Manna for Your Morning

“You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” — Psalms 145:16-18 (NKJV) “O LORD, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you.” (Psalms 5:1-2 NLT) “…in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.” (2 Samuel 22:7 NLT) He will send from heaven and save me; He calls to account him who tramples me down. Selah. God will send out His lovingkindness and His truth. (Psalms 57:3 AMP) Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6 NLT) ...You, O Yahweh, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was calling to Yahweh with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah. — Psalms 3:3-4 (LSB)

But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. — Isaiah 64:8 (NASB) In Revelation 22:17 (NLT), the Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. When we come to the LORD, may we present to him a heart that is open and pliable. Let your heart be molded by His love, gentleness, kindness and compassion. May it be filled with His peace, patience, goodness, and faithfulness. Receive the joy of His Presence. With our heart in the hands of the Potter, we will be the unique masterpiece He created each one of us to be.

“ I know your works. You are neither cold with apathy nor hot with passion. It would be better if you were one or the other, but you are neither. So because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. You claim, ‘I am rich, I have accumulated riches, and I need nothing’; but you do not realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. ” — Revelation 3:15-17 (VOICE) “Those I love I also correct and discipline. Therefore, be shamelessly committed to Me, and turn back. Now pay attention; I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to visit with you and to share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me.” (Revelation 3:19-20 (VOICE) “ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ” — Revelation 3:22 (NASB)

When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. — 2 Kings 6:15-17 (NLT) Do not fear, for there are more with us than with the devil. The LORD will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11) May your eyes be open to see every situation through eyes of faith. You have surrounded me on every side, behind me and before me, and You have placed Your hand gently on my shoulder. — Psalm 139:5 (VOICE)

Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. — Matthew 2:11 (CSB) Be a wise man or woman of God and fall to your knees and worship King Jesus, Savior of the world. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is Immanuel: God with us, so worthy of all our adoration, praise, and worship. Present to Him the gift of your heart, humble, open and willing to do His will. Let Him make your heart a vessel through which His love, light and life, can flow. His Holy Spirit fills our hearts with His peace, His power, and His Presence. Glory hallelujah! …I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship.  — Romans 12:1 (VOICE)

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust. — Proverbs 4:23-27 (MSG) Watch over your heart. Be careful what you allow to enter your heart. If you let junk in, your life will be messy and cluttered with useless things. When you open the door of your heart to Jesus, the Living Word of God, you will experience freedom and a more abundant life. And those around you will be blessed as well. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. — Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. — Psalm 34:8 (MSG) O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Psalm 34:8 NASB) You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. (Psalm 91:1-4 MSG) Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah  — Psalm 62:8 (NKJV)

Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. — Romans 8:6 (MSG) May we live the spacious and free life that is a result of giving our attention to God. Instead of trying to do things our own way, let us focus on God, do His will, His way and in His perfect timing.  Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.  (Romans 8:7-8 MSG) Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ...

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  — Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) First, we need to have our ears open to hear His voice. Then, we can respond by opening the door of our hearts. How? By opening our mouths and asking Jesus to come in. By having the attitude, that He is welcome to stay, and enter each room. Let His marvelous light flood the dark crevices of your heart. Once He comes in, then let us take the time to dine with Him. May we feast on His Presence. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8a) He has a banquet already prepared for us. Instead of fear and anxiety, there is a platter of perfect peace. There are bowls of joy. In exchange for bitterness and unforgiveness, there is sweet compassion, and amazing grace. Instead of resentment, we have contentment in His Presence, as we dine with the King of kings.

