Manna for Your Morning

Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go. — Proverbs 3:5-6 (TPT)  Never depend on your own ideas or human opinions. Totally rely on the Lord, El Elyon, the God Most High. He knows all and sees all. He is the Sovereign God in whom we can put our trust. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. (Psalm 37:5 NLT)

Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!  — Ephesians 3:18-19 (TPT) What amazing love the God has lavished on us! His love never fails. God hears every cry, knows every anxious thought and He rescues, delivers and saves. Because of His love, Jesus stretched out His arms on the cross and became the ultimate sacrifice to pay the debt of our sins. …Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the...

“I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice,  in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD. — Hosea 2:19-20 (NKJV) In order to get to know someone on a deeper, more intimate level, we have to spend time with them. As we spend time with our heavenly Father, we become intimately acquainted with the power of His love and faithfulness. God wants a covenant relationship with us that lasts forever, not a contract that can be re-negotiated and dissolved. May we steadily grow in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]; (Colossians 1:10b AMP) “ Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring. ” (Hosea 6:3 NLT)

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.” — Luke 2:10-11 (MSG) As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” (Luke 2:15 MSG). Just as the shepherds went to meet Jesus in person, we also need to get to know Jesus personally. Don’t settle for what others tell you about Him. Develop an intimate one-on-one relationship with Him. He is Messiah, the anointed One. Invite Him into your heart to be your Savior. Make Him the Master of your Life. When you experience a personal encounter with Jesus, He changes your life forever: from darkness to light, from death to life, from sick to healthy and whole, from defeat to victory, from pointless to purposeful, from discouragement to full of hope and joy.

By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God. — Hebrews 11:7 (MSG) The Bible doesn’t say that Noah questioned God. He didn't inquire about the what, why, and when. It doesn’t say that Noah had to think about a convenient time to undertake the massive project God gave to him. He just acted in faith and obedience and as a result many lives were saved. God’s Word is the instruction manual for our lives. When we do as He directs us, it will mean salvation not only for us but for others. Acting in faith and obedience sets us free from the bondage of the enemy and gives us good success in life. The task God has given to you may seem to big of an undertaking, but if you just focus on the next step, God w...

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12). Life apart from Christ is a life with no hope. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family (Ephesians 2:19). As members of God’s family we have been given access to enjoy a close intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. We are not visitors. We don’t wear welcome out. Our heavenly Father wants us close to Him at all times. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need i...

You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance. — Galatians 4:6-7 (MSG) What a rich inheritance we have received in Christ! As children of Almighty God, He has given us full access to His glorious kingdom. He has not held anything back. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17 NLT). It is an absolute privilege to live in His Presence, full of the power that brought Jesus back to life. Surely, He who conquered death, will enable us to be victorious over the challenges we encounter.

Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” — John 4:42 (NKJV) At first many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the word of the woman who testified about Him. After they came to Him, and heard Him, they got to know Him for themselves. In order to believe in Him and totally trust Him, you have to know Him. You have to know that He is with you, and develop a personal relationship with Him. Know that He is a God who will never fail you. Two co-workers told me about Jesus, then I had my own experience with Him and continue to pursue a deeper more intimate relationship. When I was believing the lies of the enemy, He opened my eyes and showed me truth. When I was down, and turned to the Living Word, He lifted me up out of that pit of depression. When I get overwhelmed, He is my peace. When I was on my sick bed, feeling like I was going to die...

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not, — Isaiah 30:15 (NKJV) When we wander off of the path the LORD has for us, our inclination is to run away from Him and hide, but our heavenly Father beckons us to return to Him. "Come," He says. He wants a close and intimate relationship with us. And as we quietly rest in Him and put our trust and confidence in the LORD, we are strengthened to continue our journey along the path that leads to abundant and eternal life.

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” — Job 42:5-6 (NKJV) Have you only heard about the LORD or do you clearly see Him? Have you personally encountered His grace and mercy or have you only heard others talk about it? I implore you to open wide your heart to His loving, yet powerful Presence. Let His glorious light and His matchless love penetrate every fiber of your being. Open your eyes and see the LORD, in all of His splendor and glory. Acknowledge His extravagant goodness and His extreme faithfulness. Enjoy an intimate, face-to-face, one-on-one relationship with the LORD, your Creator. When we truly see Him, we repent of all we thought we knew and humbly draw near to Him, hearts full of wonder and gratitude.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! — Psalm 27:13-14 (NKJV) The Message Bible says: Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God (Psalm 27:14). Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go (Psalm 16:8 MSG). The only good and lasting thing we have is our unconditional love relationship with the LORD. Pursue a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him and you will always have the strength to face another day.

Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver: — 1 Chronicles 29:3 (NKJV) Set your affections on God and give Him your all. Misplaced affections on the things of this world restrict us from experiencing all that God has for us: His deep abiding love, His never-ending peace, His amazing grace... Put your whole heart into developing a more intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. Give God over and above, all that you are and all that you have.

And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. — 1 John 2:25 (NKJV) God planted eternity in the human heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT). And of all the promises God gave us in His Word, the promise of eternal life is the ultimate one. This is eternal life, that we may know Him, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3). Our heavenly Father created us to know Him and be in constant fellowship with Him and His Son Jesus Christ. May we always seek to grow more intimate in our relationship with the Lord and become more like Him as we gain greater  understanding of His ways and His nature.

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. — John 10:2-3 (NKJV) I wonder if the secret to the popularity of Starbucks is that they call their customers by name instead of a number.  Our longing to be known and feel special, is a perfect complement to God's desire to have a personal relationship with each one of us. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls His own by name. Another person, whether pastor, priest or parent, can only tell you about God. The way to know Him and develop a personal relationship with Him is to consistently have that one-on-one time with Him. As we spend time in prayer, in His Word, and in worship, we nurture an intimate relationship with the Lord that grows deeper each day. Jesus is calling your name. Just come and keep coming.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, — 2 Peter 1:2-3 (NKJV) As we grow in our knowledge of God and of Jesus, our Lord & Savior, grace and peace will be multiplied unto us. Our great God has given us everything we need to live a godly life. He has given us ALL things that pertain (relate to) to life. Our physical healing pertains to life, the well-being of our children pertains to life, healthy, joyful relationships with our spouses, family and friends pertain to life. As we grow in our knowledge of God, and Jesus who is the truth (John 14:6), the less likely we are to believe the lies of the enemy. May we always endeavor to share an intimate, personal relationship with God the Father and Christ, His Son!

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, — 2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV) God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. If it pertains to life AND it's godly, it has already been given to us. We receive these things, by getting to know, on a personal and intimate basis, the One who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Amen!

“‘... for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’” declares the LORD. “‘So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’” — Jeremiah 30:21-22 (NIV) When we focus on our sin, our failures and where we miss the mark, those things become bigger in our lives. Let us focus on our great God. Draw near to Him, and build an intimate relationship with Him. The more time we spend with the LORD, the more we become like Him and the things that are not in alignment with His nature will naturally fall out of our lives. Our only desire will be for more of God and not the things that keep us at a distance from Him.

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection... Philippians 3:10 (AMP) Determine in your heart, that nothing in this life is more important than becoming more deeply acquainted with Almighty God. He is the source of our joy, peace and wisdom. May we gain an understanding of the depths of His wonderful love day by day. Let us increase our knowledge about our heavenly Father and the mighty power that works in Him. As we do these things, we will know without a doubt that we can rest in the hands of God. Love, Jackie