Morning by Morning, May 16 - Both the Friendship of the Lord and the Fear of the Lord Good morning, Lord Jesus. I bow my heart and open my spirit to wait for Your leading, as I begin my day focused on You. … “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, He makes His covenant known to them” (Psalm 25:14). Lord, You’re my heavenly Father and my faithful Friend. But Your friendship requires my faithfulness. Your friendship is reserved for those who fear Your name, who yield to Your Word, who embrace Your Spirit, who humble themselves to honor Your ways. This level of intimacy is reserved for those who are willing to trust You with all their hearts to obey You with all their lives. Some think grace does not expect obedience. Some think friendship does not require faithfulness. But Your Word teaches differently. As You said directly, “You are My friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14). Though You’re my Lord and Savior, my Everlasting Father, my Wonderful Counselor, my Prince of Peace, my Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6), I also want You to be my best Friend. So put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Let my words and my actions be an expression of my honor of You and Your Word and Spirit and ways in my heart. As I honor You and fear You, even as I love You and embrace Your love for me, help me want to hear and obey Your voice and Your will. Give me grace to embrace both the fear of the Lord and the intimacy of the Lord. For “he who has the bride is the Bridegroom. The friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly at the Bridegroom’s voice. For this reason, my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). You increase as first and foremost in my heart and life, as You make Your covenant of Your will and ways known to me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today. In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you know both the friendship of the Lord and the fear of the Lord, as you draw closer to Him each day and He makes His covenant known to you, in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries New Address: 502 North Milam Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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