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...

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” — Luke 22:41-42 (NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Mark 14:38 NKJV) Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12 NKJV)

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. — 1 Corinthians to 10:13 (NKJV) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. (James 1:13-14 NKJV) “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41 NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) May Yahweh give us the strength and wisdom to always take the way of escape. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. — James...

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” — Luke 22:41-42 (NKJV) Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 AMP) “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9) When we do things God’s way, we have no regrets. If we are tempted to do things our way, let us pray. In Luke 22:40, Jesus said, “ Pray that you may not enter into temptation .” Behold, for so shall the man be blessed and divinely favored who fears the LORD [and worships Him with obedience]. (Psalm 128:4 AMP)

Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. — 1 Peter 5:8 (AMP)  After the devil had tempted Jesus for forty days, he departed from Him until an opportune time (Luke 4:2,13). Satan is always looking for an opportune time to steal, to kill, and to destroy. He sends his fiery darts to cause division, offense, bitterness, hatred, etc. so he can steal your peace and joy, and eventually kill your love. Since God is love, destruction is inevitable without the love of God in our hearts. But we can resist him, firm in our faith, and like Jesus, we can use God’s Word as our weapon of choice, by speaking what is written in it, over every situation.

But 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.’” — Matthew 4:4 (NKJV) When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He responded with the Word of God and overcame the devil. (Mathew 4:4,7 & 10). Satan makes war with believers (Revelation 12:17) and he is constantly prowling about seeking whom he may devour. He only comes to steal, kill, and to destroy. (John 10:10). When he throws fiery darts at you, use the Word of God to combat his lies. A good soldier never goes into battle without his weapons, but how often does the devil catch us in battle and not wielding our weapon? The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), that allows us to triumph over our enemy. Speak the Word and continually hold up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (Ephesians 6:16)

God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me— The very thing you’ve been unwilling to do.” — Isaiah 30:15 (MSG) Christ Jesus died for us, was raised to life and is at the right hand of God interceding for us. (Romans 8:34) Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV). Our weaknesses create a vacuum for the power of God to fill. Lay your weaknesses on His altar and depend on God to raise yo...

“And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?” — Luke 12:25-26 (NASB) When tempted to worry here are three things to remember. 1) God is with you. In the fiery furnace or in the flood, in stormy times and in times of trouble, His Presence is with you and He will bring you through. 2) The battle belongs to the LORD. Do not fret or be anxious. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it (Psalm 37:5). Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him (Psalm 37:7). 3) He has already won the victory. In John 19:30 when Jesus declared, “It is finished!” the victory was accomplished. In Him we are more than conquerors. Just as He overcame, we overcome!

“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” — Genesis 4:7 (NIV) Sin crouches at our door, ready to pounce. We don’t have to go looking for it. However, the temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability to resist, but with the temptation He will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13). We always have a choice. Choose well. When you make the wrong choice, don't let the enemy condemn you and cause you to run away from God. The love of our heavenly Father never fails. If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. — Romans 8:6 (NLT) May our minds be governed by the Spirit. The mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever]; (Romans 8:6b AMP). For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God (Romans 8:14 NIV). In Matthew 4:1, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, and He overcame. We will live a more abundant life of peace and joy as we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. ‘ Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6 NIV)

Then 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.’ ” — Matthew 4:10 (NKJV) In Genesis 3, when the devil approached Eve, she began to question God and thus fell into the trap of the enemy. Satan tempted Jesus three times and each time, Jesus responded with “it is written,” and the devil left Him (Matthew 4:11). We overcome by the word of our testimony; respond to the enemy by speaking the Word of God. It is the sword of the Spirit and it’s alive and active. Confront the lies of the enemy, with the Word! Death and life are in the power of your tongue (Proverbs 18:21).

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; — Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV) When Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by the devil for forty days, His only response was to speak the Word of God. Three times He responded to the devil by speaking the Word (Luke 4:1-8). For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). A sword never taken out of its cover is useless. Our tongues hold the power of death and life (Proverbs 18:21), when we speak the Word we release that power into our atmosphere. In the midst of your trials and temptations, continually speak the Word and the devil will flee!

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. — Hebrews 4:15-16 (NASB) Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses. He has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He did not sin. He overcame all obstacles and gained the victory! So let us draw near to the throne of God's grace to receive His mercy (unmerited favor), and find grace to help us when we need it most.

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ”  — John 6:66-68 (NKJV) When you experience challenges and hardships in your walk with the Lord, never be tempted to go back to the life you had before you chose to follow Jesus. Endure the hardships, and do not grow weary. Jesus is the ONLY Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) and He will never leave you or cast you aside. If anyone thinks they can make it through this life without Him they are lost, deceived and spiritually dead. At all times, follow Christ!