THE GRACIOUS TONGUE..:

"Thou art fairer than the children of men: [for] grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever" (Psa 45:2).

Many do not realize the blessed truth that the more grace a man has in his mouth while on earth, the more beauty his resurrected body will have. If you have a bad mouth you wil have an ugly body after resurrection. Remember, that body is going to be eternal! 'God blessing a man for ever' depends also on the grace poured into his lips.

The next verse is more insightful and revealing: "Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O MOST MIGHTY, with thy glory and thy majesty" (Psa 45:3). A saint who has grace poured into his lips will find his tongue to be like a two-edged sword (the Word of God), and HE WILL BE MOST MIGHTY, CROWNED WITH GLORY AND MAJESTY! Does not this also prove that if you have a foul mouth, you are bound to be most weak, and filled with shame and misery?

About Jesus, it is stated that gracious words proceeded out of His mouth (Lk 4:22). "His mouth is most sweet: yea, [therefore] He is altogether lovely" (S.S. 5:16). The reason the officers gave to the Pharisees for not arresting Jesus, is most inspiring: "NEVER MAN SPAKE LIKE THIS MAN" (Jn 7:45, 46). Even the enemies of Christ had a testimony about the gracious words that proceeded out of Him.

Dear reader, in Eternity, your eternal beauty and eternal blessings will depend on the grace you had in your lips.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

GOD'S LOVE AND PITY..:

"And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life" (Gen 3:17).

Here we see how God in His mercy doesn't curse the man but the ground - so that he may not put his trust in this earth but in God, so that he may not set his affection on the ground or on the earth. God didn't send man to a place of torment either, but to a place of toil; not to the grave, but to the ground - to humble him.

In verse 21 we see the motherly nature of God again. Though man had fallen into sin and had started to rebel against God in his words and deeds, and was trying to hide from Him, God makes coats for him. It was not man who asked for clothes, but God who felt the need for it. So also, it is not we sinners who feel the need for salvation, but God Who felt it and hence came down from heaven to clothe us with salvation. God did not just give them the garments, but 'clothed them' like a mother would. The Almighty God Himself made the coats, and not any angel. What a great love God had for the fallen man! How much He pitied him and his miserable state!

Finally, again in mercy, the Lord sent man out of the garden - see verse 22 - so that he may not eat of the tree of life and live for ever in his fallen condition. God's knowledge of evil doesn't tempt Him to commit evil, as He is perfect in character. But man's knowledge of evil without character is dangerous. Therefore, if his life-span had not been curtailed, his wickedness would have been very great on the earth. Also, now that his life-span is curtailed, his sorrows and miseries brought by his own sin would have an end.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

HOW TO KNOW THE MIND OF GOD?

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (I Cor 2:9).
What a glorious and gracious plan God has kept for us! Now the most important question is, can we know what God has planned for us? Yes, we can, for, the next verse says, "But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit" (I Cor 2:10). Many children of God, have failed to know the plan of God, and have surrendered themselves to the plan of the devil or to their own plans, and have destroyed themselves.

What should we do to know the will of God and walk in the plan of God? When we were born, our thoughts were pure. However, we allowed evil thoughts to corrupt and defile our minds. Every evil thought is like a black spot that stains our pure mind. As we continue to defile our mind like that, the 'black spots' increase and make our mind altogether corrupt. Although God's plans are glorious, we may get to know them only if our mind is pure and spotless.

Dear child of God, it is true you want God's plan to be fulfilled in your life, but there is only one way for you to know the plan of God. Conquer every evil thought by the blood of the Lamb and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let your mind be clean and pure so that God can write on it what He has planned for you, and so that you may find the grace for fulfilling His plans. Then your Christian life will be 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.'

- TPM "Morning Manna"

BLESSING WHILE DYING..!

"By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff" (Heb 11:21).

True saints should be a blessing, and not a burden, even while dying. Jacob was a blessing while dying. He blessed both the sons of Joseph while dying. Faith helps us to be a blessing.

