Morning Manna

Proverbs 24:1–2 warns against envying wicked people or desiring their company, no matter how successful or powerful they may appear. Beneath the surface, their hearts meditate on violence and their lips speak trouble. What seems attractive outwardly is often rooted in corruption inwardly. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine the danger of admiring ungodly prosperity, why a...

Proverbs 23:35 brings Solomon’s warning to its sobering conclusion, revealing the tragic cycle of addiction—a man beaten, broken, and yet returning again to the very source of his pain. Though a moment of awareness surfaces—“When shall I awake?”—it is quickly overtaken by the enslaved will: “I will seek it yet again.” In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine the nature of spir...

In this Faith Friday edition of Morning Manna, the focus turns to Matthew 17:20–21, where Jesus confronts unbelief and reveals the power of genuine faith. Even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains when it rests in God rather than human ability. Christ also points to prayer and fasting as essential disciplines in confronting spiritual resistance and deepening dependence upon the Fath...

Proverbs 23:31–32 shifts the warning from the outcome of sin to its origin—revealing that the path to destruction begins with a single, lingering look. What appears beautiful, smooth, and harmless conceals a deadly end, as Solomon exposes how attraction gives way to deception and ultimately to ruin. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles teaches why the battle is won or lost at the level of the eyes...

Proverbs 23:29–30 presents a sobering diagnosis of a life ruled by ungoverned appetite. Through six piercing questions, Solomon exposes the emotional, relational, and physical consequences of drunkenness and addiction. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles teaches how what promises relief only multiplies sorrow, why lingering in temptation leads to predictable destruction, and how true healing begi...

Proverbs 23:27 reveals the hidden danger of an unsurrendered heart—what appears inviting is, in reality, a trap designed for destruction. The imagery of the deep ditch and narrow pit exposes the true nature of sin: deceptive, binding, and impossible to escape without divine rescue. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles teaches why wisdom demands the heart before temptation appears, how sin entangle...

Proverbs 23:26 stands as the central command of the chapter, calling for total surrender—not mere obedience, but the giving of the heart itself. Wisdom does not seek outward compliance alone; it demands complete allegiance of the will, desires, and affections. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles teaches why partial surrender is no surrender, how the heart and the eyes work together to shape a lif...

Proverbs 23:25 shifts the focus from the parent’s reward to the child’s responsibility, revealing that a righteous and wise life brings joy not only to oneself, but to those who gave it. This verse calls sons and daughters to recognize that their choices are not private—they either produce gladness or grief in their parents. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles teaches how wisdom becomes an act of...

Proverbs 23:24 reveals the ultimate reward of faithful parenting—the double joy of raising a righteous and wise child. This joy is not momentary satisfaction, but a deep, overflowing gladness rooted in a life formed by instruction, discipline, and the fear of the Lord. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles teaches how the entire chapter builds toward this promise, why righteousness and wisdom must...

Proverbs 23:22–23 calls for both reverence and resolve—listening to godly instruction and valuing truth above all else. Honoring father and mother, even into their old age, reflects a heart that recognizes the weight of wisdom passed down. The command to “buy the truth, and sell it not” elevates truth as a treasure that must be acquired, guarded, and never traded away. In today’s Morning Manna, Ri...

In this Faith Friday edition of Morning Manna, the focus turns to Mark 10:23–27, where Jesus declares the difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom of God and shocks His disciples with the image of a camel passing through the eye of a needle. What seems attainable by human effort is revealed to be impossible by human means. Yet Christ anchors hope in God alone: “With men it is impossible, but n...

Proverbs 23:19–21 calls for intentional direction of the heart and disciplined separation from destructive influences. Wisdom begins with listening and allowing the heart to be guided in the right way. The passage warns against joining with drunkards and those given to excess, whose lifestyle leads to poverty and ruin. What begins as indulgence ends in loss and decline. In today’s Morning Manna, R...

