Morning By Morning #198

Each morning everyone gathered
as much [manna] as he needed.

Exodus 16:21

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Work to maintain a sense of your entire dependence on the Lord’s goodwill and generosity for the ongoing provision of your greatest blessings. Never try to live on old manna or attempt to find help in Egypt, for if Jesus is not your source, you will be continually defeated. Old anointings will never suffice to impart new power to your spirit. Your head must be anointed with fresh oil from the golden horn of God’s sanctuary, for oil loses its effectiveness over time.

You may find yourself today on the summit of God’s mountain, but He who placed you there must keep you there or you will slip from the heights more quickly than you ever dreamed. The mountain under your feet is firm footing only when the Lord keeps the mountain firmly in its place, and if He hides His face from you, trouble will soon follow. And if the Savior should see fit, there is not one window through which you presently see the light of heaven that He could not darken in an instant.

Joshua asked the sun to “stand still” (Josh. 10:12), but Jesus can shroud it in total darkness. He can withdraw the joy of your heart, the light of your eyes, and the strength of your life, for the blessings of life lie in His hand, and if it is in His will, they can depart from you. Our Lord desires you recognize and feel the need for this hourly dependence upon Him, for He only permits you to pray for “daily bread” (Matt. 6:11), and He only promises “your strength will equal your days” (Deut. 33:25).

Isn’t it best for us this is true so we may often draw near His throne and constantly be reminded of His love? Oh, how rich God’s grace that continually meets our needs and never holds back even in light of our ingratitude! Golden rain showers never cease and the clouds of blessing linger evermore above our lives.

O Lord Jesus, we bow at Your feet, recognizing our utter inability to do anything without You! And for every blessing we are privileged to receive, we worship Your blessed name and acknowledge Your inexhaustible love.

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Christians have been anointed by the Lord, for His Word says, “It is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us… and put his Spirit in our hearts” (2 Cor. 1:21 – 22). Thus, the following psalm of David applies to us as God’s anointed:

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Psalm 20:4 – 8

“My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock” (Ps. 62:7). “In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name” (Ps. 33:21).

“O LORD our God…we rely on you” (2 Chron. 14:11).