Manna for Your Morning

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; — Romans 5:3 (AMP) The Voice translation says, “ We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance ” (Romans 5:3). How can we celebrate in seasons of suffering? Because 1) It's momentary. It will pass, seasons come and seasons go. 2) God is with us, and 3) He has given us the ultimate victory. May we strive to press on to maturity and to finish the race before us with joy, like the Apostle Paul. And don’t grumble, whine or complain about current circumstances, because we are citizens of a Kingdom that is unshakable. 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. — James 1:2-...

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.

He said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart,” — 1 Kings 8:23 (NASB) There is no God like our heavenly Father. His covenant is not like a contract which can be broken. His covenant lasts forever. We can trust Him in all situations and seasons. He is faithful to fulfill every promise. Each challenge we face is an opportunity for us to believe our God. And know that He is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20) “ For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says the LORD who has compassion on you. ” (Isaiah 54:10 NASB)

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” — Jeremiah 17:7 (NKJV) The person who trusts in the LORD, shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah 17:8). Seasons come and seasons go, but the LORD remains faithful through them all! Do not fret, fear or be anxious. No matter how hopeless things appear, be confident that our great God will provide everything you need, in every area of life.

From one man he has made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth. He has given them the seasons of the year and the boundaries within which to live. He has done this so that they would look for God, somehow reach for him, and find him. In fact, he is never far from any one of us. Certainly, we live, move, and exist because of him. As some of your poets have said, ‘We are God’s children.’  — Acts 17:26-28 (GW) Since the time He formed us in our mother's wombs, God has been intricately involved with the details of our lives. He is never far away. He wrote each one of our days in His book before one of them came to be and then He stands by our side to help us walk each one out. For in Him we live and move and have our being. Praise God that He is near!