Morning Verses

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Lamentations3:22, 23

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.

Isaiah 50:4b

“Morning by morning he wakens, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.”

Psalms 5: 3

“0Lord, in the morning thou dost hear my voice; in the morning prepare a sacrifice for  thee, and watch.”

Psalms 88:13

“But I, O Lord, cry to thee; In the morning my prayer comes before thee.”

Psalms 90:14

“Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”

Psalms143:8

“Let me bear in the morning of thy steadfast love, for in thee I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to thee I lift up my soul.”

8:34

“Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.”

 

The verses about the manna given from the Lord. Exodus16:4-7a “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a days portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “All evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord.”

Exodus 16:13-15 “In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning dew law round the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, find as hoarfrost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is this?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.:

Exodus 16:21 “Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat, but when the sun grew hot, it melted.”

Finally we have Jesus’ example to us: Mark 1:35-38 “And the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him followed him, and they found him and said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ And he said to them ‘Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for this is why I came out.'”

Reflections:

Grandma Rosy has a special saying to encourage us to spend time with God in the morning. She says “You can’t tune the orchestra after the concert”. I love this saying because it speaks to the importance of touching base with God before our day begins. Only God can know what our day with bring and so we should rely on Him to be prepared for the day. Grandma Rosy led by example by getting up before the sun to sit with the Lord in a cozy corner of her house. I always think of her when I nestle into the sofa with my cup of coffee and devotional. She has taught me to appreciate the stillness of the morning where I can speak with and listen to the Lord.

 

 

Boot Camp Training

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Boot Camp verse: Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans with be established”

  • Commit your work to the Lord, and then listen to Him because he will tell us if he has a better plan.

Do you know it is possible for the Lord to speak to you and for you to hear his voice? The Bible tells us this is true. Here are a few of the verses that speak to this truth:

  • Mathew 17:05 “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased: Listen to him?”
  • John 8:47 “He who is of God HEARS the words of God; the reason you do not HEAR them is that you are not of God.”
  • Job 15:8
  • John 10:14
  • John 10:27
  • Isaiah 55:3a
  • Matt 11:15
  • Ecc. 5:1a
  • Proverbs 1:23
  • Psalms 143:8
  • Heb. 3:7,8a

These verses offer proof that there are many promises regarding “hearing the voice of God”. But it takes time and practice to develop and strengthen your listening ear. Just as it takes time to practice and develop our physical muscles, so it is with our spiritual muscles. Especially the muscles of faith and the listening ear.

Remember to listen to God’s will for your day, rather than taking control into your own hands. Remember these verses:

  • Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
  • Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. “
  • Isaiah 55:9 “For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

When our spiritual listening ear is strengthened, sharp, and strong, we are able to instantly obey the voice of the spirit. RUDDER VERSE: Isaiah 30:20& 21 says “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eye shall see your Teacher. AND YOUR EARS SHALL HEAR A WORD BEHIND YOU, SAYING, ‘THIS IS THE WAY, WALK IN IT’, when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

It can be fun to name a verse that has been powerful in your life. I (Grandma Rosy) have done that with my RUDDER VERSE and BANKING VERSE, and now my BOOT CAMP VERSE. It’s ok to take ownership of a verse. They are God’s gift to us to use, enjoy, and share.

The BANKING VERSE comes in the middle of the BOOT CAMP and RUDDER verses. BANKING VERSE: Psalms 50:14, 15 “Offer to God a sacrifice thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High; and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify me.”

This verse speaks of the same principle I have been talking about. “Paying” your vows to the most High, and then on the day of trouble He will deliver us. It can be compared to putting money in the bank little by little. Then when a crisis comes we have sufficient funds to cover the needs. This is similar to our daily encounters with the Lord. Little by little we learn to listen and then when the crisis comes and we really need to urgently hear what He tells us, we are able to do so.

Another analogy that comes to mind is referring to Proverbs 16:3 as the Minor Leagues and referring Isaiah 30:20,21 as the Major Leagues. We practice daily in the Minor Leagues to listen to the little things of the day and make our listening ear stronger. Then when we get into Major League problems, we can hear what the Lord is telling us and instantly obey the voice of the Spirit, whether we are to turn to the right or the left.

I consider the following some of the issues we might face in the Major Leagues as far as needing to REALLY hear what the Lord is telling us….

