"In Due Season" 11-30-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Tree of Life. Live in me and bear Your fruit for Your kingdom. Fill my life with Your Life again today, as much as Your Holy Spirit has prepared me to receive and as much as I can handle by Your grace. ... In a moment, I'll join the small group men and women from ministry and marketplace You've joined together to pray out over our city from the top floor of the tallest building in the center of our city early on Wednesday mornings. Since we've been meeting for prayer, we've seen You move in different ways in different seasons. Lord, what will this season hold for our city? What will this season hold for my life? What we see in the natural realm often speaks to us of Your principles in the spiritual realm. With seasons, there are different times for different purposes -- a time for sowing and for reaping, a time of fallowness and a time of fruitfulness. "For everything there is a season" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Release us from the false belief that all seasons are supposed to be the same. Deliver us from the discouragement that comes when our expectations are fixed on the wrong season. Each season has its purpose. Lord, work Your purpose in me. Work Your purpose in my family, my church, my community, and my world. Give me eyes to see the seasons of fruitfulness to come even when the fields seem to lie fallow. Give me eyes to see the seasons of reaping to come even in the seasons of sowing. You come with Your power in the measure of grace we need "in due season" -- not too early and never too late (Genesis 18:14). Like a tree planted by the "streams of water" of Your Spirit, let my life yield the fullness of Your fruit "in its season" (Psalm 1:3). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

All for You Alone 11-29-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me be consumed with the passion of Your Flame, as I welcome the Fire of Your Spirit and the embrace of my Father's arms. ... Let me be consumed With the passion of Your Flame Set my heart ablaze, Burning in my soul. I live for You alone, All for You alone. Fill me with Your love With Your power and Your grace As I seek Your holy face, And learn Your holy ways. I live for You alone, All for You alone. Thank You for the gift of this song You are writing on my heart and singing in my soul. "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress; I shall never be shaken" (Psalm 62:1-2). I choose again this day by Your grace to live my life all for You alone. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, as you know, the Lord gives me these new songs sometimes in my morning prayers. I'm not a songwriter or publisher, but I've had the blessing of hearing some of these songs put to music and sung over us at my meetings from some of my morning friends, like Heather from Wales and Don from western Kentucky. Feel free to use these in any way the Lord leads to minister to others, and if you can, come sing them over us sometime! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching and prayer dvd's on spiritual principles of healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Arise, My Soul, Arise!" 11-28-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Steady my soul and focus my thoughts, as I watch and wait for Your leading at the beginning of a new day. ... Charles Wesley wrote a song called, "Arise, My Soul, Arise!" That is my prayer today. Your Word says, "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1). Awaken my soul this morning. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit. Draw me up into the arms of my Father. Stand up in me as I stand in You, Lord Jesus. Each day is a new day. I choose to arise and follow, as You lead the way. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on Biblical, Spiritual principles of inner healing and deliverance, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries, MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Dreamer 11-27-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. It's good to slip away from friends and family for a few moments alone with You. ... We went to see the movie "Dreamer" last night -- based on a true story and filmed here in Lexington and Versailles, Kentucky with all the familiar scenes of rolling green hills and horse farm fences. It was really about a little girl -- who reminded all of us of my little girl Maddie -- whose hopes and dreams became real, despite all the brokenness and discouragement that surrounded her. That's a lot like our lives too. You have created each one of us with hope in our spirit and a dream of fully becoming who You created us to be to fulfill the calling You created us to live. "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not your harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon Me and come and pray to Me, I will hear you. When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:11-13). You are the fulfillment of my hopes and dreams. You draw me to seek You, You open my eyes to find You, and You open my heart to receive You. As I learn to abide in You and allow You to abide in me, You fill my mind with Your dreams and lead my heart into my destiny in You. This is the dream of "a future with hope" -- despite all the brokenness and discouragement that ever surrounds me in a fallen world. You are the ultimate dreamer, and You've put that dream in my spirit and in the spirit of all who call upon Your name. