No Turning Back - January 29, 2021

 Morning by Morning, January 29 - No Turning Back

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Lead me in the way that leads to life in You today. ... 

As I listen and wait upon the leading of Your Holy Spirit, what comes to my heart this morning are these words, "No turning back." ... 

I join with so many who are looking for answers that only You can provide and looking for hope that only You can supply. But I've been on this journey with You a long time. And I'm not turning back. No surrender. No retreat. 

When I stumble or fall, You always pick me up. When I'm discouraged or down, You always lift me up. You even use my disappointments to stir up an even deeper hunger to yearn to see how You'll turn it all around and even work it all together for good. Just like You always have. Just like You always will. 

I'm reminded of Your Word that speaks of Your would-be followers and fair-weather disciples: 

"As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, 'I will follow You wherever you go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.' To another he said, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father.' But Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.' Another said, 'I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.' Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God'" (Luke 9:57-62). 

By the power of Your grace, I don't want to be a would-be follower or fair-weather disciple. I put my hand to this plow a long time ago. The day I laid down my full-time career as a trial lawyer and said, "Here I am, Lord; send me" was the day I felt like I started plowing some ground. And You starting plowing some ground in me. But You also started planting some seeds of life in me and even through me, some seeds of Your Word and Your Spirit, that I've seen growing to maturity through the seasons of the years ever since. And I'm not about to miss out on the harvest! 

No surrender. No retreat. No turning back. 

I'm sold out and I'm all in. 

Come hell or highwater, I'm not letting go of You and I know You'll never let go of me. There will likely be some tough times ahead. What's new? But I'm still believing and praying for breakthroughs and turnarounds in the ways that only You can do. With expectant faith, I'm still excited to see what You will do and even dare to believe the best is yet to come. You're not turning back. And neither am I. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you be encouraged and empowered to keep looking up, keep pressing in, keep believing and expecting breakthroughs and turnarounds that only God can do, in Jesus name. No turning back. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

 

Weekly Healing Prayer Ministry Course at Coker UMC in San Antonio, Texas.

Friends, please keep us in your prayers for our weekly online series that was off to a great start yesterday! I'm teaching and equipping a prayer ministry team to serve at Coker United Methodist Church in San Antonio. God is getting His people ready for the great harvest to come! I pray for your equipping and serving as well in your calling and destiny with the gifts the Lord is giving and stirring up in you! God bless you!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

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"Draw Near to God" and "Be Glad!" - January 28, 2021

 Morning by Morning, January 28 - "Draw Near to God" and "Be Glad!"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Light of the world and Lord of my life, make me more like You today. ...

 

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).

 

I thank You that by the grace of Your mercy and love You're always drawing us near to You. Even before we're saved, Your Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, with us in our worries, ready to assist us in our struggles, pursuing us to both convict us of our sins and convince us of Your heart to forgive us and cleanse us and restore us to a deeply personal and trusting relationship with You. And once we are saved, You continue Your work from within and all around us to keep drawing us closer still, deeper still into an ever-increasing intimacy with You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

And at the same time, You also invite us to choose to "draw near" to You, promising You will then "draw near" to us. So it's not either You draw near to us or we draw near to You; it's bothYou draw near to us and we draw near to You. It's not just a passive relationship, where we just sit back and wait on You to pursue us. It's also an active relationship, where we also pursue You. "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:25).

 

Some of Your Words come to mind to confirm Your call to seek You and passionately pursue You:

 

"Abide in Me as I abide in you" (John 15:4).

 

"When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).

 

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6-7).

 

"I love those who love Me; and those who diligently seek Me will find Me" (Proverbs 8:17).

 

"When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, O Lord, I will seek" (Psalm 27:8).

 

"Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually" (1 Chronicles 16:11).

 

"Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God" (1 Chronicles 22:19).

 

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).

 

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Luke 11:9-10).

 

Lord, let me not be a passive lover of God, just sitting back and waiting on You to love me. Like any one-sided relationship, that's very unfulfilling for both. Rather, stir in my heart to "pursue love" -- with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength (1 Corinthians 14:1). "The hour is coming, and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24).

