Morning
by Morning, November 27 - Facing the Fiscal Cliff
Good morning, Lord Jesus.
King of kings and Lord of lord, be King and Lord of my thoughts and desires
today. ...
"' Tell us,
then, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?' But
Jesus, aware of their malice, said, 'Why are you putting Me to the test, you
hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the tax.' And they brought to Him a
denarius. Then He said to them, whose head is this and whose title?' They
answered, "The emperor's.' Then He said to them, 'Give therefore to the emperor
the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's.' When
they heard this, they were amazed; and they left Him and went away" (Matthew
22:17-22).
I live in this world, but
I'm not of this world. I'm a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven but I pay taxes to
the United States of America. I vote my values and try to live my principles,
but I'm also to "be subject to the governing authorities; for there is not
authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted
by God" (Romans 13:1). I'm to pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God, but I'm
also to pray "for kings and all who are in high positions, so that they may lead
a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity" (1 Timothy
2:2).
Lord, I need Your
discernment and the leading of Your Spirit to fully engage and interact with
this world that You so love, but that You are also trying to transform (John
3:16). Our prayers are part of that process, and our lives become part of that
transformation (Matthew 6:10). That's all a part of how the kingdoms of the
world become the Kingdom of our God - all in Your time and all in Your way
(Revelation 11:15).
Our nation may be facing a
"fiscal cliff," but by the power of God's grace I'm going to face it by faith
and overcome it through prayer. My God is my Rock and my Refuge (Psalm 18:2). So
in desperate dependence upon God alone, I'm going to hold fast to the Rock of
Ages, cleft for me, even while I do my part to speak my mind, cast my votes, pay
my taxes, and make my choices, led by Your Holy Spirit to try to be salt and
light in my world throughout the moments of my day (Matthew 5:13-16). Then no
matter what comes, I need not fear, for my God is with me (Isaiah 43:1-5). In
Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love
of Jesus, Tommy
Hays
Friends, I
pray you'll be full of faith and filled with the Spirit as you face every
challenge. Fear not, for God is with you. Please pray the same for me. God bless
you, my friend.
Tommy Hays | Messiah
Ministries
Healing from the Inside
Out
2800 Tates Creek
Road
Lexington, Kentucky
40502