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on inner healing and deliverance, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Generations of Faith 11-26-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I settle in for our time together this morning, I remember the song my grandmother used to sing as she went about her day: "And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known." ... Thank You for the blessings You desire to pass down through the generations -- the blessings of faith, of an awareness of our need for intimacy in relationship with You, of knowing that You are personal and You want to be personally involved in our lives. As Paul said to Timothy, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you" (2 Timothy 1:5). Thank You for the blessing of faith from my mother and grandmother. Thank You for those who have gone before me to help prepare the way of the Lord in my heart. That is a gift of grace I received before I ever made my first choice of sin or obedience. I pray for those who didn't have mothers and grandmothers in the faith. Let the prayers of the family of God as spiritual mothers and grandmothers prepare the way of the Lord in their hearts. You desire to walk with them and talk with them and call them Your own. You are patient and full of grace for those who were blessed with a legacy of godly faith and for those who were not, for those who have been steadfast in their faith and for those who wandered from the roots of their faith. You are "not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" before "the day of the Lord" (2 Peter 3:8-10). Draw us all near to You as the song of the Lord rises in our hearts as we go about our day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching and prayer dvd's on inner healing and deliverance, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Early in the Morning" 11-25-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Early, before the house begins to stir and thoughts begin to whirl, I come to You to offer my mind and heart to You alone. ... "Early in the morning He came again to the temple. All the people came to Him and He sat down and began to teach them" (John 8:2). Come again to Your temple this morning, Lord Jesus. Let my body be Your temple; let my heart be Your altar (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Teach me Your ways and impart to me Your nature. Cause Your thoughts to be my thoughts and Your will to be my will. There is a spiritual principle that as I lift my face and my heart to You, to behold You in worship and prayer, I become more like You, as Your Spirit fills me and conforms me to Your nature, a little more each time -- "from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV). In these early moments of the morning, I look to You alone and listen for the leading of Your voice alone. You are my teacher and Your Holy Spirit is my guide. "If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). Let Your glory fill Your temple -- the temple of my soul -- as You are high and lifted up in my worship and prayer, in communion with You (from Isaiah 6:1-3). ... In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching and prayer dvd's on inner healing and deliverance, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Thank Offerings of Praise 11-24-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You, Lord God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- for Your goodness and mercy in my life, especially in the times when I deserved it the least. "O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 107:1) ... In the days of King Hezekiah, the land and hearts of the people were restored to You. The temple had become filled with unholy things, but You moved on the heart of Hezekiah to cleanse the temple and cleanse the hearts of the people. When the temple was cleansed, the people and priests and king began to worship You throughout the nation and bring offerings of thanksgiving in praise of Your name (2 Chronicles 2:1-30). "Then Hezekiah said, 'You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord; come near, bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.' The assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings; and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. ... And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people; for the thing had come about suddenly" (2 Chronicles 2:31-36). Lord, You seek those who are "of a willing heart" to come and offer thanks and praise to You. It is a choice to have a thankful heart and a choice to praise You in the temples of our hearts. I choose today to thank You and to praise You. I choose today to offer my life to You as a living sacrifice. Cleanse my heart from all that is unholy, and fill my heart with the holiness of Your presence. Let it even "come about suddenly" in a fresh baptism of Your Holy Spirit, as I lift my heart to You in praise and thank You for Your goodness in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Happy Thanksgiving, my friends! Click on this link to a wonderful presentation of praise to God on this National Day of Thanksgiving from The Presidential Prayer Team: To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Give Thanks 11-23-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I sing to You this song of praise: "Give thanks with a grateful heart; give thanks to the Holy One; give thanks, because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son...." "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:17-19). There is an attitude that welcomes the Spirit and an attitude that quenches the Spirit. In one our eyes are fixed on You, and in the other our eyes are fixed on our circumstances. We have a choice to give thanks to You through the hardest of times or grumble and complain through even the best of times. Hard times reveal our true heart. Will we trust You and thank You that You are with us no matter what, or will we ignore You or even curse You as we are swallowed up in self pity and self focus? This call to be thankful in all circumstances is not a call to embrace evil or tragedy, sickness or pain. It is a call to embrace You as we are confronted by these struggles, trusting that You are with us and You will help us, as You bring us through, holding tight to Your hand and fixing our eyes on Your face. Though You do not cause or will all the evil and tragedy we face in this broken, fallen world in rebellion to Your will, You do use it all to draw us to You, as we persevere in humility and faith through prayer. You don't waste a moment of our sufferings, but use it all as grist in the mill to change our hearts and make us more like You. Forgive me Lord, when I cease to give You thanks in all circumstances. Forgive me when I forget that these are commands and not options, when You tell me to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances." You command it because You know the power of a thankful heart and a praying spirit that rejoices in You no matter what. That's how You make me victorious and not my circumstances. That's how I become a conqueror instead of a victim, a worshipper instead of a complainer. That's how I become more like You each day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

