Manna for Your Morning

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. — Matthew 4:1 (NKJV) When the devil came to tempt the Lord, three times Jesus responded with what is written in the Scriptures. In Matthew 4:4, He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” In Matthew 4:7, Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’ ” In Matthew 4:10, Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” We must know the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit (See Ephesians 6:17), and speak it out loud. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NLT) Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he de...

A mind focused on the flesh is doomed to death, but a mind focused on the Spirit will find full life and complete peace. — Romans 8:6 (VOICE) May we be led by the Holy Spirit in our thoughts and actions. …for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. (Romans 8:13 AMP) “For no matter how hard they try, God finds no pleasure with those who are controlled by the flesh. But when the Spirit of Christ empowers your life, you are not dominated by the flesh but by the Spirit. And if you are not joined to the Spirit of the Anointed One, you are not of him.” (Romans 8:8-9 TPT) And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. (Romans 8:2 NLT)

But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) We are able to bear much fruit as we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Let us be led by the Spirit of God, so that we may bear good fruit and flourish in every season. For if your life is just about satisfying the impulses of your sinful nature, then prepare to die. But if you have invited the Spirit to destroy these selfish desires, you will experience life. If the Spirit of God is leading you, then take comfort in knowing you are His children. (Romans 8:13-15 VOICE) He must increase, but we must decrease.

For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes]. — 1 Corinthians 2:16 (AMP) We have been given the mind of Christ. Therefore, we can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. (See 2 Corinthians 10:5 TPT) So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. (Romans 8:6-7 NLT) Let your mind be led by the Spirit of God and experience life and peace. 

Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. — Colossians 3:2 (AMP) Don’t sit by passively and let the enemy fill your mind with garbage. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. (Romans 13:14 NLT) Make a dedicated decision to let your mind be led by the Spirit of God. Romans 12:1 (NASB1995), urges us, to present our bodies to God as a living and holy sacrifice. For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose]. (Romans 8:5 AMP)  …we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes]. (See 1 Corinthians 2:16 AMP) So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. Bu...

But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” — Mark 8:33 (NKJV) Let the light of God’s Word permeate the crevices of your mind, so you can be mindful of the things of God. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes]… (See Romans 12:2 AMP) Colossians 3:2 (NASB1995) instructs us to set our minds on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, (Romans 8:6 NASB1995). …let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. — Ephesians 4:23 (NLT)

Then he said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” — Zechariah 4:6 (NLT) Sometimes we try to force things to happen by our will and in our timing. But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance]... (Galatians 5:16a AMP). If we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and our Lord, we have the Spirit of God living inside of us and we are to be controlled and led by His Holy Spirit. As we maintain our union with Christ, our mountains (obstacles) will become stepping stones that lead us closer to Him and toward fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives. What the enemy meant for harm, God will work it all together for good. Amen. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  — Galatians 5:25 (NLT)

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. — Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT) The ways of this world and the feelings of our flesh go against God’s ways. The flesh is selfish and wants what it wants, when it wants it, but as children of God, we are not to live our lives in subjection to the world or our flesh. God’s ways are higher than our ways. Let us choose to be led by the Holy Spirit of God. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Romans 8:14 NLT) Going against the Spirit is like trying to walk against the wind. It's hard to go in the direction you want to go. When we walk in the direction of the wind, we find the ...