Manna for Your Morning

Then Job answered and said: “How long will you torment my soul, and break me in pieces with words? These ten times you have reproached me; You are not ashamed that you have wronged me.” — Job 19:1-3 (NKJV) Proverbs 18:21 says, death and life are in the power of the tongue. In Genesis 27:33 (NLT), after Isaac had mistakenly blessed Jacob, he told Esau that the blessing must stand! Our words are powerful. When we cut people with our words, we may go back and apologize, but the damage has already been done. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. (Proverbs 12:18 NKJV) Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (Proverbs 29:20 NKJV) May we be slow to speak and carefully choose our words. Let us speak wise words, those of life, love, peace, and blessing. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body. (Proverbs 16:24 AMP)  In Exodus 4:12 (NLT),...

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) The Apostle Paul was given a thorn in his flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment him and keep him from becoming proud (2 Corinthians 12:7). God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). When we admit we are poor, we can draw from the riches of His grace. When we admit our weaknesses to Him, His strength and power is available. When we surrender all and submit to God, He can do His best work in us and through us.

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. — 2 Corinthians 12:7b (NLT) The Message translation says, so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. Are you being pricked? So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor (1 Peter 5:6, NLT). And remember what the Lord said: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness,” (2 Corinthians 12:9a, NKJV). His grace (favor, loving-kindness and mercy) is more than enough!

Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. — Judges 16:19 (NKJV) Samson allowed Delilah to lull him to sleep and when he awoke from his sleep, he did not even realize that the LORD had departed from him. Have you been lulled to sleep by the things of this world? It is time to ARISE! “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5:14).