The Narrow Gate 1-12-05

Wednesday, January 12, 2005 -- Morning by Morning Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be exalted in the heavens; be exalted in my heart. I humble my soul before You in the silence of surrender to listen for the leading of Your Spirit. ... "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it" -- Matthew 7.13-14. Deliver us from destruction, Lord. Teach us how to enter in. Forgive us for thinking we could go along with the crowd and live by standards of this world, yet avoid destruction. Forgive us for thinking You have promised us an easy life, when You promised us the opposite -- "the road is hard that leads to life." It is hard because You call us to die to ourselves that we may live in You. Teach us how to follow Your road that we may enter in to Your gate. "My road is a relationship with Me. My gate is a way of life -- a lifestyle of allowing Me to live through you in the unique way for which you were created. Then you will truly live and truly be free. You will be free to be who I created you to be. Though the road will be hard, your yoke will be easy and your burden will be light. There will be joy and adventure in the journey, even though it is hard. It will be worth it. Come; follow Me. Walk in My steps. My steps lead to life and lead through every form of destruction. Though the body may be weathered and broken and even perish through the encounters of life in this fallen world, the spirit will live. It is in the spirit that perseveres that You know deep within the love and peace and joy of the journey with Me, though the road is hard. Come; follow Me. Come; join Me in the journey, My friends and My companions. Enter in through the narrow gate. I am the Gate." Yes, Lord. By Your grace, we choose to follow You and enter in. You are confirming Your spoken word now by Your written Word: "I am the Gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" -- John 10.9-10. Thank You for teaching us how to receive and live this life abundantly. Give us grace to live it out faithfully and in perseverance through the hard times along the road. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Tricia and I will be leaving today for a minsitry trip of teaching, preaching, healing, and equipping the saints for the work of ministry in Lamesa, Texas and Ruidoso, New Mexico in a variety of settings and different traditions of the faith. Please keep us and those receiving ministry in prayer. And we'll always be praying for you. God bless you all! To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com God bless you!