Morning by Morning, May 11 - True Identity

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus.  Be high and lifted up, here in my heart and every moment of my day.  ...

 

"Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this:  when He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And all who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:2-3).

 

Now, I am Your child--a child of God, a disciple of Jesus Christ, part of the bride and the body of Christ here on this earth and here in my generation. I don't have to wait until I get to heaven when I die or when You return at Your second coming. I am God's child now.

 

In the same way, You are already revealing who I am, what my true identity already is. I don't already see it all; I don't already see myself completely as You see me. But You are in the process of revealing my true identity to me more and more every day. And it happens as I see You as You are: "When (You are) revealed, (I) will be like (You), for (I) see (You) as (You are)" (v. 2).

 

I always thought of this as an end time Scripture--something to be fulfilled when I stand in Your presence after I die and go to heaven or if I'm part of that generation on the earth when You return. This Scripture includes those events--whether it's the end time for the world or just the end time for me. "Just as we have borne the image of the son of dust, we will also bear the image of the Man of heaven.... we will all be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:49-52). But I believe Your Spirit is revealing to me that this Scripture is also for today and every day between now and that day to come as well.  

 

Already You are at work in me, revealing to Me who You are and also who I am in You. Already this Word is being fulfilled: "And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed in to the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:17). Already You are pulling back the veil for me to see You and see myself as I truly am. And who I am is a child of God, being conformed into the image of the Son of God more and more every day, as I keep seeking You and You keep revealing Yourself to me (Romans 8:29).

 

Come, Holy Spirit. Keep opening the eyes of my heart--"so that, with the eyes of (my) heart enlightened, (I) may know what is the hope to which He has called (me), what are (my) riches of His glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power for us who believe, according to working of His great power" (Ephesians 1:18-19). More and more every day, may "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give (me) a spirit of wisdom and revelation as (I) come to know Him" (Ephesians 1:17). 

 

It has not yet been fully revealed to me just who I am and just who Christ is, but You are at work in me doing just that. By the power of Your grace, give me "a mind to understand, eyes to see, (and) ears to hear" along with the faith to believe it and receive it (Deuteronomy 29:2). I am God's child now (1 John 3:8). Let me see that in myself and let me see that in the children of God around me, being conformed into the image of Christ as we all see with greater revelation who Christ is, who we are in Christ, and who Christ is in us. "Christ in (us), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). More and more every day, let me "see what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are"--our true identity (1 John 2:28). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, I pray you will see more clearly every day who Christ is, who you are in Christ, and who Christ is in you, knowing the revelation of your true identity as a child of God, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

(a photo taken during a powerful move of the Holy Spirit in our worship on one of my ministry trips overseas)    

   

Tommy Hays' 365 Day Prayer Devotional

Morning by Morning, 2nd Edition

"A Deeply Intimate Journey with Jesus"

Available Today through Amazon

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

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Morning by Morning, May 9 - Waiting on God's Words, Being "Patient with Purpose"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, be King of my heart and Lord of my life, this day and every day. ...

 

"My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to My words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body" (Proverbs 4:20-22 NLT).

 

Lord, let Your words penetrate deep into me heart. Your words "are spirit and life" (John 6:63). Your words are "trustworthy and true" (Revelation 21:5). And every one of Your words will come to pass, none returning empty or void, but each one fully accomplishing the purpose for which You sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

 

My Father, is there a word of spirit and life You want to penetrate deep into my heart this morning, as You set the course for my life today?  ...

 

It seems I hear You saying:  "My child, My words are like seeds I have sown into Your heart. Some have sprouted and grown to the maturity of harvest. But most are still growing from deep within, even still hidden beneath the surface of the soil of your life. What is hidden will be seen and will also grow to the fullness of maturity in Me--all in My time and all for My purpose through your life, My child. So be patient with purpose, for My words in Your heart will surely come to pass, bringing life to you and all I will touch through you."

 

Yes, Lord. Help me learn to be "patient with purpose" as You have said. Give me Your grace for that. "Love is patient" (1 Corinthians 13:4). Thank You for loving me through Your patience with me. Help me love You back with my patience with You and Your words for me.

