Manna for Your Morning

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. — Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT) Invite the LORD into every crevice and corner of your heart. Let Him examine each area and expose it to the light of His love. As His Presence inhabits more of your heart, anxious thoughts cease and peaces flows. He will soften and warm the cold, hard areas of your heart. Any bitterness will be turned to sweet. God will nurse the wounded parts and bring healing. He will restore the shattered broken pieces. Invite Him into those dark closets you hold under lock and key, and watch the wonderful work our God will do when we truly open our whole heart to Him.

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” — 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV) Above ALL, have a passionate intensity to your love. People can dispute the words that come out of your mouth, but they will not disagree with the care, compassion and love you share. God is love (1 John 4:8). When we allow our hearts to embrace love, we are embracing the very nature of our heavenly Father. Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over ALL wrongs (Proverbs 10:12, NIV). Let’s turn up the volume of our love!!!

“Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”  — 2 Chronicles 20:15 (NKJV) When the people of Judah were being pursued by their enemies, the LORD told them, the battle was not theirs. Are you trying to fight battles, God will fight for you? God's people were told to position themselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD (2 Chronicles 20:17). The LORD set ambushes against their enemies and they were defeated. If you want to be victorious in the battles you face, MAINTAIN your POSITION in the LORD. Be wherever He has directed you to be. Be humble and worship Him in all that you do (2 Chronicles 20:18). Stand by and see the LORD deliver you!

But you are a forgiving God, one who is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive. Nehemiah 9:17 (GW) Our heavenly Father is a forgiving God. He does not hold grudges. When we confess our sins, He removes them from us, as far as the east is from the west. Because of His endless compassion, God never abandons His children. He is full of mercy and patience. He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Amen.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. 2 Chronicles 32:7-9 (NIV) King Hezekiah encouraged his troops with these words. We too can be strong and courageous because we have a greater power with us, the LORD our God. The battle is not yours, but God’s (2 Chronicles 20:15). Do what God calls you to do and rely on Him for the rest. Our heavenly Father helps us and causes us to be victorious. Be confident of this.

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. Psalm 25:8-10 (NIV) The LORD is good all the time! He does what is right and shows those who go astray the way they should live. God guides the humble to walk in His ways. Our heavenly Father is loving and faithful to those who follow Him. The LORD is forever faithful in all His promises. His word will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.. Psalm 20:7-8 (NIV) Trust in the name of the LORD. Greater is He, who dwells in us than he who is in the world. Nothing is too difficult for our God. We are the victorious ones. We triumph over our enemy by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). Amen!

You make the path of life known to me. Complete joy is in your presence. Pleasures are by your side forever. Psalm 16:11 (GW) Our heavenly Father guides our feet along the path of abundant life and peace. He smoothes out the rough places. When we go through the fiery trials and flood waters, Abba Father is by our side. He will not allow His children to be burned up or to drown. Why stray away? In His Presence, our joy is made complete. Stay by His side and experience the pleasures forevermore.

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:9-10 (NKJ) Our heavenly Father has never deserted those who seek His help. He is a sanctuary in times of trouble. A safe-house for the mistreated and oppressed. Lean on the LORD and confidently put your trust in Him. How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust (Psalm 40:4).

With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? Romans 8:31-32 (The Message) Our heavenly Father loves us so much, He did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:34). How can we lose with God on our side? Absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love. Despite all the difficulties we face in life, we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. God gives us an overwhelming victory!

“Don’t be sad because the joy you have in the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (GW) Don't let the enemy steal your joy. James 1:2 says to “ consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds ” (James 1:2). Cast all your cares on the LORD and rejoice. Think about all the wonderful things God has done and is doing in your life. Take great delight in His mercies and the new compassions God showered you with this morning. Be glad for the victory that we have in Jesus Christ. May your mouth be filled with laughter, and your tongue with songs of joy!

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NIV) Love the LORD your God with all your heart. Draw near and listen for His voice. Here is what He says: “Before I made the world, I loved you and chose you (Ephesians 1:4, NLT). I adopted you into My family. I wrote your name on the palms of My hands (Isaiah 49:16, NLT). I take great delight in you. Fear not. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. Call to Me and I will answer you.”

Oh, blessed be God! He didn't go off and leave us. He didn't abandon us defenseless, helpless as a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs. We've flown free from their fangs, free of their traps, free as a bird. Their grip is broken; we're free as a bird in flight. God's strong name is our help, the same God who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:6-8 (The Message) The enemy has no power over us. Everyone born of God overcomes the world because the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. No weapon formed against us will succeed (Isaiah 54:17). Jesus set the captives free and if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed (John 8:36). Every yoke is broken. Live as free people and don't fall for the snares of the enemy. You, my brothers and sisters, are called to be free (Galatians 5:13)! Spread your wings and soar like an eagle toward your God-given destiny.

Remember what you said to me, your servant— I hang on to these words for dear life! These words hold me up in bad times; yes, your promises rejuvenate me. Psalm 119:49-50 (The Message) Hang onto God's words for dear life. They will give you hope in bad times and comfort you in all your troubles. His Word contains promises of joy, strength, healing, success, and eternal life. It speaks of a perfect love and peace of mind. Let the promises of God rejuvenate your soul!

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. Psalm 118:6-7 (NIV) If the LORD is with you, who can stand against you? Our mighty God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies. Put no confidence in the flesh. For our struggle is against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). With God we gain the victory, and He tramples down our enemies (Psalm 60:12). Amen!

For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 108:4-5 (NIV) And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:17-19). Nothing can separate us from the great love of God that we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT) Never forget all the good things the Lord has done and is doing in your life. He is our Savior, our Healer and our Redeemer. The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. They begin afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23, NLT). He fills our lives with many blessings and renews our youth. Praise the Lord with your whole heart!

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 92:12-15 (NKJ) Plant yourself in the house of the LORD and you will stay fresh and flourish in the courts of our God. On the outside, our bodies are aging, but on the inside, our spirits are being renewed day by day. Let us proclaim that the LORD is just and faithful. He is our Rock!

LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. Psalm 88:1-2 (NIV) Cry out to the LORD your God, during the day and at night. The prayers of God’s people rise before Him like sweet-smelling incense. He hears your prayers and He will save you from distress. He will rescue you from all your troubles. Call on the LORD, who is mighty to save!

How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:1-2 (NIV) To yearn is a strong desire for someone, it involves feelings of affection and tenderness. You want to be in the presence of that person more than anything else. May our souls yearn for the living God. Enter His courts with praise. Dwell in His Presence. Be captivated by His love and beauty. Let us adore our Creator and Father. Blessed are those who dwell in His house; they are ever praising Him (Psalm 84:4).