Manna for Your Morning

You may think that the situation is hopeless, but God gives us more grace when we turn away from our own interests. That’s why Scripture says, God opposes the proud, but He pours out grace on the humble. — James 4:6 (VOICE) Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, (1 Peter 5:6). So I’ve learned from my experience that God protects the childlike and humble ones. For I was broken and brought low, but he answered me and came to my rescue! (Psalm 116:6 TPT) He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah. (Psalm 66:7 NASB)  But the humble of heart will inherit every promise and enjoy abundant peace. (Psalm 37:11 TPT)

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. — Matthew 4:23 (NKJV) Jesus never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). He is still Healer. And one of the things I love about Him, is that He meets us where we are. The woman with the issue of blood, purposed in her heart that she had to push through the crowd and grab a hold of His garment to receive her healing. (Luke 8:40-42). The man that was lowered through the roof on a cot was helpless and hopeless and had to rely on the faith of his friends, but Jesus still healed him. (Mark 2:4-5). The centurion knew that all Jesus had to do was speak a word and his servant would be healed. (Matthew 8:8). Jesus wants you to live a healthy and abundant life, —healed and whole, body, soul and spirit. Exercise the level of faith you have and our loving, compassionate Savior and Heal...

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! — Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT) Habakkuk is saying that no matter how bad his outer circumstances appeared, he was not going to allow them to stop him from praising God. When your situation looks hopeless, do not fret, and have no worries, continue to rejoice in the God of our salvation. Surely, no situation is too difficult for the LORD to handle. With our great God all things our possible.

But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God, being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised. — Romans 4:20-21 (AMP) Abraham took God at His Word, when He said he would have a son. He did not consider the past infertility of his wife. He faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead, but He didn’t allow the facts to weaken his faith. (Romans 4:19) When current conditions appear hopeless, don't waver in unbelief, and have no doubt. Live fully persuaded that God is able to make good on all His wonderful promises. Just as Abraham grew, let us grow strong and empowered by our faith, as we progress from one glory to another. Faith looks through the shortcomings of yesterday. It sees beyond the realities of today and actively pursues the promises and possibilities available in God.

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. — Acts 12:5 (NKJV) Peter was in prison, bound with chains, between two soldiers and sentries guarded the entrance. In response to the prayers offered by the church, God sent His angel, the chains fell off, Peter walked out of the prison and when they came to the city's iron gate, it opened for them all by itself.  Never underestimate the power of prayer! No matter how hopeless a situation may appear, stay in constant prayer. I believe when we take our eyes off of ourselves and fervently pray for others, miracles happen. Chains of bondage fall off of people, doors open and our enemies cannot hold us down. Let us continue in prayer for one another and expect great things from our mighty God!

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven  — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) I’m sharing this for those who are not full of cheer this holiday season. If you are consumed with sadness or depression during this time, this is a reminder that this too shall pass. Times and seasons come and go, but through it all, we have our great God, who never changes. One Christmas morning, 23 years ago, I found myself lying on the living room floor, in front of our Christmas tree, with tears pouring down my face, having suicidal thoughts. I was experiencing marital difficulties and I was miserable and hopeless. I could hear the enemy telling me to go in the bathroom and hang myself. He told me my life was not going to  get any better. I almost believed the lies. Fast forward to the present, I’m loving my life, walking with the Lord, standing on His Word, happily married for 18 years. On that cold Christmas morning, I never imagined the possibility for my life to be ...

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines;  even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! — Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT) When circumstances appear utterly hopeless, we can still rejoice in the God of our salvation, our protector and provider, knowing that He is working all things together for our good. God’s sovereign rule will prevail in your life. The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm (Nahum 1:3), and in any other adverse situation you face. He makes a way where there is no way. Amen!

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 (NKJV) When the events of this life leave you battered and bruised, seek refuge in the LORD. They who know His name [who have experience and acquaintance with His mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in Him…(Psalm 9:10 AMP). No matter how hopeless circumstances may appear, continue to lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 AMP).

Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.” So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well.” — 2 Kings 4:22-23 (NKJV) The son of the Shunammite woman had just sat in her lap and died, and yet she responds to her husband that “It is well.” What living hope, what blind faith, what reliance on God and His extravagant goodness. May we have the eyes to look at adverse circumstances, full of faith. Let us keep our hope alive, and anchored in the LORD, no matter how dead situations may appear to our natural eyes. And may we always trust in God and rely on Him to revive that which seems utterly hopeless. Blessed is the man or woman who trusts in the LORD! (Psalm 34:8)

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. — Romans 4:20-21 (NKJV) When God told Abraham, he would be the father of many nations, He did not consider his own body, already dead (about 100 years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb (Romans 4:19). No matter how hopeless or dead situations may appear in your life, be fully persuaded, 100% confident, that God is able turn it around. The Message Bible says, Abraham plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. Be strengthened in your faith today!

LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah  But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. — Psalm 3:1-3 (NKJV) No matter how hopeless the situation seems, in God, our hope is alive and we have the victory! He is our Helper. The LORD is a shield that surrounds us on all sides. As we abide in Him, our heavenly Father is our protective shield. And He will lift our heads up above our enemies all around us; (Psalm 27:6).

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” — Jeremiah 17:7 (NKJV) The person who trusts in the LORD, shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah 17:8). Seasons come and seasons go, but the LORD remains faithful through them all! Do not fret, fear or be anxious. No matter how hopeless things appear, be confident that our great God will provide everything you need, in every area of life.

I remain confident of this: 
 I will see the goodness of the LORD 
 in the land of the living.  Psalm 27:13 (NIV)      As we sang the words of this psalm yesterday, in church, I just wanted to shout “this is MY story, this is MY song.” While singing this song, I flashed back to one of the darkest days of my life. I was depressed, hurting and hopeless. Laying on the floor of my living room one Christmas morning, I heard the devil telling me to kill myself and end my misery. I could see the hand of the LORD reaching down into my darkness. He lifted me up close to Him and spoke the words of Psalm 27:13 to me. He promised me I would see His goodness in the land of the living . That Scripture spoke life to me that day and gave me hope. Now these words are so alive and active in me because His Word has proven true in my life over and over again. If life has you down and out right now I want to encourage you to wait on the LORD. I am confident that you will see the GOO...