Friday, January 27, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 27 - Especially "Prophesy"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You, Lord -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- and welcome You into every area of my life and every moment of my day.  ...
 
"Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:1).
 
Your Word encourages me to pursue love and to pursue service. And in my pursuit of loving You and loving others, of serving You and serving others, You encourage me that above all the other gifts and graces You may express through my life by Your Spirit in Your love, I should seek "especially" to "prophesy."
 
While many think of "prophecy" as foreseeing the future, like John seeing and sharing the future events as in the Book of Revelation or even Nostradamus recording his visions, Your Word says "those who prophesy speak to other people for their up-building and encouragement and consolation" (v. 14:3). "He who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men" (v. 14:3 NKJ). And don't we all need more of that -- more of that, spoken in love into our spirits, from Your heart to ours, through those who are willing to be Your ambassadors of encouragement, comfort, and hope.
 
Come, Holy Spirit. Help me grow in my capacity to hear the heart of our Father and the voice of our Good Shepherd (John 10:4). Help me grow in grace to hear and speak the word of the Lord -- to "sustain the weary with a word" -- Your words of love that edify and exhort, that build up and embolden, that encourage and empower Your children in the security of Your ever-abiding presence and Your ever-unfolding plans for our lives (Isaiah 50:4).
 
So help me grow in my intimacy with You, so that I know Your heart, recognize Your voice, and hear Your word -- for me and for those You want to love and encourage through me. "Deep calls to deep" -- so take me deeper still into the deep communion of my spirit with Your Spirit in the daily journey of worship and prayer that unites my heart with Yours (Psalm 42:7). "Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17). 
 
From that deep place of intimacy and unity with You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- I can obey the commission and command of Your Word:  "Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever!" (1 Peter 4:10-11) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


I pray you grow in the depth of intimacy and unity with God, that you may prophesy in love, as you hear and speak the word of the Lord into the hearts of His children whenever His Spirit leads you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

    



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!

Posted by at

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 26 - The "Royal Law" of Love
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the heart and lead me by Your Spirit into the way that leads to life in You today.  ...
 
"You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (James 2:8).
 
It's the "royal law" because we are sons and daughters of the King. In Christ, we are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that (we) may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called (us) out of darkness into (Your) marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). And the defining character trait of this chosen race is love. The sacramental service of this royal priesthood is love. The law of the land of this holy nation is love. For the Lord our God, who is the King of this kingdom and the Father of this family, is love" (1 John 4:16).
 
As best as I can and all by Your grace, may I seek to "really fulfill the royal law" of love today. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart, as You lead me in the way of love. By the power of the grace of God at work within me, let me be patient and kind, not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude, not insisting on my own way, not irritable or resentful, not rejoicing in wrongdoing, but rejoicing in the truth, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, and enduring all things in the love of God moving through my heart that never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


May you "do well" as you "really fulfill the royal law" of love today, all by the power of the grace of God at work within you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

    



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!

Posted by at

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 25 - Courage of Conviction
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Rule and reign over my life today.  ...
 
"The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve.... for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin" (Romans 14:22-23).
 
Even my faith is a gift of Your grace. And as I "grow in the grace and knowledge of (my) Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," let me also grow in the courage of my convictions of faith (2 Peter 3:18). Give me the courage to stand firm in what I believe to be true. Your Word says, "If (I) do not stand firm in faith, (I) shall not stand at all" (Isaiah 7:9).
 
So help me grow in the courage of my convictions today so that when those convictions are challenged tomorrow I will not waiver or shrink back, I will not surrender or retreat, but I will stand firm in my faith because I know You are standing with me (Matthew 28:20). For You have said, "'I will never leave you or forsake you.' So (I) can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
 
When my convictions of faith are challenged, I believe You will rise in my spirit so I can speak from my heart in the power and authority of Your Spirit (1 Peter 4:10). You'll give me the words to speak as "the Spirit of (my) Father speaking through (me)" (Matthew 10:19). So help me learn now to know Your voice, to sense Your leading, to be confident of Your presence, so that when the time comes, I can stand firm in the courage of my convictions of faith -- all by the power of Your grace. I pray now I can be strong then, according to Your command:  "Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

May you grow in your courage of conviction, ready to stand firm in your faith by the power of the grace of God wherever you go and whenever you speak, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   

Friends, please keep us in prayer as I continue teaching the Free to Be Like Jesus! weekly series on biblical principles of healing and deliverance prayer ministry in Austin tonight at Life in the City United Methodist Church.

 



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!

Posted by at

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 24 - "Wait for the Lord" and Walk in His Paths
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me watch for Your leading as I wait in Your presence, here in these first moments of my morning -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...
 
