To Know Christ's Power and His Sufferings - April 18

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord. And I thank You for first loving me. ...

"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings by becoming like Him in His death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10).

I'm not content to know about You, I must know You. To know You is to know the glory of Your resurrection but also the pain of Your sufferings. And if I truly know You, I can't help but want to become more like You.

As the Son of Man walking this earth in the likeness of human flesh and blood, the Father's hand of favor and blessing was upon You. And the Holy Spirit's power and authority was within You. Every moment of every day You encountered the Presence of God and experienced the power of God, ultimately culminating in the glory of Your resurrection. But You also encountered the rejection, misunderstanding, and selfish sin of the broken, fallen world You loved so much, ultimately culminating in the sufferings of Your crucifixion.

Now for us, the servant is not above the Master; and the disciple is not above the Teacher (Matthew 10:24). So give me the courage to endure with grace whatever sufferings I encounter through my time on this earth, whether by my wrong choices or those of others. Give me hope to know You're at work through it all, seeking to work in me the nature of Christ. "Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: When He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And all who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure" (1 John 2:2-3). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
www.messiah-ministries.org

From Double-minded Doubt to Trusting Faith - April 16

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day surrounded by Your Presence and grounded in Your Truth. ...

"But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in His side, I will not believe" (John 20:24-25).

Thomas was a twin by his birth, but he was also a twin by his thoughts. He was double-minded. In one part of his mind, he believed You were the Messiah - he gave up everything to follow You as one of Your disciples; he saw Your signs and wonders in the power of God; he heard and embraced Your teaching with authority; and he saw the impact of the Kingdom of God changing the lives of all You touched.

Yet in another part of his mind, he doubted it all. He was "double-minded." And "the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord" (James 1:8).

Thomas' doubt and double-mindedness was manifested in his pride, as he vowed in his heart and declared with his mouth, "I will not believe." Part of his mind was still fixated on the trauma of the past, the image of the nails piercing Your hands and the spear piercing Your side. That part of his mind was not yet ready to embrace the truth in trusting faith of all You had promised and all that Your were in his life.

That kind of pride of saying, "I will do this; I will do that; I will have it my way; I will protect myself; I will depend upon myself; I will be in control" is the opposite of humility - of willingly choosing to be desperately dependent on God alone. That kind of pride blocks us from receiving the power of the grace of God where we need it the most. "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

Lord, forgive me for the times I enter into the sins of doubt and unbelief. Forgive me for the times I give in to the sin of pride and insist on being in control of my life instead of entrusting control of my life completely to You. Heal my double-mindedness. Strip away my pride. Deliver me from the spirit of control. Help me choose to believe You are who You say You are and You want to do all You say You can do in my life. Bring me into the place where I'm living every moment of every day in single-minded devotion to You.

Then, like Thomas, whose doubt was turned to faith by an encounter of Your Presence, I can declare the truth of who You are and Your rightful place in full control of my life: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28) In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Dear Friend, thank you so much for your prayers for the meetings in West Virginia this past weekend. We all saw the Lord move in mighty ways in both inner healing and miraculous power. A Vietnam veteran suffering from forty years of post-traumatic stress manifesting in his emotions and his body gave his testimony to Jesus' mighty power and love in church Sunday morning. And a pastor's wife suffering for years from great pain from a twisted spine bent over and touched the floor for the first time in a long time and raised up praising God with no pain. Praise God! Thank you for all your prayers and standing with us in our ministry of "healing from the inside out" as the Holy Spirit heals and frees the Body and Bride of Christ to fulfill our destiny in our generation.

Come to The Mountain next Monday, April 16th, 7pm, to hear Henry Gruver speak of his prophetic insights, travelling the nations in prayer. Henry's love for Israel and understanding of end time events will make this a special evening for everyone. Hosted at:

Lexington First Assembly Church

2780 Clays Mill Rd (corner of Clays Mill and Pasadena)

Lexington, KY

(In the Ministry Building directly behind the church)

The Mountain is the weekly Prayer Group for Israel, led by Bob & Doris McCray of our Messiah Ministries Board of Directors.

