and effective door of opportunity to give, to serve, to forgive, to walk in love, to let His light shine through you, etc.

Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. — Luke 18:1 (MSG) Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not lose heart. In 1 Kings 18:43, the prophet Elijah prayed for rain. He sent his servant to look for rain. Six times the servant came back and said “There is nothing.” And seven times Elijah said, “Go again.” The seventh time, the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain (1 Kings 18:45). Things may not happen in the timeframe of your choosing but continue to pray consistently and don’t lose heart. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16).

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. — 2 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV) We fight the good fight of faith as we continue to speak God's Word, instead of the negative report the world gives us. We fight the good fight as we pray without ceasing. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). Run your race, with your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. This is the only race worth running! And remain faithful to the Lord and the call He has placed upon your life.

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; — Colossians 4:2 (NKJV) Do not grow weary in prayer, but maintain a sincere and intense conviction that God hears you and He is faithful to answer. First Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Let prayer be your first course of action, not your last resort.

Never stop praying. Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this . — 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (GOD'S WORD) Brothers and sisters, keep praying! The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16). Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray—not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it (1 Timothy 2:8-10, The Message). Amen!

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”   — Matthew 21:21-22 (NKJV) When we pray we must believe that we will receive. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16). But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1:6-7). Revelation 12:11 says, we overcome by the word of our testimony (faith). We speak what we believe. Amen.