 

You've sown Your seeds with purpose into my soul. "In Christ, (I) have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things according to His counsel and will, so that (I have) ... set (my) hope on Christ (to) live for the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:11-12). By Your grace, I have "heard the word of truth" and now I'm "marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit" to bring forth every word You've sown into me for the harvest of Your will for my life--all in Your time, all in Your way, all for Your glory. Thank You for continuing to give me patience to see every word come to pass. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, I pray you will be "patient with purpose" as you wait on God's words of spirit and life to come pass in Your life, in Jesus' name! May you know in your soul that is will be worth the wait! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

    

   

Tommy Hays' 365 Day Prayer Devotional

Morning by Morning, 2nd Edition

"A Deeply Intimate Journey with Jesus"

Available Today through Amazon

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, May 8 - True Unity in the New World Order and One World Government

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Awaken my soul as I focus in on You first with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. ...

"Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, 'Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.' And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth" (Genesis 11:1-4).

There's a false unity that's fueled by the human pride to "make a name for ourselves." It has its own language, with its own words. And it's purpose is to build its own kingdom. It seeks to exalt its tower of authority and power over the whole earth and into the heavens. It's inspired and empowered by the same spirit that says, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14).

It's the opposite of the true unity You desire--"the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). This is the "unity of the faith" as we put our faith in You instead of ourselves, building Your kingdom instead of our own, humbly and willingly choosing to desperately dependent upon You alone for our true sense of identity and destiny (Ephesians 4:13). United in You and united with one another in our bond of humility and faith, "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 4:4-6).

In the true unity of Your Spirit--where we exalt Your name instead of our own, living for You instead of ourselves--You pour out every blessing of heaven we'll ever need:  "Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing--life forevermore!" (Psalm 133:1-3 NKJV).

And in that spirit of unity, all the world will begin to see You--seeing You in us, as we abide in You and You abide in us as one body with one Lord, one faith, one God and Father of all. As the Son of God and Son of Man walking this earth in the flesh and blood of Your incarnation, You prayed to the Father this great prayer of unity:  "As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me. The glory that You have given Me I have given them, so that they may be one as We are One, I in them and You in Me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me" (John 17:21-23).

This is the true unity You long to see. This is the new world order You've envisioned from the beginning--the "new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). This is the one world government You passionately desire--the "government (that) will be upon (Your) shoulder... (and) of the increase of (Your) government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:6-7). In the unity of Your Spirit, "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15 KJV)  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, I pray you united with Christ and His body in the Holy Spirit in one faith of true unity with our one Lord, one God and Father of all, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

   

   

Tommy Hays' 365 Day Prayer Devotional

Morning by Morning, 2nd Edition

"A Deeply Intimate Journey with Jesus"

Available Today through Amazon

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, May 7 - "Go Out and Grow Fat!"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your leading to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.  ... 

"'For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,' says the Lord of hosts, 'that will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,' says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 4:1-3 NKJV).

Finally! I knew there was a verse in the Bible somewhere that said "go out and grow fat!" Thank You, Lord for leading me to this verse today! My wife and friends seem to think I'm supposed to go out to the gym and grow skinny. But no doubt, that would only lead me to be among "the proud" and find myself among the "stubble" instead of among the humble and hearty. Yes, Your ways are truly higher than our ways and Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts! 

But somehow, even as I write my morning prayer today, I sense You are speaking something deeper. You're speaking of the blessings that come with obedience to You, flowing out of a trusting relationship with You. When we are among those "who fear (Your) name," who honor Your Word, who entrust their lives to the One who loves us and leads us in the paths of righteousness, "the Sun of Righteousness" arises in our lives. And even the enemy of our souls is trampled under our feet.  

So, Lord, please forgive me for taking a little liberty and having a little fun with my morning prayer today. But after all, You are the One who said, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV) and "in Your presence is fullness of joy!" (Psalm 16:11 NKJV)  "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope" (Psalm 16:9 NKJV).  

Forgiven and free, would You fill me afresh with Your Spirit today (Ephesians 5:18).  By the power of Your grace, may I go out and grow fat in the security of my identity in You, living into the fullness of the destiny of my blessings in You--"leaping like a (fat) calf from the stall!" (Malachi 4:2 NRSV)  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, I pray you are filled with the joy of the Lord today, going out and growing fat in the fullness of all He has for you and desires to do through you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

   

   

Tommy Hays' 365 Day Prayer Devotional

Morning by Morning, 2nd Edition

"A Deeply Intimate Journey with Jesus"

Available Today through Amazon

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, May 4 - Always Ready for the Presence of God

  

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit.  ...

"The Lord said to Moses, 'Cut two tablets of stone like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets, which you broke. Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself there to Me, on the top of the mountain.... So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the former ones; and he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord commanded him, and took in his hand the two tablets of stone. The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name, 'The Lord (YHWH)'" (Exodus 34:1-5). 

