Manna for Your Morning

And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ — Matthew 22:37-39 (NASB) Let us keep the main thing, the main thing. Loving God with all our heart, mind and soul, loving ourselves and loving others. If we are critical and unaccepting of ourselves, then we will criticize and find faults in others. O love the LORD, all you His godly ones! The LORD preserves the faithful [those with moral and spiritual integrity] and fully repays the [self-righteousness of the] arrogant. (Psalm 31:23 AMP) Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. — Psalm 139:23-24 (AMP)

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. — 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT) When we get anxious, it’s because we are focused on the visible world, the things we can see: the challenges and troubles. However, when we fix our gaze on our mighty God, whom we cannot see, we stay in perfect peace, no matter how circumstances appear. As thoughts about Him and His goodness and faithfulness fill our minds, our trust in Him grows stronger. If we are feeling overwhelmed, it’s because we think we have to do things in our own power. But remember, our battles our won, not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit. Be led by His Spirit continually.

He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. — Matthew 12:30  (NASB) Let us gather, in love, peace and unity. Tear down the walls that separate and build bridges that connect us. In John 17:20-21 (MSG), Jesus prayed: “I’m praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.” “This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse. ”— Matthew 12:30 (MSG)

He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people. — 2 Chronicles 32:8 (NLT) When the enemy attacks, do not be afraid or discouraged, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Nothing is too difficult for our great God. Stand strong in the LORD and on His Word. How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] are all those who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2:12b)

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. — Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) Few would board a plane with no flight plan, one that was just going to fly around awhile and then possibly land before it ran out of gas, at some unknown location. However, many coast through life, with no plan, jus t reacting to the winds that blow their way. Yes, the LORD has plans for us, plans to give us hope and a future, but we have to take the steps necessary to bring the plan to life. Chart your course and He will show you the way and the time. The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. (Psalm 37:23 NLT).

Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. — Daniel 10:12 (NKJV) At times it may seem that our prayers hit the ceiling and come tumbling back down, but we can be confident that every prayer we utter is heard in heaven. Those things that we have been praying for awhile, were heard the first day we prayed them. Let us praise God for the answer while we patiently wait for it to manifest in our lives. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results (James 5:16 NLT). Keep praying at all times and in every situation.

For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. — Psalm 18:31-32 (NKJV) The LORD is our strength. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to our mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within us (Romans 8:11 NLT). It is not in our strength that we accomplish anything significant, but by His Spirit. Our health may fail, and our spirits may grow weak, but God remains the strength of our hearts; he is ours forever (Psalm 73:26 NLT). We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song.  — Psalm 57:7-8 (NLT) The righteous do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly (Psalm 112:6-8, NLT). With strong and confident hearts, we can awaken the dawn with songs of praise to our great God!

Love the LORD, all you godly ones! The LORD protects faithful people, but he pays back in full those who act arrogantly. Be strong, all who wait with hope for the Lord, and let your heart be courageous.  — Psalm 31:23-24 (GW) Love the LORD, all you His saints! He preserves and strengthens the faithful. We can trust in the LORD because our future is in His hands. He wrote all of our days in His book before we drew a breath. And His plans for us are for good and not harm. Be strong in the LORD and keep your hope in Him alive!

Hallelujah! Blessed is the person who fears the LORD and is happy to obey his commands. His descendants will grow strong on the earth. The family of a decent person will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his home. His righteousness continues forever. Psalm 112:1-3 (GW) Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who fears (reveres and worships) the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments (Psalm 112:1, Amp). Let us not only obey God's commands, let us do it with a good attitude, greatly delighting in obeying the LORD. The person who does this is blessed, happy and fortunate. This blessing flows onto their family members and the following generations. Talk about GOOD NEWS. Can it get any better? Worship the LORD, for He is good!

Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:6-7 (NLT) Jump for joy and burst out in songs of thanksgiving for the Lord heard your cry for mercy. Because you trust Him, you will not be disappointed. Sing praise to the Lord God, your helper. Thank Him for all He has done.

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all. Psalm 34:19 (NIV) You may have many troubles, but keep your eyes on the LORD and He will deliver you from them all. The LORD will also comfort you as you go through any difficulties and hardships (2 Corinthians 1:4). Praise the LORD! Love, Jackie