Manna for Your Morning

The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, but as they go on their way they are suffocated with the anxieties and riches and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity. — Luke 8:14 (AMP) May we have ears that hear and minds that understand the Word of God. May Yahweh open our eyes to see the wonderful truths in His instructions. (See Psalms 119:18 NLT) Let us treasure His Word in our hearts, that we may not sin against Him. (See Psalms 119:11) Never allow the cares of this life, nor fleeting pleasures, nor the desire for worldly riches to choke the living Word out of you. Trust God and be anxious for nothing. But as for that seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and noble heart, and hold on to it tightly, and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15 AMP) Patience is required because it takes time for seeds to grow into maturity and produce fruit. Hold firmly to the word of life, so that you may rejoice i...

The seed that fell on rock is like those who hear God’s teaching and accept it gladly, but they don’t allow the teaching to go deep into their lives. They believe for a while, but when trouble comes, they give up. — Luke 8:13 (NCV) Let the Word go deep and permeate your heart, your mind and your life. Then you will not be inclined to give up. Don’t let the troubles and cares of this world choke the Word of life out of you. Instead, be like those who receive the Word on good ground. They hear God’s teaching with good, honest hearts and obey it and patiently produce good fruit. (Luke 8:15 NCV) You know we call those blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] who were steadfast and endured [difficult circumstances]. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and you have seen the Lord’s outcome [how He richly blessed Job]. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. — James 5:11 (AMP)

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” — Genesis 8:22 (NIV) God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. (Genesis 1:11 NKJV). As long as the earth remains seeds will produce according to their own kind. If we want a harvest of good and positive, we have to speak words (seeds) that are good and positive. If you want peace, speak words of peace. Negative words suck the life out of those who hear them. Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of our tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. As we speak positive words over our lives and the lives of others, and continue to water those seeds with the powerful Word of God, we will produce a harvest of like kind.

Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, so will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them. — Isaiah 55:10-11 (MSG) When current events and circumstances don’t seem to line up with the promises God has spoken to you, go with His Word. Stand on His Word. Speak His Word. Live His Word. Our words and actions need to align with His Word. And then we can rest in His Word, knowing that His words do not return to Him without doing the work He sent them to do. He has a 100% track record of fulfilling every promise. Hallelujah!

Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. — Psalm 126:5-6 (NLT) To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV). The time of planting and cultivating the seed for any endeavor may be labor intensive and cause us to weep, but continue on, no matter what difficulties you face. Endure the struggle! The Message Bible says, those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing (Psalm 126:6). So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9 NLT)!

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. — Luke 1:30-31 (NKJV)  You, my beloved, have found favor with God. May you continue to believe the wonderful promises God has spoken to you beyond the point of their conception in your heart. Just as Mary continued to carry the Baby within her until the days were completed for her to deliver, we have to carry our seed of promise and regularly nurture it with the Word of God. Once it is fully developed, we have to endure the pains of labor and keep pushing on until the time of delivery. Then comes that appointed time, when that which is conceived in us is birthed into reality. Amen and Hallelujah!

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.  — Psalm 126:5-6 (NKJV) To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4). During times of hardship, we may sacrifice, sweat, and tears, but if we persevere through the pain, we shall reap a bountiful harvest with shouts of joy!

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. — Matthew 13:22 (NKJV) Weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it (Matthew 13:22b, The Message). Don't let the worries of this world choke the Word out of you. First Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our cares upon God. When we clear our hearts of worldly cares, we allow the Word to grow, take root, and bear much fruit in our lives. Get rid of the thorns and thrive! Stand on the Word, no matter what, and you will persevere through all seasons of life!

What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.  — Joel 1:4 (NKJV) Have you ever felt like the fruit of your work has been chewed up by crawling locusts or maybe your seed/money is consumed by the swarming locusts? Just keep trusting and walking in obedience with the LORD. He says, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust,” (Joel 2:25). You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And His people shall never be put to shame (Joel 2:26).