O Lord, my God--Yahweh, Jehovah, Great I AM, Abba Father--I want to "be ready in the morning" to come up to the mountain of Your Presence, here in the communion of my heart in worship and prayer. Touch Your finger to the tablet of my heart and write Your will for my day along the journey of my life into my soul. 

When Moses came down from the mountain, "the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God" (Exodus 34:24). And now in the "New Covenant, not of letter but of Spirit" in Christ, I never have to come down from the mountain or out of Your Presence (2 Corinthians 3:6; Luke 22:20). By Your great mercy and loving grace, I can be always ready, always available, always waiting on You and welcoming You, always embracing You and Your Presence with me--here in communion with my spirit, shining with the light of Your glory through my heart and upon the countenance of my face. "For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My Friend, I pray you are always ready for the Presence of God, always available for His manifest Presence to fill your heart and flow through your life every day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

   

   

Tommy Hays' 365 Day Prayer Devotional

Morning by Morning, 2nd Edition

"A Deeply Intimate Journey with Jesus"

Available Today through Amazon

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, May 3 - National Day of Prayer

Good morning, Lord Jesus. O Lord, my God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--You are holy and You are here--here in my heart and here in every moment of my day.  ... 

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.... Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You" (Psalm 33:12-22 NKJV). 

Let Your mercy be upon us, Lord--upon the people of our nation and the nations of our world. We need You. So move in our hearts to seek You, to humble ourselves before You, to call on Your name and turn from our sins and embrace Your ways. Let our rule of law be just and fair. Let our attitude of heart be welcoming and kind, loving and strong. Let our state of mind be the mind of Christ--standing firm in the truth, but also speaking and living the truth in love, sacrificially and courageously for the sake of all that is right and true. And "let (our) light so shine before men, that they may see (our) good works and glorify (our) Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16 NKJV). 

This is my prayer for my nation and for the nations of our world. Just as Daniel stood in the gap to intercede for his land, so I join in prayer with all those who humble themselves to pray for our land on this National Day of Prayer:  "We do not present our supplication before You on the ground of our righteousness, but on the ground of Your great mercies. O  Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, listen and act and do not delay! For Your own sake, O my God, because Your city and Your people bear Your name!" (Daniel 9:18-19)  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, I join in prayer with you and all who love our nation to the Lord our God to hear and move in our hearts and our land, to be a shining light in our world, in Jesus' name! God bless you, my friend! 

   

   

Tommy Hays' 365 Day Prayer Devotional

Morning by Morning, 2nd Edition

"A Deeply Intimate Journey with Jesus"

Available Today through Amazon

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, May 2 - Appointed and Anointed

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to start my day in the center of Your will and surrounded by Your presence--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ... 

"Whenever the unclean spirits saw (Jesus), they fell down before Him and shouted, 'You are the Son of God!' ... He went up the mountain and called to Him those whom He wanted, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve, whom He also named apostles, to be with Him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons" (Mark 3:11-15). 

Your first followers to came to You and were sent out by You. They were Your disciples, Your apostles--appointed and anointed to grow in the nature of Your character and to go in the authority of Your name. They were not "the Son of God," but they were sons of God. And so are we--the sons and daughters of God, coming to You and being sent out by You (Romans 8:16). We're led by the same Spirit (Romans 8:14). And the same Spirit and power that raised You from the dead lives in us and flows through us to proclaim Your message of forgiveness and freedom, healing and hope, by Your authority and in Your power, everywhere You send us (Romans 8:11). 

Just as the Father sent You, so You send us--filling us with Your Spirit and grounding us in Your Word (John 20:21). Our names are written in heaven and on the palms of Your hands (Isaiah 49:16). And in the authority and power of Your name, even the demons must submit to us and our position in You as disciples of Christ and children of God (Luke 10:19). Thank You for the invitation to keep coming to You in the intimacy of prayer and the communion of Your Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17). 

Thank You for the assurance of Your presence, that You are always with me, abiding in me as I abide in You (Matthew 28:20; John 15:4). And thank You for appointing me and anointing me to go with joy and faith, as You send me to be Your ambassador as an extension of Your Word and Your Spirit, secure in my identity and fulfilling my destiny. This is Your will and Your plan for every one of Your sons and daughters. And even all "creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God" (Romans 8:19).  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My Friend, I pray you go in joy and faith everywhere Jesus sends you in His authority and power, growing in His nature and going in His name, appointed and anointed as a disciple of Christ and a child of God, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

   

   

Tommy Hays' 365 Day Prayer Devotional

Morning by Morning, 2nd Edition

"A Deeply Intimate Journey with Jesus"

Available Today through Amazon

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!