Manna for Your Morning

Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. — Mark 15:15 (NASB) Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd. Instead of trying to please people, may we seek to please our Creator. For He is our Maker and we are the people of His pasture. He created us with a plan and purpose. Let us stay on the path He set before us. He will guide you along the best pathway for your life. He will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8) Yahweh will always guide you where to go and what to do. He will fill you with refreshment even when you are in a dry, difficult place. He will continually restore strength to you, so you will flourish like a well-watered garden and like an ever-flowing, trustworthy spring of blessing. (Isaiah 58:11 TPT)

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).

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.

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. — Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV) Live for an audience of one, the One who created you. Trying to please people will leave you exhausted and empty. Being overly concerned about the opinions of man will paralyze you and keep you fearful of doing anything. Put your trust and confidence in the LORD, and pursue that which He has called you to do. Remember that God is able to bring you through whatever He has called you to. And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not abandoned those who seek You. (Psalm 9:10 AMP)

“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” — Revelation 4:11 (NLT) It was God’s will to create you. You are not a mistake or a piece of junk; those are lies of the enemy. It pleased God to create you. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). In him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ (Acts 17:28 NLT), Psalm 8:4 says, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Never think for one minute that God has forgotten about you. He loves you and you are always on His mind.

I’m all ears, all eyes before you. Save me from my enemies, GOD— you’re my only hope! Teach me how to live to please you, because you’re my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland.  — Psalm 143:9-10 (MSG) God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to his greatness (Psalm 145:3 MSG).The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made (Psalm 145:9 NIV). He gives to all life, breath, and all things (Acts 17:25 NKJV). Keep your ears open to the sound of His loving voice. Fix your eyes upon Him. He is the answer, the solution, the provider, the healer. He is our only Hope!

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” — Numbers 23:19 (NKJV) The word of the LORD endures forever (1 Peter 1:25). You can confidently stand on God’s Word. Whatever God has spoken to you, He will make it good. “For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11, AMP).

Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice. — Psalm 51:16-17 (MSG) When we think our way is better than God's way, it is pride. Instead of following the behavior of this world or man-made traditions, let God transform you into a new person by taking your heart in His hands and molding it to be more like His. The sacrifice God desires is a broken and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). We truly worship God when we humbly lay our hearts on His altar and follow His ways.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. — Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) Believing that God exists is the first step in the right direction. He is the great I AM. He is in your past, present and future. And He will always be all that you ever need: Savior, Healer, Deliverer, Helper, Counselor, Friend, Comforter, Guide, Protector, etc. We must also believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. His eyes search the whole earth looking for those whose hearts are loyal (fully committed) to Him, that He might show Himself strong on their behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9). Diligent implies consistent, rigorous devotion and attention. Diligently, seek the LORD, not just in bad times or when its convenient, or when you “feel” like it.

“The One who sent me stays with me. He doesn’t abandon me. He sees how much joy I take in pleasing him.” — John 8:29 (The Message) Jesus said, “I always do those things that please Him,” (John 8:29, NKJV). May we imitate Christ and ALWAYS do those things that please the Father. Let's make it our highest aspiration. When we stay away from those things that grieve the heart of God, we live in peace of mind and heart. There is joy in being in perfect harmony with the God of the universe. We can sense His glory shining upon us and we are warmed from the smile upon His face. He knows that as we continue to be in sync with His will, we will live the life of abundance and freedom that Jesus came to give us. Amen!

Acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. — 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV) In the parable of the lost son, the older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in to the celebration of the return of the prodigal son (Luke 15:28-30). Even though the older son stayed with his father and served him, while the younger son did his own thing, his heart was not with him. Likewise, we can be in church every week and still have a heart that is far from the heart of God. May we examine our hearts and make sure the affections of our hearts are in perfect alignment with the things that please our heavenly Father. Amen.

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves. The humble shall see this and be glad; and you who seek God, your hearts shall live.  — Psalm 69:30-32 (NKJV) The very essence of our lives is to sing the praises of our God and honor Him with thanksgiving. A humble heart giving glory to God, pleases Him more than anything we could give as a sacrifice. May your heart be encouraged and strengthened as you trust in and rely on God.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. — Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) Once we come to God, we must believe that He is and that He is able to do all that His Word tells us. In Mark 5:36, after the ruler of the synagogue received the news that his daughter was dead, Jesus told him, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” When you receive a report of bad news or the temporary things you see don't line up with the Word of God (which lasts forever), do not doubt and have no fear, only believe!

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.  — 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NKJV) A good soldier stays focused on the mission. No matter what adversities arise, a good soldier endures hardship. They know all about courage, commitment, strength and sacrifice. Just as military service members, follow the orders of their Commanding Officer, make it your aim to satisfy and please Jesus, the One who enlisted you into His service. Be a good soldier for Jesus Christ! Today we honor and thank military men and women of the past and present, who are serving and have served our country and ensured our freedom. We remember those who have sacrificed to the point of giving their lives. Thank you.

“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” — Luke 18:8 (NKJV) May you never suffer shipwreck with regard to the faith. (1 Timothy 1:19) Hold on to faith and a good conscience, because without faith it is impossible to please God. Anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Through faith we are shielded by God’s power (1 Peter 1:5, NIV). Our faith is the victory that has overcome the world (1 John 5:4) So build yourselves up in your most holy faith (Jude 1:20). Fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith!

Israel, what does the Lord your God want you to do? He wants you to fear him, follow all his directions, love him, and worship him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 10:12 (GW) What does the LORD expect of His people? This Scripture makes it very clear. God wants us to fear Him, in a holy reverential way, to give Him respect and honor. The LORD wants us to follow all His directions, which He has given to us for our own good. Let us stay on the path He lays before us. Follow Him along the narrow road that leads to abundant and eternal life. Then, love and worship God with all your heart and soul. This is how we can please our heavenly Father.