Friday, 17 July 2026 — Daily Manna

Reflections from Daily Encounters

This morning, I can honestly say that I am mentally drained.

My body is tired.

Not because this week was bad.

It was actually a good week.

Finances were incredibly tight, yet every single day there was provision.

Every single day there was daily manna.

This week taught me something that is far more difficult than I imagined.

It isn't always difficult to trust God once.

Sometimes the greatest challenge is trusting Him again tomorrow...

and again the next day...

and again after that.

I realised that much of my tiredness came from resisting the temptation to worry about tomorrow's needs.

Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Living those words requires far more faith than simply reading them.

This week I chose, day after day, to return my thoughts to God instead of allowing fear to lead them.

It wasn't easy.

But here I am.

Still standing.

Still grateful.

Still trusting.

I also have customer payments that are only due at the end of the month.

I made a conscious decision not to pressure anyone for payment before it is due.

Not because I don't need the money.

I do.

But because I want my business to be built on integrity rather than fear.

God has never asked me to build my future through anxiety.

He has asked me to remain faithful.

And today, that is enough.

Sometimes the greatest miracle is not receiving everything you need at once.

Sometimes the miracle is discovering that God has faithfully provided just enough every single day.

That is daily manna.

And daily manna has never failed me.

And I'd leave you with this thought for today:

Faith is often exhausting because it asks us to release tomorrow into God's hands while remaining faithful with today. Yet every evening becomes another testimony that today's manna was enough.

When I abandoned Me.

It’s been a while since I’ve written like this…

And today, as I sit at my desk,

I find myself reflecting.

There are real needs… real pressures.

But even in that… I had a realization.

Nothing I’m facing now compares to what I felt before.

Last year — especially around November 2026 —

I was not okay.

Not financially…not emotionally… and definitely mentally.

I felt weak.

I felt overwhelmed.

And if I’m honest… I FELT SMALL.

There was a moment I will never forget.

When my colleague called me in

to speak about my work.

She spoke about mistakes I continued to make.

Pointed out everything that was going wrong.

And I remember standing there…

So nervous.

So shaken.

I couldn’t even gather myself properly.

And then I said it…

Words that came straight from a place of fear:

“You make me nervous…

I don’t know how to hold myself together around you…

You make me scared…

I don’t want to lose my job.”

And in that moment…

I felt like I was nothing.

Like I was the tail…and she was the head. I felt this all because of one

person, an individual just like me. The difference is, she is in a highter position only at our workplace but, a sister in Christ.

That moment stayed with me.

Because it revealed something deeper:

I had given my power away.

I literally abandoned myself. 

And from there…

Everything started to fall apart. I have never in my life prayed for time to just fly. 

I made more mistakes.

I couldn’t think clearly.

I carried fear into everything I did.

I had terrible headaches and drank more pain tablets than I normally would. I literally felt ashamed of myself and just wanted to die.

I felt I couldn’t speak to anyone but God and record everything in my journal. 

I would sit at my desk…

crying inside. Not wanting to come to work. Feeling like a cloud was hanging over me. Until eventually…

I received a verbal warning.

Look, work is work. The leader in the workplace also has pressure but believe me they will always make sure they are above you no matter what the cost.

And looking back now…

I see it clearly:

It wasn’t just the situation…

It was how much power I had handed over.

But today… 8 months later, sitting 

in the same space…

I realize something has shifted.

I am not that person anymore.

Yes, challenges are still there.

There are still pressure all over the place. Work is still challenging most of the tim. My colleague  is still above me in the workplace but the difference is…

It no longer controls me.

Because I’ve learned something powerful:

No one has power over me

unless I give it to them.

And today…

I no longer shrink.

I no longer feel like “nothing.”

I no longer carry fear into every moment.

I am aware.

I am grounded.

I am steady.

Because now I understand:

My power does not come from people.

It comes from being aligned with God.

