Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt
One early morning, I had only been up about ten minutes when I found my mind preoccupied with troubled thoughts over a negative situation I needed to resolve. To know me is to know that I feel violated when my mind is filled with worry! It’s not God’s way and it’s not mine! His word teaches us to cast our cares unto Him. 1 Peter 5:7 (RSV) says, “Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.” Until and unless we do, we can feel like hostages to worry. We are never to be hostages. Jesus has made us free and 99% of the time, I live that way! 
Instead of worrying, I decided to get on my knees and worship the Lord. I began to sing Psalm 23 to Him in the first person, “Oh Lord you are my shepherd, I shall not want. You make me to lie down in green pastures, You lead me beside still waters, You restoreth my soul…” At that point I could go no further. I knew the Lord wanted me to stop there. He was speaking to me through the words, “You restoreth my soul.”
I suddenly could see something. The Lord began to show and remind me of how He had restored my soul day-after-day. He reminded me of previous times my thoughts were clouded with cares and worries. He reminded me of how He spoke to me through His Word and redirected my thoughts to a faith-filled perspective where I would see Him working, knowing He’d turn what the devil meant for evil, for good. I would be instantly encouraged and just like that, my thoughts were back on a right track—in faith trusting that the Lord was working with me.
The enemy of your soul is always trying to lead your thought-life in a negative direction of fear and despair. His goal? To dash your hope and get you to give up and walk away from God. When we become consumed with lies and discouragement from the enemy, we digress in thoughts and emotional stability. But when we pause and lift our heart to the Lord in worship of who He is, He reminds us of scriptures that encourage and refresh us in hope and promise. And when that happens, I break out in thanks for God’s Holy Spirit living within me.
I wonder how many Christians really get and understand that the most powerful force in all the universe abides within them? It’s true! If you are a Christian, Jesus imparted these words to all who would believe. Take a moment and reflect on them! 
John 15:4 NLT “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.”
He tells us He will remain IN us. He then tells us the purpose and future of the Holy Spirit coming to abide within those that will believe.
John 14:16-17 NLT says, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you do, because He lives with you now and later will be in you.”
The Holy Spirit living within us! If that isn’t powerful enough, then God’s Word tells us that the Holy Spirit is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead that now abides in us! Romans 8:11 NLT “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as He raised Christ from the dead, He will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.”
If we’ll pause and yield time to reading His Word and praying, then each and every day the Holy Spirit of God will help us. He will restore the calm and right thinking to our lives that keeps us in a good place and on the right path with Him. It’s powerful to have your soul—your mind and emotions restored by God! And this is why He is called “My Shepherd—who restores my soul.” He lives within me and you! Wow! Thank you Jesus!
In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt
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Published by Pastor Tim Burt
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