Manna for Your Morning

But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. — Matthew 23:11-12 (NASB1995) The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way. (Psalms 25:9 NKJV) Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose]. (James 4:10 AMP)  “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 NLT) Let us consider how we may serve others each and every day.  A man’s pride and sense of self-importance will bring him down, but he who has a humble spirit will obtain honor. — Proverbs 29:23 (AMP)

And when he was in distress, he entreated Yahweh his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. Then he prayed to Him, and He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and returned him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh was God. — 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 (LSB) Who do you turn to when in distress? May we first implore Yahweh in any and all situations, and know that He is our great God, the God Most High. And His ear is open to hear the petitions of His people. Be strengthened by the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah to God’s people: “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the multitude that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.” (See 2 Chronicles 32:7-8) Yahweh is still with His people to help us and to fight our battles.  Little chil...

For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, — Philippians 2:9-10 (AMP) JESUS. It truly is a beautiful name! God’s goodness, grace, and glory is contained in the name of Jesus. When we know Jesus, we know joy and peace. We have forgiveness and freedom. Jesus saves and He rescues. He heals and makes whole. When we call on the name of Jesus, we have strength and hope. His name contains power to overcome challenges. In the name of Jesus, the love of God unfolds. Praise the name of the Lord, it’s the only name worth praising. For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:13) O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. — Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB) For this reason also, 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 and on earth and under the earth, (Philippians 2:9-10 NASB) Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. (Psalm 95:6-7) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. (James 4:8,10)

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. — Matthew 15:28 (NIV) What did this Gentile woman do that caused Jesus to notice that she had great faith? Matthew 15:22 says, she cried out to Him, saying, “ Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed. ” Mark 7:25-26 tells us, as soon as she heard about Jesus she came and fell at His feet, and begged Him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Even after Jesus said, “ I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ” (Matthew 15:24), she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” (Matthew 15:25) So this woman had a sense of urgency to get to Jesus, she humbled herself, she asked for His help and she worshiped Him. I would also note, she did not take offense when Jesus said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (Matthew 15:26). Instead she continued to plead...

“…because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the LORD. — 2 Kings 22:19 (NKJV) May we be like King Josiah, and have a tender heart, and humble ourselves before the LORD. The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5). It is more difficult for God’s love to permeate a hard heart, full of bitterness and unforgiveness, than a soft pliable one. God’s love is continually being poured out and with His love, comes His power and His peace. When our hearts are tender, we are able to receive His love, and freely share it with others. And His power can work in us and through us in a mighty way to change lives forever. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, cas...

Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. — Genesis 24:1 (NKJV) How would you like to be blessed in ALL things? Let us look at and follow Abraham’s example: First of all, Abraham trusted and obeyed God. When God told him to get out of his country, Abraham left, not even knowing where he was going (Genesis 12:1-4). Second, Abraham was a giver. He gave Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High a tithe (tenth) of all (Genesis 14:18-20). Third, Abraham humbled himself under God’s mighty hand. Genesis 17:3 says, he fell on his face, and God talked with him. May trust, obedience, generosity, and humility characterize our lives, as well. Amen!

As soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. — Mark 7:25 (NIV) As soon as this woman heard about Jesus, she went to Him and begged Jesus to heal her daughter. Because she humbled herself before the Lord, her daughter was healed, even though she was a gentile. When you have an issue, take it to Jesus! He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Nothing is too difficult for Him. And you are a child of God. You are a Holy Spirit having, family member. Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world.