Manna for Your Morning

God’s a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you’re never sorry you knocked. — Psalm 9:9-10 (MSG) You may be hard pressed on every side, but you are not crushed. You may be perplexed but don’t be driven to despair. You may be persecuted but you are never abandoned by God. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) Even when you walk through the darkest valley, have no fear, because the LORD is with you, to protect, to guide, and to comfort. You can count on the LORD, no matter what. He will never, neglect those who come to Him for help. 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 )

When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? — Psalm 118:5-6 (NIV) When hard pressed, instead of running to your Pastor or phoning a friend, let your first course of action be to call upon the LORD God Almighty, your Creator and Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of your faith. Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31 NLT). Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Ephesians 3:20 NLT). Amen!

At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, — 2 Timothy 4:16-17a (NKJV)  Although people may desert you when you need them most, the Lord is faithful. He will never abandon you. Not only does He stand with you, He gives you the strength to stand. You may be hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; you may be perplexed, but not in despair; you may be persecuted, but not forsaken; you may be struck down, but, praise God, you are not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)!

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.  — Micah 7:8 (NKJV) Like the Apostle Paul said, we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-19). We may be down, but we are not out! If we fall, we will arise again. If circumstances appear to be dark, look for the light of the LORD and follow Him.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. — 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) No matter what comes your way, always remember, you are not abandoned. God's love will never run out on you. When you pass through the waters, the LORD will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you (Isaiah 43:2). “The LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) He is with you and will deliver you from all your troubles!

Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us?” — Judges 6:13 (NKJV) Many of us have asked God this question at one time or another. First Peter 4:12 warns us, dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. If you find yourself wondering why?, look at it from a different perspective: We may be hard pressed on every side, but we are not crushed; we may be perplexed, but we are not in despair; we may experience persecution, but we are not abandoned; we may be struck down, but we are not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Glory hallelujah! So fix your eyes not on what is seen (temporary), but on what is unseen (eternal), for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).