Manna for Your Morning

He must increase, but I must decrease. — John 3:30 (NKJV) John the Baptist was the one sent ahead of the Messiah to prepare the way for him. (John 3:28 NCV)  Before John the Baptist was conceived the angel of the Lord told his father, Zacharias that John will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer, and even from birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, He will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God. (Luke 1:13-16 NCV) We are here for such a time as this and we too can be great men and women for the Lord, as we live our lives being led by the Holy Spirit. We can help others turn to the Lord, by becoming less. May it be our daily goal to decrease, so He can increase, in our hearts and minds and on this earth.

Yes, the LORD will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase. — Psalm 85:12 (NKJV) Great is the goodness of our God. He is good and He does good. Our heavenly Father gives what is good. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (James 1:17 NASB). Medicine is good for you, but it may not taste good when its being swallowed. Similarly, every situation we encounter in life may not seem good at the moment, but He will work it  all together for good. I have heard that, God is more interested in our condition than our comfort. No matter what you're going through, just believe that you will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” — Luke 5:1-4-5 (NKJV) Maybe you have been working hard, day and night with nothing to show for it. Rest assured that when the Lord calls you to launch out in the deep and you follow His word and His timing, He will bring about the increase. When Simon did what Jesus told him to do, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. (Luke 5:6-7). Our heavenly Father is not just about provision, but overflow, more than enough. When we are obedient to His Word He will open the windows of heaven and pour out for us such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive ...

And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’” — 1 Kings 17:13-14 (NKJV) After the brook dried up, God instructed Elijah to go to the village of Zarephath, because He had instructed a widow there to feed him. (1 Kings 17:7-9). When Elijah came to the gate of the city, the widow was there gathering sticks. When he asked her for a little water and a morsel of bread, she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” (1 Kings 17:12-14) When Elijah relayed God’s message to her, the widow went away and d...

He must increase, but I must decrease. — John 3:30 (NKJV) Jesus is on the increase when we allow His love to flow into our hearts and wash away the root of bitterness and offense. Jesus increases when we say good-bye to discouragement, anxiety and worry and open the door to His joy and peace, while holding onto faith and hope. Jesus increases in us, when we let go of pride, and clothe ourselves in humility. As we exercise patience, compassion and kindness, we allow Jesus to increase in us. When our love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7), we make room for Jesus to work in our lives and in the lives of others. May we decrease, and let Jesus occupy!

He must increase, but I must decrease.  — John 3:30 (NKJV) Need more of God in your life? What about in your heart? This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while we slip off to the sidelines (John 3:30 MSG). Today is the day, now is the time, give God complete access to all of you: your heart, your thoughts, your mouth, etc. May we be led by His Spirit, in all that we do and say, then we can experience His fullness in our lives. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9 NKJV).

He must increase, but I must decrease. — John 3:30 (NKJV) This is the first Scripture God put on my heart in the new year and I'm making it my ultimate goal for 2014. It goes along with the series Pastor Matthew Pollock has been preaching about making room for Jesus. In order for Him to increase in our lives, we have to make room for Him. Let us get rid of the clutter in our lives, close our ears to the cries of our flesh and open all the doors and windows of our hearts to Jesus. May we allow Him to increase in our hearts, minds and lives. May we allow His Presence to increase in our homes, on our jobs, in the market place and everywhere we go. Amen!

 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. — John 1:6-9 (NKJV) We also have been sent from God. May we, like John, live our lives in such a way that others may see our witness by our behavior, as well as hear it by the words that come out of our mouths. We can only do this by having the same mindset John had in John 3:30, where he says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Let Christ increase in our hearts and minds that we might bear witness of Him to a world that desperately needs to know Him.

He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.] — John 3:30 (Amp) John the Baptist speaks a great truth. To live an abundant life, full of joy, peace and freedom, Jesus must increase in our lives, while we decrease. The Message translation says, this is the assigned moment for Jesus to move into the center, while we slip off to the sidelines. May we humble ourselves and allow Jesus to occupy more and more of our hearts. Prepare a place of prominence for Him to sit on the throne of your heart. Let His mighty power work in you and through you to bring about the perfect will of our heavenly Father, for His plans for you are for good, to give you hope and a future.

Yes, the LORD will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway.  — Psalm 85:12-13 (NKJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17). We have all received from our heavenly Father that which is good and perfect. Let us walk in His footsteps and pay His goodness forward to others.

You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.  — Psalm 71:20-21 (NKJV) No matter what we go through in this life, the LORD has plans to give you a future and a hope. He promises to deliver the righteous out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:17). Our heavenly Father will increase your greatness and lovingly comfort you, like no one else can.

Yes, the LORD will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase.  — Psalm 85:12 (NKJV) Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good and perfect. Our God is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made (Psalm 145:9). No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:9). Rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has done for you and your household. Praise the LORD, for we shall experience increase in our land.

John answered, “People can’t receive anything unless it has been given to them from heaven. You are witnesses that I said, ‘I’m not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’ He must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance.” — John 3:27-28, 30 (GW) The disciples of John the Baptist complained to him that everyone was going to Jesus to be baptized. John realized he was not competing with Jesus. He realized it was not about him, but about doing the will of God. John said, “This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.” (John 3:30, The Message). May we, like John, stay humble, submit to God and be true to the mission He has given each one of us. Let us follow God’s will for our lives as His Holy Spirit leads and guides. Amen.

He must increase, but I must decrease. — John 3:30 (NKJV) We must let our desire to things our way decrease and allow Jesus to become greater in our lives. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). He is the ONLY way. Any other way leads to death. His way leads to abundant life and freedom here on earth and everlasting life to follow. His way leads to healing and wholeness. With Jesus, are pleasures forevermore!

 LORD, be gracious to us;   we long for you.  Be our strength every morning,  our salvation in time of distress.  At the uproar of your army, the peoples flee;  when you rise up, the nations scatter. Isaiah 33:2-3 (NIV) O LORD, be gracious to us. You're our only hope. We expectantly wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our savior in times of trouble. Thank you LORD, that You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29). May we rely on the supernatural strength of the LORD, instead of our human strength, because we can do ALL things through Him who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13).