Manna for Your Morning

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. — Colossians 3:15 (NLT) We are called to live in peace. It is supposed to rule in our hearts, not fear, not anxiety, nor worry, but peace. We are not to only experience moments of peace, when it seems everything has come into perfect alignment. Our peace is to be consistent and continual, regardless of external circumstances. The Amplified Bible describes it as the inner calm of one who walks daily with Christ. (See Colossians 3:15 AMP) We can only have this perfect peace when we rely fully on God and trust Him, that no matter what is going on in our lives, and in this world, He is working everything together for good. If our peace is based on the constantly changing conditions of this world, it will never be stable. Our peace has to come from within us where the Holy Spirit of God dwells. He produces the fruit of peace in our lives. (See Ga...

Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! — Psalms 32:2 (NLT) O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. (Psalms 86:5 NLT) Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude (Psalms 32:6-7 NLT) Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! (Psalms 32:10-11 NLT) Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. — Psalms 86:11 (NLT)

“One day we will each be swept away into the sleep of death. We glide along through the tides of time— so quickly gone, like a dream that fades at dawn, like glistening grass that springs up one day and is dry and withered the next, ready to be cut down!” — Psalms‬ ‭90‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭(TPT‬‬) The number of our days have already been determined. All of the days ordained for each person were written in His book before we drew our first breath. (See Psalms 139:16) I have five full decades behind me, and have embarked into the sixth. Sounds like a long time, but oh, how brief it seems. James 4:14 says: Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while , then it’s gone. What we do in that “little while” matters. May Yahweh teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. (See Psalms 90:12 NLT) He will guide us with His counsel, and lead us to a glorious destiny. (See Psalms 73:24 NLT) Let us love God, love others and faithfully follow Him all the days of our l...

Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found… You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. — Psalm 32:6a,7 (NASB1995) Don’t be like Adam and Eave who hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God after they sinned. (See Genesis 3:6-8) If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]. (1 John 1:9 AMP) Rejoice greatly in Yahweh! He has clothed us with garments of salvation and covered us with a robe of righteousness. Make Him Your hiding place today. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous [who actively seek right standing with Him]; Shout for joy, all you upright in heart. — Psalm 32:11 (AMP)

So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. — Colossians 2:10 (NLT) Walk in continual union with Christ. This union we have with Him is vital for our spiritual, mental and emotional well-being. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “… apart from me you can do nothing .” In this union with our Savior, love is completed and perfected with us (See 1 John 4:17 AMP) We can draw our strength from Him and be empowered through our union with Him. (See Ephesians 6:10 AMP) In His Presence, we have fullness of joy. (See Psalm 16:11) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union with the Christ, the Anointed] have clothed yourselves with Christ [that is, you have taken on His characteristics and values]. (Galatians 3:27 AMP) Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], (Colossians 2:6 AMP)

Yet still, Yahweh, you are our Father. We are like clay and you are our Potter. Each one of us is the creative, artistic work of your hands. — Isaiah 64:8 (TPT) You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13 TPT) Just as the LORD fashioned our physical body, He desires to shape our inner being. Like clay, let us respond to each touch of His hand. He makes an impression of His love on each person He has formed. He works into us, patience, kindness, gentleness and goodness. He fills each vessel with joy and peace. If we patiently stay on the potter’s wheel, the end result is a beautiful, unique masterpiece, full of grace and light. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. — Psalm 139:14 (NLT)

But you are God’s chosen treasure—priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world. — 1 Peter 2:9 (TPT) Let us be devoted to the One who called us out of darkness and made us members of His royal family. This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.  (Romans 8:15-16 MSG) No matter “ what ” happens, know “ who ” you are: a child of God. And remember our heavenly Father is with you and He always takes care of His children.

