Manna for Your Morning

“I refuse to gaze on that which is vulgar. I despise works of evil people and anything that moves my heart away from you. I will not let evil hold me in its grip. Every perverse and crooked way I have put away from my heart, for I will have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness.” — Psalms 101:3-4 (TPT) As children of GOD, have no involvement with the deeds of darkness. Reject anything that causes your heart to move away from our Heavenly Father. Instead, “Be imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as his beloved sons and daughters. Once your life was full of sin’s darkness, but now you have th e very light of our Lord shining through you because of your union with him. Your mission is to live as children flooded with his revelation-light!” (Ephesians 5:1, 8 TPT) So imitate God and be truly compassionate, the way your Father is. — Luke 6:36 (VOICE)

“You shall not do according to what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do according to what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes. You are to do My judgments and keep My statutes, to walk in them; I am Yahweh your God. So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does them, he shall live by them; I am Yahweh.” — Leviticus 18:3-5 (LSB) We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. (1 John 5:19 NKJV) We are not to imitate the ways of the world. Instead, we are to follow the ways of Yahweh and His Kingdom. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. (3 John 11 NASB1995)

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. I am the LORD your God. So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life.” — Leviticus 18:1-3 (NLT) God's people were never to imitate the world and the culture around us. Romans 12:2 (AMP) says: And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. We are members of God's family and citizens of the Kingdom of God. As ambassadors, may all we do and say reflect the nature of our heavenly Father, and the culture of His Kingdom.

Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. — Psalm 143:8, 10 (NASB1995) The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. (Psalm 25:8-9 NLT) For those who listen to what YAHWEH says, He will guide you along the best pathway for your life. He will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8) Good students are humble and teachable. After we have been taught we are to walk in truth and honor and fear (with reverence) His name. (See Psalm 86:11)  The disciple is to become like his Teacher. As YAHWEH is love, full of grace and mercy, generous and compassionate, so are those who learn from Him. Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their fath...

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ ... — Ephesians 5:1-2a (NLT) Instead of copying the ways of this world, may we imitate the ways of our heavenly Father. The Message Bible says, “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” (Ephesians 5:1-2) The Amplified Bible tells us to walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others]… (Ephesians 5:2). Amen!

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” — Genesis 1:26 (NKJV) So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27). God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! (Genesis 1:31MSG). That includes you! He knit you together in your mother’s womb. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:13-14). Let us have no identity crisis. We were made in His image to reflect His nature. Just as God is love, we are to love. Our heavenly Father is generous, in that He gave His only Son. Let us also be generous. Just as God is forgiving and full of mercy and grace, may we also imitate Him.

  Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. — Ephesians 5:1 (NLT) Just as little girls like to wear their mother’s make-up and put on their shoes, let us clothe ourselves in the garments of our heavenly Father and walk in the light as He is in the light. As He is love, let us be love to others, including our enemies. Be the love that covers a multitude of sins and sees the best in others instead of their flaws. As our heavenly Father freely gives grace, mercy, and kindness, let us do likewise. Just as peace, and joy abound in His Presence, may our hearts and minds stay in His perfect peace and bountiful joy.