  • Should we move?
  • Should I change jobs?
  • Am I doing the right thing by holding firm with my decision with my teenager?
  • What church should we join?
  • I have a serious health problem. Do I have surgery or wait?
  • Lord, I don’t want to sweat the “little things”, but I need to know what are the “little things” and what are the “big things”

These decisions are more than just planning the schedule of the day. But unless you have been trained in Boot Camp, you will not be able to hear the Lord’s voice when a major need comes.

“If one gives answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” Proverbs 18:13

This verse explains that if you give your answer to a certain problem, perhaps one of the above, before you hear a word from the Lord, you are going to be in BIG trouble.

Christians struggle with “How do I know God’s Will?” and “How am I led by the Holy Spirit?” But God does have a plan and a promise if we only become “doers of the word” and not simply hearers. James 1:22-25 “But be DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets, BUT DO THAT ACTS, HE SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIS DOING.”

John 13:17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

May the Lord bless you as you learn to listen to Him.

5 Minute Devotional Survival Sheet

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IMPORTANT: Set your timer for 5 minutes for the first time. This will be a lesson to recognize how much you can accomplish in only 5 minutes (try this on a busy day).

Read a Devotional (Here are two copies from God Calling and God at Eventide) (other options: My Utmost for His Highest, Steams in the Desert, A Treasury of Devotion, and Jesus Calling)

God Calling– January 21st “A Crowded Day”

“Believe that I am with you, and controlling all. When My Word has gone forth, ALL are powerless against it.

Be Calm. Never fear. You have much to learn. God on until you can take the most crowded day with a song. ‘Sing unto the Lord.’ The finest accompaniment to a Song of Praise to Me is a very crowded day. Let Love be the motif running through all.

Be glad all the time. Rejoice exceedingly. Joy in Me. Rest in Me. Never be afraid. Pray more. Do not get worried. I am the Helper. ‘Underneath are the Everlasting Arms.’ You cannot get below that. Rest in them as a tired child rests.”

God at Eventide– November 27th “Spirit of Adventure”

“The path has been tried, every step has been planned with a view of your progress. Never erst you work by what others can accomplish, or by what they leave undone. Yours to master the test I have set before YOU. Go forward in My Strength and in the Spirit of Adventure. Undreamed of heights can be attained in this way. Never question your capability. That has been for Me to decide. No experienced Leader would set a follower a tasks beyond his power. Trust Me, your Leader.

The world would have you been won for Me ere this had My followers been dauntless, inspired by their faith in Me. It is not humility to hesitate to do the great task I set. It is a lack of faith in Me.

To wait to feel strong is cowardly. My strength is provided for the task, but I do not provide it for the period of hesitancy before you begin.

How much of My Work goes undone through lack of faith. Again and again might it be said, ‘He did not do my mighty works through this follow’s unbelief.’”

 

Read in the Bible: Start with Philippian’s Chapter 1:1-11. Read a few verses each day until something grabs you, a thought that you can carry with you during the day.

 

Commit your work for the day to the Lord: Proverbs 16:3- “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established”

“Oh, Lord go before and prepare the way for me this day. I commit the following things to you that I have on my plate today”

“Lord please establish my plans. Is there a better way to do anything I have planned? Is there anything that should be taken away? Added? Please direct me today. Walk with me. Hold my hand. God I lift up the following concerns and people to you. “

 

“Lord, please help to today to be the person you want me to be. I love you.”

Further questions for Devotional time

General Starting questions:

  • What is keeping me from focusing on the Lord right now?
  • What do I feel guilty about/ ashamed of that is keeping me from wanting to connect with God?
    • What fears are underneath my shame?
  • What are 10 things I can thank God for today?
  • Where did I see God working this week?
  • How might God be using my challenges to shape me or grow me?

Reading the Bible & Reflecting:

  • (Read passage in the bible)
    • Initial reaction?
    • What questions do I have?
    • What are my frustrations with this passage?
    • Where do I see a challenge for my own life?
    • How can I apply this to my own situations?

Relationship:

  • Who in my life is it hard to love right now?
  • What comes up for me when I am around this person?
  • How might God be using me/ growing me by putting me around this person?
  • What am I uncertain about in relationships right now?
  • What does God ask me to do in these relationship?
    • Do my actions align with this?

Decisions:

  • How do the options align with God’s calling in my life?
  • Will each choice allow me to live a life according to my own values?
  • What fears come up when I consider making one choice or the other?
  • Will either choice allow me to further the Kingdom of God?
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