Manna for Your Morning

As God’s obedient children, never again shape your lives by the desires that you followed when you didn’t know better. Instead, shape your lives to become like the Holy One who called you. For Scripture says: “You are to be holy, because I am holy.” — 1 Peter 1:14-16 (TPT) We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1 Peter 2:9) I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! — Ephesians 1:18-19 (MSG)

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. — 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) 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 55:22-23 MSG). When we hold onto our worries and concerns, they will consume us and draw us away from the peace and joy of His Presence. Instead of growing our faith and giving us strength, worry creates anxiety and fear and drains our energy. Let us cast all of our cares on the LORD and leave them there. Trust God and worship Him instead of worrying. So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you. (Psalm 55:22 TPT)

“Behold, I am with you and will keep [careful watch over you and guard] you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this [promised] land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” — Genesis 28:15 (AMP) No need to worry because God is watching over you. The LORD is with you and He keeps careful watch over you. He is faithful to fulfill all His promises, because He watches over His Word to perform it. Instead of putting your mental energy into worrying about problems, set your mind on our mighty God, and His faithfulness. Then you will trust Him to handle your concerns and you can enjoy the pleasure and privilege of His Presence. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 NKJV)

I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. — Psalm 121:1-2 (NKJV) Sometimes we put a lot of time and energy into trying to figure stuff out on our own. As we take our eyes off of the situation or the person, and put them on the LORD, He will reveal things to us at the proper time and in His way. As we invest our time and energy into seeking His face, He shows us the solution. He gives us the answer to the problem. He exposes the root cause of an issue. As we look to Him, He will take care of ALL that concerns us. He is The Fixer. He makes old things new. He brings dead things back to life. He mends broken hearts and fractured relationships. He lifts up the heads that are beat down. Always look to Him!

A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. — Proverbs 17:22 (MSG) The doom and gloom of constant negative news and bad reports leave you bone-tired. It drains your energy and crushes your spirit. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body. (Proverbs 16:24 AMP) Plug into the Word of God. His Word gives life. (Psalm 119:50) His Word promotes inner peace and harmony with others. When His Word is sent, it brings healing (Psalm 107:20)  His Word strengthens and revives. (Psalm 119:25, 28) Be intentional about continually hearing and speaking God's Word and a cheerful disposition is sure to follow. A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing... (Proverbs 17:22 AMP) Keep your heart happy with the Word of God!

You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, t he days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. — Psalm 139:15-16 (MSG) Sometimes we spend a lot of time and energy trying to figure out what?, how?, why?, or when? During these times, let us seek wisdom and guidance from the One who knows us better than we know ourselves. May we trust God through every situation, every season and all the stages of life, knowing that He has every day of our lives recorded in His book. Nothing that happens takes Him by surprise. The thoughts the LORD thinks toward you are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. — Psalm 29:11 (NIV) When we continually give our attention to problems, it produces anxiety, doubt and fear. It drains our energy and clouds our ability to think clearly. Let us focus on the LORD. As we keep our eyes on our mighty God and draw closer to Him, we maintain our peace. As we cast all our cares on Him and trust Him to provide the answer, we are able to draw strength from the LORD's limitless supply. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3 NLT)

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 6:1 (NLT) Avoid the trap of being a people-pleaser and doing things for the sake of appearances. Let all that you do, be motivated by the love you have for our heavenly Father and a genuine desire to please Him. Live for an audience of One. ‘So love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ (Mark 12:30 MSG). And serve Him only.

Begin Afresh! Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, — Philippians 3:13 (NKJV) Stop beating yourself up over the mistakes of days gone by! Rather than dwelling on the past, use your time and energy focusing on the here and now. God gives us new compassions and brand new mercies every morning, so we can begin afresh. Press on toward the dreams and visions God has placed in your heart! What has God called you to do today?

Focus on the storm or the Shelter. So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” — Matthew 14:29-30 (NKJV) Are most of your thoughts centered on God’s Presence or your problems? When we give more time, energy and thought to the challenges we face, fear and doubt appear. Instead, we can focus on the Lord and doing whatever He has called us to do. When we stay centered on God and His mighty Presence at work in our lives, we rise above the circumstances of this life and remain in His peace. Then we are able to stand strong and walk in faith toward all that He has for us. When we elevate our thought life to the God realm, all things are possible!

Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. — Luke 8:43-44 (NKJV) We can spend years, listening to man and looking for our healing by natural means. We can drain all of our resources: money, time, and energy, with no result, as we look to man. Or we can get what we need by pressing in to Jesus, and drawing from the pool of His supernatural power. Then we will receive our healing, wholeness and the answers and solutions we seek. Amen!

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.  — Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) Why waste time and energy trying to force a closed door open with mere human strength? Let us live in the Spirit, and also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). Any worthy thing will only be accomplished by the Spirit of the LORD, as we listen to and obey His Holy Spirit within us. Amen!