Morning by Morning, August 2 - Standing Firm in Faith and Moving Forward in Action
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You and I need You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. So I welcome You here in my heart, here in my thoughts, here in every dimension of my life and every moment of my day. ...
"As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord.... But Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still." Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground' " (Exodus 14:10-16).
You told the Israelites to "stand firm" but also "go into the sea." Your Word says it would be "the deliverance that the Lord (would) accomplish" for them, but You told Moses to "lift up (his) staff, and stretch out (his) hand over the sea and divide it." At one level, my heart wants to ask, "Which is it, Lord? Do we stand still and see the deliverance of God or do we move forward? Do we trust You to part the waters or do we lift up our staff and stretch it out over the waters to divide it?"
And as soon as I ask the question, this answer comes to my heart: "Apart from Me, you can do nothing. But hear the good news, you are never apart from Me. I am with you always. I lead you forward, as you stand firm in Me. I part the waters, as You lift up the staff of your faith to believe Me and trust Me to move mightily on your behalf. Faith is not passive, but active. Faith is obedient to move with action as you boldly trust Me with a stillness in your soul and a steadiness in your heart."
Yes, Lord. You defeated Pharaoh and the Egyptians that day. You alone were their Deliverer. But You moved mightily on their behalf as they actively participated with You in response to Your commands with the faith You supplied -- the Israelites as they chose to go forward and Moses as he chose to lift up his staff.
The battle belongs to You. And so do all glory, honor, and praise. But at the same time, You call us to actively participate with obedience and faith. And when we do, we can look back one day by the power of Your grace and know that all that pursued us to destroy us, we will never see again. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
I pray you stand firm in faith, trusting God alone as your Deliverer, and moving forward with obedience and action in the power of His grace to see the enemy of your soul defeated, as you cross over into all the Lord has prepared for you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Friends, I'm excited to be sharing a message of hope and healing at the First Wednesday Service of Worship and Prayer Tonight, August 2nd, in San Antonio at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge Campus, pastored by Max Lucado at 7pm. All are welcome! Please come join us in the South Room Worship Center. God bless you!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
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