Manna for Your Morning

“How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The LORD protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. Let my soul be at rest again, for the LORD has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the LORD’s presence as I live here on earth!” — Psalms 116:5-9 (NLT) “What can I offer the LORD for all he has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the LORD’s name for saving me.” (Psalms 116:12-13) “All you who fear the LORD, trust the LORD! He is your helper and your shield.” (Psalms 115:11) It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in people. (Psalms 118:8) For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” (See Hebrews 13:5) “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” (Psalms 118:29 NLT)

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever! — Psalms 111:10 (NLT) Praise the LORD! How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will last forever. (Psalms 112:1-3 NLT) All you who fear the LORD, trust the LORD! He is your helper and your shield. (Psalms 115:11 NLT) He will bless those who fear the LORD, both great and lowly. May the LORD richly bless both you and your children. (Psalms 115:13-14 NLT) Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. — Psalms 33:8-9 (NLT)

But Yahweh has been my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge . — Psalms 94:22 (LSB) Our Heavenly Father is a refuge from the storm and a strong fortress. …the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him. (Psalms 37:39-30 NASB1995) Trust [confidently] in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalms 62:8 AMP) How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (See Psalms 2:12)

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can [mere] man do to me? The LORD is on my side, He is among those who help me; Therefore I will look [in triumph] on those who hate me. — Psalm 118:6-7 (AMP) What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us? (Romans 8:31 AMP) Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. (Psalm 27:3 NLT) All you who fear the LORD, trust the LORD! He is your helper and your shield. The LORD remembers us and will bless us… (Psalm 115:11-12a NLT) It is better to put your faith in the Eternal for your security than to trust in people. (Psalm 118:8 VOICE) 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 it most. — Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

Blessed be the name of the LORD From this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the LORD’s name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. — Psalm 113:2-4 (NKJV) No one can compare with the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high. He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. (Psalm 113:6-7 NLT) He is high above any circumstance you face. He is above every difficulty, all disease, over any work of the enemy, etc. “ The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation! ” (2 Samuel 22:47 NKJV) Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all. (1 Chronicles 29:11 NKJV) For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. (Psalm 97:9 NK...

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever! — Psalm 111:10 (NLT) Fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no lack of anything. (Psalm 34:9 NASB) Praise the LORD! Blessed is a person who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments. (Psalm 112:1 NASB) You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. He will bless those who fear the LORD, the small together with the great. May the LORD increase you, you and your children. May you be blessed of the LORD, Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 115:11,13-15 NASB) “Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be careful about what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in injustice or partiality, or in the taking of a bribe.” (2 Chronicles 19:7 NASB) “…You must always act in the fear of the LORD, with faithfulness and an undivided heart.” (2 Chronicles 19:9 NLT)

The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone. The rains have soaked the earth and left it bright with blossoming flowers. The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived. I hear the cooing of doves in our land, filling the air with songs to awaken you and guide you forth. Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth. The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, “There is change in the air.” — Song of Songs 2:11-13a (TPT) “Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the LORD]; for your light has come, and the glory and brilliance of the LORD has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1 AMP)

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. — Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT) The Amplified Bible says: 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], having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude. (Colossians 2:6-7) Let us be deeply rooted in Jesus, the everlasting Rock, and bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God. …and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. — 1 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV)

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. — Revelation 12:9 (NKJV) And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. — Revelation 12:17  (NKJV) Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, let us remember that we are in a war. As good soldiers of Jesus Christ, we need to stay engaged and focused on our purpose and mission. Don’t be deceived, distracted, draw back nor drift. Revelation 12:9 (AMP) says, the devil continually deceives and seduces the entire inhabited world. In order to walk in victory in this life, we must wield the weapon our heavenly Father provided for us: the Word of God. It is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword… (Hebre...

An arrogant and greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will be blessed and prosper. — P roverbs 28:25 (AMP) Man may fail us, but we will never be disappointed when we trust in and rely on the LORD. “Trust in the LORD forever, for in God the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock. (Isaiah 26:4 NASB) When we keep our confidence in His Word and follow His ways, we flourish and experience success in all areas of our lives. Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. (Psalm 37:3 NLT)

I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one. — 1 John 2:14 (NLT) At every stage of our spiritual growth, there are two things that help us gain victory over the evil one: God's Word and His Presence. As we allow the Word of God to live in our hearts, we have an indispensable weapon that is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. In addition, our fellowship with God enables us to gain victory over the Evil One. (1 John 2:14 MSG). When we stay closely connected to the Father, following Him every step of the way, our battles belong to the LORD and He always leads us in triumph in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:14). Hallelujah!

The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple. — Ezekiel 43:5 (NKJV) No matter where we are in life, God desires to lift us up to a higher place in Him. He wants to draw us into a deeper realm of intimacy and peace, and to another level of strength, and tenacity. His Spirit will lead us into another dimension of His amazing love and bountiful joy. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart (Hebrews 10:22 NIV). One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple ( Psalm 27:4 NKJV ).

Blessed be the Lord, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight— my Steadfast Love and my Fortress, my High Tower and my Deliverer, my Shield and He in Whom I trust and take refuge, who subdues my people under me . — Psalm 144:1-2 (AMP) Blessed be the Lord, our Rock, who gives us a firm place to stand. He is our unwavering, Steadfast Love, constantly pouring Himself upon His children. When the enemy tries to bring you down, the Lord is our High Tower. In Him, we rise above the circumstances of this world. The Lord is our Shield, who protects us from all the flaming arrows of the evil one. He is our strong Fortress, our hiding place, while He subdues those who work against us. Every day I will bless the Lord, and praise His name forever and ever (Psalm 145:2 NKJV).

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). — Psalm 55:22 (AMP) Give your burdens to the Lord, releasing the full weight of them all. Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! (Psalm 68:19, AMP). Thank God for His faithfulness, for He will sustain you. He will not allow you to slip, fall or fail.

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.  — 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NKJV) A good soldier stays focused on the mission. No matter what adversities arise, a good soldier endures hardship. They know all about courage, commitment, strength and sacrifice. Just as military service members, follow the orders of their Commanding Officer, make it your aim to satisfy and please Jesus, the One who enlisted you into His service. Be a good soldier for Jesus Christ! Today we honor and thank military men and women of the past and present, who are serving and have served our country and ensured our freedom. We remember those who have sacrificed to the point of giving their lives. Thank you.

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 (NIV) When David and his troops returned home from battle, they found their city burned and their wives, sons and daughters taken captive. David and his men wept until they could weep no more. In spite of the men talking about stoning him, David found strength in the LORD his God. David and troops pursued their enemies and recovered all. When we encounter difficult days and trying times, let us be like David and find strength in the LORD, our God. Ignore any negative and critical conversation and continue on the path God has for you.

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever." 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV) Let us heed some of the final words of wisdom King David spoke to his son, Solomon. Acknowledge God, Creator of heaven and earth as the one true God. Everything belongs to Him. Then serve Him with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind. When the LORD opens your eyes each morning, let your first thought be to thank Him. May the first words on your lips be words of praise to Him. Set your mind and heart on God and let Him direct your actions.

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25-27 (NIV) In the midst of his troubles, Job focused on God and the victory to be gained after all is said and done. He kept his hope alive. As we go through trials and tribulations in life, may we keep our eyes on the prize, eternal life with our Maker and our Redeemer. No matter what we endure in this life, we are assured of victory. "Fight the good fight. Finish the race. Keep the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7) In the end, we win. Love, Jackie