“ The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. ” — Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB) When we open our hearts to Christ, we have the Spirit of a warrior dwelling inside of us, and not only that a victorious One. He will give you strength to keep up the good fight of faith. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. (Zephaniah 3:17b NLT) Open you heart to Jesus, today.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you. — Psalm 32:8 (AMP) Let us keep our ears open to hear the voice of our heavenly Father and have open minds that are willing to learn. Never let the noise of your storm drown out the voice of the LORD. He is always speaking to those who listen. “This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’ (Jeremiah 33:2-3 MSG)

“When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree. — Jeremiah 29:12-13 (MSG) It's no game of “hide and seek” with our heavenly Father. When we search for Him with all our heart, we will find Him. When we pray to Him, we can be sure that He is listening. Psalm 34:15 (NKJV) says,  “ The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. ”  When we desire His Presence more than anything, we will not be disappointed.

How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we are to run under your wings, to eat our fill at the banquet you spread as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water. You’re a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light. — Psalm 36:7-9 (MSG) Run, don't walk. Be eager to take refuge in the shadow of His wings. Our heavenly Father feeds us from the abundance of His house. In the shadow of His wings, we have His protection and His provision. As we abide with Him, He opens our eyes to see the light of His magnificent love. He reveals the light of truth. Abba Father keeps us in His perfect peace, in the midst of the storms, and we find strength to persevere. Run under His Wings.

We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. 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 3:17-18 (MSG) Let there be nothing between you and God. Only our Creator knows us better than we know ourselves. He formed us in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13) Open the door of your heart and let God enter those rooms that you have padlocked shut. Let His glory bring light to the dark areas. We become more and more like Him as we allow Him to enter the crevices of our hearts and perform His restoration project. He takes lives that have been seemingly reduced to rubble and transforms them into lives full of His beauty and glory, as we allow Him to work in us, and through us.

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. — Proverbs 4:23 (MSG) Second Chronicles 16:9 says, the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth. What is He looking for? He wants to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. He is looking at our hearts. He is searching for hearts that are open to Him and He strengthens us and guides us through life, as we allow His Holy Spirit to come and dwell in the chambers of our hearts. Life, the way God desires for us to live, starts when we open our hearts to Him. May your heart always be open to His Presence. Guard against anything that would cause your heart to be cold, hardened or closed. Let your heart be soft and responsive to the touch of our Savior. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

When Elisha’s servant arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:14-15) So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. — 2 Kings 6:16-17 (NKJV) When you wake up in the morning and it seems like the enemy has you surrounded, remember,  there are more on our side than on theirs! Greater is the One in us than he who is in the world. Do not fear, for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11) The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. (Psalm 34:7) I pray the LORD open your eyes that you may see with eyes of faith...

Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.  — Psalm 24:7-9 (NKJV) Was this psalmist telling us to lift up our heads because we are in a state of slumber? Let us arise, for the glory of the LORD is shining on us. If your head is hung low today, look UP. Let us open the gates of our hearts that the King of glory may enter. Don't let the bars of doubt and fear keep Him out. May we open the gates of our eyes and see the beauty of the LORD. May we open the gates of our ears to hear His still small voice. Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD. (Psalm 89:15 NLT) The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they c...

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. — 1 Corinthians 13:1 (AMP) If our hearts are open to receive God’s love, He continually plants seeds of love within us. His compassions are new every morning. Out of God’s love for us, we grow love and compassion for others. His love, in our hearts, will outgrow any weeds and roots of bitterness, if we let it. If we don’t accept and embrace the love God lavishes on us, we will be barren and unfruitful when it comes to loving others. The fruit of the Spirit is love, etc. (Galatians 5:22). Be fruitful. Make love the constant harvest of your heart.

So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” — 2 Kings 6:16 (NKJV) When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15 NLT). And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:17 NKJV) When the enemy seems to be coming at you from all directions, do not fear. There are more with us than with him. And the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4). We are on the victorious side! I pray that the LORD would open your eyes to see your situation with eyes of faith. Amen.

“ But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration. ” — John 4:23-24 (MSG We don’t need to pretend before our heavenly Father. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace and present ourselves as living sacrifices, being real, open and honest, and available for Him to use. We worship God as we become the person He created us to be and live in the light of His grace, truth and love.