Manna for Your Morning

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” — Judges 6:12 (NIV) “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?” At some point in our lives, many of us have probably asked God this same question. Gideon went on to say that the LORD had abandoned them. But notice that the angel of the LORD didn’t give place to Gideon’s misplaced perspective. The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14). Instead of wallowing in self-pity and misery, stay focused on the mission at hand and GO in the strength of the LORD, you mighty man or woman of God. You have been sent with a purpose! The LORD is with YOU!

Then the people of Israel were convinced that the LORD had sent Moses and Aaron. When they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped. — Exodus 4:31 (NLT) When we know that the LORD cares about us and that He has seen our affliction and troubles, the appropriate response is to bow down in humility and cast all our cares upon Him. Then we can wholeheartedly worship the LORD, knowing that our heavenly Father is a great and mighty God. He is able to handle everything that concerns us. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker (Psalm 95:6). Worthy, worthy worthy is the LORD!

I remain confident of this: 
 I will see the goodness of the LORD 
 in the land of the living.  Psalm 27:13 (NIV)      As we sang the words of this psalm yesterday, in church, I just wanted to shout “this is MY story, this is MY song.” While singing this song, I flashed back to one of the darkest days of my life. I was depressed, hurting and hopeless. Laying on the floor of my living room one Christmas morning, I heard the devil telling me to kill myself and end my misery. I could see the hand of the LORD reaching down into my darkness. He lifted me up close to Him and spoke the words of Psalm 27:13 to me. He promised me I would see His goodness in the land of the living . That Scripture spoke life to me that day and gave me hope. Now these words are so alive and active in me because His Word has proven true in my life over and over again. If life has you down and out right now I want to encourage you to wait on the LORD. I am confident that you will see the GOO...

I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy. You have seen my misery. You have known the troubles in my soul. Psalm 31:7 (GW) The LORD knows the troubles of your soul. And He says, “In the world you’ll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world.” In Psalm 91:15, our heavenly Father says, “I will be with you in trouble, and I will deliver and honor you.” Let your soul be in peace and call on the LORD who is full of lovingkindness and rich in mercy.