Morning Manna by Rufus Parker: Morning Manna by Rufus Parker

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 July 16

You Can’t Change You

“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” (Jeremiah 13:23)

Today’s Morsel: I stand in awe of the number of people who keep trying to change themselves outward but not inwardly. We will never be satisfied with the outward until we become satisfied with the inward. The outward dissatisfactions with self are just an indication to us that something isn’t right on the inside. This is why so many are spending so much on the outward. Their inward is not content. Notice what God’s word says: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2) Weight loss programs aren’t going to do anything for you if the inward man is not in good health. Going to the gym and sweating like a pig in the parlor, isn’t going to change you if the inward man isn’t in good health. Yes, you may get into shape, but the inward man is still discontented. Piercing, tattooing, and makeup isn’t going to change you if the inward man isn’t in good health. Don’t think that I am being critical of you for doing these things. These things are indicators that something isn’t right inward. God said that the African can’t change the color of his skin, nor can the leopard get rid of his spots. Sometimes I wonder if our weight is the way that God wants us to be. And besides, scripture does say that the fat is the Lord’s (Humor). God is the only one that can change us. We can’t get rid of our hurt and discontentment without God’s help. Not until we allow God to give us a heart transplant and renew a right spirit in us, are we going to truly change. Without God, we will remain discontented with ourselves. But if we allow Him to change us, we will gain contentment and be satisfied with ourselves and who He has made us to be.

Sing: He’s changing me, my blessed Savior, I’m not the same person that I use to be. Well, it’s been slow going, but there’s a knowing, that someday perfect I will be.

Thought For Today: “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

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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.