"By faith...Jacob worshipped." Faith helps us to worship the Lord in the Spirit and in truth till our last breath. How did Jacob worship? Leaning on the top of his staff. 'Leaning on the top of the staff' shows trusting in the highest promises of God. This is another fruit of faith. Jacob had the privilege and freedom to worship his God till the last moment, as Jesus did. [Jesus committed His Spirit to God while dying.] At the time of his death, Jacob was in a heathen land with pagan gods all around, and yet he preserved his faith. True worshippers are truly a blessing to others till their last moment.

"Jacob blessed both the children of Joseph." He blessed with both his hands. Jesus did the same. See Luke 24:50. This is a shadow of blessing others with spiritual blessings and material blessings.

May the Lord grant us the grace to worship the Lord till our last moment - if the Lord tarries and it pleases the Lord to take us to our heavenly home by death.

- TPM Morning Manna

BE ANGRY AND SIN NOT..!

Some people find an excuse to nurse anger in the verse, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (Eph 4:26). Commenting on this, a man of God rightly states, "He that would be angry and sin not must not be angry with anything but sin."
Some Christians excuse their anger, calling it 'righteous indignation.' Scripturally, 'righteous indignation' indicates 'furious zeal' for God, and is expressed when one is filled with the Holy Spirit. For example, St.Paul, "filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. And said, O full of all subtility and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13:9,10

"Let not the sun go down upon your wrath." This should not be taken as a scriptural sanction to be angry and resentful until sunset. The Lord may come before sunset and you may be left behind. By losing his temper, a child of God experiences in his life, the 'sunset' of the Sun of Righteousness Who is the True Light, thereby ushering in spiritual darkness. Therefore, "cease from anger and forsake wrath" (Psa 37:8).

- TPM "Morning Manna"

OUR POSITION IN CHRIST...:

"Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man" (Gen 2:23).
Though Adam did not know or feel that one of his ribs had been taken out, he was able to discern it in his spirit. It was not necessary for anyone to introduce the woman to the man and tell him his responsibilities towards his wife. When we walk with God, we will be able to understand what our position in the Church is, and also our duties in our spiritual life. "The anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you" (I Jn 2:27).

"Bone of my bone" - 'Bone' in the original tongue also means 'substance'. Adam is a type of Christ. The Bride of Christ has the same substance (life or character) as that of Christ. God is preparing a group of saints who have the very life and character of Christ.

"She was taken out of Man" - What a great sacrifice Adam had to make to get a bride - one of his vital bones was taken out! To take out a rib, the side has to be pierced. Jesus Christ our Bridegroom was pierced on His side and His agonizing sacrifice formed the Church of Christ. What a dowry He paid for us!

Not only is the Bride 'taken out of' Christ, but all that the Bride has too - all the blessings - are in Him. We have been made to sit in heavenly places IN Christ and we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings IN Christ (Eph 2:6; 1:3). Apart from Christ we are nothing and we have nothing.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

GRACE UPON GRACE...:

In the New Testament, there is double grace - "grace upon grace" (Jn 1:16 - another translation). We need grace to forgive the person who has wronged us, and another grace to love him. Some have only one grace - "I forgive him, but I cannot love him." Some cannot even forgive.

The double grace to forgive and love, comes from humility, for, God gives grace to the humble. One important nature of God is humility. "Thous art a God that hidest Thyself" (Isa 45:15). Since God is humble He can forgive and love even the worst sinner. It is because we are proud that we cannot forgive others and love them.

Once a soldier got saved, and his life completely changed. One day he came to his bed (tired after duty) and bowed his head to pray. Another soldier, an atheist, got angry and kicked him on the head with his shoe on. But the other soldier continued to pray. The next morning the soldier who kicked his fellowsoldier got saved. How? When he got up he saw that the Christian soldier had polished his shoes. That moved the atheist and made him want to give up his bad ways.

