Manna for Your Morning

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! — Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) When we try to handle things in our own strength, we grow anxious and fearful and worry fills our minds. When we keep our minds stayed on our heavenly Father and His goodness, we are kept in His perfect peace. Dedicate your heart and mind to the LORD and you will live in perfect and constant peace. As we abide with Him, we experience fullness of joy and we can remain confident that He is able to fulfill every need with have. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NASB) Know this: my God will also fill every need you have according to His glorious riches in Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King. — Philippians 4:19 (VOICE)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) It’s when we try to figure everything out on our own that we end up anxious, worried, and frustrated, or even fearful. When we take everything to God in prayer, and continually thank Him for all He has done and for the gracious God that He is, we experience the peace of God. [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. (Philippians 4:7 AMP) When we have the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds, we can stand strong, and not be moved by adverse circumstances.

Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] — John 14:27 (AMP) You cannot live in perfect peace, if you continually think about things that cause you to be anxious and fearful. However, the LORD will keep in perfect and constant peace, the one whose mind is focused on Him because they trust in Him. (Isaiah 26:3) …cast all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. (1 Peter 5:7 AMP) As long as we abide in His peace, we will have courage and strength for every challenge that comes our way.

Jesus’ disciples went with him as he left in a boat. Suddenly, a severe storm came across the sea. The waves were covering the boat. Yet, Jesus was sleeping. — Matthew 8:23-24 (GW) The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:25-26 NIV) The disciples were fearful because they were focusing on the conditions of the storm. Jesus was sleeping because He trusted the Father. If we are in the boat with Jesus, we too can have perfect peace when severe storms come our way, by trusting God. His Presence is our protection. Instead of looking at the winds and the waves (circumstances), keep your eyes on Jesus, the Champion who initiates and perfects our faith. (Hebrews 12:2 NLT)

I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer my complaint. — Habakkuk 2:1 (NLT) Instead of getting anxious and fearful in response to a bad report from the enemy, look with eyes of faith to our heavenly Father. We can fully enjoy His Presence and remain in His peace, as we fully rely on the LORD. He will keep in perfect peace, all whose mind is stayed upon Him. So now, take your stand and see the great things which the LORD will do before your eyes. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:7-8 NKJV) We can rejoice knowing that with God on our side, nothing can stand against us.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. — 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT) When troubles are pressing in on you from all sides, don't become discouraged, disappointed, or fearful. We may get knocked down, but we will get up again. Regardless of the external circumstances, God is with us and He has a plan. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9 NLT) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV)

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...

“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. — 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 (NKJV) No need to be discouraged or fearful, our mighty God is with us and the battle belongs to Him. With God on our side, who can stand against us? He always leads us in triumph in Christ… (2 Corinthians 2:14). Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. (Psalm 105:4 NIV) When we stand with Him, we win!

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6 (NASB) When you need someone to talk to, call out to the Wonderful Counselor. He is intimately acquainted with all our ways. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. (Hebrews 4:15 MSG) In the midst of turmoil, call upon the Prince of Peace. Jesus said, “ Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. ” (John 14:27 NASB) When you are feeling weak and weary, call on Jesus, our Mighty God. He is the strength of our lives. God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven...

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. — Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV) Live for an audience of one, the One who created you. Trying to please people will leave you exhausted and empty. Being overly concerned about the opinions of man will paralyze you and keep you fearful of doing anything. Put your trust and confidence in the LORD, and pursue that which He has called you to do. Remember that God is able to bring you through whatever He has called you to. And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not abandoned those who seek You. (Psalm 9:10 AMP)

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. — Colossians 2:9-10 (NLT) In Christ, we have everything we need. When we come to Him anxious and fearful, He gives us true peace, strength and courage. When we are emotionally wiped out, He refreshes our souls. When we come to Him broken, He heals us and fills in the gaps. When we come to Him empty, He fills us with joy, hope and a more abundant life. The Message Bible says: You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. Colossians 2:9-10 (MSG)

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — 2 Corinthians 13:5a (NKJV) Let us examine our hearts. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified (Romans 10:10a). Do you have great faith like the centurion who said to Jesus, “…but only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” (Matthew 8:8). Or are you more like the disciples who panicked and awoke Jesus, in the midst of a storm. He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26). Jesus, in His compassion took care of both. Even if you had little faith in the past, it's not too late, faith is now. Faith is for the present time, today. “Do not be afraid; only believe.” (Mark 5:26). “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23).

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” — John 14:27 (NLT) My beloved, stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled (John 14:27 AMP). If you are preoccupied with the things of this world, don’t expect to experience the deep and lasting peace that only Jesus can give. If we accept the Lord’s gift, then we can enjoy the benefits inside. And we open the gift by abiding in His Presence. We maintain peace, by giving ALL our worries and cares to God, and keeping our eyes on Him for the answer, the solution and the deliverance. Amen!

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” — 1 Samuel 17:45 (NKJV) Goliath, the Philistine giant, challenged the armies of Israel for forty days. While the rest of the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid, David took a stand against his enemy. Instead of being fearful and intimidated, he activated his faith. He did not concern himself with the size of Goliath. David saw the situation from a higher viewpoint. He kept his eyes on God and trusted Him to deliver him from Goliath, just as God had delivered him in the past (1 Samuel 17:37). So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him (1 Samuel 17:50). If you want to conquer the giants in your life, adjust your line of sight. Instead of looking at the problem, shift your point of view. How you see the situa...

Amongst all the conditions of this world: unpaid bills, increased demands, lack of resources, rising costs, troubled relationships, etc., our heavenly Father says: “ Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. ” (John 14:27, NAS). In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. ” (John 16:33, NKJ). Let us declare our victory, believe we have success in all we put our hands to do and know that we can do all things through Christ. Praise God that we are not of this world, but we are ABOVE the circumstances of this world, seated with Him in heavenly places! Amen.