Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 20

Change The Way You Think

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.” (Psalms 57:7-11)

Today’s Morsel: I have come to realize that depression, stress, anxiety, confusion, fear, loneliness, and despondency can all be cured by the way you think. None of the things that I mentioned came with the Holy Spirit. So that lets us know that they are from the enemy of our soul. To rid them out of our life, we need to refocus. We need to get our mind back on Jesus and not on the world and the evils it produces. If you focus on the things of this world and what the people in the world are doing, you are going to be drawn away by your thoughts. Your mind will be plagued by the evil of the world and make it hard for God’s voice and His word to penetrate to your soul. I’m not saying that God cannot get through to you; I’m just saying what Jesus said: “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:11-15) If you notice the first three hearts, the word was ineffective in their lives. It wasn’t that Jesus wasn’t sowing the seed; the word was sown, but the soil - the person’s heart - had issues. Jesus isn’t going to take the junk out of your heart, you must do that yourself through godly sorrow or repentance if you want to change, and the word can get through. Watching ungodly media programs and television will clog up your heart. So, change your heart, and your body will follow. 

Sing: Change my heart, O God, make it ever true; change my heart, O God, may I be like You. You are the potter; I am the clay; mold me and make me; this is what I pray. Change my heart, O God; make it ever true; change my heart, O God; may I be like You. 

Thought for Today: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 19

Your Blessing Is On The Way

“Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.” (Jeremiah 30:16-19)

Today’s Morsel: I believe that God is getting ready to do something special for His people who have been faithful and have held true to His word.  I believe that He is getting ready to restore the years that the caterpillars, worms, and beasts have devoured from you. I believe that He is getting ready to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that you will not have room enough to receive it. I believe that your situation and circumstances are about to change. Your health is going to be restored, your finances are going to increase, and you will have enough to bless others. So, cast not away your confidence; and don’t lose your patience. He that will come, will come. I believe the backsliders are coming home. I believe the wayward children will be found and returned. I believe that God is going to make a way where there seems to be no way. I believe He’s getting ready to open doors for you that have been shut, those that you were not able to open and go through. I believe His word and promises to you are going to come to pass. So, lift your heads, O ye gates and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and rejoice for your blessings are on the way. 

Sing: My blessing is coming my way; it’s only a matter of time, until His purpose comes to pass; it’s only a matter of time. I’m waiting for my miracle, I’m waiting for my miracle, I’m waiting for my miracle, overtaken by my blessing.

Thought For Today: “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis 18:14)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 18

You Can Find Comfort In God’s Word

“Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” (Psalms 119:49-50)

Today’s Morsel: The psalmist lets us know that God’s word and promises will provide us with deep comfort, strength, and spiritual renewal during our times of suffering, hardships, and troubles.  The Hebrew word for comfort is ‘Nechamah’, which means consolation, relief, or a soothing presence during distress. The psalmist shows us that we can find solace not in changing circumstances, but in God, who is the Word made flesh (John 1:1;14). Notice he said that this is my comfort in my affliction. He’s saying that the Word will cover all types of pain: physical illnesses, emotional hardships, poverty, and even being mocked and made fun of.  He said that the Word would quicken him. It will give him life. It will restore him to his original state. David said: “And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.” (2 Samuel 23:4) As the writer of Hebrews also enlighten us: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Not only is God’s word an anchor for the soul, but it is also a rock in a weary land, and the balm in Gilead. 

Sing: Who is this who for our sorrows offers comfort and relief, bringing sunshine to the dark and shadowed life? Saying softly, cease repining; lift thy soul above its grief, let the peace pass understanding still the strife.

It is Jesus, Jesus, sad ones weep no more. He will heal the brokenhearted, open wide the prison door; He is able to deliver evermore. 

