Character Archives - My Manna

Humility

My Manna — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 17:00:00 +0000

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.”1 Timothy 1:12-13.

Some people believe that thinking badly of themselves is a sign of humility.

But Paul is a beautiful example of how we are to approach God.
He does not berate himself and tell God how vile and sinful He is.

Instead, Paul talks repeatedly with a spirit of humility about the grace of God.

There are seven things we can do to allow the Lord to develop such a humble spirit in our life.

To pursue humility-
– it is necessary that we die to self.

We must refuse to put ourselves first and instead ask the Lord what is His will for our situation.

God wants us to be devoted to other people because He has made us reservoirs of His truth—something those around us greatly need.

And when God blesses others, we who follow Christ are to delight in the good things that come to them. Rom. 12:15.

For ourselves, we must wholly depend on God.
If we want to live with genuine humility, we must rely on Him in every circumstance.

The Lord has many good things in store for us.
When we direct our thoughts continually to His grace and goodness, our confidence in Him will grow.

It is also important that we distance ourselves from whatever appeals to our pride, such as wealth, prestige, applause, or certain relationships—the list is different for every person.

Finally, we must determine to obey God regardless of the earthly consequences.

When you humble yourself before Him-
– you can mark that day as the beginning of the best part of your life.

(PR)

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Patience

MyManna — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 22:00:17 +0000

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him” Psalm 37:7.
Have you prayed and prayed and waited and waited?
And still there is no manifestation?
Are you tired of seeing nothing move?
Are you just at the point of giving it all up?
Perhaps you have not waited in the right way!
“With patience wait!” Romans 8:25.

Patience takes away worry!
His promise is equal to His presence!
He knows your need better than you do!!
His purpose in waiting is to bring more glory out of it all.
Patience takes away your weeping!
Patience takes away self-works.
The work He desires is that you “believe”. John 6:29.
And when you believe, you may then know that all is well.
“weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5.
Patience takes away all want!
Your desire for the thing you wish is perhaps stronger than-
– your desire for the will of God to be fulfilled in its arrival.
Patience takes away all weakening!
Instead of having the delaying time, a time of letting go,
– know that God is getting a larger supply ready and must get you ready too.
Patience takes away all wobbling!
“Make me stand upon my standing” Daniel 8:18.
God’s foundations are steady.
When His patience is within-
– we are steady while we wait.

Patience gives worship!
A praiseful patience paves the way for a joyful worship.
“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” Col.1:11,12.
“Let patience have its perfect work-
– that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4.
(PA)

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Extra Mile

MyManna — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 22:00:14 +0000

“Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.” Matthew 5:41.

When Jesus spoke about going the extra mile-
He wasn’t referring to customer service,
– but to a Roman law imposed on the people.
The law stated that Roman soldiers could order any citizen-
– to carry their weapons or equipment for a distance of up to one mile.
No matter what you were doing, the law required that you drop everything and obey.
You can guess how the people felt about that!
So when Jesus said, “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two,” the people weren’t exactly thrilled.

In today’s context-
– it would be comparable to having a very demanding boss who expects so much from you that at times it seems unreasonable.
Yet still you do even more than he or she expects even if it goes unacknowledged.
What Jesus was saying to Christians is this:
“Even if your boss is incredibly difficult, don’t just do the bare minimum.
Go above and beyond, even exceeding their expectations.
But be careful to watch your motives.
Don’t act in this way expecting a raise or hoping to be promoted; do it because you want to be a positive witness for Christ.”
Do it for the glory of God!
If you want to communicate a character and a lifestyle that is beyond the norm-
– if you want to be a positive witness for Christ,
– are you willing to go the extra mile?
The world is always surprised when people live that way!
(PA)

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Gossip

MyManna — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 22:00:49 +0000

“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”James 3:6.

