Manna for Your Morning

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” — Luke 6:27-28 (NLT) Yeshua repeats this command. It is no mistake. “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” (Luke 6:35-36 NLT) May we be willing to listen and eager to obey the teaching of Yeshua, our Savior and Lord. In Luke 6:46 (NASB1995), Yeshua asks: “ Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ”

“Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.” — Matthew 6:12 (TPT) May we not harbor any unforgiveness or bitterness in our hearts toward those who have hurt us. Psalms 86:5 (NKJV) says the Lord is good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon Him. However, Matthew 6:15 (NASB1995) says, if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. So let us continually release forgiveness and the sweet fragrance of love. First Corinthians 13:5 says, love keeps no record of being wronged, and the second greatest commandment in Mark 12:31 says: ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ We may not be able to forget the wrongs we have suffered, but we can stop intentionally recalling them and rehearsing them over and over again in our minds, or repeatedly reminding the person who did the wrong. And forgiving someone does not mean we are to remain in abusive and unhealthy relatio...

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” — Daniel 3:25 (NKJV) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were cast bound into the midst of a fiery furnace that had been heated seven times hotter than normal, for not bowing down to a golden image. However,  when the king looked into the furnace, he saw four men loose and walking around in the fire. The flames had no power over them; when they came out, the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. (Daniel 3:27) When you are in the midst of a fiery furnace, know that Almighty God is with you. And He who is in you, is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4) He will loosen the bonds of the enemy and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3) Trust God. He is able and willing to deliver you from your fiery trials.

My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. — Psalm 121:2 (NKJV) Unless the LORD had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. — Psalm 94:17 (NLT) Our heavenly Father is not out to hurt you or harm you. He is not like the earthly Father who let your down, the friend that wasn't there for you, or the spouse that betrayed you. He is our Helper and He is faithful. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6 NKJV) We experience more of a struggle when we try to do life our way and trust in our own strength. However, when we cast our cares on the LORD and rely on Him to fight our battles, we don’t get stressed out, nor grow weary, because His yoke is easy and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:30) Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grac...

I say this because I know ·what [the plans] I am planning for you,” says the LORD. “I have ·good plans for you [plans for your peace/security], not plans ·to hurt you [for your harm]. I will give you hope and a good future. — Jeremiah 29:11 (EXB) God made a promise of restoration to the Israelites before they were about to go into 70 years of slavery (Jeremiah 29:10). Today, our heavenly Father is still in the restoration business. He is a good and loving God and the plans He has for His people are for peace, well-being and security. While current circumstances may not seem good, keep your hope alive because your future in Him is good. 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 NASB)

By an act of faith, Isaac reached into the future as he blessed Jacob and Esau. — Hebrews 11:20 (MSG) I beg to differ with the saying “Sticks & stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” Words are very powerful. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! With our words we carry the potential to bless or curse, build up or tear down, bring together or create division. Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose (Proverbs 18:21 MSG). Our words are like a bridge that creates the passageway from the present to the future. May we reach into the future with words of life and blessing. Let’s lift those who hear our words up and not drag them down or beat them up. Amen!

Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. — Matthew 9:35-36 (MSG) Jesus came that we may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10b, NIV). If we are limping through life, bruised and hurt, Jesus, the good Shepherd, wants to care for us.  He does not leave us on our own. If we are wandering through life aimlessly, and without purpose, Jesus shows us the way to a full, purpose-driven life. His light clears up any confusion and allows us to clearly see the way we need to take. Follow the good Shepherd.

But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. — Psalm 33:18 (NLT) It’s hard for many to understand the magnitude of God’s love because somebody we knew once told us they loved us, then turned around and hurt us with betrayal, lies, etc. The LORD doesn’t love the way flawed humanity loves. His ways are higher and His love is perfect. He forms a covenant that He is faithful to uphold. His love is always and forever. When our heavenly Father says He will never leave us, He means it. Even though we may stray away from Him, like the father of the prodigal son, He is always on the look out for us to come home. When we turn to Him, He runs to us with arms wide open, to embrace us and hold us close to Him. God gives His all for love. He gave His Son because He loved us and desired to fellowship with us now and forever. He only wants the best for us. We can rely on God’s unfailing love.

We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed. — 2 Corinthians 4:8-9  (NCV) Look at the troubles before you, as opportunities for God to display His greatness. No matter what hostile environments we must endure, God is there with us. We are not abandoned nor forgotten. We may get hurt, but we are not destroyed. Never give up the hope of living the abundant and fruitful life Jesus came to give us (John 10:10).

Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” He named the second Ephraim, “For,” he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” — Genesis 41:51-52 (NAS) After Joseph was in prison for two years, Pharoah set him over all the land of Egypt (Genesis 41:41-42). God can make the place where you experience the most hurt and pain (the land of your suffering), the same place where you experience abundant fruitfulness. The area where you fight your most difficult battle, can become the place where you experience the greatest  blessings. Praise the LORD, who is able to make you forget all your troubles!

We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed. — 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NCV) We may be surrounded by troubles, but we are not crushed. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble,” so we can expect that, but He also said, “take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Whatever life brings our way, we are not defeated, nor destroyed and we will never be abandoned by God. So, don't ever give up the HOPE of living a victorious life!

When you're kind to others, you help yourself; when you're cruel to others, you hurt yourself. Proverbs 11:17 (The Message) When you sow kindness to others, you reap it in return. Colossians 3:12 tells us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Kindness is one of the fruit that is produced when we are walking according to the Holy Spirit. Be fruitful. “...with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer (Isaiah 54:8). Let us imitate our heavenly Father and sprinkle everything we do with kindness.