Friends, we raise our own support to further the calling of the Lord upon our lives. We truly count on those whose lives have been touched by the Lord by through our ministry to stand with us in prayer and financial support. If you find our ministry touches your life and bears good fruit by God's grace for His Kingdom, we encourage you to prayerfully consider sowing your seed into our ministry and message of inner healing, prophetic ministry to help prepare the Body and Bride of Christ. Please consider becoming a regular monthly partner with us to share our heart at home and abroad to the nations. And please consider contributiing any amount, any time, as the Holy Spirit leads you. God bless you exceedingly, abundantly more than you can ask or imagine!

Click Here to Contribute to the Calling of Messiah Ministries

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

I've Died, I'm Crucified in Christ - April 13

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I am in Christ and Christ is in me. By the grace of God, I'm dead to this world and alive to Thee. ...

I am in Christ and Christ is in me

I'm dead to this world and alive to Thee
You are my Savior and You are my King
You take all my sins and set me free

Thank You, Lord, for writing this new song in my spirit this morning. Let it be so, as Your Holy Spirit continues to put to death the sins of my flesh. By the power of Your grace, I make this my aim: "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:19-20).

 I've died

I'm crucified
Now I'm alive
In Christ

I've died

I'm crucified
Now I'm alive
In Christ

Yes, Lord. Now You're writing another new song and singing it through my spirit from Your Holy Spirit within me. Let this song be my cry for help, my cry for complete surrender, my cry of complete trust, and my cry of victory in Christ.

Continue to put to death in me every measure of pride, selfishness, insecurity, fear, rejection, resentment, bitterness, and anger. Heal my hurts, break my chains, crucify my flesh. Heal me from the inside out. Then fill me from the inside out - emptied of myself and filled with Your Spirit. "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:24-25).

We all have garbage, but we can all have grace. We all have baggage, but we can all have breakthrough. You continue to set before each of us the choice of our path through this broken, fallen world filled with broken, fallen people: "Today I ask heaven and earth to be witnesses. I am offering you life or death, blessing or curses. Now, choose life! Then you and your children may live. To choose life is to love the Lord your God, obey Him and stay close to Him. He is your life, and He will let you live many years in the land, the land He promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, NCV).

In Christ, I have all the blessings of Abraham - "in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:14). And in Christ, I receive the fullness of my inheritance of the Kingdom of God within me - "You belong to Christ, so you are Abraham's descendants. You will inherit all of God's blessings because of the promise God made to Abraham" (Galatians 3:29, NCV). "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:3-4).

I am a son of the King

You come and reign in me
My flesh has died, now You're alive
Your Spirit lives in me

 I am Yours and You are mine

My heart belongs to You
I turn away from this world
And I turn to You

 I choose life and I choose You

I choose the blessings of Your grace
I choose to live my life for You
To know Your heart and seek Your face

 I've died

I'm crucified
Now I'm alive
In Christ
In Christ, my King

Yes, Lord - O Lord my God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I am Yours and You are mine (Song of Solomon 6:3). I know it's true in heaven, in the spiritual realm, where I'm already seated in Christ, with Christ in me, at the right hand of the throne of God (Ephesians 2:4-7). Lord, let it be true on earth, in the natural realm of my everyday life, through my everyday choices, along my everyday path, as it is in heaven.

This is my journey to spiritual maturity, to "grow up in every way into Him, who is the head, into Christ" (Ephesians 4:15). In the humility You give me to willingly choose to be desperately dependent upon You alone, I choose, by the power of Your grace, to press in and press on to the spiritual transformation You have for me and for each of us who earnestly desire to be more like You. "To be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourself with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:23).

I know I've not arrived. I know there's much more in me that needs to die. And that needs to be awakened to live, as You continue to free me and heal me from the inside out. But I know You will be faithful to bring to completion all You have begun to work out and awaken within me (Philippians 1:6).

