Fresh Mercies

At the beginning of 2015 the Lord prepared me for the fact that 2015 would be a year of change. For many this would sound exciting and adventurous, but I’ve never been comfortable with change. I prefer the predictable and the known, although I’ve never been resistant to new things. So hearing God say that changes were on the cards caused my heart to tremble within me.

Two months into the year my daughter got engaged, and it soon became clear that I’d need to release her into the care of her soon-to-be husband. Since he’s from New Zealand, I would need to get used to the fact that she’d be moving to another continent by the end of the year. I found myself starting to feel quite anxious and overwhelmed as I pondered all that needed to transpire as the year progressed.

But in my quiet time with the Lord recently I read the account of Moses and the Israelites in the desert. Because they were hungry, and they were complaining to Moses about it, God said He’d send them manna every morning. God gave specific instructions on how they had to collect it. Each morning every family had to collect just enough manna for that day for each family member. They weren’t to keep any left-overs, or pick up extra manna for the next day. When some of them did try to keep the left-overs, or collected more than they needed, they found that it stank and had worms by the next day (Exodus 16).

I heard God speak to my heart concerning manna. He told me that He’d provide me with everything that I’d need for each day – strength, wisdom, finances – anything required to meet my needs and to work His purpose in and through me for each day. I was not to ‘borrow’ from tomorrow’s bank account, as this would leave me feeling overwhelmed and anxious. In the same way, I was to let go of yesterday and trust Him again each morning for His perfect provision. His mercies for me would begin fresh every morning.
I’m reminded of the words of Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 6:34: ‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own’. And Deuteronomy 33:25 says, ‘your strength will equal your days’. Let’s live ‘present’ lives, and trust God to take care of tomorrow with all its challenges. Don’t pick up tomorrow’s manna today!

Prayer: Lord, You’re so faithful! You never leave us to face our insecurities about tomorrow on our own. Thank You that You give new strength and new mercy every day. Help me to lean hard into You and keep in step with You, as You go before me into the changes and challenges. Amen.