 

I was finishing a week of ministry in Illinois a few days ago and on the last night, a couple of ladies came up for prayer together. One asked me, "Are you always this happy? You really seem to have so much joy!" ...

 

The truth is You've given me that gift of joy. As You and I know, we've shared so many of my painful and heartbreaking times too, but somehow You've also always given me a joy in getting through. It's almost as if "the joy of the Lord is (my) strength!" (Nehemiah 8:10) Thank You for that gift of joy and strength that's always with me and always gets me through!

 

But at the same time, I also believe You've given me the gift and the wisdom to seek after You, to passionately pursue You -- in my prayers, in my worship, from the beginning of my day and throughout the moments of my day. I believe that brings You joy. And I believe that gives me joy. "Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad!" (1 Chronicles 16:10) "Be glad that you are His; let those who seek the Lord be happy! (NCV).

 

So I will seek You. I will pursue You. I will love You because You first loved me, but I will not just lay back passively waiting on You to love me in one-sided relationship. I will draw near to You. I will abide in You. And by the mercy of Your grace and love for me, I will be glad and Your joy will be my strength! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you be glad and full of joy as you seek the Lord and draw near to Him with all your heart, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

 

Healing Prayer Ministry Course at Coker UMC in San Antonio Beginning Today.

Friends, please keep us in your prayers as I start a weekly online series today teaching and equipping a prayer ministry team to serve at Coker United Methodist Church in San Antonio. I pray for your equipping and serving as well in your calling and destiny with the gifts the Lord is giving and stirring up in you! God bless you!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

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True Hearts -- Sought Out and Unshaken - January 27, 2021

 Morning by Morning, January 27 - True Hearts -- Sought Out and Unshaken

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. By Your Word and by Your Spirit, I seek to start my day centered and grounded in You. ...

 

"The eyes of the Lord range throughout the entire earth, to strengthen those whose heart is true to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

 

Holy Spirit, You are the Eyes of the Lord. And throughout the earth, You're searching hearts to see the ones who are true to You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.

 

Search my heart, O God. Make it ever true. Strengthen me, empower me by Your Spirit to keep me true to You.

 

Many are wavering. Many are weary. Many are being shaken and sifted in all we're facing and enduring. You said in Your Word there will come a time when "because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many (hearts) will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12).

 

This seems to be one of those intense seasons where You're fulfilling a deeper measure of Your Word: "'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.' The phrase 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of what is shaken -- that is, created things -- so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:26-29).

 

Holy Fire of God, come burn in me. Let my heart never grow cold. Let my heart be secure in the King and His kingdom that cannot be shaken. Come burn out of me, come shake out of me, all that's not to remain so that only what is of You remains. By the power of Your grace, let me be one who is sought out and unshaken. With a true heart, with a faithful heart, strengthen me and empower me to stand firm in my faith, holding fast to the One who is never shaken and never fails. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you be sought out and unshaken, found faithful and true in your heart, strengthened and empowered to stand firm in your faith in the One who is never shaken and never fails, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

Illinois Ministry.

Friends, I've just returned home and thank you so much for all your prayers for us last week and through Monday night during our Free to Be Like Jesus Conference and Ministry Times at Olney First United Methodist Church in Illinois with my great friends Pastor Jeff and Lisa Bealmear. We praise God for all His healing love and power being released there in the hearts of His people! I pray the same for you!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

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"Radiant" with the Glory of God - January 25, 2021

Morning by Morning, January 25 - "Radiant" with the Glory of God

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day. ...

 

"Arise, shine; for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

For darkness shall cover the earth,
    and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
    and His glory will appear over you.

Nations shall come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Lift up your eyes and look around;
    they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
    and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms.

Then you shall see and be radiant;
    your heart shall thrill and rejoice!" (Isaiah 60:1-5)

 

This is our time to shine!

 

Yes, it's dark. Darkness covers the earth and thick darkness covers the people. And at the same time, Your Light is shining even brighter. Your Truth is becoming even more clearer.

 

There will be a battle between the darkness and the light to end. But darkness cannot overcome the Light! (John 1:5). Darkness just makes and even greater contrast to the Light. And You are "the Light of the world" and You said "Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life" (John 8:12).