A Thankful Nation 11-22-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting aside the glory of heaven to humble Yourself in the likeness of human flesh and blood to live Your life as an example to us and lay down Your life as a sacrifice for us. Thank You for making a way for us to be reconciled and restored in relationship with God through the blood of Your cross and the victory of Your resurrection, despite our sin. I give thanks with a grateful heart, as I begin this day with You. ... Thank You for the blessing that our nation continues to celebrate a day of thanksgiving every year. Though many think it may be a day of thankfulness in general, it has always been a day of thanksgiving to God. From the time President George Washington decreed a national day of thanksgiving in 1789, then becoming a celebrated day throughout the nation when President Abraham Lincoln decreed the last Thursday of every year as Thanksgiving Day in 1863, we have given You thanks as a nation. May the heart of Abraham Lincoln's "Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day" of October 3, 1863 be the heart of our personal and national prayer every day, as we confess the sins of our nation in our own generation, seeking Your mercy, and giving thanks for our blessings to "Almight God," "our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens," and "the Most High God:" The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth. /s/ A. Lincoln "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and Your faithfulness by night" (Psalm 92:1-2). Thank You, Father. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Special thanks to Gerry Calvert for passing along this reminder of our history. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on inner healing and deliverance, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Follow Me" 11-21-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I give You the offering of these first moments of the morning. As I begin, may I continue throughout the day -- looking to You and following Your lead. ... Praying with a friend the other night, he prayed these words that have remained in my spirit -- "It's really pretty simple, Lord. You said, 'Follow Me.' " That really does sum up Your call and our responsibility as Christians -- followers and disciples of Christ. You said, "My sheep hear My voice. I know them and they follow Me" (John 10:27). Of course, we cannot follow unless we are looking to You to see where You are going. We cannot obey You unless we are spending time in the silence of surrender to know the leading of Your voice. So the key to following is waiting -- waiting and watching for Your leading. If we are Your sheep, You will know us and we will know You because we spend time with You. If we are Your sheep, we will hear Your voice because we spend time listening for Your voice. Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see You as the first sight of the morning, so I can watch You lead throughout the day. Open my ears to hear You as the first sound of the morning, so I can listen for Your leading throughout the day. The more I choose to spend my time waiting and watching, then following as You're leading, the more this will become the walk and way of my life. Your ways will become my ways, and You walk will become my walk. Then where You are leading, I will be following. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please cover Brother Ghuna Kumar of Gospel Friends in your prayers as he begins his travel back home to Tamil Nadu, India this morning. The Lord has touched many lives through him in our country and now He will continue touching many lives through him in his own. Gerry Calvert and I were deeply moved by the people who came to the Lord in a little village when we were there in September. We committed to establish a church there and will be sending Brother Ghuna home with the funds this morning. If you would like to join with us in the joy of this blessing, please send any contribution to "Messiah Ministries" marked "Gospel Friends, India" to us at 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502, and every dollar will go to them. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Lord's House 11-20-05