"More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings by becoming like Him in His death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own" (Philippians 3:8-12).

Lord, let these be more than words, whether Yours or mine. Let this be my heart, my prayer, my choice, my life. Let all my failures only lead me to hold on closer to You. Let all my hurts only lead me to keep crying out to You. Let all my hopes only lead me to grow up into the maturity of Christ-likeness to know my identity, embrace my inheritance, and fulfill my destiny in You.

"Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever" (Ephesians 3:20-21). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Dear Friend, I know this payer was much longer this morning, but I couldn't hold back. I believe the Holy Spirit woke me up extra early and gave me this message this morning to pray back to God on behalf of myself, but also on behalf of you and all the Body and Bride of Christ. I beleive this is a deep measure of the heart of the Spirit, sent by the Father to prepare the Bride of Christ so we can move in the authority and power the Lord longs to entrust to those who will embrace His nature and live into His calling (John 14:12 and 20:21; Colossians 1:27). Let's keep praying this in agreement for one another in the holy and mighty name of Jesus.

Please come join us in West Virginia this weekend, April 14-15 to encounter God and experience His inner healing and prophetic ministry, setting us free from all that would hold us back from being more like Him, to fulfill our calling in our generation:

Gateway UM Church in Fairmont, WV on Sat. Night, Sun. Morning
Lewis County Christian Alliance in Weston, WV on Sunday Night
Details and Contacts at: Messiah Ministries Upcoming Events

Come to The Mountain next Monday, April 16th, 7pm, to hear Henry Gruver speak of his prophetic insights, travelling the nations in prayer. Henry's love for Israel and understanding of end time events will make this a special evening for everyone. Hosted at:

Lexington First Assembly Church
2780 Clays Mill Rd (corner of Clays Mill and Pasadena)
Lexington, KY
(In the Ministry Building directly behind the church)
The Mountain is the weekly Prayer Group for Israel, led by Bob & Doris McCray of our Messiah Ministries Board of Directors.

Friends, we raise our own support to further the calling of the Lord upon our lives. We truly count on those whose lives have been touched by the Lord by through our ministry to stand with us in prayer and financial support. If you find our ministry touches your life and bears good fruit by God's grace for His Kingdom, we encourage you to prayerfully consider sowing your seed into our ministry and message of inner healing, prophetic ministry to help prepare the Body and Bride of Christ. Please consider becoming a regular monthly partner with us to share our heart at home and abroad to the nations. And please consider contributiing any amount, any time, as the Holy Spirit leads you. God bless you exceedingly, abundantly more than you can ask or imagine!

Click Here to Contribute to the Calling of Messiah Ministries

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destity in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
www.messiah-ministries.org

He's Made Known in the Breaking - April 12

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're my Lord and Savior, the risen King, and my Best Friend. ...

"When He was at the table with them, He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him ..." (Luke 24:30-31).

Our eyes are opened in Your Presence. And the blessing of Your intimacy so often comes in the moments of our brokenness. But then, like Your first disciples, we want to run out and tell everyone we know, "The Lord has risen indeed!" (v. 33-34) All their sadness and hopelessness was turned to joy when You "had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread" (v. 35). And so is ours.

You fulfill all the law and the prophets, all the promises of God, when we allow Your Presence to gather us up from our brokenness: "They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.... Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, 'Be strong, do not fear! ... He will come and save you.... Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.... Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (from Isaiah 35:1-10). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Please come join us in West Virginia this weekend, April 14-15:

Gateway UM Church in Fairmont, WV on Sat. Night, Sun. Morning
Lewis County Christian Alliance in Weston, WV on Sunday Night
Details and Contacts at: Messiah Ministries Upcoming Events

Come to The Mountain next Monday, April 16th, 7pm, to hear Henry Gruver speak of his prophetic insights, travelling the nations in prayer. Henry's love for Israel and understanding of end time events will make this a special evening for everyone. Hosted at:

Lexington First Assembly Church
2780 Clays Mill Rd (corner of Clays Mill and Pasadena)
Lexington, KY
(In the Ministry Building directly behind the church)
The Mountain is the weekly Prayer Group for Israel, led by Bob & Doris McCray of our Messiah Ministries Board of Directors.

