Manna for Your Morning

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. — James 1:12 (NASB) And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation]. Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5 AMP) And you will be hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name, but it is the one who has patiently persevered and endured to the end who will be saved. — Matthew 10:22 (AMP)

If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. — James 1:5 (AMP) But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. (James 3:14-16 NASB1995) Let us seek wisdom from above, for the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. (See 1 Corinthians 3:19) …the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17 NKJV) How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. — Proverbs 3:13 (NASB1995)

Since we have a great High Priest who presides over the house of God, let us draw near with true hearts full of faith, with hearts rinsed clean of any evil conscience, and with bodies cleansed with pure water. — Hebrews 10:21-22 (VOICE) Rejoice greatly in the LORD, let your soul exult in our God; for He has clothed us with garments of salvation, He has wrapped us with a robe of righteousness. (See Isaiah 61:10) Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NASB1995) For there is [only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5 AMP) …because Jesus continues forever, He holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (See Hebrews 7:24-25 NASB1995) Today, draw near to Yahweh, with a sincere heart and a clear consci...

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. — 1 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT) My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. (Psalm 62:5-6 NKJV) Keep your hope anchored in the LORD. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Eternal, “plans for peace, not evil, to give you a future and hope—never forget that.” (Jeremiah 29:11 VOICE)  Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. — Psalm 25:5 (NLT)

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Selah. — Psalm 68:19 (NASB 1995) Our heavenly Father does not want us bowed down under the weight of a heavy load. However, we must give our burdens to the Lord, if we want Him to bear them. Psalm 55:22 (AMP) says: Cast your burden on the LORD [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail). Release your cares to Him and do not pick them back up again. Never forget the good things he does for you. He forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. He redeems you from death and crowns you with love and tender mercies. He fills your life with good things. Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s! (See Psalm 103:2-5 NLT) Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. — Psalm 103:1 (NLT)

We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God! — Hebrews 12:2 (TPT) So don’t look at the troubles we can see now. Let us look away from all that will distract us and look to Jesus. Stop examining the problem and look to the One Who is the answer. My gaze is fixed upon You, Eternal One, my Lord; in You I find safety and protection. (Psalm 141:8a VOICE)  Gaze upon him, join your life with his, and joy will come. Your faces will glisten with glory. You’ll never wear that shame-face again. — Psalm 34:5 (TPT)

Rejoice always and delight in your faith; — 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (AMP) “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10b NLT) James 1:2 (NASB) says: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials. Why be joyful? It is your strength to fight the good fight of faith and fulfill the purposes and plans God has for you. Joy gives you strength to resist the devil and live a victorious life. We can be joyful because we have the love and Presence of our everlasting Father. We can rejoice because we know He will make a way. We can be joyful because with our great God, all things are possible. Nothing can stand against our awesome God. Amen. Let joy be your continual feast. — 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (TPT)

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) Following Jesus is a choice we make each moment of the day. May we continually follow Him and let our roots grow deep into Him. Then our faith and trust in Him will grow, and our hearts and mouths will overflow with thankfulness for all He has done and is doing. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation. — Proverbs 10:25 (NKJV)  When the storms blow into your life, remember they will also come to pass, but our God is with us forever. Our mighty God is an everlasting foundation. In Him, you are immovable and can stand firm. You will not be fazed by the momentary troubles, and light affliction.  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18;2) He is a sure foundation. (Isaiah 28:16) O LORD, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction … (Jeremiah 16:19)

So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. — 1 Peter 5:6-7 (MSG) Contentment is a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God. In Philippians 4:11, the Apostle Paul said he learned to be content. May we learn to be content with what we have and who we are. Comparing ourselves to others will only lead to discontent (being disturbed or uneasy), with what God has provided or with the way God made us. Each one of us is a unique creation of our heavenly Father, and He has given each one of us what we need to fulfill His purpose for us, on this earth. We don’t have to pretend to be something we are not. We are instructed to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Love and accept yourself, then you can love your neighbor. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV)

“With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home. — Exodus 15:13 (NLT) Just as God led the Israelites out of the land of slavery to the promise land, He leads us with His unfailing love, each step of the way. God is love. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV). Our heavenly Father always sees the best in us. His love never runs out and He never gives up on us. Be reassured, nothing on this earth can separate us from God’s amazing love.

In my distress [when seemingly closed in] I called upon the Lord and cried to my God; He heard my voice out of His temple (heavenly dwelling place), and my cry came before Him, into His [very] ears. — Psalm 18:6 (AMP) Call upon the name of the LORD, at all times. His name is above all names. He hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles (Psalm 34:17). Your cry brings you right into his presence— a private audience! (Psalm 18:6b MSG). A private audience with the King of kings and the LORD of lords. Certainly God hears you and He will attend to the voice of your prayer! (Psalm 66:19) Amen.

Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. — 1 Corinthians 15:8 (NKJV) There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NAS). The Apostle Paul, persecuted the church of God, until the appointed time: that day on the road to Damascus, when the Lord opened his eyes to see the light of the truth (Acts 9). In due time, Sarah gave birth to the child of promise. What might you give birth to, in due time?  Do not grow weary in doing well. Passionately pursue your dreams, and in due time you will see the fruit of your labor.

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. — Psalm 69:30 (NKJV) Proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all God's wondrous works (Psalm 26:7)! When we give thanks to the LORD, He is magnified in our lives. The mountains that stand before us shrink in His Presence and our LORD emerges into the foreground of our lives. Let us GIVE THANKS everyday, with an attitude of gratitude! Show grateful appreciation for all He has done in your life. He didn’t have to... but praise God, He did. Amen!

 LORD, be gracious to us;   we long for you.  Be our strength every morning,  our salvation in time of distress.  At the uproar of your army, the peoples flee;  when you rise up, the nations scatter. Isaiah 33:2-3 (NIV) O LORD, be gracious to us. You're our only hope. We expectantly wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our savior in times of trouble. Thank you LORD, that You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29). May we rely on the supernatural strength of the LORD, instead of our human strength, because we can do ALL things through Him who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13).

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him. Luke 5:12 (NIV) Your problem may not be leprosy, but whatever it is, Jesus is the answer to any challenge that comes your way. He is more than willing to meet you, right where you are. When the Lord reaches out His hand and touches you, He provides the healing and wholeness you need to live a full healthy life, one of freedom and victory. Bow down before the Lord and ask Him to make you whole and well. Ask Him to restore what is broken and fill what is empty. Jesus is able!

Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it . 1 Corinthians 13:5-6 (The Message ) The Apostle Paul instructs believers to make sure we are solid in the faith. Are you walking in love? In John 13:35, Jesus said, " By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. " We are also called to love God with all our hearts and to love are neighbors as we love ourselves. Are you holding onto any grudges? Colossians 3:13 says, " Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. " Are you double-minded and unstable? James 1:6 says, those who doubt are like the waves of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. We must believe God and His Word. Give yourself a check up. Love, Jacki...

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message..." -  John 17:20 (NIV) "I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." -  John 17:23 (NIV) When the time was near for Jesus to die on the cross, He prayed for all those who would believe in Him to come together as one. As followers of Jesus Christ, may we set aside all our differences and unite. Psalm 133:1 says, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Our unity is a testimony to the world that God sent Jesus and that He loves them. Love, Jackie