 

Lord, Your Light shines before us. Your Light shines within us. And as we keep seeking You, pursuing You, following You, we will "see and be radiant" with the Light of Your glory arising upon us! "Christ in (us), the hope of glory" -- Your glory upon us, Your Light within us!

 

As "children of God" and followers of Christ, we will "shine as lights in the world" even in the midst and in great contrast to the thick darkness all around us (Philippians 2:15). As children of God and followers of Christ, we will "be radiant" with the glory of God as our hearts "thrill and rejoice" in You! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you be radiant with the glory of God, shining with the Light of Jesus in your heart, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

Friends, please keep us in prayer as we minister at Olney United Methodist Church with my great friends Pastor Jeff and Lisa Bealmear this weekend. Free to Be Like Jesus! God bless you!

Standing firm with you in faith,

in our hearts and in our land.

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org

 

Refusing to Eat the King's Food - January 22, 2021

 Morning by Morning, January 22 - Refusing to Eat the King's Food

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin my day and live out my day grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods.

 

Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king's palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the ends of that time they could be stationed in the king's court. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

 

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine..." (Daniel 1:1-8).

 

Daniel found himself under the authority of a new king with power to force his influence on Daniel's life and the life of his nation. He was commanded to be "educated" in the ways of Babylon. He was even given a new "name" and expected to conform to this new identity and accept the new ways of this new world that suddenly had such influence over his life.

 

But Daniel would not eat the king's food. Daniel would not "defile himself." Instead, Daniel fasted and prayed. He chose to eat what was good for him and not to eat what would defile him.

 

It took great courage to stand firm in his faith and to stand against the pressure of the culture of the new world around him. But You gave him the courage he needed and even Your "favor" in the midst of all pressure he endured to conform to ways of Babylon (Daniel 1:9). 

 

By the power of Your grace, I join so many of my brothers and sisters who are fasting and praying and refusing to eat the king's food and conform to Babylon's ways. May our hearts not be defiled nor our sense of identity be changed into what the world would name us and try to define us to be. May we remain true to You and true who You say we are -- "of the royal family and of the nobility." In You, we are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9). In You, we are the "children of God" (John 1:12).

 

There came a day when Daniel's prayers were answered, when Daniel's faith and obedience was rewarded. There came a day when You sent Your mighty angels to war in the heavenly realms on behalf of Daniel and his nation and to let him know You had heard his prayers and You were moving all along on their behalf in ways he didn't see and couldn't yet know (Daniel 10:1-21). And our day will come too.

 

When Your angel came, in the fullness of time, at just the right time, he said to Daniel, "Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe. Be strong and courageous!" (Daniel 10:19)

 

May we "be strong and courageous," refusing to eat the food of the kings of this world or be "educated" in the ways of Babylon in the ways of the world, but eating only the food of the One who is "the Bread of Life" (John 6:35). May we keep offering our hearts as Your vessels in the house of our God. And may we keep worshipping and serving the One who is "the King of kings and the Lord of lords" no matter whose authority we're under (Revelation 19:16), even as we continue to pray "for kings and all who are in authority" (1 Timothy 2:2). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you filled with the Holy Spirit, strong and courageous, refusing to eat the food of the kings of this world but eating only of the Bread of Life who is the King of kings and Lord of lords, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

Friends, please keep us in prayer as we minister at Olney United Methodist Church with my great friends Pastor Jeff and Lisa Bealmear this weekend. Free to Be Like Jesus! God bless you!

Standing firm with you in faith,

in our hearts and in our land.

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

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Praying for Truth "And At The Same Time" Praying for Those in Authority - January 21, 2021

Morning by Morning, January 21 - Praying for Truth "And At The Same Time" Praying for Those in Authority

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My hope is in You -- built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. You are the Solid Rock on which I stand. ...

 

Like so many who are standing firm in the faith for what we believe You've stirred in our hearts to pray, I'm also wrestling with the unfolding of events. But I have to say I don't feel confused. Even in the deep heaviness of heart I've sensed in my spirit, I don't feel discouraged. Your Word has not changed. Your will has not changed. Though the battles are intense and the circumstances are hard, Your Word never falls, Your Spirit never falters, and Your Love never fails:

 

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, 
    His mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;
    great is Your faithfulness.