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destity in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

Resurrection Hope - April 11

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Purify my heart, sanctify my soul. Help me start my day grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. ...

"Now on the same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were keep from recognizing Him. And He said to them, 'What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?' They stood still, looking sad. ... 'The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death and crucified Him. But we had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel' " (Luke 24:13-21)

"But we had hoped" - what sad words that reveal the brokenness of their hearts and hopes. They had had expectant faith and passionate zeal. They had walked in deep intimacy with the Son of God and seen great and awesome things they never expected to see. Yet now in this moment, they were standing still and looking sad.

Something stirred in their hearts as they heard news that the tomb was empty (v. 24:22-23). But rather than being encouraged with resurrection hope and celebration of Your resurrection power, the news of the empty tomb without the manifest Presence of the risen Savior seemed to only stir up more confusion and discouragement. They still lacked resurrection faith.

"Then He said to them, 'Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into His glory?' Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them the things about Himself in all the Scriptures" (v. 24:25-27).

As they listened to Your words and pressed in to Your Presence, "their eyes were opened, and they recognized (You)" (v. 24:28-31). Their "hearts were burning within (them)" in their resurrection encounter (v. 24:32).

Lord Jesus, fill my heart with resurrection hope. Whenever my faith is weak and I find myself questioning Your prophetic words or confused about Your divine revelations, remind me of Your resurrection power. Draw near to me in Your resurrected Presence until my heart again burns within me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Come to The Mountain next Monday, April 16th, 7pm, to hear Henry Gruver speak of his prophetic insights, travelling the nations in prayer. Henry's love for Israel and understanding of end time events will make this a special evening for everyone. Hosted at:

Lexington First Assembly Church
2780 Clays Mill Rd (corner of Clays Mill and Pasadena)
Lexington, KY
(In the Ministry Building directly behind the church)
The Mountain is the weekly Prayer Group for Israel, led by Bob & Doris McCray of our Messiah Ministries Board of Directors.

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destity in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
www.messiah-ministries.org

Resurrection Power of the King - April 10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your resurrection power arise in my spirit today. ...

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen' " (Luke 24:1-5).

In the now-famous words of Rev. Dr. S. M. Lockridge:

Well, the Pharisees couldn't stand Him,

but they found out they couldn't stop Him.
Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn't kill Him.
Death couldn't handle Him and
the grave couldn't hold Him.
Yeah! That's my King!
Yeah! That's my King!

Lord Jesus, You are the mighty One! You are the risen One! You're the only One who could take my sins and my failures, my burdens and bondages, and set me free in the same power that raised You from the dead. And You're the One who's entrusted that same power of Your Holy Spirit to live in me (Romans 8:11).

You are my King! You are my Risen and mighty King! And I bow my heart before You Lord. I open my spirit to Your resurrection power. Come rule and reign in my life today. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Friends, if you're in the Lexington area, please come join us for our Dream Interpretion Workshop that Sylvia will be teaching Friday Night and Saturday, April 20-21. No Registration Fee, but an Offering for Our Ministry will be recieved. Please register with Marilyn at directormin@messiah-ministries.org

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destity in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
www.messiah-ministries.org

Eternally Self-Sacrificing Love on the Cross - April 6

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look up in my spirit to see only You, as I watch and wait in the silence of surrender before You. ...

"It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified Him.... When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? ... Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed His last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that in this way He breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:25-39)

In that moment of Your death upon the cross, all our sins of all our generations were laid upon You. In the mystery of faith and the power of love, as the spotless and holy Lamb of God, without sin or blemish, You became our Sacrifice to take away the sins of the world. "For our sake (the Father) made (the Son) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). "He himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds (we) have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

In that moment when You became sin for us, You were forsaken so that we could be forgiven. You were our Sacrifice so that we could be accepted. You poured out Your blood to accomplish what our sinful lives or even our most righteous acts never could. "For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him God was pleased to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before Him - " (Colossians 1:19-22).

