Manna for Your Morning

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.  — Psalm 139:17-18 (NKJV) How precious are God's thoughts concerning you!  Our God is so amazing. His thoughts of you outnumber the grains of sand on the seashore. Not a moment passes by, that you are not on His mind. He has made many wonderful plans for us (Psalm 40:5, GW). May our minds be captivated with thoughts of our loving and gracious God!

He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. — Ezra 7:9 (NIV) Ezra had the good hand of God upon him during his five month journey to Jerusalem. May the gracious hand of God be upon on us, as we embark upon the journey to a higher and deeper place in God. His gracious hand will guide us and protect us along the way. The good hand of God is there to catch us, when we fall and comfort us in our distress. The good hand of God opens doors, that were previously shut. Let us rely on the gracious hand of God. Amen.

But the leaders of the Jews were under God’s watchful eye. They couldn’t be stopped until Darius received a report and sent a reply to it. — Ezra 5:5 (GW) Just as God's eye was upon the Jews, He continues to watch over His people today. Since He formed you in the womb of your mother, our Heavenly Father has had His eye on you. He sees your struggles and He is there to give you the strength to endure and persevere. His eye is on your going out and your coming in, and He goes before you to smooth out the rough places. How blessed are we to be under God's watchful eye!

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, — Ezra 4:1-2 (NKJV) When the people of Judah and Benjamin refused to let their enemies "help" them build the temple of God, they tried to discourage them. They attempted to frustrate their purposes and then they sent accusations against them to the king. When we are in the process of doing something for God, we can expect our adversary to show up. We must stay alert and be of sober mind, because our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians. Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors. — 2 Chronicles 16:12-13 (NIV) There is nothing wrong with going to the doctors, God uses them too. But put your trust and confidence in JESUS, the Great Physician. If we want to experience physical, emotional, mental and spiritual healing, we must go to Jesus, our Healer. Only Jesus heals, delivers and makes us whole. Praise the Lord!

“Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. — 2 Chronicles 29:5 (NKJV) During King Hezekiah's restoration project, he instructed the Levitical priests to clean out the holy place. First Peter 2:9 says, we are a a royal priesthood. We are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in us (1 Corinthians 3:16). So, let us take a survey of all that we have accumulated throughout the year and carry out any rubbish. Get rid of all debris: offense, unforgiveness, pride, rebellion, etc. These are things which will cause a root of bitterness to grow and defile our temples. Amen!

He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the things of God; and as long as he sought (inquired of, yearned for) the Lord, God made him prosper. — 2 Chronicles 26:5 (AMP) When we seek the Lord, with all of our hearts, He makes us prosper. Prosperity touches every area of our lives. Our physical bodies are in good health, our souls flourish, and we are fruitful. We maintain healthy, loving relationships (based on compassion, trust, and respect). We have more than enough, thus the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. Let us dedicate our lives to drawing near to God, yearning for His Presence every moment, and delighting to do His will.  Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 1:2).