Morning by Morning, Sunday 11-20-05 -- The Lord's House Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me afresh with Your Spirit today. ... It was wonderful to have my friend, Brother Ghuna Kumar from Tamil Nadu, India with us at The Fountain last night. What passion and power You have given him to share Your Word and minister Your love. You've called him to send evangelists into the villages of India where the gospel has never been preached. He has baptized over thirty thousand souls now, helped them become established and healed in Christian fellowships, taught them a trade that can sustain their families, and stood by them through the inevitable persecution that comes when someone chooses to be called by Your name. He spoke to us from Haggai last night. "Thus says the Lord of hosts: these people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord's house.... Consider how you have fared. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. You have looked for much, and lo, it has come to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because My house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses" (Haggai 1:2-9). Forgive us, Lord, for all the ways we have focused on ourselves rather than You. Forgive us for the ways we have placed the priority on our needs and desires rather than Yours. You care for us and You know our every need before we ask it, yet You call us to seek You for our needs and to seek first Your kingdom so that then all these things will be added to us. Above all, You desire relationship with us, a relationship that comes and grows only as we seek You and depend up You, placing You first above all else. We do not fare well when we live our lives trying to build our own houses -- our own plans and desires apart from You. In Your mercy, You blow it all away so that we will know something is wrong in our relationship with You. Let me no longer hurry off, but hurry home -- home to You. Let my heart be Your house, the house of the Lord. I join my heart with the hearts of all those throughout the earth who are called by Your name. Together, we are the house of the Lord. It is time to rebuild the Lord's house. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, today is a day of prayer for the persecuted church. I stand with you in agreement in prayer for God's sustaining mercy and deliverance for all who are suffering persecution for the name of Christ throughout the earth. May we be convicted of our calling to stand with them in the power of prayer, that their commitment in life and undying faith through death, my bring glory to God and many souls in His kingdom. And my they stand with us in prayer in the days of our persecution -- for as Jesus promised, all who are called by His name will be persecuted. If we are not being persecuted, maybe we are building our own houses instead of His. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

A City of God 11-19-05

Morning by Morning, Saturday Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord. I lift my face and open my heart to seek Your face and know Your heart. You and the Father and the Holy Spirit are One. As I seek You with all my heart, You and the Father come and abide in my heart by Your Spirit. ... We gathered together in fasting and prayer for our city yesterday -- a gathering of ministers and business people, of watchmen and intercessors, of Black, White, and Hispanic, of those coming from many traditions and streams of the body of Christ with a heart for the souls of our city. We worshiped and sought Your face. We joined our prayers with the prayers of all those who have prayed and who are praying throughout our city throughout the generations. We humbled ourselves in confession and repentance for the sins in our hearts and in the heart of our city. We wailed in travail for the coming of the mature church of Jesus Christ in our city -- that we would be a "city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High" (Psalm 46:4). And Your Holy Spirit came to lift our hearts in prayer with You, as You ever live to intercede at the right hand of the Father for the fullness of salvation of every soul (Hebrews 7:25). In the Spirit, You showed us a square foundation of Your church, which speaks of divine order. You moved on our hearts to pray for the breaking away and removal of the false foundations built by human hands for human plans through confession and repentance, receiving Your mercy and redemption as far as Your grace would go. And You moved on our hearts to pray for the established of Your true foundation, rooted and grounded in Your love, one in the unity of Your body. We affirmed You as our Cornerstone of the foundation of the one church of Your one body, of which You are the Head, in our city. "For through You, Lord Jesus, we have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then we are no longer strangers and aliens, but we are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Yourself as the Cornerstone. In You the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple of the Lord; into whom we also are built together in the Spirit into a dwelling place for God" (Ephesians 2:18-22, personalized). Let our city be "a holy temple of the Lord." Cleanse our hearts and the heart of our city that we may be Your church and Your light, as a city shining on a hill that cannot be hid (Matthew 5:14). By Your grace, may "all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ" (Ephesians 3:13). Let us continue in humility and faith, "making every effort to maintain the unit of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called to the one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all!" (Ephesians 4:3-6, personalized) As we become one with each other as Your body, we become one with You as our Head. Then the souls of our city will know that the Father has sent His Son to dwell in our hearts and in the heart of our city by Spirit and out of Your love (John 17:20-26). Lord, let it be so. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India, who oversees many churches and ministries will be preaching and ministering. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Your Wisdom and Ways 11-18-05