At that moment, the veil of the earthly temple was torn asunder, as You bore our sins upon Your earthly body. And at that moment, in Your perfect Spirit You entered into the Holy of Holies of the heavenly temple to dash Your perfect blood upon the eternal alter of God: "He entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!" (Hebrews 9:12-14). "For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but He entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the Presence of God on our behalf" (Hebrews 9:24).

Words cannot say how thankful I am for Your great sacrifice of love for me. The honest truth is that I don't fully grasp - and perhaps never will, even if I ponder the mystery of the cross for all eternity with You - the depths of Your love and the cost of Your sacrifice, as You felt forsaken by the Father in that moment of sacrifice for our sins. But I know enough, by the grace of Your Spirit, to embrace the grace of Your indescribable gift of eternally self-sacrificing love on that cross. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Dear friend, on this day we remember the day our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was crucified to death on the cross to pour out His blood for us, I pray you will know in a deeper way than ever before how much God loves you. Let's pray for one another to live a life by the power of the grace of God that honors His name and His sacrifice for us. God bless you!

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

"Spellbound" and Spirit-Filled - April 5

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You for Your sacrifice in love for me. ...

"Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and He would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, 'Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?' But you have made it a den of robbers.' And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill Him; for they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by His teaching" (Mark 11:15-18).

Fear fueled the wrath of the religious leaders and fanned their jealousy and pride into flame. You threatened their power, their control, and their doctrine. You were turning their religious kingdom upside-down. You insisted on a return to the Truth and Spirit of the Word of God-a God whose heart was not focused on religious leaders building their own religious kingdom through control, but rather focused on the salvation of the souls of the nations through prayer. No wonder they were looking for a way to kill You.

But You didn't back down and You didn't tone it down. You confronted their compromise and assaulted their pride. You poured out Your compassion for the people, even as You erupted in anger over the actions of their leaders. Through it all, You continued to teach and proclaim the Kingdom of God, teaching by precept and by example. And all who saw You and heard You were spellbound, for You taught as One with authority (v. 1:27).

There's a cost for courage to stand for what is right, to persist in the truth regardless of the consequences. And only by the grace of God can we be moved with great love and compassion for people, while at the same time being moved with righteous anger toward that which dishonors God. But that's the Spirit of Christ. And You died in Your flesh as the Son of Man that we might have Your "Spirit of Christ" abiding in us (Romans 8:9). Lord, let me be spellbound by Your example and Spirit-filled in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

One Betrayed, All Deserted - April 4

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, I seek to begin my day focused on You, O Lord, my God. ...

"When it was evening, He came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me, one who is eating with Me.' ... When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, 'You will all become deserters; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee" (Mark 14:17-28).

One would betray You. All would desert You. Yet, You shared Your last meal with them, even as Your very Body and Blood with them (v. 14:22-24). You loved them and forgave them. Then You encouraged them to keep the faith and hold fast to the hope within them.

Though we can be faithless, You are always faithful. Though we can so often give in to our fears and failures, You are always giving of Yourself and forgiving of our sins. In so many ways we so often betray You or desert You in the weakness of our human flesh. We so often find it hard to always stand by You and continue to fully follow You on the journey of Your cross and ours. Peter protested that he would (v. 14:29). But in the end, he could not (v. 14:66-72).

Forgive us, Lord. Like Peter and all the others, our spirit is strong, but our flesh is weak (v. 14:38). Our good intentions abound, but our commitment often waivers. Despite their failure to endure to the end, there was another day for Your disciples (v. 16:7). And for us on this side of the cross, every day is another day to repent of every failure of the day before and arise in newness of life by the mercy and power of Your grace to choose to follow You again. "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). Praise You, O God, for loving us so. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

My friends, God bless you in your journey with Jesus during this Holy Week of remembering His journey to the cross.