Gossip isn’t a popular subject-
– but it certainly is a popular activity.
Many people spend a great deal of time participating in idle talk about someone else-
– usually with the intention of injuring the individual in some way.
Unfortunately, believers are oftentimes just as guilty of gossiping as unbelievers.
But our Father wants us to see the practice for what it truly is.
The Bible includes gossip in a couple of odious categories.
Paul lists it amidst interrelated sins like deceit, malice, slander, and arrogance. Rom. 1:29-30.
Gossip is deceptive and defamatory-
– and it is accompanied by both cruelty and pride.
These are all characteristics of “haters of God,” according to the apostle.
In another passage describing ungodly practices-
Paul places gossip in the middle.
And of course, everyone recognizes the Ten Commandments, whose last decree is-
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.” Ex. 20:16.
Gossip does not fit who we are as God’s children.
Just as you can’t have poison and pure water pouring from the same stream-
– you cannot have both God-honoring talk and gossip coming from a believer.
When evil words pass our lips, they are indicative of what we harbour in our heart.
However-
God is in the heart-cleaning business.
If we falter-
– allowing gossip and its cohorts, malice and deceit, into our lives
– we should pray as David did:
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19:14.
(PA)

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Accepting Accountability

MyManna — Mon, 29 May 2017 22:00:49 +0000

At times, we can be so subtle in dodging personal responsibility that we deceive our own selves into thinking that it’s somebody else’s fault.

Most of us jump into the “blame game” far too eagerly.

The word “accountable” means answerable.

Since it contains the word “account,” let’s use the metaphor of bookkeeping to illustrate it.

If I accept accountability, that means I’m willing to let other people “audit my books.”

I’m willing for my deeds to be examined against fair standards of right and wrong, and if the audit shows that I’ve done anything amiss, then I’m willing to compensate anyone who’s been hurt and make restitution to the full extent of my ability.

Accepting accountability requires three things, at the very least.

Conscience.

We must admit that there are standards that we’re answerable to and have the humility to be guided by those standards.

Commitment.

We must discipline ourselves to demonstrate integrity.

That is, we must commit ourselves to doing what’s right and maintain consistency between our principles and our practice.

Courage.

We must be willing to accept the consequences of everything we do — and face the firing squad of full justice, if need be.

Accepting full and frank accountability for our own actions is one of the best things we can do for those around us.

It’s a gift of great value, and one that’s made all the more valuable by the fact that it’s so rare these days.

When others know that we can be counted on to do our best, and that when we’ve failed to do what’s right, we’ll spend our time making restitution rather than making excuses, they will find a peace and security in their relationship with us that can’t be found any other way.

It’s not a complicated matter, really. It’s just a bit of basic morality, a fundamental principle of right and wrong.

A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury.

(PA)

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Condition of Our Heart

MyManna — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 22:30:04 +0000

“And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.” Luke 21:1-4.
A preacher told of a church meeting where he had been asked to assist with a fund raising campaign for a church that had been struggling financially because the people would not give.
He said, “It was the slowest and most reluctant giving I have ever encountered.”
When he finished his exhortation and the pledges were taken, they had less than half the money needed.
He said that an elderly couple in the back then volunteered to sell their house to make up the difference—they had been offered exactly the amount remaining that needed to be raised for it the day before.
But in less than five minutes, the previously stingy congregation rallied to pledge the entire amount so the couple could keep their home.
The sacrifice of that couple motivated them to give.
When we realize that all we have belongs to God-
– it is impossible to justify refusing to give.
Sometimes we make the excuse that we do not give because of our lack.
But in reality, even small gifts have a big impact.
No man ever made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.
The Lord after all does not need our money.
We are not helping Him when we give.
He is far more concerned about the condition of our heart than the size of our offering.
The measure of our generosity is-
– not found in the size of the gift,
– but in the sacrifice of the gift.

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Discernment

MyManna — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 22:30:02 +0000

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2.
A reader writes, “As Christians we are told not to judge others. However, we are also told not to cast our pearls before swine. Does that not involve a judgment? This has always confused me.”
There is a difference between judgment and discernment.
Judgment
A judgmental person is-
– a critical, negative, and often an angry and even hostile person.
Jesus was saying that if you project this kind of an attitude onto others, that’s what you will receive in return.
That’s true in much of life-
– for what we project is what we get back.
Thus, if we project a judgmental attitude, that’s what we’ll get back.
Or if we project a loving attitude, that’s what we will receive in return.
What we sow is what we will reap!
Discernment
Also, the Bible says, that a spiritual person judges or appraises all things. 1 Corinthians 2:15.
So while we are not to be a judgmental person, we need to judge or appraise actions and “all things” to discern that which is good and that which is bad or evil.
When Jesus said, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs,” he was telling us to use discernment and judge the actions of evil people, but not to be judgmental towards them. Matthew 7:6.
We are to love these people-
– but at the same time lovingly avoid sharing with them what you know will be rejected and trodden on.
For me personally-
I find it very difficult to do this.
I still have a lot of growing to do in this area of my life; that is-
– to love people when I hate and even despise what they are doing.

