Friday, April 25, 2025

Morning by Morning, April 25, 2025 - “My Lord and My God!”—From Thomas’ Deepest Doubts to Highest Faith

 

Morning by Morning, April 25, 2025 - “My Lord and My God!”—From Thomas’ Deepest Doubts to Highest Faith


Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I seek to do each day, I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice, here in my heart, in the communion of prayer (John 10:27). ...


“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’


“So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’


“And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’


“And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’


“Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’” (John 20:24-29).


Poor Thomas. He’s been labelled throughout all the centuries since that moment of unbelieving as “Doubting Thomas.” He had to see to believe. He had to touch to believe.


Yet, when he had his personal encounter with You, an encounter with the Risen Lord, he fell to his knees and cried out from his spirit, “My Lord and my God!”


That’s actually the highest declaration of the Deity of Jesus as One with God the Father in all the Bible: “My Lord and my God!”


In one encounter, You took his deepest doubts and turned them into a declaration of highest faith.


You’re the turnaround God. You turn it all around if we will trust in You. You turn it all around if we will believe in You. You change our “unbelieving” into “believing.”


You give us “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3). Then, You establish us as “trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be gloried (to) rebuild the old ruins, (to) raise up the former devastations, (to) repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations” (v. 4). Then, You name us as “priests of the Lord ... servants of our God (so that) instead (our) shame, You (give us) double honor” (v. 6-7).


Turnaround God, turn my doubts into declarations. Turn my failures into faith. Turn my stubbornness into servanthood. May I become one of Your “trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that (You) may be gloried”—not “unbelieving, but believing.”


In my encounters with You, I may not get to see You in Person like Thomas did. But I can choose to believe like Thomas did. And I can embrace Your blessing for all who believe throughout every generation since Thomas, whether we see You in Person or not: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”


By the power of Your grace, moving me to faith, I do choose to believe. I do choose to declare, “My Lord and my God!” In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.


Be encouraged today. In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My friend, may you choose to believe in your encounters with Jesus, letting Him change your doubts into declarations of your faith to live your life serving Him that He may be glorified through you, in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day!


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Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

502 North Milam Street

Fredericksburg, Texas 78624


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Messiah Ministries Events

Every Tuesday Night

Teaching my 9 Month Equipping Course Free to Be Like Jesus! at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. 6:00PM Central Time

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April 30-May 18

Return Travel to Pakistan for Ministry in Pattoki, Karachi, and Lahore, Pakistan! Please cover us in prayer for another Outpouring of the Holy Spirit! Please consider supporting our Messiah Ministries Christian School we started this year for children from the brick kilns and villages. Write for details:

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May 22-25

Preaching and Ministry at Olney, Illinois First Methodist Church with my great friend Pastor Jeff Bealmear


June 2

Speaking with the Mason, Texas Intercessory Prayer Group on the Day of Pentecost


June 9

Preaching the Sunday Morning Services at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas


June 16-29

Teaching at Selah Men's Ministry Retreat in Cloudcroft, New Mexico


July 9

Speaking at San Antonio Day Aglow Lighthouse Meeting 10am. All are welcome!


July 11-13

Preaching at Aldersgate Renewal Ministries Regional Meeting at Grafton Methodist Church, St. Paris, Ohio


July 28-August 4

Making plans of returning to Preach Crusades and minister in Kenol, Kenya and Nyrie, Kenya with Pastor Jeff Bealmear and Team


August 18-26

Preaching Crusades and Ministry in return ministry to Cartagena, Colombia


Wednesday Mornings

Leading Online Restoration Ministry Sessions for Online Connect Groups of MorningStar Ministries from around the world by appointment.

 

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