Manna for Your Morning

Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. — Isaiah 53:4-6 (NASB1995) May we not be like sheep who stray away from the good Shepherd. As a disciple of Christ, make a decision to follow Yeshua and stay close to Him, at all times. He gave His all for us, let us give our all to Him (our minds, our will, our ways, etc.). Instead of turning to our own way, let us turn to the Word of God. Psalms 119:66-68 (NASB1995) says: Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. You are good and do good; Teach me Y...

“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.” — Acts 7:9-10 (NKJV) Those close to us may do us wrong, but Yahweh is always with us and He is faithful to deliver us out of all our troubles. Psalms 34:17 (NLT) says: The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph told his brothers: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” What harm Yahweh allows others to do in your life, He is able to turn around for good. The land of your suffering can become the place of abundant blessings.

The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power, — Psalm 145:9-11 (NKJV) Yahweh is good and He does good. The Eternal sustains all who stumble on their way. For those who are broken down, God is near. He raises them up in hope. All eyes have turned toward Him, waiting in expectation; when they are hungry, He feeds them right on time. The desires of every living thing are met by His open hand. The Eternal is right in all His ways, and He is kind in all His acts. (See Psalm 145:14-17 VOICE) The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. (Psalm 145:18 NASB1995) The Eternal is gracious. He shows mercy to His people. For Him anger does not come easily, but faithful love does—and it is rich and abundant. — Psalm 145:8 (VOICE)

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, — 1 Timothy 4:1 (NASB1995) We must be very careful and discerning of who or what we choose to give our attention to. Proverbs 16:20 (NASB1995) says: He who gives attention to the word will find good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. May we be hearers and doers of the Word of God. In Proverbs 1:24-25 (NLT), Wisdom says: “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.” We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. (See Hebrews 2:1 NASB1995) As we continually grow in our knowledge and application of the Word of God, we will be able to recognize what is not in alignment with the Holy Scriptures, and turn away from it. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this trag...

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. — 1 Kings 19:12 (NKJV) After your world has been shaken, listen for the still small voice of the LORD. After your fiery furnace experiences, listen for the sound of His gentle whisper. He continually speaks. Keep standing before the LORD. In Numbers 9:8 (NKJV), Moses said to them, “ Stand still, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you. ” Stand still and hear what the LORD is speaking to you.

For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. — 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (TPT) Our spiritual weapons are very effective. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. (Ephesians 6:13 NLT) Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. (Ephesians 6:17a TPT) We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.  — 2 Corinthians 10:5  (TPT)

Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands; you have dirtied them in sin. Cleanse your heart, because your mind is split down the middle, your love for God on one side and selfish pursuits on the other. — James 4:8 (VOICE) Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. (James 4:8a TPT) So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. (James 4:7-10 MSG)

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. — Romans 14:17 (NLT) When we do what is right, pursue peace with all people, and maintain our joy, we are living a Kingdom life. Let us depart from evil, and do good and we will dwell forevermore. (Psalm 37:27 NKJV) Psalm 106:3 says, blessed are those who keep justice, and he who does righteousness at all times! He who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. (Proverbs 11:18) Those who dwell in His Kingdom work at living in peace with everyone (Hebrews 12:14 NLT). It doesn’t say it’s going to be easy. It is going to require some work. And the 3rd key to living a kingdom life is to rejoice always and delight in your faith; (1 Thessalonians 5:16 AMP) May we abide in the kingdom of God. His Way is much better and way more beneficial than the ways of this world.

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:13   (NASB) Wow! This Scripture pricked my heart this morning. If we half-heartedly seek the LORD, we will miss Him all together. We can scurry around doing good things, trying to get an A+ on our Christian report card but our relationship with Jesus is not about trying to get a checkmark in a box. If that is all we ever do, we are in the classroom, but we are too distracted to learn the real lesson. Sit at the feet of Jesus and let Him instruct you. May we be motivated by a true love for God, to do the right things. Let us seek to please the Lord and be more like Him. We can learn about Jesus, or we can know Jesus by seeking Him wholeheartedly. Draw near to God in every area of your heart (all in) and He will draw near and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. My prayer this morning: Create in me a clean heart, O God… (Psalm 51:10 NKJV).

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life [which inspires me].” — Job 33:4 (AMP) God the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out, He spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, He gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it. (Isaiah 42:5). Not only is His breath in our lungs, we also have His Spirit living inside of us. Everything God does is intentional and has a purpose. He woke you up this morning because He loves you and He has a plan for you to execute today. Whatever mistakes you made yesterday, He showered you with new mercies this morning. The reality that He woke you up this morning means He has more for you. Be inspired with the fact that He has not brought you this far to abandon you now.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. — Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) Where do you turn in time of need? Let us go to our heavenly Father and confidently trust in Him. In His throne room, we receive mercy. As we surrender all on His altar, we will find the grace that strengthens us and helps us overcome life’s  challenges. The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles (Psalm 34:17 NLT).

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. — Romans 8:1-2 (MSG) Come out from under the black cloud. Live free in Christ! His power is at work in us. Live and walk habitually in the Holy Spirit being responsive to and controlled and led by the Spirit of life. Amen.

For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. — Hebrews 11:6b  (AMP) No matter what happens in this life, we must believe that God is the REWARDER of those who sincerely seek Him. God, richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17, NIV). The LORD has plans for you that are good and not for disaster, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, thoughts of peace toward you and not evil (Jeremiah 29:11). And He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (Ephesians 3:20). Diligently seek Him out, knowing that He cares and He will faithfully respond to those who seek Him.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  — Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV) You are among God's wonderful creations. He chose you for Himself, in Christ, before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). You are a very special person. God knit you together in your mother's womb, with a unique set of gifts, talents and abilities. Only you can fulfill your God-given purpose. He has destined you for greatness and for His glory to be shown. Praise the LORD!

The LORD is waiting to be kind to you. He rises to have compassion on you. The LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18 (GW) The LORD longs to be gracious to you.  He rises to show you His love and compassion. God is slow to anger and rich in love. He forgives your iniquities and crowns you with love and compassion. His compassions never fail. Blessed are those who wait for His help.

“All these evil things begin inside people, in the mind: evil thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder, adultery, greed, evil actions, lying, doing sinful things, jealousy, speaking evil of others, pride, and foolish living. All these evil things come from inside and make people unclean.” Mark 7:21-23 (NCV) What a person says reflect the nature of their heart. When we talk, we should always be kind and pleasant so we will be able to answer everyone in the proper way (Colossians 4:6, NCV). Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body (Proverbs 16:24, NLT).

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NLT) Be on guard and alert at all times because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We must be like a sentry, guarding our hearts and minds with wisdom. To survive the battles we need to be strong and stand firm in the faith, knowing that God will lead us to victory. Amen. Love, Jackie

"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" John 12:27-28 (NIV) Jesus came to earth at the appointed time. Likewise, God has us on earth at this time with a mission to accomplish. We each have a purpose to fulfill. Your heart may be troubled by the times, but keep your eyes on Jesus so you can finish your race and give glory to the kingdom of God. Love, Jackie