Manna for Your Morning

A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], but the LORD directs his steps and establishes them. — Proverbs 16:9 (AMP) You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. (Proverbs 19:21 NLT) “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the LORD, “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP) Every day of your life was recorded in His book. Every moment was laid out before you drew your first breath. (See Psalms 139:16) We see in part (a very small part), but Yahweh sees the whole picture. Let us humbly submit to Yahweh and His will for us, knowing that His plans for us are good. He will guide you with His counsel, and lead you to a glorious destiny. (See Psalms 73:24 NLT)

“ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. ”— Isaiah 55:8-9 (NASB) Trust God and let Him lead you and guide you through this day, by His Holy Spirit. Instead of doing things the way you always do them, ask our heavenly Father to show you His way. He has already gone before you and His way is always the best way. The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8 NLT) So don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!” (Psalm 32:9 TPT)

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind… — Job 38:1 (NKJV) Do not fear the storms of life. The storm won't outlast our mighty God. And Nahum 1:3 says, the LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm. His ways our higher than ours. Let what needs to be blown out of your life be carried away. When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation. (Proverbs 10:25 NKJV) Stand firm on our strong foundation and watch for God to answer you out of the whirlwind. Out of the raging storm, the Eternal One answered Job. — Job 38:1 (VOICE)

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. — Romans 8:22-25 (MSG) We are enlarged in the waiting. Be aroused by the Spirit of God. Wait for the LORD and keep His way… (Psalm 37:34a). As we wait let us grow in patience, love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Just as a pregnant woman waits with joyful expectation, the birth of her baby, let us wait with joyful expectation as God fulfills every single one of His precious pr...

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” — Matthew 2:1-2 (NKJV) Let us continually seek the Lord. Seek to do His will, His Way. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). His ways are higher than the ways of this world. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. (Psalm 95:6 NKJV) You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise. Come right into his presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name! (Psalm 100:4 TPT) 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)

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. — Matthew 6:9-10 (NASB) In Jonah 1:1-3, the LORD told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah went and got on a ship going in the opposite direction, to Tarshish, to get away from the presence of the LORD. Many times we are like Jonah and go in the opposite direction from the way the LORD has instructed us to go. However, His kingdom comes each time a heart turns from following the ways of the world, or the will of the flesh and commits to doing His will. Instead of being like Jonah, let us follow after Jesus. Knowing what He was about to suffer, He said, “ Father, …nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. ” (Luke 22:42 NKJV) Our heavenly Father has a beautiful plan of an abundant and victorious life for each one of us. We just have to let Him show us the way.

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!

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” — Isaiah 55:9 (NKJV) Matthew 6:10 reads: Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Before Jesus endured the cross, He prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done .” (Luke 22:42) That Friday before the resurrection, the situation did not look too good, but resurrection day came and Jesus sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, full of glory and majesty. God has a master plan and everything He does, is glorious, spectacular, and awe-inspiring. Instead of trying to force our own way, may we trust in the LORD with all our hearts, and lean not on our own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5) When things do not appear the way we think they should, let us know in our minds (be confident) and believe in our hearts (be joyful) that God’s plan is good and what He has purp...

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) As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him (Psalm 18:30 NKJV). The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:2 NKJV). Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalm 34:8 NKJV) Stamped on our currency is the statement: “ In God We Trust ”. As we spend our money, let it be a reminder that when you invest your trust in the LORD, your receive great dividends. His bank account is never overdrawn.  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember and trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7 AMP)

So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! — Romans 8:12-14 (MSG) This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” (Romans 8:15 (MSG) Since God woke you up this morning, He has places for you to go and things for you to do. Let’s do whatever He has called us to do, His way. His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9) Know that God has a plan for your life, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). Every day of your life was recorded in His book. Every moment laid out before a single day had passed (Psalm 139:16). Don’t get stuck in what happened in the ...

“God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him…” — 2 Chronicles 16:9a (MSG) Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. (Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP). May we stay totally committed to the LORD, to His way and to His will. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. (Psalm 18:30 NKJV).

“Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbors in everything I do.” — Acts 24:16 (MSG) Let us always strive to do our best. When we do what we know is the right thing to do, we can have a clear conscience and live without offense, toward God and people. As we draw near to our heavenly Father, He leads us and guides us along on the right path. And His way, leads to everlasting peace, joy and the abundant life. When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7 NKJV). Amen.

When he arrived and saw the grace of God [that was bestowed on them], he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with an unwavering heart to stay true and devoted to the Lord. — Acts 11:23 (AMP) With true, genuine devotion and unwavering faith, let us stay true to the Lord. When we are true to the Lord, it’s His way or no way. While His way may seem harder and longer, His way is the only way that leads to fullness of joy and everlasting peace and the abundant life. Being true to the Lord means we remain in His love, when betrayed, we forgive, when lied about and mistreated, our response is unconditional love. When we stay true to the Lord, our deepest affections and heart's desire is for more of His Presence, in our lives. I encourage you to stay true and devoted to the Lord!

…strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”  — Acts 14:22 (NKJV) In this world we will have tribulation, but be courageous and of good cheer, our Savior has overcome the world. May God strengthen your soul today. I encourage you to remain firm in your faith. Hardships come and hardships go, but the grace of God remains; grace to persevere, grace to continue, through whatever comes your way. Since God woke you up this morning, He has something more for you to do. Continue to pursue His plan, His purpose, His Way, to the end!

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. — Psalm 37:7 (NLT) Be still, and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). The whole earth declares His wonderful works. He laid the foundation of the earth, and stretched out the heavens like a curtain. He set set a boundary for the waters and appointed the moon for seasons. Even the sun knows when to rise and when to go down. Surely, the LORD is able to take care of all that concerns you. Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; (Psalm 37:34a NKJV).

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. — Nahum 1:3 (NKJV) No matter what storms may come, it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm (Nahum 1:3b NLT). The LORD, makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters, (Isaiah 43:16 NASB). And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose ( Romans 8:28). Amen.

The young lions lack food and suffer hunger, but they who seek (inquire of and require) the Lord [by right of their need and on the authority of His Word], none of them shall lack any beneficial thing. — Psalm 34:10 (AMP) Continually seek the LORD, and you shall not lack any good thing. Inquire of His will and do things His way. Do not rely on your own insight or understanding (Proverbs 3:5b AMP). Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God!  (Proverbs 3:6-7a MSG)

As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. — Psalm 18:30 (NKJV) Our heavenly Father, is perfect. He is good and He does good (Psalm 119:68)! His Word has proven true, time and time again, throughout the ages and for all generations. His Word shall not return to Him void, but it shall accomplish what He pleases, and it shall prosper in the thing for which He sent it. Let His Word be your comfort in affliction, for His word has given us life (Psalm 119:50).

As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? Psalm 18:30-31 (NKJ) God’s way is perfect. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8). All the LORD’s promises have proven to be true. His word that goes forth from His mouth does not return to Him void, but it accomplishes His desire, and achieves the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11). Let us follow the wise ways of the LORD, our God and stand on His wonderful word.

No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord. Proverbs 21:30 (NLT) As the Lord told Saul in Acts 26:13, "It is useless for you to fight against my will." His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). It is wise to do it His way.