Suddenly and Steadily 9-5-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to know You personally, hear You personally, and obey You personally. I thank You for pastoral counsel, prophetic guidance, and intercessory prayer cover, but even those wonderful blessings and means of Your grace to me can never substitute or even compare to my personal relationship and responsibility to seek You and follow You as best as I can. So here I am again in our morning time together to begin my day seeking You for myself. ... "For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay" (Habakkuk 2:3). I've been hearing recently that You have been speaking to Your prophets and prayer warriors that September will be a month of "suddenlies." And it is true that there is a strong sense that doors of destiny seem to be opening and the heaven seems to be shaking as we tremble with anticipation of all that this season holds. But as I lay this word "suddenly" before You in my personal times of prayer, You seem to impress upon my spirit the word "steadily." I've seen sparks of the fires to come. I've heard rumblings of the sound of heaven to be released. I've tasted of the living waters to flow. But I know that there is so much more to come -- "abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20). Behold, You stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3:20). And You are seeking a people who are purified and prepared, through the washing of the water of Your Word and cleansing of the blood of the Lamb, who will have clean hands, pure hearts, and a pursuing passion to be able to open the door and let You in to depths of our lives and our world as never before. You will suddenly come in, but we must steadily prepare (Malachi 3:2-7; Psalm 24:3-6; Revelation 22:14). When You walked this earth as Son of Man in the Spirit of God, You humbled Yourself to be baptized by the Holy Spirit in the waters of Israel's Jordan River. And though You spent thirty years of Your earthly life in preparation for that moment, "suddenly the heavens were opened" (Matthew 3:16). The suddenlies come as we steadily prepare, as we steadily seek to trust and obey -- as best as we can, by the power of Your grace, all in Your perfect timing and Your perfect way. I join in prayer for the suddenlies of God and the suddenlies of September. And at the same time, I'll continue to persist by Your grace in pursuing Your call to me and to others to keep preparing the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3; 57:14; 62:10; Mark 1:1-3). I'll keep trembling with anticipation for all that is about to break in and break through every life and every barrier in this exciting season at hand. And I'll keep trusting in Your perfect timing, trying by Your grace, to keep fulfilling my part of Your perfect plan. "See, I am sending My messenger to prepare the way before Me, and the Lord Whom you seek will suddenly come into His temple. The messenger of the covenant in Whom you delight -- indeed, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 3:1). "The One who testifies to things says, 'Surely I Am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I have an intense Fall season of ministry engagements in helping "prepare the way of the Lord" to move in breakthrough revival and awakening of His holy and passionate bride and to join in the great harvest of souls and nations to come, and would appreciate your prayers for our ministry and family: Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Georgia, 2 Pastor and Leader Conferences in India (just between now and the end of October). Please join with us in your prayers and provision in every way the Lord may lead. God bless you and thank you for joining with us to make it possible to fulfill our part of the Lord's plan as best as we can and all by His grace! If you'd like to be aware of prayer events taking place near our local region of Lexington, Kentucky, please send us an email to be on our list at PrayLexington@aol.com Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line at: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502