Morning Manna by Rufus Parker: Morning Manna by Rufus Parker

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 March 4

The Power of Afflictions

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” (Psalms 119:71)

Today’s Morsel: Sometimes, the illnesses, sicknesses, infirmities, burdens, sufferings, and problems that we have might be seen by us as coming from the devil. But what if they are coming from God to teach us a lesson? What if they are God’s way of teaching us character and obedience? Job never blamed his afflictions on the devil. He chalked them up to God. He told his friend: “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10) Afflictions have a way of turning our hearts to God. The Psalmist said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” The statutes of the Lord rejoiceth the heart. God’s statutes set boundaries for us. They keep us in the right paths and in the straight and narrow pathway. They help us see dangers and keep us from going too far to the right or to the left. They are designed to keep us free from hurt and danger. Scripture says: “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.” (Exodus 1:12) The Egyptians afflicted them, and they grew more through it. And the Egyptians feared them. Scripture continues, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalms 34:19) No matter the affliction, God will deliver you from them after He has accomplished His purpose. If we desire to learn and grow, then we must not be too quick to want to get out from under our afflictions. We must pause and take a moment to see if we are on course and what God is trying to teach us.

Sing: Are you trusting Jesus, all along the way? Does He grow more precious to your heart each day? Are you His disciple? Test His Word and see, He will give the Spirit more abundantly.

More abundantly, more abundantly, “That they might have life and more abundantly;” More abundantly, more abundantly, “That they might have life and more abundantly.”

Thought For Today: “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” (Psalms 119:67)

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About Morning Manna

And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat (Exodus 16:10-15).

“Morning Manna” is a short daily devotion which began in 2002, with just a short note of encouragement to a friend who was facing difficulties at the time. Through their response, I was encouraged to begin a daily devotion via email and send it to people who asked to be put on the distribution list. It is now reaching around the globe. Its birth came about during Morning Prayer. The Lord revealed to me that I should forward my friend a word of encouragement, since it is through patience and comfort of the scripture that we find hope. Thus, I forwarded him the words the Lord had given to me for him, and he forwarded it on to someone else who was having difficulties in their life as well, and thus the original list began.

The goal of “Morning Manna” is to provide people with a quick, thought provoking Word from the Lord, as well as provide encouragement from His Word that can help them through the day and during unexpected trails and circumstances in their daily lives.

Several years ago, Jesus moved on my heart to start writing daily devotions; thus began “Morning Manna”. Today, many people are receiving these daily devotions and many of these people are forwarding it on to their family and friends. It is my hope to encourage even more through posting the devotions to this blog-page.

I pray that you, too, will enjoy reading the manna from this site.