Manna for Your Morning

“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God...” — Luke 3:8a (NLT) May we not just honor Yahweh with our words, but with our actions as well. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person... (See Romans 12:2) Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. (Galatians 6:9 AMP) I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ (Hosea 10:12 NLT) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  (Galatians 6:7 NKJV)

In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” — Matthew 3:1-2, 8 (NLT) Matthew 3:8 (AMP) says to produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin]; We are not saved by our works, but once we have received Yeshua, the Messiah as our Savior, our behavior should reflect His Presence in our lives. Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) says: …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. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord...

Who is among you that fears Yahweh, that listens to the voice of His Servant, that walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of Yahweh and rely on his God. — Isaiah 50:10 (LSB) “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die and of the son of a man who will be made like grass? And you forget the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth...” (Isaiah 51:12-13a NKJV) “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalms 46:10 LSB) “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.” (See Isaiah 45:22) “…And all flesh will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” (See Isaiah 49:26b LSB) Turn to Yahweh and never turn away.

For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, — 1 Thessalonians 1:9 (NASB1995) Let us turn away from idols, which is any person, place or thing that we have more affection for, than we do for Elohim, our loving Creator. Do you place more importance on some earthly activity than drawing near to Yahweh? Do you give more time, attention, or energy to someone or something, than you do to worshiping, thanking and praising, El Elyon, our mighty God? An idol can be TV, social media, a parent, a spouse or your child, a form of entertainment, sports, money, material possessions, any man-made traditions, the sun, moon, or stars, etc. …turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. (See Acts 14:15 NASB1995) May He occupy the primary place in our hearts and minds. “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, ...

“… and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. ” — Acts 14:15 (CSB) Let us turn to the living God, at all times and in every situation. Anything we hold more dear in our hearts than our heavenly Father is an idol, a worthless thing. Count it all rubbish! Acts 14:17 (CSB) goes on to say, “ God did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food and your hearts with joy. ” Our heavenly Father is a good God. He is not a deadbeat dad or an absentee father. He is with us always. Psalm 37:23b (NLT) says, He delights in every detail of our lives. Enjoy your fruitful seasons in His Presence. Open your heart to Him that He may fill it with everlasting joy. Cast all your cares and concerns on Him because He cares about you with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully. (1Peter 5:7)

For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!” — Ezekiel 18:32 (NKJV) God, our Savior, desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4 NKJV). Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, (Hebrews 12:1 NIV). Amen!

Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left;  Remove your foot from evil.  — Proverbs 4:26-27 (NKJV) Let us give careful thought to the way we choose to go. Don't let your attention be captivated by the sideshows and refuse to take any detours off the path of life, which the LORD shows us. Proverbs 4:18 says, the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. Follow the light of the LORD!

“Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me.”  — John 6:37 (GW) When you don't know where to go, Jesus says,  “ COME! ”  Though man may reject you, Jesus never turns away anyone who comes to Him. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). His arms are always open, ready to embrace you. Jesus loves you with an everlasting love and His love will never run out on you!

So I turned to the Lord God and looked to him for help. I prayed, pleaded, and fasted in sackcloth and ashes. —  Daniel 9:3 (GW) When Daniel learned from the Scriptures that Jerusalem was going to be in ruins, he turned to the Lord. Who do you turn to in time of need? Turn to the everlasting, Almighty God and look to Him for help. Before you put your trust in man, or medication, trust God.  In Daniel 10:12, an angel told the prophet, “God has heard everything that you said ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in front of your God...” Humble yourself before our powerful God and pray and plead with Him.

Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since. 2 Kings 23:25 (NLT) King Josiah's legacy is an inspiration for us to be all God created us to be. Follow in his footsteps and turn to the Lord with all your heart, with your soul and with all your strength. When your greatest desire is to be in His Presence and draw closer to him, He has your heart. As your mind, will and emotions reflect the lovingkindness and obedience of our risen Savior, you have turned your soul to the Lord. Turn your strength to the Lord by pouring all your energy into the passions our heavenly Father created in you.