Morning by Morning, Friday Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before I speak, I will listen. Help me settle in to the silence of surrender as I watch and wait for You. ... "Wisdom is better than weapons of war" (Ecclesiastes 9:18). By the tainting of original sin passed down through the generations and by the confusion and deception of a world trying to exist independently from You, our minds are carnal and our thoughts are impure. There is a wisdom of the world that determines the ways of the world -- ways that ultimately lead to destruction and chaos apart from Your truth. But there is hope. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is the beginning of insight" (Proverbs 9:10). To fear You is to submit to You and the wisdom of Your ways, trusting in You rather than in ourselves apart from You. As we open our minds to You and Your Word, You are changing the way we think, which changes the way we live. Since You created the world and every spiritual principle that determines the quality of our lives as we choose to obey Your principles or not, what could be more wise than to fear You in the submission of trusting faith? There is great power is that kind of wisdom. Lord, I entrust my mind to You. Cause Your thoughts to be my thoughts, Your will to be my will, and Your ways to be my ways. Teach me Your spiritual principles revealed in Your Word and demonstrated in Your ways. Like Solomon, I ask for Your wisdom to live in Your ways (2 Chronicles 1:10). But unlike Solomon, draw me to You every day to continually entrust my mind to You so that my ways demonstrate Your wisdom. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India, who oversees many churches and ministries will be preaching and ministering. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Safety of Goshen in the Days of Tribulation 11-17-05

Morning by Morning, Thursday 11-17-05 -- The Safety of Goshen in the Days of Tribulation Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me see You with spiritual eyes and hear You with spiritual ears. Fill my spirit with Your Spirit, as I watch and wait for Your leading. ... "And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; there was hail with fire flashing continually in the midst of it, such heavy hail as had never fallen in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The hail struck down everything that was in the open field throughout the land of Egypt, both human and animal; the hail also struck down all the plants of the field, and shattered every tree in the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were, there was no hail" (Exodus 9:23-26). At one level of interpretation and application of Your Word, it seems that Egypt speaks of the places of our souls in the rebellion of pride against You. And Goshen speaks of the places in submission to You, under the covering of Your hand of protection. Out of Your love for us and Your desire for us to be whole and holy, You release Your judgments against the flesh of Egypt in our souls, so that the life of the Spirit of Goshen may arise and fill our souls with Your Spirit (1 Peter 2:11; Romans 7:23; Ephesians 5:18). Judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). You send Your judgments to bring us to our knees in humility, to turn to You in repentance and faith, that You may destroy our flesh and breathe the newness of Your life into our spirits. Then Your judgments become Your mercy, and Your "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). And another level, Egypt speaks of the nations and people of the earth in rebellion against You; and Goshen speaks of the nations and people in submission to You. "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them" (Ephesians 5:65-7). When Your judgments rain down "hail and fire, mixed with blood" on the earth at the sound of Your trumpet call to repentance in those last days to come, let us find our place of refuge in submission and trusting faith in You -- in the land of Goshen where there is "no hail" of Your wrath (Revelation 8:7; Exodus 9:26). "For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9). So we need not fear the judgments and wrath of God in our souls and in the places of the earth where we submit the lordship and receive the salvation of Jesus Christ. We need not fear the days of tribulation to come, nor these that are coming in some measure even now. Those who turn to You in repentance and faith will bring their lives under the hand of Your protection. And the world will have one last chance to see that the only place of safety and peace is to "live in the shelter of the Most High" and to "abide in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). Out of every tribe and tongue and nation, there will be a people who enter in to the land of Goshen -- the place of safety and shelter even in the days of judgment, tribulation, and wrath. This is the place of the kingdom of God -- the place of submission and faith in the Lord our God. "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22, NKJV). But by Your grace and in Your mercy, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it's light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!" (Matthew 24:29-30) I choose this day to bring every area of my life under the lordship of Jesus Christ in humble repentance and trusting faith -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. I ask you to continue to put to death the things of my flesh that I may live in the life of Your Spirit. Give me courage to embrace Your judgments, that I may have grace to embrace Your mercy. Through the tribulations of Your judgments against my flesh, may I enter in to the fullness of the kingdom of God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will be preaching and ministering. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Safety of Goshen in the Days of Tribulation 11-17-05

