Manna for Your Morning

…there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run. — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (TPT) Pursue love… (1 Corinthians 14:1a NASB) Let love be your highest goal! (1 Corinthians 14:1a NLT) The Message Bible says without love, we are bankrupt. Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. (1 Corinthians 13:4a TPT) Love is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:5 CSB) Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. (1 Corinthians 13:5b TPT) Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT) Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. (1 Corinthians 13:8a AMP) I think we can all raise the bar when it comes to living a life of love. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:8 NASB)...

From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah. — Psalm 61:2-4 (NASB) When we are overwhelmed by life’s challenges, let us be led to the Rock. His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9) No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2 NLT) For the Lord our God, in our midst, is a great and awesome God. If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31) As for me, I trust [confidently] in You and Your greatness, O LORD; I said, “You are my God.” (Psalm 31:14 AMP) “…guide me into your glory, where I am safe and sheltered. Lord, you are a paradise of protection to me.” — Psalm 61:2b-3a (TPT)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. — Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Don’t allow your faith to be shipwrecked. Fix your hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people. This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells], (Hebrews 6:19 AMP). Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. — 1 Timothy 1:19 (NLT)

Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose]. — James 4:10 (AMP) Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV) Yet He gives His grace [His undeserved favor] to the humble [those who give up self-importance]. (Proverbs 3:34b AMP) In Matthew 11:29 (NASB), Jesus instructs us to learn from Him, for He is gentle and humble in heart. He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death (Philippians 2:8 NKJV). Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) says: Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. — Psalm 138:6 (NLT)

“I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. — John 15:5 (AMP) A branch that is cut off from the vine, withers and eventually dies. So our union with Jesus is vital, that means absolutely necessary or important; essential. We should not attempt to do anything on our own, because apart from Him we can do nothing. In Him we live and move and exist (Acts 17:28). Invite Him into every area of your life. Ask for His help and continually seek to do His will. He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). When we abide in Him, we bear much fruit. May our daily prayer be:  “Father, not My will, but Yours be done.” Seek more of his strength! Seek more of him! Let’s always be seeking the light of his face. — Psalm 105:4 (TPT)

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.

Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. — Philippians 4:6 (VOICE) Do not be anxious or worried about anything. Instead, talk to God about your concerns, and thank Him for all He has done. Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. (Hebrews 4:16 (AMP)