Child of God, how much grace do you have? Do you have 'grace upon grace', or are you struggling with feelings of resentment, anger and bitterness? Do you want forgiveness and love to flow out of you unbidden when you are wronged and hurt? Humble yourself and you can have that double grace.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME...!

Yes, God is good all the time if we know just one secret - "TRULY GOD IS GOOD... EVEN TO SUCH AS ARE OF A CLEAN HEART" (Psa 73:1). Oh, how wonderful it would be if the whole world came to know this blessed secret: GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME -

in winter times and summer times,
birth days and death days,
funeral days and festival days,
feasting days and fasting days,
mourning days and dancing days,
days of prosperity and days of poverty,
days of trials and days of triumphs,
sick days and healthy days!
However, there is only one condition: KEEP THE HEART CLEAN!
Although David was a man of God who loved the Lord and walked with God, one day he lost his purity of heart. Then he had so much agony that it was as if all his bones were being broken; he lost all his joy. Thank God, he knew the secret of restoration and cried out, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psa 51:10).

How sad it is that millions of people, including many Christians, are ignorant of the fact that a wrong spirit (getting irritated, angry, etc.) is the result of an unclean heart! When the heart is clean, the spirit will be right.

Dear friend, are you looking for a way out of your bitter trials? Do you want God to turn them all into sweet and blessed experiences? Keeping the heart clean is the secret of a joyful life flowing with milk and honey.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

CURIOUSLY WROUGHT...:

I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth" (Psa 139:15) 

God still wants to make true saints in secret. One day it is going to be a real surprise and shock to everyone, to find some people whom the world thought to be great saints, in the pit of hell, and some others who were despised and rejected by the world, as the finest saints in eternity.

God wants His saints to live hidden in Christ - "your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col 3:3). All the glorious blessings of Psalm 91 are only for those who "dwell in the secret place of the most High". Saints who live in the secret place of the most High will renounce secret sins. O, what a blessed thing it is to live a hidden life in Christ leaving the glamour and glories of this sinful world!

The Amplified Bible says, "intricately and curiously wrought" (as if embroidered with various colours) in the depths of the earth [region of darkness and mystery]." If God has planned to make you a great saint with various beautiful colours or perfections, He may take you through 'the lowest parts of the earth' or utter humiliating situations, like the ones Jesus Himself had to go through. The Lord may also take you through such dark regions or periods that at least for some time things may appear a mystery to you. All these are foundations of the mansions of glory. "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires" (Isa 54:11).

By the grace of God, after we have gone through all the dark and humiliating paths, being hidden in Him, finally we will be able to exclaim, "I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well!" (Psa 139:14).

- TPM Morning Manna

THE WEAPON OF LOVE

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper" (Isa 54:17).

If no weapon that is formed against us should prosper or overcome us, we must have a greater and mightier weapon than the weapons formed against us. What is this weapon? It is the love of God. When we learn to love our enemies with forgiving love, that heavenly love can conquer all the powers of darkness coming against us.

The enemy, the devil, may have many weapons, including "fiery darts" (Eph 6:16). Look at the challenging words in the Song of Solomon: "Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it" (S.S. 8:7). Many waters speak of the rejections, humiliations, accusations, hatred, persecutions, etc. coming against us. When we are filled with Calvary's undying and unchanging love, these weapons or trials are no doubt but straw before the fire.

"Love is strong as death" (S.S 8:6). In a deep sense, God's love is stronger than death. Death is the last enemy. If it is possible to conquer the last enemy through the love of God, surely all other enemies and weapons can be easily conquered by love.

Perhaps today you are confronted with many of the enemy's weapons. The only way to become more than a conqueror over these trials or troubles is to be filled with Calvary's pure love. Are you able to love those who insult you, humiliate you, persecute you, reject you, despise you, deceive you, or deprive you of your money and goods? IF SO, you are more than a CONQUEROR.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

'NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD'

"But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." (Gen 3:3).
 
The woman described the treee as 'the tree which is in the midst of the garden' instead of 'the tree of the knowledge of good and evil' as stated by God. Obviously, she speaks of the tree as being in the midst of the garden, because it was in the midst of her heart's lust. She might have also intended to convey that the best of God was in the midst of the garden and that she was debarred from enjoying it. By that she was questioning the love and kindness of God.

We know from the Word of God that all that was created on the earth was for the use of man (including the tree of knowledge of good and evil). But man was supposed to eat of the fruits of all the other trees first, and, after he was mature enough, to eat this fruit also. 'Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb 5:14). So it is very clear that the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil belonged to those who had 'full age', which our first forefathers did not have when they tasted it.

Let us not misunderstand the ways of God or doubt the plan of God for our life. Let us be filled with the love of God and place our trust in God. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

- Morning Manna

Drawing Power of the Blood of Jesus

Now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13)
 
In one sense, the blood of Christ has the greatest magnetic power in the world. Just as a magnet draws an iron piece to itself, the blood of Jesus draws a sinner to Jesus. [A magnet may draw an iron piece to itself, but the magnet cannot transform the iron piece into a magnet. But the blood of Christ can not only draw a sinner to Christ, but also transform the sinner into a saint!

When you really repent of all your sins and are washed in the blood of Christ, the blood has power to bring you very close to the Lord – “made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

Living presence of God is feeling God all over you. If you want to speak something wrong, you find God virtually closing your mouth. You feel as if you can reach out and touch God. He becomes so real and so near. Psalm 139 speaks beautifully about the manifest presence of God or the immediate presence of God. David says, “There is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it” (Psa 139:4-6). The manifest presence of God is such a unique experience; even the thoughts are checked when they are far away. And, in this presence there is fullness of joy and eternal pleasures.

The blood of Jesus Christ is able to bring us so close to God as to enable us to have these beautiful experiences. In other words, the blood of Jesus will enable every fibre of our being, including our words, deeds, thoughts, imaginations, etc. to be directed and dominated by God’s presence every moment. Oh, what a wonderful power there is in the blood of Jesus! Even the holy angels cannot comprehend this.

Let us claim this glorious experience available through the precious blood of Jesus. Its power will never fail; its power will never be in vain. Even all through Eternity we will be praising the power in the blood of Christ!

“Saviour, more than life to me,
I am clinging, clinging close to Thee;
Let Thy precious Blood applied,
Keep me ever, ever near Thy side.”

- TPM Morning Manna

ANGER - THE SPIRIT OF MURDER

“Cain was very wroth and his countenance fell… Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” (Gen 4:5,8)

When your face (countenance) changes, beware – a murderous spirit might be entering into you, and it could lead you into killing your own brother or sister!

Dear child of God, do you realize that when you are angry and upset and your face changes, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you”? Many of God’s children have not realized that wrath is the spirit of murder. When this foul spirit entered into Saul, he wanted to kill innocent David (I Sam 18:8,11). Herod, in his fury, slew thousands of babes under two years (Matt 2:16). And Pharoah, furious with Israel, slew all their male children (Exo 1:22).

When Simeon and Levi, the sons of Jacob were furious with the Shechemites, they hid their anger in their hearts and outwardly showed themselved to be friendly, even to the extent of suggesting marriage ties with them. However, after a few days, when they found an opportune moment, they massacred all the males in the country. [Perhaps the worst form of anger is keeping resentment and bitterness in the heart and pretending to be godly and friendly on the outside.] Their wrath was so detestable that even their own father, when in his deathbed, instead of blessing them, said, “Instruments of cruelty are in their habitations… for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel” (Gen 49:5-7).

Dear reader, do not wait for the demonic spirit of anger to destroy both you and others. Flee to God with a broken and contrite heart. God, in His mercy, can renew a right spirit within you (Psa 51:10). Instead of your face becoming black with anger, let it be changed into a glory with grace.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb 10:25).