Thought for Today: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:11-12)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 17

You Can’t Hide Sin; It Will Cause You Shame

“Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” (Psalms 51:9-13)

Today’s Morsel: I don’t care who you are; you cannot hide your sin. The devil isn’t going to let you do it. He will expose your iniquities and wrongs every time. Some have been embarrassed because their sins were exposed. If your sins are exposed, make sure that they are those under the blood before you became a Christian. As Paul highlights for us: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:6-14) “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” (Romans 6:20) “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:22-23) Sin is of the devil, and he’s the one that Jesus came to destroy.  So, don’t try to hide your sin; confess it and let Jesus get rid of it for you. If you hang on to them too long, Moses said, be sure your sin will find you out. Jesus desires to forgive us of all our sins.  

Sing: I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shores, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, but the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, and from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me. Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me.

Thought For Today: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 16

God Will Show You the Right Way If You Ask Him

“Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” (Psalms 25:1-5)

Today’s Morsel: Do you ever feel as though you may be on the wrong path and heading in the wrong direction? Even in the church, some folks are in a rut and have no clue where they are going. And also in politics, some folks have no clue who they are following and where they are being led. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16); “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6)David cried and asked the Lord to shew him the ways of the Lord and to teach him the Lord’s paths. He asked that God would lead him in truth and teach him. When the apostle Thomas told Jesus that they did not know where He was going so how could they know the way, Jesus replied to him:  “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) If we follow Jesus, we will not walk in darkness, but we will have the light of life and walk in the right way.

Sing: Just a closer walk with Thee, grant it Jesus is my plea, daily walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Thought for Today: “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:6)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 15

Keep Walking In Your Integrity Even If Times Are Hard

“Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.” (Psalms 26:1-3)

Today’s Morsel: Integrity is one of those traits of character that must be maintained, lived out, and never removed. Job told his friends: “God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.” (Job 27:5) Job’s friends tried to get him to confess to something that he knew he had not done. And so he tells them that he is not going to confess to their lies as truth. He said, until I die, I will not remove my integrity from me. Job’s wife asked him if he would retain his integrity forever and she suggested that he curse God and die. Why would a wife, a woman who is supposed to love you in sickness and in health, request that you do something foolish against God so that you could die? Well, we see Job’s answer to her: “But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10) Integrity is more than just words; it is a lifestyle. It is a firm mindset set on honesty. It is a position taken before the battle rages, and before the storms of life come. Daily, many men and women are being sent off to jail and prison for integrity violations. Integrity is like being handed a birthright because you are the oldest and next in line for the blessing, just like Esau. But if you take on the mindset of Esau and hate or do not value your birthright, the devil will give you a bowl of beans for it every time. If you lose anything in the storms and trials of life, don’t let it be your integrity.

Sing: Lord, you are more precious than silver; Lord, you are more costly than gold. Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds, and nothing I desire compares to you.

Thought for Today: “But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.” (Psalms 26:11)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 14

Be Careful Of What You Feed Yourself

“When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.” (Proverbs 23:1-3)

Today’s Morsel: I was at a church potluck once, and this young man in front of me had on a T-shirt with the caption on the back that said, “I bet you wish you were in line in front of me, because when I finish, there will be nothing left.” I wanted to tap him on the shoulder and ask if I could cut in front of him. (humor). Solomon states that if we are one given to appetite, then we should probably consider putting a knife to our throat. Solomon is trying to show us the reason for having and possessing self-control in our lives. Especially when it comes before those with power. As we say down south, there may be death in them their pots (humor). In olden times, kings, and even today many leaders, do not just sit down and start eating. They have someone who tests and tastes their food and drinks to ensure they are safe for them to consume. Nehemiah was a cupbearer. He tasted everything the king was to be given, and he had proven himself faithful and trustworthy. If you are one of those who sits down and begins eating before your host, you may be setting yourself up for failure. Eating before your host shows a lack of self-discipline and respect. So, be careful how you are presenting yourself, remember you represent The King.   

Sing: Here’s my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord, come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more; Here’s my cup fill it up and make me whole.

Thought For Today: “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” (1 Corinthians 8:9)