Manna for Your Morning

At my first trial no one supported me [as an advocate] or stood with me, but they all deserted me. May it not be counted against them [by God]. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened and empowered me, so that through me the [gospel] message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear it; and I was rescued from the mouth of the lion. — 2 Timothy 4:16-17 (AMP) Everyone else may abandon you, but the Lord stands by your side. He empowers us to complete the assignment given to us. Jesus is our Advocate. He is a very present help in trouble. Rely on Him and you will be rescued! God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. — Psalm 46:1 (NASB)

“Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’ — Matthew 7:21-23 (MSG) Don’t miss the boat. Jesus said, “ Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. ” (Matthew 7:21 NLT)  O Lord, Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10 NKJV)

I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. — Philippians 1:12 (MSG) The Apostle Paul was imprisoned in an attempt to hinder the preaching of God’s message but it actually served to advance the gospel. The enemy will try to imprison us with whatever bad thing that happened to us, but that too can have the opposite of it’s intended effect. In Philippians 1:20 (MSG) Paul says, “They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a pulpit!” Let us utilize the things we go through to declare God’s mighty power and faithfulness. May our lives proclaim His praises and help the Message continue to prosper. We overcome and conquer the enemy because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of our testimony. (Revelation 12:11 AMP) Amen.

…by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. — Colossians 1:22-23 (MSG) If you ever feel like your life is falling apart, know that in Christ, our lives come together perfectly. Just as we make sure we are on the right channel to view our favorite television show, let us stay tuned in to what our mighty God is doing in our midst. He is a great big God and He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (Ephesians 3:20, NKJV).