And when I stay aligned…

No voice around me

can overpower the voice within me.

Reminder

The moment you feel like nothing…

is often the moment you’ve forgotten where your power comes from.

Declaration

I take back my power.

I will not shrink for anyone.

I am no longer who I was — I am stronger, aware, and aligned.

From "What Do I Have?" to "Who Am I Becoming?"

There was a time in my life when I measured everything by what I had.

Did I have enough money? Did I have enough recognition? Did I have enough support? Did I have enough opportunities?

When those things were missing, I felt as though something was missing from me.

But somewhere along the journey, God quietly began changing the question.

Instead of asking, "What do I have?" He began asking me, "Who are you becoming?"

That question changed everything.

Life has not suddenly become easy.

There are still financial challenges. There are still disappointments. There are still people who misunderstand me. There are still moments when I have to choose silence instead of defending myself.

But something inside me has changed.

I've learned that I never want to abandon myself again.

Not by chasing people's approval. Not by allowing someone else's behaviour to determine mine. Not by compromising my values just because someone else compromised theirs.

One of the greatest lessons I've learned is this:

Don't build with revenge. Build with integrity.

Revenge may feel satisfying for a moment, but integrity builds a life that can withstand every season.

I've discovered that peace doesn't come when everyone starts treating me fairly.

Peace comes when my heart, my words, and my actions agree with one another.

There is a freedom that comes from knowing you've done the right thing, even when no one notices.

If you've been treated unfairly... If you've been misunderstood... If you've been overlooked... If someone has wounded your heart...

Don't allow their actions to shape your character.

Let them shape your wisdom.

One Scripture has become an anchor in my life:

"Barricade the road that goes nowhere; grace me with Your clear revelation."

Psalm 119:29

Every day I pray those words.

Lord, don't just change my circumstances.

Change my direction.

Block every road that leads me back to bitterness, resentment, comparison, and self-abandonment.

Lead me onto the road where integrity is more valuable than being right. Because at the end of the day, the greatest victory isn't proving someone wrong.

It's becoming the person God is calling me to be.

Today, my prayer is simple:

"Lord, guard my heart while I walk among them."

May I never stop choosing kindness. May I never stop choosing wisdom. May I never stop becoming.

The Strength of a Gentle Man

Lately, I've noticed something beautiful.

More and more men are quietly stepping into a season of looking after themselves.

Not because someone told them to. Not because they're trying to impress anyone. But because they are beginning to understand that caring for themselves is not weakness—it is wisdom.

As the owner of LMB Naturals, I've been surprised and encouraged by how many men have started purchasing my products. Some of them are the very men people would describe as "hardcore"—strong, hardworking, practical men.

Yet they choose to care for their skin. They choose to look presentable. They choose to invest in themselves.

And I think that's wonderful.

Somewhere along the way, many men were taught that they always had to be tough, silent, and carry everything alone. That asking for help, showing emotion, or taking care of themselves somehow made them "soft."

But I don't believe gentleness makes a man weak.

In fact, it takes confidence to care for yourself without worrying about what others might think.

I've seen this in my own home, too. Marco has started using my skincare products. I can encourage him, but ultimately he has to make the choice for himself. Watching him take that small step reminds me that growth often begins with the simplest decisions.

A strong man isn't someone who ignores himself.

A strong man knows that he cannot keep pouring from an empty cup.

Looking after your health... Looking after your appearance... Looking after your heart... Looking after your peace...

These aren't signs of weakness.

They are signs of maturity.

To every man reading this:

It's okay to take care of yourself.

It's okay to wear clothes that make you feel confident.

It's okay to look after your skin.

It's okay to rest.

It's okay to grow.

You don't become less of a man by caring for yourself.

You become a better steward of the life God has given you.

Strength and gentleness can live in the same heart.

And I believe the strongest men are often the ones who quietly choose both.

— Leslene Britz

LMB Naturals – Gracefully Made. Naturally Yours.