Here the 'day approaching' signifies the Coming of the Lord. What the writer of the epistle wanted to emphasize was that, as the Coming of the Lord is approaching, we should meet together and have fellowship with one another more than before. If this was so two thousand years ago how much more careful we should be now, not to neglect our meeting together in fellowship and worship, seeing we are in the last moments before the Coming of the Lord!

Once a young man named Jacob was going from one village to another village on a Sunday morning. He had to cross a forest. As he walked along a thief caught him and demanded all his money. Jacob pleaded with the thief asking him to release him as he had no money. The thief threatened to kill him if he did not hand over the money. Then Jacob again pleaded with him saying that he was a Pentecostal believer and did not tell lies. Immediately the thief took him by the throat and angrily said, "Then you ought to be in church now, this being a Sunday morning!" Jacob was cornered and had nothing to say. "Hereafter, will you regularly go to church?" demanded the thief. To this Jacob readily agreed. Then the thief asked, "Do you pay tithes?" Jacob was shocked. He hadn't expected a question like this from a thief. He had already said that, being a Pentecostal man he didn't tell lies. So he meekly said. "No, I don't pay tithes." The thief got very angry. Shaking him like a rabbit he shouted, "Hereafter, will you faithfully pay your tithes." He hurriedly agreed and the thief let him go. The next Sunday Jacob came to church and gave a testimony about this incident during the service. His life was changed and he later became a very good servant of God.

Do not wait to be caught by "the thief" before starting to go to church and paying your tithes.

- TPM Morning Manna

"The Lord planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed" (Gen 2:8).

God kept man in a special place of comfort and delight. 'Eden' itself means 'delight' and the garden in it added to the delight. This is a type of the Church. When we are born again and born of water and of the Spirit, the Lord puts us in His Church. This delights us, and God also delights in us.

"The man whom He had formed" - The Lord puts in the Church people in whom He has done some work of formation (transformation of the old nature and formation of divine nature). "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Eph 2:10).

God planted the garden in Eden for man - to provide him with food, shelter and protection and to meet all his needs. Similarly, God has placed man in the Church to give him spiritual food, refuge in the secret place of the Most High, and protection from the powder of darknes, and to meet all his other spiritual needs. Man committed sin and was sent out of the garden, and that ended his delight-filled life.

Let us remain in the 'garden' God has put us in. Let us surrender ourselves into His hands to be moulded according to His desire, like clay in the hands of a potter. Our loving God has made provision for all our needs to be met. Let us stay where God has placed us and keep our life free from sin and worldliness.

- TPM Morning Manna

The meek will He guide in judgment; and the meek will He teach His way" (Psa 25:9).

God will guide only meek people. He will not give His guidance to bad-tempered or hot-tempered people. That is why God took away His guidance from Moses after he lost his temper. All along, when he remained meek, the Lord never failed to give him His counsel; but when he lost his meek spirit, God said, "You are not going to Canaan and you are not going to lead the people to Canaan either." "Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory," the Psalmist says with assurance (Psa 73:24). If we walk in meekness, meekly enduring all the reproaches, rejections and persecutions that we face, the Lord will keep giving us His counsel till we reach His presence. We'll never stumble or lose our way.

Some children of God get angry and say, "It's only righteous anger, godly anger." Well, God cannot teach you anything. "Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart," He says. The Lord can teach only the meek.

David always got the counsel of God because he always maintained a humble and meek disposition. "My sheep hear My voice... and they follow Me," said Jesus (Jn 10:27). If we're not following the Lord just like sheep meekly follow their shepherd, we cannot expect the Lord to guide us with His counsel.

- TPM Morning Manna

WHY THESE TRIALS..?

