Manna for Your Morning

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” — Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV) No matter what season of life you are going through, keep trusting in Yahweh. And keep your hope in Him alive. People may fail you, but our God is faithful and His love never fails. We can always rely on Yahweh to be with us and to deliver us out of all our troubles.

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. — Romans 8:28 (AMP) One thing this verse tells us, is that Yahweh is deeply concerned about us. He watches over us continually to lead us and guide us along on the path that leads to life. He didn’t create us to abandon us. He is attentively involved in the details of our lives. The second take away from this verse is that our heavenly Father has a plan. And Jeremiah 29:11 says, His plan for us is for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope. And third, we need to love Yahweh, and put Him first in all we do; Honor Him in our speech and our behavior. We also need to be called according to His plan and purpose, instead of running our own agenda, and we can be confident that He will cause all things to work together for good.  

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. — Psalm 139:1-4 (NLT) There is no need to try to hide anything from Him. Our Heavenly Father is intimately acquainted with all of our ways, and He still lavishes His love upon us. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. (Ephesians 1:7 NLT) In 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NASB1995), King David instructed his son Solomon: “…know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” May we heed his words of wisdom and seek to know YAHWEH more each day...

You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. — Psalm 71:20 (NLT) Yahweh is a God of restoration. For our momentary, light affliction, this passing trouble, is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (See 2 Corinthians 4:17) The Message Bible says: These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. (2 Corinthians 4:17)  Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-4 MSG) After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, conf...

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” — Revelation 3:16 (NLT) In Revelation 2:4 (AMP), Jesus said: “But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me].” You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. (Revelation 3:17 NLT) In Matthew 24:12, when describing the end of the age, Jesus said the love of many will grow cold. May we fervently love the LORD our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. And keep our hearts on fire for our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive fails and the fields produce no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the LORD; I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation! — Habakkuk 3:17-18 (AMP) Don’t hinge your emotions to the fluctuating circumstances of this world. Instead, set your affections and your hope on the LORD, our mighty God. He does not change. Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts… (Colossians 3:15a AMP). Make a choice to rejoice in the LORD, our Provider. He is faithful and true, and the Source of all we need.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. — Psalm 32:8 (NASB) We can bumble around in confusion and doubt or we can ask God to guide us in wisdom, truth and knowledge. He knows what is best and He sees the whole picture. Let us make our ears attentive to wisdom and incline our hearts to understanding (Proverbs 2:2), for our generous God is ready to share His wisdom with us. James 1:5 says: … if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. I have heard “ When the student is ready to learn the teacher appears .” For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, — Proverbs 2:6-7 (NASB)

Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life. I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road. I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns. Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip. Guard it well—your life is at stake! Don’t take Wicked Bypass; don’t so much as set foot on that road. Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth. Make a detour and be on your way. — Proverbs 4:10-15 MSG Proverbs 5:8 (AMP) says to let your way [in life] be far from an immoral woman, and do not go near the door of her house [avoid even being near the places of temptation]. The Message Bible says: …absolutely stay out of her neighborhood. Let's walk with Lady Wisdom and stay away from the door that leads to temptation and wrongdoing. Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling? (Proverbs 8:1 MSG) Lady Wisdom will be your close friend, and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion. (Proverbs 2:9 MSG) You’re blessed when you m...

It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. — Galatians 6:15 (NLT) When we open the door of our hearts to Jesus, we are transformed from the kingdom of darkness and death to God’s Kingdom of light and life. We go from doubt and fear to faith, from discouragement and defeat to a position of victory. As followers of Christ our circumcision is an inward circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit of God. We get a heart transplant. He removes a cold, stony heart and gives us a heart of flesh, full of God's love and grace, to be shared with everyone He brings our way.  We continue in this process of transformation, as we consistently renew our minds with the Word of God and spend time in His holy Presence, getting to know our heavenly Father. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV)

“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. — Matthew 14:29-30 (NLT) God can work miracles in our lives as long as we keep our eyes on Him. When we look at the external circumstances and conditions around us, fear grips us and we begin to sink. As you get out of your boat and walk toward Jesus, remember to keep your eyes on Him. He is our fortress, our life preserver, and the calm in the middle of any storm.

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. — Nahum 1:3 (NKJV) No matter what storms may come, it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm (Nahum 1:3b NLT). The LORD, makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters, (Isaiah 43:16 NASB). And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose ( Romans 8:28). Amen.

Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but God-seekers are full of God. — Psalm 34:10 (MSG) Those who seek the LORD and His will, with all their heart, find Him and walk in His ways. They shall not lack any good thing. No matter how many troubles you face, the LORD comes to the rescue each time (Psalm 34:19, NLT). Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him (Psalm 34:8, MSG).

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”  — Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV) God was intimately acquainted with you, before you breathed your first breath. He formed your inward parts and knit you together in your mother’s womb. He wrote all your days in His book before one of them came to be. Just as the LORD had a plan for Jeremiah, He created you with a purpose. His plans for you are for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Amen!

For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ. — John 1:16-17 (Amp) "Grace is having whatever you need when you need it." —Pastor Matthew Pollock. Out of the fullness of Jesus Christ we have all received one gracious blessing after another. We experience God’s unfailing love and faithfulness through Jesus Christ. What true kindness and compassion is poured out on us, as children of God, that we continuously receive one gracious act after another! Be joyful and thank God for His abundant supply of GRACE!

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14 (NKJ ) When the Israelites were being pursued by their enemies, God opened the sea for them and they went through on dry ground. However, the LORD swept their enemies into the sea. Not one of them survived. Don't be afraid or dismayed. Our heavenly Father still delivers His people today. Any battle that comes your way, belongs to the LORD. Hold your peace and watch the LORD rescue you.