Morning by Morning, April 6 - The Joy of Jesus for the Journey
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Make me more like You today. ...
"When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord! Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father sent Me, so I send you.' When He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained'" (John 20:19-23).
The doors were locked for fear, and here came. Their hearts was heavy with grief, and here You came. You came into their fear and grief, into their disappointment and discouragement, into their doubts and unbelief to give them peace, to give them hope -- perhaps even more, to give them joy. They "rejoiced when they saw (You)!" because "in Your presence there is fullness of joy!" (Psalm 16:11) You restored to them the joy of Your salvation! (Psalm 51:12)
And it was in joy that You sent out on their journey. As the Father sent You, so You sent them (John 20:21). You breathed on them Your Breath of Life, the "Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9). You had promised them that Your joy would be within them and that their joy would be complete in You (John 15:11). And now Your promise was coming to pass -- they "rejoiced when they saw (You)" and they would rejoice as You sent them (John 20:20).
As they received Your Spirit, You were sending them to share Your Spirit. As the Father sent You to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God, You were sending them to proclaim the coming of that Kingdom in Christ. And there is no true expression of the Kingdom of God without the expression of joy. "For the Kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).
Come, Holy Spirit. Fill me afresh today with Your Breath of Life, the Breath of Christ. Fill me afresh with the righteousness and peace and joy of the Kingdom of God -- the Kingdom of God that is within me because You are within me (Luke 17:21). Fill me with the joy of Jesus for my journey in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
I pray you will be filled afresh with the joy of Jesus for your journey in Him every day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Friends, I'm excited to be joining Max Lucado to share a message of hope and healing at the First Wednesday Service of Worship and Healing at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge Campus Tonight in San Antonio at 7pm. Our Rapha God Ministries team with be joining with the Oak Hills Church prayer team to offer personal prayer ministry after the worship and message. All are welcome! Please come join us if you and pray for us if you can't!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Please share this word to encourage a friend!
