Manna for Your Morning

“ So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ” — Luke 15:20 (NLT) The prodigal son, demanded his share of his father’s estate, journeyed to a distant country and squandered his estate with loose living. (Luke 15:12-13). After he spent everything, he experienced hunger and hard times. Yet, no one gave him anything. But he came to his senses, and decided to return home as a hired servant. (Luke 15:14-19) The father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:22-24) Our heavenly Father is filled with love and compassion. And His arms are open wide to embrace us and hold u...

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? — Psalm 42:1-2 (NASB) When we thirst for God, our souls will be fully satisfied. I was glad when they said to me, “ Let us go to the house of the LORD. ” (Psalm 122:1 NASB) God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you. (Psalm 63:1-4 MSG)

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  — John 6:32-33 (NKJV) And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”  (John 6:35) Jesus is the bread of life, who gives life to the world. He is the only One who can satisfy our hunger. That emptiness inside our hearts, hungers for His presence, and nothing else will do. In Matthew 6:11, Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread” because He is the One who sustains our lives, day by day. In order to live full and satisfying lives, we must partake of Him everyday. So let us respond to Jesus, the same way His disciples did: They said to Him, “ Lord, give us this bread always .” (John 6:34)

God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. — Psalm 63:1 (MSG) No matter what we travel through, God is with us and He will guide us to lush, green pastures and beside still waters. In His Presence, we really come alive and can experience fullness of joy. Revel in His great love! So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory.  In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you. — Psalm 63:2-4 (MSG)

Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:  — Romans 8:35-36  (MSG) Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NLT) None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. (Romans 8:37-39 MSG)

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. — James 4:8 (NLT) If you have let the world draw you away from God, come running back to Him. Isaiah 55:7, in the Message Bible says: ...come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness. Continually come closer to our heavenly Father and let Him love you the way only He can. Nothing in this world can satisfy our souls, like our Abba Father. May the greatest hunger of our hearts be for more His Presence in our lives. As we first fellowship with the LORD, then we are able to flourish in our relationships with others. “Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words. I’m making a lasting covenant commitment with you, the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.” (Isaiah 55:3 MSG)

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” — Luke 9:20 (NKJV) Who do you say Jesus is? If you are lost, He is the good shepherd, who gives His life for the sheep. (John 10:11) He will lead you, guide you and protect you from the enemy. If you are sick, He is the great physician. If you hunger for more, He is the bread of life. (John 6:35) Jesus says: “ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. ” (John 6:47) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “ I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. ” (John 8:12) Jesus is everything we need Him to be and He draws all peoples to Himself (John 12:32) No matter who you are or what you have done, Jesus calls us to come. May we know Him as our Lord and Savior.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:13-14 (AMP) One of the enemy’s tricks is to keep us looking back. It's a distraction that puts us in a holding pattern. We will never attain all that God has for us, if we don’t press on and reach forward. Five times the Apostle Paul received thirty-nine lashes. Three times he was beaten with rods, once he was stoned, three times he was shipwrecked… He had been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from his countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; he had been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2...

God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. — Psalm 63:1 (MSG) Don’t attend church services out of routine or obligation. Let’s come to the LORD, hungry and thirsty for more of Him. Matthew 5:6 says, “ You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. ” (MSG). As you journey across dry places and through weary deserts, He is with you. The LORD will satisfy your soul and completely fill your cup. He prepares a feast for you in the presence of your enemies. He honors you by anointing your head with oil. Your cup overflows with blessings. (Psalm 23:5)

Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins… — Romans 8:35 (MSG) No matter how hard times get, remember: God loves you and He is with you. So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? (Romans 8:31MSG). None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us (Romans 8:38-39 MSG). May we also embrace others with His magnificent, amazing love.

The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. — Psalm 34:10 (NKJV) Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance (Isaiah 55:2). 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). We serve a God of more than enough. Let us desire His Presence more than the promises, and we shall lack no good thing.

Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  — John 7:37 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). In Revelation 21:5-7, Jesus said, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” What a glorious future awaits us! Come to Jesus and drink freely from the fountain of living waters, for we shall overcome. Amen!

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” — Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) Inviting Jesus into your heart is not a one time event. We need to hunger and thirst for Jesus, the Living Word, on a daily basis. Keep the door of your heart open to Him everyday. Take time to fellowship with Him, feast on the Word, and listen to His voice. Out of all the voices you hear today, His voice is the most important one.

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV) Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins (Romans 8:35, The Message). Despite the difficulties and challenges we experience in this life, we have overwhelming victory in Christ Jesus, because God loves us. Amen!