Yesterday we learned the importance of getting our morning Manna, before the sun waxes hot and melts it (Exodus 16:21). However, as I continued reading Exodus 16 I found a few more gems that we can take away to help us Restore the Joy in our lives.
With everyday comes new challenges. Here are four ways to help you face the challenges, one day at time.
Remember that God Will Supply Your Daily Bread
In Exodus 16:14-18 you find that God rained bread from heaven (Manna) for the children of Israel to eat. Everyone had what they needed and no man lacked. We need to remember that! You might see others in this world getting more, and that is because they might need more. It might cause you to fret but remember you will not lack “and he that gathered little had no lack” (Ex 16:18). He promised us this. “Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.” (Psalms 37:25). Claim His promises today and pray that God will “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:13).
Don’t Worry About Tomorrow
In Exodus 16: 19-20 we see that there were those who did not trust God for His provision for the next day, they worried about it and therefore took more than they needed and it “bred worms and stank” (Exodus 16:20). If you want God to Restore the Joy, trust Him! Don’t worry about tomorrow. He tells us this in Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Seek the Lord Early in the Morning
In Exodus 16: 21 we find the words “when the sun waxed hot it melted”. We must seek the Lord early in the morning. It should be the first thing we do. Matthew 6:33 says to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” We see that even Jesus needed to spend time with His Father early in the morning as well (see Mark 1:35). Whatever you have planned for the day, if you want His Joy to be in you, you must go to Him. Seek Him early before the kids wake up and the demands of this world shifts our hearts and steals our joy.
Enjoy the Sabbath Rest
In Exodus 16:22-30 we see God’s command to the Israelites to rest on the Sabbath and to gather up extra on the 6th day. God made provision for them so they did not have to work on the Sabbath. This was powerful to me. If we want to Restore the Joy in our lives we need to set aside the Sabbath to rest just as God did. Just as Jesus did in His plan of salvation for you and I. As I pondered this I was led to Luke 23:54- Luke 24:3. Even in the plan of salvation Jesus shows the importance of the Sabbath Rest. He was crucified on Good Friday, rested on the Sabbath Day (Saturday) and rose early in the morning on the first day of the week (Sunday). Hallelujah! Jesus died for you and me so that His joy can remain in us so that our joy might be full (John 15:11).
My prayer for us today is that we take it one day at a time. I encourage you and I to remember that God will supply for our daily needs, that we will not worry about tomorrow, that we will continue to seek Him early in the morning and that we will truly enjoy the Sabbath rest that He has given us since the creation of time (Genesis 2:1-3). May His Joy remain in you and may your joy be full!