Manna for Your Morning

Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing. — James 1:2-4 (VOICE) In the midst of every difficulty and challenge continue to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith. (See 2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV) …thanks be to God, who keeps giving us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah! (1 Corinthians 15:57 TLV)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! — Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) As we abide in Christ and yield to His Spirit within us, He produces the fruit in our lives. We do not have to attempt to manufacture fruit. Our part is to surrender all and submit to the work of His Spirit in us. Amen! If you are lacking in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control, draw closer to our heavenly Father. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. — Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. — Romans 8:22-25 (MSG) We are enlarged in the waiting. Be aroused by the Spirit of God. Wait for the LORD and keep His way… (Psalm 37:34a). As we wait let us grow in patience, love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Just as a pregnant woman waits with joyful expectation, the birth of her baby, let us wait with joyful expectation as God fulfills every single one of His precious pr...

  As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. — James 5:10-11 (NASB) When it comes to suffering, let us remember Job and how God brought it all together for him at the end. Also, consider Jesus, … who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God . (Hebrews 12:2 NASB) Our Heavenly Father is faithful to fulfill every promise and He will cause everything to work together for good in our lives. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen . — 1 Peter 5:10-11 (NL...

LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. — Psalm 16:5 (NLT) My cup overflows with blessings. — Psalm 23:5 (NLT) When we choose God first and only and realize He is all we need, our cups overflow with blessings. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Timothy 6:6-7 NKJV) Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. (2 Corinthians 6:1 MSG) But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:11 NKJV) Let us count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord... and count them but rubbish so that we may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)

“When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit.” — Judges 8:4 (NKJV) Let us press on and continually pursue the things that our heavenly Father has called us to, and we will fulfill our purpose. We will reach our desired destination. First Timothy 6:11, tells us to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Romans 14:19 says to pursue the things which make for peace. Hosea 6:3 instructs us to pursue the knowledge of the Lord. When we come to end of ourselves, let us draw strength from the LORD, our Source. And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14  NKJV)

The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness and lives his life with integrity will have a true reward [that is both permanent and satisfying]. — Proverbs 11:18 (AMP) Seek what is good (God is good) and sow righteousness. The LORD upholds and sustains the righteous [who seek Him]. (Psalm 37:23 AMP) He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, (Proverbs 11:27a).  Just as God has freely given to us, let us freely give. Sow love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. Forgive those who hurt you. Comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:4) We will truly be satisfied, as we allow ourselves to be channels for God's goodness to flow through us and into the lives of others. Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (Psalm 37:3-4 NLT)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. — Romans 8:28 (NASB) When circumstances are less than optimal, remember that God will work all things together for good in your life. May we hold onto His perfect peace, as we develop patience and perseverance. Working all things together for good is a process that takes T-I-M-E. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. (James 1:3 AMP) We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. (Romans 5:3 NLT) Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. (James 5:11 NKJV)

…casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. — 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP) Instead of concentrating on our to-do list, let us cast all our cares upon our heavenly Father and draw near to Him. It's more important for us to remember our to-be list. God is love. If we want to be like Him, we are to be love. Whatever we do, may we do it in love. When people come at us the wrong way, may we continue to be love. His perfect love working in us produces joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and gentleness. Worry, on the other hand, produces anxiety, frustration, and fear. Our mighty God is able to handle all your concerns. Trust Him.

For we live by believing and not by seeing. — 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT) GOD’S WORD Translation says: “Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 GW). Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 GW). May our faith in God and in His Word guide our lives, because it is impossible to please God without faith. (Hebrews 11:6) May faith guide what we choose to think about, what we believe, what we say and all of our actions. Doubt and unbelief lead to anxiety, worry, and fear. Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12 NKJV). Live by believing. Believe that God loves you. Believe that He wants the best for you. Believe that all God’s promises in His Word are yes and amen, for you.

