Mar

31

Our Daily Bread

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


“Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.” (Psalm 119:92)

The Word of God is our daily bread.  Without it, we will perish.

Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” When Christ was tempted of the devil in the wilderness, He quoted this scripture pointing out that physical bread is not what sustains life, but rather it is the Bread from Heaven, the Word of God.

There is no satisfaction in life to be found apart from the Word of God!  There is no way to live in victory apart from the Word of God!

Just as the children of Israel gathered the manna sufficient for each day at dawn every morning, we must also find the Source of our life on a daily basis.  We cannot, again like the children of Israel, hope to gather enough daily manna once or twice a week and expect it to sustain us.  If you will note, the manna from heaven was sent daily, to be gathered daily, to be eaten daily, and if it was not totally consumed each day it spoiled and bred worms (ref. Exodus 16).

The Psalmist recognized how important the Word of God was for health and life.  It is no different for us, and we have no other provision given to us by God that will sustain us and meet our need for each day.

It is noteworthy that the daily schedule of gathering manna was set at the same time every day, at the break of dawn, with the exception of the one day of the week where they would gather enough to sustain them for two days so they would not violate the Sabbath laws.  Can we hope to attend church once or twice or even three times a week and expect that to sustain us on the days between services?  The children of Israel had to leave their tents and go out to gather the manna, making it a necessary routine to gather enough provision for each day.

If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for collecting daily manna), make it a habit!  Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day.  And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning, etc.

God’s provision is absolutely amazing!  He left out absolutely no detail in providing to us a plan for victorious living.  Take advantage of his roadmap for life found that in the Word of God and find satisfaction for today’s hunger “according to the pattern”!

Father, your word is so complete!  And the Word of God is so rich!  You have provided to us everything that we need to sustain our lives in the Word of God.  Help us, Lord, to be diligent to satisfy the hunger in our souls by collecting our daily Manna from Heaven before we start each day as part of our early morning rising.  Father, help me to hunger after your Word more than I hunger after other things.  Help me, Father, to crave your Word and to find satisfaction nowhere else.  Father, give me this day my daily bread, today and every day as I commit to seek you early in the morning gathering your provision for me each new day.  Thank you, Lord, for showing me your provision and your plan for victorious living.  In Jesus’ precious name, amen!

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” (John 6:51)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Mar

30

He Really Is All We Need

By Jan Ross | 1 Comment


“Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” (Micah 7:8)
The Lord is ALL WE NEED!   Of course, most of us know that and we’ve heard it over and over and over again, but sometimes a scripture just “hits” us and suddenly we find application for it in our lives.

When we are down, whether physically or emotionally or even spiritually, the Lord is there to shed light on our path and show us the way out.

Many of us have suffered from deep depression . . . some more than others. When I read this verse I could almost see us walking through a deep, dark valley at the midnight hour.  Some times we seem to walk on and on forever and ever, but then suddenly a glimmer of light can be seen on the path just ahead, and as we approach it, the light becomes brighter and brighter and soon we find ourselves surrounded by the light and the darkness is totally dispelled as we stand in the LIGHT!

He has called us and IS CALLING US out of that darkness into His marvelous light!  (Read 1 Peter 2:9)   God has commanded that His light shine in the darkness to show us the way!  (Read 2 Corinthians 4:6)  Jesus is the light and we will not always walk in the midst of that dark valley, but He is calling us out, shining a light to show us the way!  (Read John 8:12)

You may not necessarily suffer from depression right now, but perhaps life’s circumstances have brought you to a place where you have to moment-by-moment press toward that Light by an act of your conscious will — like trying to row a boat upstream against the current!  But, you must press on.  Be encouraged today knowing that God knows exactly where you are at and what you are facing.

Depression is a horrible dark pit that seems to engulf you . . . but there’s a Light to press toward.  You can’t afford to take your eyes off that Light!  Physical pain and illness is a deep dark never-ending valley that seems like an eternity to walk through . . . but there’s a Light to press toward.  You can’t afford to take your eyes off that Light!

Family problems, unsaved children, hurting children, abuse, and financial problems can all be a midnight darkness through which it is difficult to see . . . but there’s a Light to press toward.  You can’t afford to take your eyes off that Light!

Press on . . . press on!

Father, I praise You for Your Word, Your promises, and Your faithfulness to perform that which You have promised.  You promised to never stop drawing us closer to You, closer to the Light of Jesus, the Light of Life, the Light of Your Glory!   Help us all, Lord, to walk in Your strength as we press on closer toward the fullness of Your Light.  You’re there waiting for us . . . drawing us to You!   Help us, Lord, to press on!

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Mar

27

Who Will You Serve?

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14:13-14)

Just reading these verses we get quite a clear picture of the evil intents of a heart dedicated to “I will!”  Just listen to yourself as you carefully read the evidence of strife, bitterness, pride, boastfulness, and the very essence of evil:

“I will ascend . . . I will exalt . . . I will sit . . . I will ascend . . . I will be . . .”

Every day we have a battle going on in our minds . . . it is the battle between “I will” and “Thy will”.  H. G.  Wells wrote a famous book entitled, “The War of the World’s”.  The Bible could easily be considered the written record of “The War of the Wills”.

Paul wrote to us in Romans 7:21-23 giving a description of this “war” raging within his own heart . . . “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.”  As you can easily see this struggle is common to mankind.

