Manna for Your Morning

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. — James 1:17 (NASB) Today is a good gift that our heavenly Father has given to each one of us. Don’t waste a minute of this perfect gift by fretting about the future or regretting things of the past. Stay in the moment, continually communing with Abba Father. If you hold onto bitterness because of past wrongs, then you tarnish today. Instead, let us joyfully accept the gift of today and unwrap with great expectation, savoring every moment. Because the best gift of all is in the present, in His Presence. ‘ May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace. ’ (Numbers 6:24-26 NLT), as you abide in His Presence today.

And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?” — Matthew 26:6-8 (NKJV)  Let us be careful how we choose to perceive people and situations. Misperceptions can lead us astray. What others perceived as waste, Jesus identified as a good work. In Matthew 26:10, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.” Don't let others trouble you when you are engaged in a good work. What we do that serves to influence the world for Jesus and the kingdom of God is never a waste. So be faithful and give whatever talents and resources you have to the Lord, knowing He will use it for good.

Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” — Nehemiah 2:17, 18b (NKJV) Even though their enemies tried to stop the work of God, Nehemiah and his team successfully completed the wall. At times, our lives may seem to be no more than a pile of rubbish, broken pieces of debris scattered about. But God is in the business of restoration. He will use every piece of our broken lives and make something beautiful. Let us rise up and actively engage in what God wants to do in our lives. Out of the rubbish, Nehemiah re-built the walls of Jerusalem. What will you build for the LORD, with the rubble of your life?

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” — Matthew 6:34 (MSG) Jesus came to give us a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10 NLT), don’t waste today by trying to anticipate tomorrow’s troubles. Each day has enough trouble of its own. You don't know what will happen tomorrow, so rest and trust in the One who does. Focus on the great big things our mighty God is doing in your midst today!

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: — Romans 12:6a (NKJV) We all have a variety of gifts, given to us by God. For a gift to be of benefit to anyone, it must be accepted, opened and put to use. If we are to enjoy our gifts and talents we have to unwrap them, and explore how we may use them to be a blessing. Just as a muscle that is not used begins to waste away over time, a gift that is not used as God purposed, is a waste. Be sure to use your gifts and talents. You don’t have to wait until January 1st and make it a new years'  resolution. Don’t let the music die inside of you. Sing your song now!