Morning by morning

“They gathered it morning by morning, every man as much as he should eat…” Exodus 16:21 NASB

Each morning the Hebrew children gathered manna, their daily bread, off the ground before it melted. Every morning, I gather God’s manna, His word for the day from the Bible. But sometimes life disrupts those morning meals.
   My husband is not a breakfast eater, so for the first few years of our marriage, my only requirement in the morning was to give my husband a kiss before he walked out the door. However, when we added kids to our household, my morning routine changed.
   During their school years, we ate breakfast and read devotions together. Then the yellow bus drove them away. I’d clear the dishes and stay at the table. Chuck Swindoll spoke through the radio while I followed along with my Bible and took notes in my notebook. I listened, learned and sought the Lord morning by morning.
   With God’s Word first on my mind, washing dishes, sorting laundry or paying the bills went smoother. The birds sang louder. The sun shone brighter. I had a spring in my step because I had been in the presence of the Lord.

“So be ready by morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me…” Exodus 34:2 NASB

   In the times I worked outside our home, I often took my lunch breaks in my car and dined on the Lord’s manna. Through the five years we homeschooled our two sons, I scheduled quiet time and placed a “Do not disturb” sign on the bedroom door. When my husband worked from our house, I bought a chair and created a special hideaway. As soon as the weather permitted, you would find me on the deck communing with the Lord.
   Now, as an empty-nester, my routine more often that I wish to admit gets out of kilter. With no children for me to set a good example or a boss to hold me accountable it’s easy to fall into an undisciplined life.

“…He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple.” Isaiah 50:4 NASB

   What about you? Do you, like the Hebrew children, gather His manna morning by morning? Do you schedule a time to meet Him on the mountain? Does He awaken you in the morning to draw near and listen as His disciple?
   Here’s to dancing on the mountain morning by morning.
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Merrie Hansen and her husband of 38 years have called Texas, Alaska, Missouri and Kansas home, but currently live where it all began in southeast Nebraska. It is from those moves and her experience as a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend…singer, backpacker, roller skater, home-school mom, volunteer...which she writes devotionals that challenge, encourage and inspire others on their journey to Live-Out-Loud-for-Jesus. Some of her work can be found in “The Secret Place,” “Just Between You & Me,” and CrossRiver’s upcoming devotional compilation book, “The Benefit Package.” Merrie can always be found at www.MerrieHansen.com or facebook.com/MerrieHansen.