I think a lot about manna. You know, the unidentifiable food substance God provided for the Israelites in the desert. Every morning, it sat on the ground with the morning dew and the Israelites were to gather just enough for that day.
Every day, God gave them what they needed, just enough for
one day at a time so the Israelites would learn to rely on Him for their every
need.
I think of manna at the end of the day when I’m not sure how
I had enough strength and energy for the hard stuff I dealt with.
The tough conversation…
The disappointments…
All the ways in which I was stretched beyond what I could
handle on my own….
And yet, with God’s help, I made it through.
Manna reminds me that day-by-day, my needs will be met. It
may not be the way I would like (the line between want and need often gets
blurred), but God knows, and I’m still learning to trust and rely on Him.
Manna is a reminder that worrying about “what-if” and “how-will-I”
for the future gets me nowhere. I need to focus and look for what God is doing today. {Tweet this}
Manna leads me to pray 3 prayers. For today. And every day.
3 Prayers for Today
Lord, let me see You today.
Whatever our day looks like, God is present. On those days
when we’re distracted and all we can see is what we’re facing, we have to
intentionally look for Him. I’ve been reminded of His presence in the way the
morning sun beamed down through the clouds as I drove to work, unexpected flowers on a plant that rarely bloomed, and the way a text or email from a friend came at just the right moment.
These may seem small or insignificant, but when we’re
looking for God, they’re gentle reminders that say I AM here.
Lord, give me the strength and energy I need for today.
Just as we ask Him to provide daily provisions, like food,
clothing, and shelter, I know I need His help in other ways to get through each
day. I need to rely on His strength, His energy, His compassion for others, and
His grace.
Jesus was always in direct contact with His Father. We need
to be too. Quiet time with God grounds me and helps me focus on Him, instead of
all that is going on around me. A quick prayer before we act—Lord, give me the words to speak or Lord, show me how I can support her—helps
us see others through His eyes, rather than through our own.
Lord, guide my steps today.
When life feels difficult, I know that even though I can’t
see what’s ahead, I need to keep doing the next thing. The problem is sometimes
I don’t know what that next thing is. I know what I want to see happen, but it might not line up with God’s plan. I
need Him to guide my steps and show me where my attention and focus should be.
Allowing myself to be led by Him (even on the days when I
feel like I’m not accomplishing anything) may open my eyes to something He
wants to show me that I’ve been missing. Or it may lead me to the rest and
relaxation He knows I need.
But even better, it will draw me closer to Him as I wait on
Him, lean into Him, and depend on Him. Today. And every day.
In Christ,
Laura
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