Manna for Your Morning

“And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.” — 1 Samuel 9:20 (NLT) Saul went to Samuel to inquire about his lost donkeys, but God brought him to that place, at that particular time for a greater purpose. In 1 Samuel 9:19 (NKJV), Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.” The next morning Samuel took a flask of oil, and anointed Saul as ruler over the Israelites. While you may be worried about the intricate details of your day-to-day life, God has a larger perspective. And He is more concerned with getting you prepared and in the proper position to go to the high place He has for you. It’s time to get out of the valley of decision. Press on through the wilderness and dwell in your land of promise. ...

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ — Exodus 33:1 (NIV) It’s time to go up from where you are to the land of promise, where love and grace abound. We have to leave the land of broken dreams to dwell in the land of promise, with the light of hope. Depart the dead, dry place of despair and discouragement and live in the land of the LORD, victorious and full of joy. Let go of yesterday's disappointments and journey on to the promises God has for you today. “…Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NKJV). And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14 NKJV)

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” — Numbers 13:30 (NKJV) Caleb was ready to go up and take possession of the land God promised the Israelites, but the men who went up with him gave a bad report and said, they were not able to go up against the giants of the land. Are you like the 10 men who magnified the negative and gave a bad report or do you have the spirit of Caleb and Joshua that says, we are well able to overcome? Go up at once and take possession of your land of promise! You are well able to overcome!

 “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.” — Exodus 23:20 (NKJV) The LORD sent His Angel before the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and eventually, they took possession of the land God promised them. As we journey through this life, God’s Angel goes before us and empowers us to reach the place He has prepared for us, our land of promise. Don't grow weary, nor faint. March on with passion and purpose, fully pursuing all that God has for you. For the LORD gives His angels charge over those who make the LORD, their refuge and dwelling place, to keep them in all their ways. (Psalm 91:9,11)

Stay on the path that the LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy. — Deuteronomy 5:33 (NLT) Yesterday, on a hike, I was reminded of the importance of staying on the path. For us to stray off the path would have meant time spent wandering in the wilderness or we could have fell off the cliff to our own destruction. Much the same results we get when we stray off the path of life God has placed before each one of us. Proverbs 23:19 (NIV) instructs us to set our hearts on the right path. The Amplified version says, direct your mind in the way [of the Lord]. As long as we seek His will in all we do, He will show us which path to take (Proverbs 3:6, NLT). He does not fail to guide us along on our path. On our hike, we encountered muddy puddles, big rocks and steep hills. His path may lead us through some adverse winds and floodwaters but He will always make a way for us, through it all. (Isaiah...