Manna for Your Morning

This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. — Psalm 118:24 (NASB) Brothers and sisters, as I said, I know I have not arrived; but there’s one thing I am doing: I’m leaving my old life behind, putting everything on the line for this mission. I am sprinting toward the only goal that counts: to cross the line, to win the prize, and to hear God’s call to resurrection life found exclusively in Jesus the Anointed. (Philippians 3:13-14 VOICE) May we look unto Jesus and keep our ears attuned to the still small voice of God, as He leads us and guides us through this day. Stay mission minded, because God has a good plan and a purpose for you to fulfill.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:13-14 (AMP) One of the enemy’s tricks is to keep us looking back. It's a distraction that puts us in a holding pattern. We will never attain all that God has for us, if we don’t press on and reach forward. Five times the Apostle Paul received thirty-nine lashes. Three times he was beaten with rods, once he was stoned, three times he was shipwrecked… He had been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from his countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; he had been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2...

Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies. — Psalm 108:12-13 (NKJV) With God’s help, we can be courageous and determined to persevere to the end, knowing that we have the victory. We win! Zechariah 4:6 (NIV) says, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Why try to fight battles in your own strength, when you can call on the name of the LORD? Philippians 4:13 says, we can do all things through Christ, because He is the One who strengthens us and empowers us to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives. Help me, O LORD my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy, that they may know that this is Your hand— That You, LORD, have done it! (Psalm 109:26-27 NKJV)

As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. — Exodus 17:11 (NIV) The Israelites defeated their enemies because Moses continually held his hands up to God. We will win our battles as we continually lift our hands up, in surrender to God and in praise of Him. Lifted hands are a sign of surrender, letting go and giving our cares to God. Raised hands indicate a submission to God, His Word and His ways. We also lift our hands to worship and praise our Heavenly Father. So get your hands up and start praising God for your victory! “The LORD will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.” (Exodus 14:14 AMP)

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. — 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NLT) All serious athletes, train hard and consistently. Let us run our race with perseverance, keeping our eyes on the prize, not allowing the hurdles of life to be a stumbling block. Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Philippians 3:14, NLT). Let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus… (Hebrews 12:1-2, AMP)

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” — Matthew 1:23 (NKJV) In every trial, in every temptation and in every challenge, this is all we need to know: God is with us! He is not against us. God is for you. He loves you. The Creator of the universe chose you! He created you with a purpose. Only you, with your unique set of gifts, talents and personality can fulfill the glorious destiny He has for you. He works all things together for good. The plans He has for you are good. How can you lose, when Jesus has already won the victory for us? All of our days are written in His Book. We win. Our heavenly Father has given us everything we need to overcome and conquer all. It's only possible when we humble ourselves and totally depend, rely on and trust in God and recognize that He is with us. Glory hallelujah!

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. — Zechariah 4:6b (NKJV) As we face battles and challenges, in life, we don’t want to fight in our own strength. We win by letting the Holy Spirit work in us and through us. With God on our side who can stand against us? Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth (Psalm 124:8 NKJV). Amen!

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. — 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NLT) We are in a race, however we are not competing against each other, but against an enemy whose only desire to trip us up, and keep us from crossing the finish line. All he wants us to do is give up on God and quit. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself (1 Corinthians 9:26-27 MSG). Let us run with purpose in every step!

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. — 1 John 5:4-5 (NLT) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). As children of God, we have been given divine strength which no hostile power can overcome. We are more than conquerors because the Spirit who lives in us is greater than the spirit in the world. In John 16:33 (MSG), Jesus said, “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” Despite all the things we go through in this life, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us! (Romans 8:37). Glory Hallelujah!

He said, “This is different. Get ready for trouble. Look to what you’ll need; there are difficult times ahead. Pawn your coat and get a sword. — Luke 22:36 (MSG) Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you (1 Peter 4:12 NLT). James 1:2 says, to count it all joy when you fall into various trials. In other words, expect trouble. You have a glorious destiny in God and an enemy who does not want you to get there. In order to win the battles we have to know how to use the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We have to know the Word and speak it out of our mouths, to declare it over every adverse situation that comes our way. Let us renew our minds with the Word, in order to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). Amen!

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; — Psalm 34:19 (NIV) Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you (Psalm 34:17 MSG). None of those who trust in Him shall be condemned (Psalm 34:22 NKJV). The Message Bible says, no one who runs to him loses out (Psalm 34:22). As long as we run to Him and rely on Him, we WIN! We cannot lose because our great God ensures our victory. Hallelujah!

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. — 1 John 5:4-5 (NLT) Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4, AMP). Jesus said, “be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Our victory is already a done deal, we just have to walk it out. Keep fighting the good fight of faith!

I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.  — Philippians 3:13 -14 (AMP) Sometimes it is a strain to move forward, but when we lay aside the disappointments and regrets of the past and throw off everything that hinders us, we are able to run with perseverance the race marked out for us. So let us press on, with our eyes on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus! Let there be no turning back or getting side-tracked.

Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.  — Psalm 108:12-13 (NKJV) If God is for us, who can stand against us? With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies (Psalm 108:13, NIV). With God’s help we will do mighty things (Psalm 108:13, NLT). With God we will display great strength (Psalm 108:13, GW). In God we’ll do our very best; he’ll flatten the opposition for good (Psalm 108:13, The Message). “...with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27) With God on our side, we win! Hallelujah!

“There are those who rebel against the light; They do not know its ways nor abide in its paths.”  — Job 24:13 (NKJV) Don't be one of those who fight against God. Who do you think is going to win that battle? Jesus came as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Him should not abide in darkness (John 12:46). We were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Let us walk as children of light and He will lead us along on the path of life. For this light we have within us produces everything that is good, that has God’s approval, and that is true (Ephesians 5:8-9). Abide in the light!

It’s not that I’ve already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me. Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 (GW) Congratulations! You may have overcome many obstacles this year, but the important thing is that you persevered and made it through. Praise the Lord! As we look forward to the New Year, may we resolve to get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. Let us run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up (Hebrews 12:1, GW). Run straight toward your goals, jump over any hurdles and keep your eyes on JESUS. Run to win! Complete the course!

So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! Hebrews 12:12-13 (The Message) Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us (Hebrews 12:1). It is so important for us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we run our race. Do not get distracted by the things of this world, or you may trip and fall into one of the enemy's traps. May we help each other out along the way and run to win!

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5 (NLT) The world around us is under the control of the evil one (1 John 5:19), but children of God have His Spirit within and His Spirit in us is greater than the devil who is in the world. We win this battle against the world by believing that Jesus is the Son of God and inviting Him to come into our hearts. Through our faith, we overcome the world. Remember: we have the victory! Hallelujah.

Some trust in chariots, others in horses, but we trust the Lord our God. They are overwhelmed and defeated, but we march forward and win. Psalm 20:7-8 (NCV) Those who trust in the LORD our God will march forward and win. They will experience sweet victory! Those who put their trust in created things instead of the Creator will be defeated. Let all your faith and hope rest on our great and glorious God.

It wasn't their swords that took the land. It wasn't their power that gave them victory. But it was your great power and strength. You were with them because you loved them. —Psalm 44:3 (NCV) The Israelites defeated their enemies and took the land because God was on their side. It is with God's mighty power and strength that we win our battles. Don't think for a minute that you can do it on your own. God is with you because He loves you and with His help you gain victory. Hallelujah!