'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul,
    'therefore I will hope in Him'" (Lamentations 3:22-24).

 

So I'll keep praying for the revelation of truth and for the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, life over death, freedom over tyranny, faith over fear. I'll keep standing firm for the principles of the kingdom of God and the principles of righteousness that exalt a nation. I'll keep expecting a sudden shift in the heavenlies and miraculous breakthrough in the land that only You could do and where only You can receive the glory, honor, and praise. 

 

And at the same time, I'll also pray however Your Spirit leads, for those who are placed in positions of authority in my life, in our land, in our world. That part of Your Word and Your will hasn't changed either:

 

"Above all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

 

As You said and taught us to pray, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:44-45).

 

So come, Holy Spirit. Show me how to pray -- standing firm in my faith for revelation and truth, while at the same time also praying for those who persecute me, blessing those who curse me, and loving those who hate me   -- just like Jesus. "For as He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).

 

Father, give me grace for that, give me Your words and Your prayers and Your attitude for that. Above all, give me Your Spirit for that:

 

"Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints accord to the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27).

 

Come pray through me the will of God by the Spirit of God, as I keep looking to You, trusting in You, O Lord, my God. My hope is built on nothing less. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you be bold and Spirit-led in your prayers as you pray both for truth, and at the same time, for all who are in positions of authority in your life and our world, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

Looking up to God with you, my friend! 

Standing firm with you in faith,

in our hearts and in our land.

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org

 

"Yet Will I Trust Him" - January 20, 2021

 Morning by Morning, January 20 - "Yet Will I Trust Him"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My eyes are on You, Lord. Through the wind and the waves, I know to keep calling on Your name and trusting in Your nature -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. ...

 

On one of Job's most challenging days, when his faith was shaken to the core, he spoke out some of the most faith-filled words in all the Bible:

 

"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15 NKJV).

 

By the look of things with his natural eyes, his hopes were dashed and his dreams were denied. His heart was crushed and his spirit was weary. Yet he kept looking to You, speaking out his heart to You -- seeking Your answers, Your guidance, Your help.

 

Those near to him seemed to turn against him. Even the one who was bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh, called by God to stand by his side to the end through it all, came to the place of her own hopeless despair to attack his faith in the promises of his God to say, "Curse God and die" (v. 2:9).

 

But You were not the source of what seemed like his curse. The source of his curse and all the misery he was going through was the spiritual enemy of his soul and of all You had entrusted to him (v. 1:7). Yet even though Job's losses at the hand of his spiritual enemy were real and were devastating, his enemy would not have the last word. He would not have the final say.

 

Despite all his suffering and disappointment and disillusionment in the midst of his reality in the struggling, suffering and attacks of this broken and fallen world, You moved in Job's heart to turn over his heart to You (v. 42:1-6). After all he endured -- maybe even because of all he endured -- he could now say to You, "I had heard You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You" (v. 42:5). Even after all he endured and was even still enduring, he could now declare his full trust in You and Your faithfulness to him to redeem all things to work together for good, proclaiming, "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted" (v. 42:2).

 

You didn't change the facts of his reality. You didn't change the facts of his past and all he had to go through. But You did change the effects. Not only did You cause it all to work together for good, You even caused it to multiply and increase all that You were now entrusting to him for all You were setting before him in the days to come (v. 42:10).

 

You did move in the midst of all he went through to bring him closer to You, to open his eyes to see differently than before, with a faith even stronger than before. What he declared by faith at the beginning was revealed to true in his heart all along: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

 

As it was with Job, so it is with us, as we go through our struggles, as we fight our battles, as we endure the wind and waves that would try to take us under to shake our faith, to steal our hope, and crush our hearts. "The testing of (our) faith produces endurance; and (we) let endurance have its full effect, so that (we) may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:3-4). 

 

We'll be lacking in nothing, because there's nothing our God can't do. And all He will do, He will do to make us "mature and complete" in Him alone. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you be filled with the Holy Spirit, trusting in the Lord our God no matter what tries to shake you faith or crush your spirit, knowing He is at work for good and will be making you mature and complete in Him, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

Looking up to God with you, my friend! 

Standing firm with you in faith,

in our hearts and in our land.

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org