Morning by Morning, Thursday Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me see You with spiritual eyes and hear You with spiritual ears. Fill my spirit with Your Spirit, as I watch and wait for Your leading. ... "And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; there was hail with fire flashing continually in the midst of it, such heavy hail as had never fallen in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The hail struck down everything that was in the open field throughout the land of Egypt, both human and animal; the hail also struck down all the plants of the field, and shattered every tree in the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were, there was no hail" (Exodus 9:23-26). At one level of interpretation and application of Your Word, it seems that Egypt speaks of the places of our souls in the rebellion of pride against You. And Goshen speaks of the places in submission to You, under the covering of Your hand of protection. Out of Your love for us and Your desire for us to be whole and holy, You release Your judgments against the flesh of Egypt in our souls, so that the life of the Spirit of Goshen may arise and fill our souls with Your Spirit (1 Peter 2:11; Romans 7:23; Ephesians 5:18). Judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). You send Your judgments to bring us to our knees in humility, to turn to You in repentance and faith, that You may destroy our flesh and breathe the newness of Your life into our spirits. Then Your judgments become Your mercy, and Your "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). And another level, Egypt speaks of the nations and people of the earth in rebellion against You; and Goshen speaks of the nations and people in submission to You. "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them" (Ephesians 5:6-7). When Your judgments rain down "hail and fire, mixed with blood" on the earth at the sound of Your trumpet call to repentance in those last days to come, let us find our place of refuge in submission and trusting faith in You -- in the land of Goshen where there is "no hail" of Your wrath (Revelation 8:7; Exodus 9:26). "For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9). So we need not fear the judgments and wrath of God in our souls and in the places of the earth where we submit to the lordship and receive the salvation of Jesus Christ. We need not fear the days of tribulation to come, nor these that are coming in some measure even now. Those who turn to You in repentance and faith will bring their lives under the hand of Your protection. And the world will have one last chance to see that the only place of safety and peace is to "live in the shelter of the Most High" and to "abide in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). Out of every tribe and tongue and nation, there will be a people who enter in to the land of Goshen -- the place of safety and shelter even in the days of judgment, tribulation, and wrath. This is the place of the kingdom of God -- the place of submission and faith in the Lord our God. "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22, NKJV). But by Your grace and in Your mercy, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it's light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!" (Matthew 24:29-30) I choose this day to bring every area of my life under the lordship of Jesus Christ in humble repentance and trusting faith -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. I ask you to continue to put to death the things of my flesh that I may live in the life of Your Spirit. Give me courage to embrace Your judgments, that I may have grace to embrace Your mercy. Through the tribulations of Your judgments against my flesh, may I enter in to the fullness of the kingdom of God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will be preaching and ministering. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

My Hiding Place 11-16-05

Morning by Morning, Wednesday Good morning, Lord Jesus. As the old hymn says, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee." You are my Rock and Refuge. Let me be hidden in Christ and Christ be found in me. ... They said forty tornados came churning across our region last night. We made preparations to get ready to hide in the most secure place in the center of our home, as we prayed together for protection and stood against the storm in the power of Your Word and Your Name. It's as if "the ruler of the power of the air" is mustering his forces of destruction in a furious rage to turn our hearts from God in the face of adversities and calamities (Ephesians 2:2). No doubt some will blame You and curse You, as our spiritual enemy is always whispering through the voices of those who are weak in their faith and hardened in their hearts, to just "curse God and die" (Job 2:9). Yet You intend every force of destruction -- from whatever source -- to turn our hearts to You, to call upon Your name, that we may be saved. You desire "that we may have life and have it abundantly," while "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10). You are patient with us and You are persistent with us, using even the tragedies and travesties of our lives -- whether the vengeance of the enemy or the judgments of God -- to draw us to You. "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Let destruction drive me into the cleft of Your Rock. "You are my hiding place and my shield" (Psalm 119:114). You are "like a hiding place from the wind, a covert from the tempest" (Isaiah 32:2). You are the place of security and protection for all humble themselves in trusting faith to "live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, who say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust' " (Psalm 91:1-2). Make me more secure in You each day, that I will be able to stand securely in You as You stand securely in me in the days of destruction. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month -- This Saturday Night with Ghuna Kumar from India -- at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Faithful God, Steadfast Friend 11-15-05