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. — Romans 12:2 (MSG) Instead of copying the ways of this world, let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. May we fix our attention on God and renew our minds, with His Word. This will elevate our thoughts, because His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. As our minds are renewed, we will be able to recognize His perfect will and respond to it, with a sense of urgency. Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.  — Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. — Psalm 23:1-4 (MSG) With Jesus by our side, we have all we need. As the good Shepherd, He is true to His Word and continually cares for His sheep. He provides for all our needs. He leads us along on the right path. No matter what valley you go through, just keep following Jesus. He is the way. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 NKJV)

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” — Luke 1:28 NIV The angel came and told Mary that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and she would conceive and bring forth a Son, and call His name Jesus. (Luke 1:31-35) Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38a NKJV) Let us have the same mindset as Mary and say, “let it be to me according to Your Word” God has spoken so many precious promises over us in His Word. Like Mary, may we believe His Word is for us. No matter what others may say about us, let us continue to stand on God's Word and what He says about us. His word does not return to Him void. It accomplishes what He pleases, and prospers in the thing for which He sent it. (Isaiah 55:11) As a child of God, you are blessed and highly favored and the Lord is with you too!

By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. — Hebrews 11:8 (MSG) Will you say “Yes!” to the call of God on your life? Will you leave the known and familiar to journey toward what God has yet to reveal? It’s only when we faithfully follow God that we are in position to enjoy the fullness of His Presenc e and receive the complete inheritance that He has for us. Say “Yes!” to Him today. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God (Hebrews 11:10 MSG). So don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix your 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)

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD God is the eternal Rock. — Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT) Fix your thoughts upon the LORD —His goodness, His greatness, His unrelenting love for you. Remember His mercy and grace. Think about His mighty strength and wonder-working power. “For with God nothing will be impossible.”  (Luke 1:37 NKJV) The distractions of the enemy will only cause you to drift away from God and tempt you to quit. As we keep our trust and reliance upon the LORD, our Helper, we will experience perfect peace. Depend on God and keep at it because in the LORD God you have a sure thing (Isaiah 26:4 MSG): overwhelming victory, good success, true peace and everlasting joy, etc.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  — Psalm 118:8 (NKJV) It is better to trust in the One who is never going to fail you. Take refuge in the LORD, our strong and mighty fortress. The LORD is on your side; do not fear. What can man do to you? (Psalm 118:6) The LORD is our strength and song, and He has become our salvation (Psalm 118:14). So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! (Hebrews 10:35 NLT)

Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle.  — Psalm 43:3 (NKJV)  Be led by the light of the LORD and the truth. They will guide you along the path of peace, joy and righteousness, to the secret place, where the fullness of His Presence dwells (within you). The truth will set you free and His light will lead you to experience an abundant life here on earth and into eternity.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. — 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV) We can endure the fiery trials that come, knowing that God will not allow more than we can bear. And after you have suffered a little while, God will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation (1 Peter 5:10). Amen.

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message) Be anxious for nothing. Give all your worries to God in the form of prayers. When Christ is at the center of your life, you will experience God's peace, which surpasses all understanding. Then you can take comfort in knowing that God will work everything together for good.

Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since. 2 Kings 23:25 (NLT) King Josiah's legacy is an inspiration for us to be all God created us to be. Follow in his footsteps and turn to the Lord with all your heart, with your soul and with all your strength. When your greatest desire is to be in His Presence and draw closer to him, He has your heart. As your mind, will and emotions reflect the lovingkindness and obedience of our risen Savior, you have turned your soul to the Lord. Turn your strength to the Lord by pouring all your energy into the passions our heavenly Father created in you.

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely O LORD. Psalm 139:1-3 (NIV) We can fool some of the people some of time, but we never fool the LORD. He searches our hearts and knows our intentions. He is aware of all we do, say and think and nothing shocks Him. Before we speak a word, He knows what we are going to say. We are fully known by the LORD, yet He still loves us. We can be real with our heavenly Father. Fellowship with the One who knows the real you , accepts you just the way you are and always cares for you. Amen.   Love, Jackie