"Those who wait for the Lord renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
 
Waiting on You is never wasted time. When I wait on You I'm willingly choosing to humble myself to Your leading and Your will for my day. As I do, You "open doors before (me)" and arrange for me to find "riches hidden in secret places, so that (I) may know that it is (You), the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls (me) by (my) name" (Isaiah 45:1-3). 
 
Waiting on You allows You to put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart so that You can direct my paths and order my steps. "Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand" (Psalm 37:23-24).
 
To begin my day waiting in Your presence and watching for Your leading as I first take time to sit with You awhile is one of my very practical ways of consciously, deliberately choosing to "Trust in the Lord will all (my) heart, and lean not on (my) own understanding; (but) in all (my) ways acknowledge (You), and (You) shall direct (my) paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). As I do, You renew my strength and refresh my spirit to lift me up on eagle's wings.
 
You oppose the proud, but give grace to the humble (James 4:6). And as You know, I need all the grace I can get. So by the power of Your grace, I choose to set aside my pride that would insist on my way and first take time to wait and watch, to listen for Your leading, and let You order my steps and direct my paths throughout the moments of my day. It's one of the ways You "set before (me) an open door, which no one is able to shut" -- the open door of Your will for my day and all my life (Revelation 3:8). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

I pray you will be renewed and refreshed as you take time to wait for the Lord and allow Him to order your steps for all He has planned in His good will for your life today, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

  

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!

Posted by at

Monday, January 23, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 23 - "Restart" of  a New Week
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. My Savior, be at the center of my life and every moment of my day.  ...
 
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).
 
While it seems like most people don't like Monday mornings, I do. It always feels like a "restart" to me. It's a new day -- the first day of a new week with new beginnings, new challenges, on a new adventures. It's kind of like last week has passed away, and "behold, all things have become new!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJ)
 
Of course, it's not like the problems and challenges of last week have suddenly vanished and gone away. But it's more like I can bring fresh perspective, new eyes, and renewed attitude to every "work in progress" while looking forward to what lies ahead. So whether I'm continuing on or starting anew, You invite me to welcome You into my Monday with me with Your promise that Your steadfast love never ceases and Your mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. 
 
Great is Your faithfulness. Near is Your presence. Forever is Your love. Why wouldn't I look forward to beginning again in a restart of a new week when I know my God is with me and has really good plans for me? (Jeremiah 29:11) I thank You that as I start off my Monday morning in the communion of prayer before launching into the adventure of my week, I can embrace Your truth that "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him!" (1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJ).
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays



I pray you will be refreshed and renewed in the abiding presence of God, as you embrace your restart of a new week in His power and grace, mercy and love, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

  

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!

Posted by at

Friday, January 20, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 20 - Hear from Heaven and Heal Our Land
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your name be the first word from my mouth this morning and let my relationship with You -- God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit -- have the first place in my life.  ...
 
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJ).
 
To change the heart of our nation, we have to choose to humble ourselves and allow You to change our hearts. As we seek You in prayer, as we turn to You in repentance, as we embrace You in faith, You hear and Your forgive and You heal.
 
As You change us, You awaken us and revive us. You remind us of Your calling and Your destiny for us as Your people who are called by Your name here in our land. May we be found faithful in our generation to accomplish all You've intended in Your heart through our hearts that turn to You in prayer, repentance, and faith. We make our appeal to heaven in prayer. And You answer from heaven in power.
 
O Lord, my God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- hear from heaven and heal our land. May the honor and glory of Your name be great again in our hearts and in our land. "Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence -- as fire burns brushwood, as fire cause water to boil -- to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!" (Isaiah 64:1-2 NKJ) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays



May you be moved in the unity of God's Spirit with all who are called by His name in prayer, repentance, and faith to turn to Him in your heart, that the Lord may hear from heaven and heal our land, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me as I join with you in agreement in that prayer (Matthew 18:19; Psalm 133; John 17:18). God bless you, my friend!

  






My New Prayer Devotional Book
 Begin 2017 in a Journey to Deeper Intimacy with God 

Friends, I'm excited that we just published my new book Morning by Morning, Second Edition that is now available through Amazon and Kindle. It's a 365 Day Devotional with a selection of many of my favorite devotionals from the last several years of my prayer journey. Thank you for joining with me on this journey! And I pray these simple morning prayers are a great blessing and encouragement to you to start your day embraced by the love of our Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

 


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!

Posted by at

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 18 - Nothing Without Love
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Faithful Friend, my Sovereign King, my Lord and Savior. And I begin my day speaking Your name and embracing Your Spirit, here in my heart and every moment of my day.  ...
 
"If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.... And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).
 
