Manna for Your Morning

Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles. — Zechariah 9:12 (NLT) Wherever the enemy has held you captive, remember that Jesus came to set us free. God sent Him  to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. (Isaiah 61:1 MSG). The Lord will comfort all who mourn. He gives us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; (Isaiah 61:3) He will restore double for your trouble. Take refuge in the safety of our mighty God. We may be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (2 Corinthians 6:10)

Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. — Luke 14:23 (NKJV) Jesus was sent to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He was sent to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come…(Isaiah 61:1-2 NLT). There are many lives yet to be saved. There are many who need to be touched with the love of God. There are so many who need to know He cares. Let us be compelled to share the good news and invite the lost and hurting into God's family.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. — Psalm 30:5 (NKJV) To everything there is a season. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4). However, God turns our mourning into dancing; He puts off our sackcloth and clothes us with gladness (Psalm 30:11). Despite the seasons of our lives, the LORD, our faithful and mighty God extends His favor to us for a lifetime. We may have to endure some weeping for a night, but praise God, joy comes in the morning. Glory hallelujah!

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.  — Psalm 126:5-6 (NKJV) To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4). During times of hardship, we may sacrifice, sweat, and tears, but if we persevere through the pain, we shall reap a bountiful harvest with shouts of joy!

They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NLT) When Nehemiah heard the bad news about Jerusalem, he mourned, fasted and prayed, day and night. May we follow Nehemiah's example when we get a bad report and take our concerns straight to the LORD, our God in prayer. He is the great and awesome God. His ear is attentive to hear your pleas and He will answer. Amen.

"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:40 (NIV) Those three days Jesus spent in the heart of the earth were a time of mourning and weeping for His followers. They lost all hope. However, Jesus had already told His disciples in John 16:20, "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy." We will experience times of weeping, as well as times of laughter. There will be times to mourn and times to dance. We often walk through dark valleys, before we come into the Light. We have to endure the battle before we can claim the victory. Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Hallelujah! May the rising of the Son usher a season of great joy into your life. Love, Jackie