Manna for Your Morning

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. — 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NLT) What God has given us in Christ is the most perfect gift of all. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19 NLT)  Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 2:14)  As Christ’s representatives, may the way we live our lives (walking in love, full of joy and peace), draw others to Jesus. Our actions speak louder than the words we speak. Let us be model citizens in the Kingdom of God, that leave others wanting what we are so abundantly blessed to receive. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We ...

“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) Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm. (Psalm 20:7-8 NLT) For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity. (Proverbs 24:16 NKJV) “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.” (Micah 7:7-8 NASB1995) For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. (Isaiah 60:2 NKJV) Darkness may cover the earth, but the marv...

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)

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. — 2 Corinthians 4:16 (MSG) Do not be discouraged or lose heart. Despite momentary afflictions, our inner man is being renewed day by day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our 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 4:17-18 NLT)

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. — 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (MSG) Even when it seems things are falling apart, we can count on His amazing grace. We have forgiveness for our failures. And He gives us strength to persevere through the hard times. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:6 NLT) Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. (Proverbs 4:25-26 MSG) Keep moving onward and forward, in spite of the challenges. We are more than conquerors!

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”  — John 11:40 (NKJV) When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. (John 11:6). Mary and Martha may have thought Jesus forgot about them or that He didn’t care, but it was all for the glory of God. What seems to us like a delay, may be a prelude for the glory of God to be shown. Don’t get down in the dumps during the delays. Instead keep believing and watching with expectation for a mighty move of God! Instead of another healing, John 11:43-44 records Jesus calling a man who had been dead for four days out of the grave. That relationship or situation that appears lifeless in your eyes, can be resurrected and given new life, all for the glory of God. As a result of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, many of the Jews who saw what Jesus did, believed in Him. (John 11:45) As God’s glory is revealed in your life, many will see and belie...

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. — 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (MSG) Do not lose heart and become discouraged. The difficult circumstances you are dealing with today are temporary, and they are producing for you a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! His unfolding grace is sufficient for you. He has provided everything you need to overcome today's challenges.

Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. — Hebrews 12:3 (AMP) The best way not to lose heart in times of trouble, is to keep an eternal perspective. For the joy that was set before Him, Jesus endured the cross. So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG)

And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory… — 2 Corinthians 3:18 (AMP) When we invite Jesus into our hearts, a beautiful work of transformation begins. He changes darkness into brilliant light (Ephesians 5:8). He turns our mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11) and our sorrow into joy. He gives the hopeless a hope that is alive and vibrant. In the Lord, the poor become rich, and the weak are made strong. He breathes new life into dead situations and relationships. What is impossible with man becomes possible with our mighty God. Keep the door of your heart open and let His Holy Spirit continue the beautiful work of transformation in you. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. (2 Corinthians 3:18 MSG)

The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. — Job 42:12 (NIV) Whether your former life was great or not so good, the LORD can make the rest of your life, the absolute best of your life. He will turn your sadness into gladness, and your mourning into dancing. He takes the barren and makes it fruitful. He fills what is empty. Our mighty God will restore what the enemy has stolen and what the locusts has eaten. What is dead, our living God can breathe new life into it. What you once thought was a problem will be your praise. “Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the LORD and whose hope and confident expectation is the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:7 AMP)

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. — 2 Corinthians 4:16 (MSG) Do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV). Let us give thanks and praise to the LORD, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are His works, and my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14 AMP). It is Christ’s mighty power that works within us. (Colossians 1:29) And His power works best when we admit our weaknesses. The Apostle Paul said, “I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9b NLT). His unfolding grace is all we need to go from glory to glory. Each and every day His grace unfolds new life in us so we can persistently pursue all that God has for us. “ My grace is all you need...

So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! — Romans 8:12-14 (MSG) 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?” (Romans 8:15 (MSG) Since God woke you up this morning, He has places for you to go and things for you to do. Let’s do whatever He has called us to do, His way. His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9) Know that God has a plan for your life, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). Every day of your life was recorded in His book. Every moment laid out before a single day had passed (Psalm 139:16). Don’t get stuck in what happened in the ...

“Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God’s bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, but God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you. — Isaiah 60:1-2 (MSG) The Amplified Bible version says to “ Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the LORD] ” (Isaiah 60:1). No matter how dark the outside world becomes, your inside world can still shine with the glorious light of the LORD. Instead of letting the enemy lead you down the dark path of depression, doubt and defeat, live in the light of the Son. In Christ we have new life! As we bear the fruit of His Spirt, we allow the light in us to shine on the world around us. When we consistently exercise love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), those in darkness will be drawn into the marvelous light of the LO...

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. — 2 Corinthians 4:16 (MSG) No matter what difficulties you may be facing, do not lose heart. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17, NKJV). His grace unfolds in our lives each and every day. Yesterday’s shortcomings are covered by His amazing grace. Each day is new beginning and fresh start as the LORD showers us with new mercies and compassions. 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)

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. — Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) We are God’s masterpiece. Within our earthen vessels lie great treasure. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! (2 Corinthians 5:17 MSG). Every day is a new day for us to pursue all God created us to be. We have the potential in us, to do great things. He created us  extraordinary, not average. While our outside is perishing, inside we are in a process of continual renewal. Don’t settle for average, be EXTRAORDINARY! Release the gifts and talents that lie dormant in you and be the blessing to this world that God created you to be. Make your dreams, your reality and let them live!

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. — 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NASB) So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace (2 Corinthians 4:16 MSG). Every day, God gives us new compassions and fresh mercies. Wherever you are today, with God, you are moving on to bigger and better things. Amen!

…God lives forever and is holy. He is high and lifted up. He says, “I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are sad and humble. I give new life to those who are humble and to those whose hearts are broken.”  — Isaiah 57:15 (NCV) Our God is exalted on high and He is also a God who dwells with His people. Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear (Isaiah 59:1 NIV). You are never out of His reach. He gives new life to those who humble themselves under His mighty hand. He restores crushed spirits and revives repentant hearts. “ I, even I, am He who comforts you… ”  Isaiah 51:12 (NKJV)

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. — 2 Corinthians 4:16 (MSG) There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever (2 Corinthians 4:18 MSG). When we look beyond the things we can see with our natural eyes, we see God’s goodness, we see His grace unfolding in our lives,  and His abundant love and mercy. With eyes of faith, we can see every need met and our hearts abide in His peace. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)