I'm nothing without love. And the good things I do -- even the most faithful, spiritual, powerful things I do -- mean nothing and gain nothing if I do them without love. It's all just so much "wood, hay, and stubble" that will consumed in Your holy fire on the day of Your judgment (1 Corinthians 3:12 KJV). 
 
The only thing that has any eternal significance is what I do in love. The heart You desire in me is a heart full of love, because that's the heart of God. "God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them" (1 John 4:16).
 
When we open our hearts to receive Your Spirit and allow our hearts to be conformed to Your nature, we are embracing the way of love as we embrace You. "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Romans 5:5).
 
My Father God, I want my life to matter. I want the things I do and say during this short span of time I have in this world to honor You and have significance, even eternal significance (John 4:34-38). So by the power of Your grace at work within me, empower me to love. "Let love be (my) highest goal" (1 Corinthians 14:1 NLT).
 
Empower me to grow in love and sow in love more every day. "God is not mocked, for (we) reap whatever (we) sow. If (we) sow to (our) own flesh, (we) will reap corruption from the flesh; but if (we) sow to the Spirit, (we) will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:7-10). Even if it seems hard to love, even if I encounter those who are hard to love, give me Your grace to love and not give up, but to grow in love, as I "grow up" in Your nature of Your love by Your Spirit abiding in me (Ephesians 4:15; 1 Corinthians 13:11). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

May you filled with the Holy Spirit of God and conformed into the nature and His love, sowing the love of God in all you do and say and all you are today , in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 


  Free to Be Like Jesus Teaching 
Biblical Principles of Inner Healing and Spiritual Freedom

Friends, if you are in the Austin area, I am teaching a 6 week series on the Biblical Principles of Inner Healing and Spiritual Freedom at Life in the City United Methodist Church on Wednesday Nights at 6pm. You can still join us beginning our Second Week Tonight, January 18th. All are welcome. Come if you can and please keep us in prayer. It will be based on my book Free to Be Like Jesus!  www.lifeinthecityaustin.org

 


My New Prayer Devotional Book
 Begin 2017 in a Journey to Deeper Intimacy with God 

Friends, I'm excited that we just published my new book Morning by Morning, Second Edition that is now available through Amazon and Kindle. It's a 365 Day Devotional with a selection of many of my favorite devotionals from the last several years of my prayer journey. Thank you for joining with me on this journey! And I pray these simple morning prayers are a great blessing and encouragement to you to start your day embraced by the love of our Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

 


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!
Posted by at

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 17 - Fire and Hammer of God's Word
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my heart as I listen for Your voice, O Lord, my God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  ...
 
"Is not My word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:28).
 
Yes, Lord. ...
 
Father God, let Your word burn in my heart and purify my soul. Let Your word break every idol that I'm tempted to allow to take Your place of authority and honor in my life. Come consume what needs to be consumed, and come break what needs to be broken. Let Your word convict me and convince me of Your truth; and let Your word heal me and restore me in Your love (Psalm 107:20).
 
Lord Jesus, You are the Word of God (John 1:14). And Your words are "spirit and life" to me (John 6:63). As I seek to hear Your voice and embrace Your words, I'm welcoming You into my heart to change my life. I'm welcoming Your Spirit -- "the Spirit of Christ" -- to consume me and break me, then to conform me and transform me into the image of the Son of God more each day (Romans 8:9).
 
Come, Holy Spirit. Fire of God, burn! Hammer of God, break! Make me more like Jesus today! (Romans 8:29; 1 John 4:17)  Let the Word of God, let the words of God have Your way in me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

May you embrace the fire and hammer of God's word in your heart and allow Him to transform you and conform you into the image of the Son of God more every day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 


  Free to Be Like Jesus Teaching 
Biblical Principles of Inner Healing and Spiritual Freedom

Friends, if you are in the Austin area, I am teaching a 6 week series on the Biblical Principles of Inner Healing and Spiritual Freedom at Life in the City United Methodist Church on Wednesday Nights beginning January 11, 2017 at 6pm. You can still join us beginning our Second Week next Wednesday night. All are welcome. Come if you can and please keep us in prayer. It will be based on my book Free to Be Like Jesus!  www.lifeinthecityaustin.org

 


My New Prayer Devotional Book
 Begin 2017 in a Journey to Deeper Intimacy with God 

Friends, I'm excited that we just published my new book Morning by Morning, Second Edition that is now available through Amazon and Kindle. It's a 365 Day Devotional with a selection of many of my favorite devotionals from the last several years of my prayer journey. Thank you for joining with me on this journey! And I pray these simple morning prayers are a great blessing and encouragement to you to start your day embraced by the love of our Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

 


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!
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)