Proverbs 23:15–18 reveals the deep connection between wisdom, joy, and hope. A wise heart brings gladness not only to itself but to those who have invested in it—“my reins shall rejoice” when truth governs the inner life. The passage then warns against envying sinners and urges the heart to remain continually in the fear of the Lord. This steadfast reverence anchors the soul in a sure future where...

Proverbs 23:9–11 warns against wasting wisdom on those who despise it, while affirming God’s fierce protection over the vulnerable. Speaking truth to a fool invites scorn rather than growth, but violating boundaries—especially those protecting the fatherless—invites divine opposition. The Lord Himself stands as Redeemer and Defender, pleading their cause against any who would exploit them. In toda...

In this Faith Friday edition of Morning Manna, the focus turns to Mark 10:17–22, where a rich young ruler approaches Jesus seeking eternal life—but leaves sorrowful when confronted with the one thing he lacks. Though outwardly obedient, his heart remained bound to his possessions. Jesus exposes the deeper issue: true discipleship requires surrender, not just compliance. In today’s study, Rick Wile...

Proverbs 23:6–8 warns against accepting the outward generosity of one whose heart is not aligned with his words. The “evil eye” reflects a stingy, calculating spirit—offering food while inwardly resenting every bite. What appears as kindness is corrupted by hidden motives, and the experience ultimately turns bitter. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine the danger of decept...

Proverbs 23:4–5 warns against exhausting oneself in the pursuit of wealth and trusting in what cannot last. Riches have a deceptive allure—they appear stable, yet they can vanish suddenly, “making themselves wings” and flying away. Wisdom calls for restraint, reminding us that human understanding cannot secure what is ultimately temporary. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart exam...

Proverbs 23:1–3 warns of the subtle dangers that come with proximity to power and abundance. Sitting at the table of a ruler requires discernment, self-control, and awareness—what is set before you may be more than mere provision. The passage cautions against uncontrolled appetite and deceptive delicacies that can entrap the unwary. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine how...

Proverbs 22:28–29 brings together respect for established order and the reward of faithful diligence. Removing ancient landmarks represents more than property theft—it is a rejection of inherited boundaries, justice, and wisdom. In contrast, the man diligent in his work rises above the ordinary, standing before kings rather than remaining among the obscure. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and...

In this Faith Friday edition of Morning Manna, the focus centers on John 6:58, where Jesus completes the contrast between the manna in the wilderness and Himself as the true Bread from heaven. The fathers ate manna and died, but the one who feeds on Christ will live forever. Temporary provision could sustain life for a moment, but only Christ sustains life beyond death. Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart...

Proverbs 22:26–27 warns against careless financial entanglements and impulsive agreements. To strike hands in pledge or guarantee another’s debt is to place oneself at risk of loss and humiliation—even to the point of losing what little one has. Wisdom calls for restraint, foresight, and personal responsibility rather than assuming obligations beyond one's control. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick W...

Proverbs 22:24–25 warns against forming close ties with those given to anger and uncontrolled temper. Association is not neutral—spending time with a wrathful person trains the heart in the same patterns, leading to a learned snare. What begins as influence becomes imitation, and imitation becomes bondage. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine how character is shaped by com...

Proverbs 22:22–23 delivers a direct command and a divine warning. The poor are not to be exploited simply because they are vulnerable, nor should the afflicted be oppressed where justice should protect them. God Himself takes their case personally—He will plead their cause and repay those who rob them. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine God’s defense of the weak, why inj...

Proverbs 22:20–21 affirms the reliability and purpose of God-given wisdom. These “excellent things” are written to provide certainty—to make known the sure words of truth so that what is received can also be faithfully answered and shared. Wisdom is not vague or shifting; it is precise, trustworthy, and transferable. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine how God’s instructi...

Proverbs 22:19 reveals the ultimate purpose behind instruction: “That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.” Wisdom is not an end in itself—it is given so that confidence rests fully in God. Knowledge, rightly received, leads to trust; understanding directs the heart toward reliance on the Lord rather than self. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc...