Manna for Your Morning

When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!” — Genesis 19:17 (NLT) Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26) Don’t Look Back! Instead of dwelling on past mistakes and regrets, let’s actively press on to what God has for us today. If you are going through a valley, don’t stop! Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us (Hebrews 12:1 NLT). Keep moving forward with your eyes on Jesus. In Luke 9:62 (MSG), Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”

Moreover He said to me: “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears.” — Ezekiel 3:10 (NKJV) Receive the Word and let it sink deep into your heart. The quality of our lives and those around us depends on how we receive the Word of God and how well we listen to it. Listen carefully to what God speaks to you. Our heavenly Father speaks words of life, love, and peace. His Word is packed with promises of protection, provision, and victory. He speaks of the purpose and plans He has for our lives. He speaks of strength, stability, and success. When we trust Him, His Word will bring about transformation and restoration. His words are healing and inspire hope. Let us not be like the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19 NASB...

“The LORD is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” — Lamentations 3:24 (AMP) As we trust and fully rely on the LORD, we keep our hope alive and vibrant. Trust [confidently] in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalm 62:8 AMP) Our hope in God will not lead to disappointment, because our mighty God is faithful and trustworthy. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:17). It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:24 NKJV)

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV) We are to walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God… (Ephesians 5:2 NASB). Let us be [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, (Ephesians 3:17 AMP). Ephesians 4:2 tells us to bear with one another in love. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. (Ephesians 4:2 NLT) Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Love knocks down barriers and builds bridges. Love extravagantly! (1 Corinthians 13:13 MSG)

It is because of the LORD’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:22-23 (AMP) It is because of the LORD’s lovingkindness that He woke us up this morning. There is a continual flow of His compassions toward us. Great is His faithfulness! Because the LORD's compassions are new every morning, we don’t have to dwell on the shortcomings of yesterday. Today, we get a clean slate. We can press on, making the most of every opportunity He gives us. Because of His lovingkindness, He gives us wisdom, when we ask for it, and guides us along on the best pathway for our lives (Psalm 32:8). Because of His lovingkindness, we are free to live in fullness of joy, love, and peace.

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” — Matthew 2:2 (NASB) When we come to Jesus, let us come to worship and adore Him. May our coming to Him not just be about giving Him our list of petitions, to get what we have asked of Him. Let us come with our ears open, to hear what He would speak to us. May we become more intimately acquainted with Him and continually grow in our relationship with Him. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, (Revelation 1:8). He is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand… (Psalm 95:6-7). Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore...

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. — Luke 2:17 (NKJV) Once the Shepherds saw Jesus, they made widely known what they had been told about Him. First, we have to take our eyes off of ourselves and our issues and put them on Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. Once we see Jesus, we are to tell others about Him. Instead of telling how the enemy has harmed you, tell others about how Jesus has helped you. Tell them how He shined His light of love into your darkness, and changed your life forever. Report how He reached down and pulled you up out of that pit. Tell someone how He healed you when you were sick, how He gave you strength when you were weak and weary. Make widely known how He comforted you when you were mourning, and full of grief. Declare how He removed your loneliness by becoming your Friend and constant Companion. We overcome the enemy by the Word of our testimony (the words we speak). And they overcame him...