Morning by Morning, Tuesday 11-15-05 -- Faithful God, Steadfast Friend Good morning, Lord Jesus. In dark days, You are my Light. In seas of confusion, You are my steadfast Rock. Though the darkness increases across the face of the earth, Your light shines brighter still. Though the mountains tremble and the seas roar, the stronghold of Your security stands out like a rugged cliff at the edge of the waves. You are my Light and my Strength. ... "The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their refuge in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in Him" (Psalm 37:39-40). We have no righteousness on our own or apart from You. But the righteous are those who trust in You by faith. "Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God" (James 2:23). As we trust in You, we abide in You and You abide in us (John 15:4). This is our security and safety; this is our guiding light in the midst of the darkness. Give me wisdom to continually find my refuge in You. Then, by Your grace, I will not fear the times of darkness or the times trouble. They will only draw me closer to You -- my faithful God and my steadfast Friend (John 15:14). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. My Friend Ghuna Kumar, who oversees many churches and ministries throughout southern India will here to preach and pray with us! People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Armor of Light 11-14-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me near to You as I exalt Your name in praises and prayer. ... "Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:11-14). To "put on the armor of light" is to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." It is the choice to submit my thoughts to Your thoughts and my desires to Your desires. It is the choice to allow Your Holy Spirit to convict me of sin, to crucify my flesh, to empower me by Your presence, and to lead me in the ways of Your truth and life. The call is not to merely see the Light, but to put on the Light; not merely to know about the Light, but to know the Light. This Light is the shining armor that pushes back the darkness, and that overcomes the battles of the world, the flesh, and the devil. But we have the choice to put on the armor each day or leave it hanging in the closet. By Your grace, I choose to put on the armor today and suit up for battle. I choose to embrace the Light of the glory of Your presence and put on Jesus Christ as my Lord. Now Your Light in my heart will overcome the darkness -- first in my own soul and then wherever I go. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. My friend from India, Ghuna Kumar, who oversees many churches and ministries on the front line of the battle, will join me in leading our time together. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Know Me and Trust Me" 11-13-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Establish my soul securely in the knowledge of Your love for me and in the certainty of Your plan for me. Give me the wisdom to know I don't need to know the details. All I need to know is You. ... It seems You are saying, "This is wisdom, my son -- to know Me and to trust Me. Choose to entrust your thoughts and desires to Me, and I will shape them into My thoughts and desires. Be patient with Me in this process, for I am patient with you." Yes, Lord. Forgive my impatience and anxiety and doubts. Help me trust You more completely and trust that You are working in the details of my thoughts and desires to lead me into the fullness of Your plans. "My child, if you accept My words and treasure up My commandments within you, making you ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; if you indeed cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding; if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures -- then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-5). Thank You, Lord. I receive the peace that comes with choosing to look to You and trusting by faith that You will give me Your wisdom and understanding in the measure I need it. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will preach and minister this Saturday! Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

My Map and Compass 11-12-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me focus my thoughts on You. ... "The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them" (Matthew 21:6). Yes, Lord. That's what Your disciples do -- they go and do as You direct. I need Your direction, Lord. Focus my thoughts and direct my paths. Open my eyes to see where You are going. Open my spirit to sense Your leading. Give me a more specific sense of Your direction in this season of my life. Help me focus my thoughts in the direction of the path of Your plans for me. Free me from distractions and detours. Deliver me from the tyranny of good plans, that I may pursue only Your best plan. "The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps" (Proverbs 16:9). If I were to direct my own steps, then I would be my own lord. I renounce my lordship and submit to Your Lordship. I renounce my own plans apart from Your leading and submit to Your plan and Your leading. Let Your Word be my map and Your Spirit be my compass. Lead on O King Eternal in the journey of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Important Note: Dear Praying Friends, from time to time some have suggested that I personalize these prayers with "I" instead of "we," in the style I prayed today. In the past, I've always started off with my personal prayer to get centered on Jesus, then waited on the Lord for His leading (the "..."), then prayed a prayer as if all of us were praying it together. To me, this was less presumptuous but some feel it is less personal. I've been told many change the "we's" to "I's" as they pray this devotional. As I try out this other style for awhile, I would appreciate your feedback on whether this style is more or less helpful as a devotional prayer. By the way, as I click "send" every morning, it is my joy to pray for each one of you! God bless you and thank you for joining me in the journey! Your friend and prayer partner, Tommy. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on biblical principles of inner healing and deliverance, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries-- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will lead this Saturday night! Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com