Manna for Your Morning

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. — 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NLT) For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT) Realize that it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. (See Philippians 2:13 AMP) With God all things are possible. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. (See 1 Peter 5:6) 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. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please G...

The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, — 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (AMP) May we renew our minds with the Word of God and cast down every argument and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Our weapon is the Word of God. (See Ephesians 6:17) ...Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in...

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die;
 A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal;
 A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
 A time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; 
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, and a time to lose; 
A time to keep, and a time to throw away; A time to tear, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate;
 A time of war, and a time of peace. — Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NKJV) Each season has its proper time and serves a purpose. We can learn from each season we encounter. One season may serve to prepare our hearts to receive the Word of God. While another season will allow The Word to be planted in good soil. Another season may serve to remove any weeds, or roots of bitt...

From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. — Acts 17:26-27 (CSB) Yahweh formed our inward parts. He knit each one of us together in the womb of our mother. (See Psalms 139:13) God has determined our appointed times and the boundaries of our habitation. He intentionally created each one of us with a purpose and good plans. He has placed us and positioned us, on this earth and in His body (the church), for such a time as this. We each have an assignment and purpose to fulfill. It is through him that we live and function and have our identity; just as your own poets have said, ‘Our lineage comes from him.’ (Acts 17:28 TPT) Let us reach forward to what lies ahead, and press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (See ...

“ I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations. ” — Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT) 

Just as the LORD knew Jeremiah before he was formed in his mother’s womb, He knew you. Oh yes, He shaped you first inside, then out; He formed you in your mother’s womb. He knows you inside and out, He knows every bone in your body; He knows exactly how you were made, bit by bit, how you were sculpted from nothing into something. (See Psalm 139:13, 15-16 MSG).  Yahweh created each one of us with a plan and a purpose. He knows the plans He has for you (See Jeremiah 29:11), and He will reveal them to you step by step. A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], but the LORD directs his steps and establishes them. (Proverbs 16:9 AMP) Seek His will in all that you do and follow the lead of His Holy Spirit within you. This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, w...

Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. — Ephesians 5:15-16 (AMP) Listen to the Word of God and align your life to it. The Bible is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. He who gives attention to the word will find good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. (Proverbs 16:20 NASB) Truth’s shining light guides me in my choices and decisions; the revelation of your word makes my pathway clear. (Psalm 119:105 TPT)

The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone. The rains have soaked the earth and left it bright with blossoming flowers. The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived. I hear the cooing of doves in our land, filling the air with songs to awaken you and guide you forth. Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth. The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, “There is change in the air.” — Song of Songs 2:11-13a (TPT) “Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the LORD]; for your light has come, and the glory and brilliance of the LORD has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1 AMP)

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! — Psalm 8:9 (NASB) The great I AM, is the One true and living God. Blessed be the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Great and marvelous are His works. He set the sun, moon and stars in place. He knit each and every person together in the womb of their mother. He knows each person by name and knows the number of hairs on our head. God is intimately acquainted with all our ways. He desires continual fellowship with His children and wants us to reflect His glory on the earth. He created each one of us with a purpose and a good plan for our lives. He wrote all our days in His book before we drew our first breath. That means He has already gone into your future and made a way for you. Amen.

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)

“ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ” — Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) God has plans to take care of you, not to abandon you. The Amplified Bible says, He has plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster… (Jeremiah 29:11) Every detail of your life was already written in His book, before you had even lived one day. (Psalm 139:16) So He already has the solution to every situation. His plans for you are good. If what you see at the moment does not “look” good, know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT) And remember we do not live by sight (what we see) but by faith (what we believe). Believe God and His Word. Our heavenly Father is good and He has good plans for you. Amen!

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; — 1 Peter 2:9 (NASB) Not only have we been called out of darkness. We have been called into His marvelous light, into holiness and purity. We have been called into His everlasting peace and inexplicable joy. We have been called into His amazing grace and mercy. We have been called into God’s family and we have received a glorious inheritance. We have been called into His purpose and good plan for our lives. May we proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called us. Amen.

Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [and only You] I wait [expectantly] all the day long. — Psalm 25:5 (AMP) Wait on the LORD. He will send the answer. He will make a way, where there seems to be no way. God will open the door that needs to be opened and close the door that needs to be closed. The promise will be fulfilled. His Word does not return to Him void. It shall accomplish His intended purpose. It shall succeed in the thing for which He sent it. (Isaiah 55:11) Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. — 1 Chronicles 16:11 (NASB)

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. — 1 Peter 2:9-10 (MSG) When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, (Psalm 8:3-6 NASB) God has a plan and He called us with a purpose. His Holy Spirit enables us to do all that He has called us to do. You are a chosen vessel to exhibit God's glory on the earth. May we be about our Father's business and fulfill the high calling He has for us.

Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose]. — James 4:10 (AMP) Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV) Yet He gives His grace [His undeserved favor] to the humble [those who give up self-importance]. (Proverbs 3:34b AMP) In Matthew 11:29 (NASB), Jesus instructs us to learn from Him, for He is gentle and humble in heart. He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death (Philippians 2:8 NKJV). Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) says: Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. — Psalm 138:6 (NLT)

God, your Redeemer, who shaped your life in your mother’s womb, says: “I am God. I made all that is. With no help from you I spread out the skies and laid out the earth.” — Isaiah 44:24 (MSG) When life seems stormy and chaotic, remember God has a perfect plan for your life. He has all your days written in His book, and you have not come to the end of the story yet. He chose you and called you to live a life of purpose, with a glorious destination. The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day. (Proverbs 4:18) Our heavenly Father will work everything together for good. Give all your cares and concerns to Him. Nothing is too difficult for Him. ‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,  — Jeremiah 32:17 (NASB)

In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. — 2 Corinthians 6:4-5 (NLT) Like the Apostle Paul, we will endure troubles, hardships and calamities, however we can take comfort in the fact that God is with us, and nothing is too difficult for Him. The Holy Spirit who dwells within us empowers us to walk in the victory Jesus has already obtained for us. And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. (Romans 8:28 AMP)

Your future is bright and filled with a living hope that will never fade away. As you listen to me, my beloved child, you will grow in wisdom and your heart will be drawn into understanding,  which will empower you to make right decisions. — Proverbs 23:18-19 (TPT) As you walk with the Lord, you have a bright future and a living hope. Listen to wisdom and follow the leading of His Holy Spirit. God has all your days written in His book and your story is not over yet. So God has more in store for you! For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 CSB) The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me. LORD, your faithful love endures forever ... — Psalm 138:8a (CSB)

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. — Psalm 139:16 (NLT) Every moment of our lives matter because God took the time to record each day and lay our lives out moment by moment. He intentionally made all the delicate, inner parts of our bodies and knit us together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). He did this with purpose and His plan for our lives is good. Though our journey will take us through all kinds of seasons, we have a glorious destiny awaiting us. May we seek His will, as we plan our days and our lives. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.  (Psalm 33:11 NASB) Let us submit to the authority of God’s Word and be led by His Holy Spirit, in word and action, because every moment of life He gives us matter.

…all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. — Psalm 139:16 (MSG) God prepared all of our days and recorded them in His book, before we were even born. Each day is a gift from God, and is packaged with purpose and promise. The book of our lives, has many chapters and we go through many stages in life, but we have at least 3 things that are stable and constant. We have the Presence of God, His love for us and His Word. I am so thankful for the 55 years He has allowed me to live on this earth. No matter how old or how young you are, we can ALL praise God that our lives get better and better, as we allow His light to shine brighter and brighter in us and through us. Each one of us can see and reflect the glory of the Lord, as we are progressively being transformed into His image from one degree of glory to even more glory. Amen! Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts...

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. — Zechariah 4:6 (NASB) As it was in the days of Zerubbabel , so it is today. His Spirit is still at work in and through His people. We fulfill the purpose and plan God has for us, by His Spirit. It is not in our own power or might. As we rely on and draw our strength from the Spirit of God who dwells within us, the mountains before us will become molehills, and the stormy waves will become calm. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. (Ephesians 3:20 MSG) Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), and be led by His Spirit, in all that you do. “ Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not...