“Dear God, please give me the wisdom to know how to evaluate (judge) all things, and help me to separate a person from his destructive actions. Help me to hate sin but love the sinner just as You do. And help me to love the things You love and hate the things You hate—and give me the wisdom to know the difference. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s Name, Amen.”

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Stop Sulking

MyManna — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 22:30:37 +0000

Young woman reading bible by stream in summer

“But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” Matthew 5:39.
People read this verse and think God is telling them to be passive-
– to overlook what has happened.
That is not a bad thing-
– but it isn’t exactly what Jesus was saying.
Turning the other cheek is not about being passive.
It’s about being active!
So active that it actually confounds your enemy!
Turning the other cheek is about taking an action-
– so revolutionary,
– so shocking,
– so out of the ordinary that it shocks everyone around.
It confounds the world and can also change it!
Do you truly want to overcome evil?
So stop sulking about it-
– stop dwelling on it and
– stop doing nothing about it!
Take a most unexpected action of surprising love-
– because that is what Jesus did for us,
– and it changed our lives,
– didn’t it?
Has someone hurt you or sinned against you?
Those things happen and they always will because of our sinful human nature.
But now-
– turn that into an action of love!
Let’s make a habit of surprising those who hurt us!
It may radically change lives-
– especially our own!

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Tough Times

MyManna — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 23:00:48 +0000

If we could choose the number of difficulties we would face in a month, most of us would pick zero.
Yet the Lord sees value in troublesome times.
Through His mighty power-
He uses trials to achieve His plans.

Companionship!
One of God’s purposes for us is a growing companionship in our relationship with Him.
But He knows we struggle to put Him first over our own interests.
Many of us place higher priority on family and friends than on intimacy with God.
For others, finances, the workplace, or even pleasures interfere.
When the Lord sees our attention is drifting away from Him-
He might use hardships to draw us back so that we’ll give Him His proper place.

Character!

Another reason God allows difficulties is to conform us to the image of Jesus.
Pain is a tool that brings areas of ungodliness to the surface.
God also uses it to sift, shape, and prune us.
The sanctification process-
– the building of Christlike character into our lives,
– starts at salvation and ends with our last breath.

Conviction!
A third aim for stressful circumstances is to reveal true convictions.
Our faith is tested in tough times!
It’s easy to say, “God is good” when things are peaceful.
But when everything goes awry, what do we believe about Him?
At such times, do our words and actions reveal an attitude of trust?
King David endured many heartaches—a disintegrating family, personal attacks, and betrayal by those close to Him.

But through trials, he gained deeper intimacy with God, stronger faith, and more godly character.
Romans 8:28-29.

Won’t you let the Lord use your present situation to accomplish His good purpose?

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China Wall

MyManna — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 22:30:40 +0000

“He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs 10:9).

In ancient China, the people desired security from the barbaric hordes to the north, so they built the great China wall.
It was so high they knew no one could climb over it and so thick that nothing could break it down.
They settled back to enjoy their security.
During the first hundred years of the wall’s existence China was invaded three times.
Not once did the barbaric hordes break down the wall or climb over the top.
Then they bribed a gatekeeper-
-and marched right through the gates.
The Chinese were so busy relying upon the walls of stone that they forgot to teach integrity to their children.
Integrity means:
Keeping your word;
Being faithful to your commitments;
Doing an honest day’s work;
Not doing in the dark what you would never be caught doing in the light.
It is being loyal, trustworthy, and faithful.
It also means:
Being true to yourself and honest with others;
Being genuine, authentic, and real, faithful, trustworthy, and loyal.
Our individual lives and our families will not be saved by personal power, wealth, education, popularity, nor beauty, but by integrity and our trust in the Lord.
Neither will our nation be saved by the power and might of our military nor our brilliant technical warfare.
In the long run we will only be saved by our integrity and our trust in the Lord for “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
“Dear God, please help me as an individual to always maintain integrity, and help us as a nation to realize the tremendous importance of maintaining integrity. And grant that we will be forever reminded that ‘blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’ Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, Amen.“

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