The lion that David faced when he was alone, typifies trials that come against our personal life. Goliath, being the common enemy of Israel, signifies the trials that come against the people of God or the Church collectively. Had David been defeated by the lion, or had he been too timid to face it, he would not have had the courage to face Goliath and the Philistines. Unless we take the victory in the trials and temptations that come against our personal spiritual life, we cannot conquer the Goliaths that confront the people of God, and protect the Church.

David's victory over the lion that roared against him when he was young, was the first step on the way to the throne. Child of God, remember, the throne of God awaits the overcomers.

The young lion that Samson faced, yielded him sweet honey in the end - which he 'went on eating', and which he gave to his parents also (Judg 14:8,9). Just as Samson 'went on eating' sweet honey, let us go on tasting and eating God's love in the midst of our trials. "O taste and see that the Lord is good." Let us share this 'honey experience' with others also.

The purpose of God in permitting trials in our lives is, not to make our lives bitter, but truly better and sweeter, and to strengthen the dear ones with us.

"There's nothing God permits in grace
That ever comes in vain;
He has a shining 'afterward'
For every cloud of rain!"

- TPM Morning Manna

LIVE IN THE SPIRIT...:

"It is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh" (Dan 2:11).

Although these Chaldeans were not aware of the true God, they knew that there were 'gods' or, saints who do not dwell in the flesh. They also knew that rare things or hidden truths can be revealed only to such saints. Later on, it was proved that Daniel was such a man.

The Lord wants saints "whose dwelling is not with flesh" - to reveal to them the deep truths and hidden mysteries in His Word. St.Paul says, "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you" (Rom 8:9). Daniel had an excellent spirit (Dan 6:3). The Lord has filled us with His Holy Spirit so that we may live in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

Dear child of God, if you live in the Spirit, the Lord will reveal to you deep things that are hidden to the wise people of this world.

The king's word was, "If ye will not make known unto me the dream with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces." If we do not live in the Spirit and have deep spiritual insight and revelation, we are sure to fall prey to the devil and his vices. "To be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom 8:6).

- TPM Morning Manna

WORK OF ABUNDANT GRACE...:

"God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven" (Gen 1:20).

Waters show grace. The grace of God which is in us is able to bring forth ABUNDANTLY 'moving creatures' i.e. redeemed souls who can move the world for the glory of God. 'That hath life' - By receiving abundant grace we can bring forth an abundance of souls who can move others also in a chain-reaction.

"And fowl that may fly above the earth" - Souls who live a higher heavenly life are also formed by abundant grace. Such people CAN JUST FLY AWAY WHEN JESUS COMES. 'Fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven' - We cannot live or fly above the world unless we have the vision of an open heaven.

Child of God, God's abundant grace in us can do great things in us and through us. Let us not frustrate the grace that is bestowed on us. Let us keep dying to our self and allow the grace of God to work in our lives, so that we may be able to say like St Paul, "His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain."

- TPM Morning Manna

LET 'TERAH' DIE...!

"Terah took Abram... and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran and dwelt there... and Terah died in Haran" (Gen 11:31,32).

Although God spoke to Abraham and told him to leave everything and go to Canaan, Abraham could not go to Canaan till Terah died. 'Terah' means 'delay'. Terah made Abraham stay in Haran, that is, halfway through to Canaan. If 'Terah' lives in your life you will have only a half-hearted devotion to Christ. This is very true in many of God's people today. 'Terah', the spirit of procrastination or the spirit of delay, ruins many lives. They end up in Haran and not in Canaan. Canaan denotes the fulness of the blessings of the gospel. If 'Terah' is alive in your life, you may even stop short of a heavenly Canaan.

Many a saint has been destroyed by the spirit of delay. The angels of God had warned Lot in the evening that he should leave Sodom quickly with all his family, as fire was going to destroy that city; but 'he lingered' we read, till the next morning. We all know about the consequent disaster that struck his family. Indeed, our King's business requires haste.

Today, let your 'Terah' die - so you can march on to the land of Canaan.

- TPM "Morning Manna"