…and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. — Revelation 2:3 (NKJV) The dictionary says persevere means to continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success. No matter how things may appear at this moment in time, we need to persevere. Let us always stand on God’s Word, persist in prayer and continually thank and praise God for victory and success in every area of our lives. Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail. (James 5:10-11 MSG)

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.  — James 1:2-4 (MSG) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12 AMP). And don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let patience have its perfect work. Abraham and Sarah waited for many years for the fulfillment of God’s promise and in Genesis 21:2, Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. God has is a set time for you too. When you are pressured by troubles on all sides, know that God is working for your good. While you patiently wait, be...

When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit. — Judges 8:4 (NKJV) Are you still in hot pursuit of all that God has called you to? In spite of our energy level, may we continually pursue all God has for us, to the very end. First Timothy 6:11 tells us to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Hebrews 12:14  says to pursue peace with all people. Sometimes the pursuit of peace with all people can be emotionally exhausting, however God has an abundant supply of love, peace, patience, etc. Let us draw from His vast supply and we will have all that we need to continue on.

“Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” — Joshua 23:14 (NIV) Not one detail of God’s promises to the Israelites failed. He fulfilled all the good things He promised them. Today, our heavenly Father still fulfills every promise. His Word stands forever. If He spoke it, He will do it. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen… (2 Corinthians 1:20  NKJV). Do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:12)

What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail. — James 5:11 (MSG) As we exercise patience and perseverance, God will work it all together for good. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord (James 5:11a NKJV). The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10 NKJV). The Lord is very compassionate and merciful. (James 5:11b NKJV). May He restore unto you, double for all your troubles.

He must increase, but I must decrease. — John 3:30 (NKJV) Jesus is on the increase when we allow His love to flow into our hearts and wash away the root of bitterness and offense. Jesus increases when we say good-bye to discouragement, anxiety and worry and open the door to His joy and peace, while holding onto faith and hope. Jesus increases in us, when we let go of pride, and clothe ourselves in humility. As we exercise patience, compassion and kindness, we allow Jesus to increase in us. When our love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7), we make room for Jesus to work in our lives and in the lives of others. May we decrease, and let Jesus occupy!

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5 (NKJV) Jesus is the true vine (John 15:1) and we are the branches. He chose us and appointed us that we should go and bear fruit, (John 15:16a). In order to bear much fruit, we must abide in Him. If we don’t abide in Him, we wither and die. As we allow our roots to grow deep in Jesus, we not only survive —we thrive! As we stay connected to Him, we will produce the fruit of unconditional love, that is focused on others and not self. We will bear the fruit of joy that bubbles from deep within and touches those around us. When we abide in the vine, we bear the fruit of peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. “ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. ” ( John 15:8 ). Glorify God and be a bountiful fruit bearer!

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. — Luke 8:15 (NKJV) The bearing of fruit comes with patience. Once we receive the seed, the Word of God, on the good soil of our hearts, we need to develop patience as we wait for the fruit to appear. Just as the farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. (James 5:7 AMP) God’s Word will bear fruit in your life, whether it's the early or late rains, or both. His Word does not return to Him void. Keep watering the seed by speaking words of life over it and protect it from the enemy who wants nothing more than to steal the Word that has been sown in your heart. “But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.” (Luke 8:15 MSG) Stick with it! No matter...

“I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.” — Revelation 2:19 (NKJV) Let us strive to become more like Jesus. In addition to consistently walking in the will of the Father, He always increased the quality of life for those around Him. As we become more like Him, our hearts will be enlarged with an unconditional love for others. Our works are not done to be seen by man, or to earn God's love, but to serve our heavenly Father and His kingdom, out of gratitude for all He has done for us. May we continually grow in our work of faith, labor of love, and our endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:3). What will you do to increase the quality of life for those you encounter today?

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. — James 1:2-4 (NKJV) James 1:2, in the New Living Translation says, dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. The various trials and challenges we go through give us the opportunity to let faith and patience work in us, to make us perfect, complete and mature; a state of lacking nothing. Be patient and remain confident that you will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13 (NIV). Amen.