There is another One who struggled with this same war as it raged within His heart as well.  Matthew 26:42 gives us but a glimpse of the pain involved with making the critical decision between our will and the Lord’s will.  “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”  Jesus knew that the Lord’s will had to be done, however, that didn’t stop or lessen the struggle and agony He went through before finally saying, “Thy will be done.”

Take careful note of the decisions (both great and small) you are required to make day after day.  Make a conscious effort of making sure that it is “Thy will” that becomes your theme in life rather than “my will “or as Isaiah described so powerfully, “I will!”

Do you have a struggle you are facing in your life today?  Ask yourself whose will will be done . . . will you do the will of your Father or will you do what you choose?  “Choose this day whom you will serve” . . . make your choice by asking this question, “will I do my will, or will I do my Father’s will”.

Father, I stand before you so aware of the many, many times I chose my will as opposed to your will.  Help me, Father, to always choose your will.  As hard as it is, my life MUST bear witness to the will of my Father in heaven.  Lord, help me to see clearly your will as opposed to my will.  Help me to quickly determine who is speaking to me by judging the words whether they point to you or to me!  Father, it is my desire that “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven”.  Teach me to hear your voice more clearly.  Help me to quickly recognize YOUR will, accept the challenge, and then do it!  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” (Psalm 143:10)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Mar

26

Be Thankful

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)

One way to true peace . . . thankfulness! To be truly thankful, we have to acknowledge the Source of every good thing! To acknowledge the Source of every good thing, we have to realize that we have nothing . . . that we are nothing . . . that we can do nothing . . . in and of ourselves! True thankfulness realizes that we have not earned His blessings, but rather that He lovingly chose to bestow them upon us . . . an outpouring of His grace!

Thankfulness comes from a heart of gratitude . . . adorned with humility! True thankfulness will change us . . . transform us . . . renew us into His likeness!

God designed the act of thanksgiving so we could show how much we love and appreciate Him for all He has done. But there is a higher calling . . . being thankful for the things for which we are standing in faith believing! Hebrews describes faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.

Are there things you are thankful for which you don’t yet see? Don’t be dismayed when your prayer isn’t answered immediately . . . look at it as an opportunity to take a step upward to a higher level of intimate communion through faith in Him who answers our prayers and provides our needs . . . in His time!

Be thankful . . . today and every day . . . and the peace of God will rule in your heart!

Father, I am thankful for all You have done as well as for all You will do for me. I realize that all that I have has come from You, not because I deserve it, but because of Your grace extended toward me. Why You should bless me so, I’ll never truly know, but I am so thankful! Father, help my faith grow as I stand in faith for those things which I do not yet see . . . and let Your peace rule in my heart as I learn to live a life of thankfulness unto You! You truly are awesome . . . there is none like You! Amen!

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Mar

25

Top Priority

By Jan Ross | 2 Comments


“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

The Word of God is truth.  The Word of God is sufficient to cleanse us from all of our unrighteousness.  The Word of God is preeminent.  The Word of God sanctifies us.  The Word of God is alive today in the person of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord!

There is nothing new nor is there any tool or vehicle by which we can be made clean other than the Word of God.  Of course, when talk about the Word of God, I am referring to none other than Jesus Christ the Lord and King of the universe.

It would be good for us to take some time to consider what level of priority the Word of God holds in our life.  Have we established the Word of God as a source for all that is true in all that is pure and all that is holy.  Or, have we accepted a lesser truth by believing the lies this world tells us through television, radio, written media, through the internet, and even more than that, through our own fleshly desires.

The Psalmist says that he seeks God early in the morning.  “Early in the morning will I rise up and seek thee”.  When I consider my own ways, I see where the Word of God has not been my first daily priority.  How many of you acknowledge that to be the truth in your own lives as well.

Recently I read a statement that said, “You can not recognize a lie until you know the truth”.  How can we recognize the lies of the enemy unless we have something planted deep within our hearts against which to compare it?  Even in this simple statement it is easy to see the importance of knowing the Word of God.

I encourage you to day to make a plan to give the Word of God preeminence in your life.  I challenge you to turn off the television.  I challenge you to lay down the newspapers, magazines, and the books.  I challenge you to turn off the radio.  And, I challenge you to give the Word of God top priority in your life.  If you do, and if you will, God will reveal to you how easy it is to recognize truth as opposed to the lies of the enemy.

Will you do this?  Will you agree to rearrange your life and give the Word of God top priority?  No one can do it for you; it is a discipline you will have to establish in your own life.  Let’s pray . . .

Lord, we come before you today recognizing that we have not given the Word of God preeminence in our lives.  Yes, we read the Word of God, but usually only at a time that’s convenient for us or when in fits into our busy schedules.  Father, forgive us.  Lord, convict us every morning when our eyes open at the dawning of each new day, to seek you in the Word of God and to let your Word be established in our hearts giving us the desperately needed guidance and direction for the day.  Let us declare as the Psalmist did, “early in the morning will I seek you”.   Help me today, Lord, to make this commitment and bring it to my remembrance tomorrow and everyday afterward.  I love you and I praise you for truth that sanctifies me and keeps me pure . . . I praise you for the Word of God.  In Jesus’ precious name I pray, amen!

“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

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