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

Pressing Ahead, Leading the Way - April 3

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me center my thoughts and ground my day in Your Word and in Your Spirit. ...

"They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to Him, saying, 'See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death; then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles; they will mock Him, and spit upon Him, and flog Him, and kill Him; and after three days He will rise again" (Mark 10:32-34).

The cross before You with all its sufferings - to be betrayed, rejected, condemned, mocked, humiliated, tortured, and killed. Those closest to You were filled with fear, but You were filled with faith. Even with certain knowledge of all that was to come, You were pressing ahead, leading the way, determined to accomplish all that the Father had put in Your heart to do. "When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51).

Lord, give me courage to follow You even when I'm afraid. Give me a determined spirit to accomplish all You've put in my heart to do, no matter the cost. Fill my heart with faith to trust Your plan for my life. Your Word gives us certain knowledge that there will be times of suffering for those who choose to follow Christ, but also the promise of great joy to come as we rise with You. This is our inheritance as the children of God and followers of Christ. In You, we are "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ - if, in fact, we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:17). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

The Journey to the Cross - April 2

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open the eyes of my heart and the ears of my spirit, as I watch and wait for You. ...

"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.... I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.... A little while, and you will no longer see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me" (John 16:4-16).

In those last days on earth as the Son of Man on the journey to the cross, Your first disciples didn't understand. They had begun to think You'd be with them forever in the flesh. They had begun to think they'd see You establish an earthly kingdom in their physical realm, where there would always and only be miracles and joy. But as You began to prepare their hearts for the tragic and traumatic days to come, their hearts were filled with sorrow.

They didn't understand the necessity or the significance of the cross. They didn't understand what You meant when You said, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (v. 12:23-24).

So You continued to encourage them in hope that there would joy beyond the cross. What would seem as death and defeat would become victory and life. "Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.... So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you" (v. 16:20-22).

As with Your first disciples, You let us hear what we can bear. You let us know that the servants are not above our Master, nor the disciples above our Teacher (v. 13:16). The world persecuted You and the world will persecute us, as we take up Your cause and our cross to follow You on the journey to the cross. But as You encouraged Your first disciples, so You continue to encourage us: "In Me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" (v. 16:33).

As we enter into the Holy Week, remembering the journey to the cross, help me keep my eyes fixed on You. I'm not looking for You to build an earthly kingdom in the physical realm, I'm longing for You to establish Your spiritual kingdom in my heart - for the kingdom of God is within me (Luke 17:21). By the power of Your grace, I will keep "looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Please come join us for our Messiah Ministries' 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry April 18-21, 2012 in Lexington, Kentucky, focusing on healing prayer and prophetic ministry Click Here for Our Events Calendar Please spread the word to your friends who may have a calling and passion to be equipped and empowered for this type of ministry. You can also order our Level 1 and Level 2 Schools, and other healing and equipping resources, recorded live on DVD and CD Click Here for Our Ministry Resources

Thank you for praying for our Spiritual Gifts Weekend. The Presence of the Holy Spirit was very thick with us! Please let us know if you'd like to have the DVD.

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

Out of Great Love - March 30

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I entrust all that I am and all that I have to You today. ...

"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come, He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).

O how You love us. Not just when we're good, not just when we're obedient, not just when we're productive - You always love us. The riches of Your grace are immeasurable; the security of Your love is immovable. "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).

Lord, let me never doubt Your love for me. Let me never question the intentions of Your heart toward me. Even before I ever opened my heart to let You in, You loved me and gave Yourself for me. Let the unbending truth of Your unfailing love keep me secure.

In the name of Jesus, I renounce every insecurity and every sense of unworthiness of the love of the One who created me and calls me by name and seated me in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Come Holy Spirit. Come fill me afresh every moment of every day with this powerful sense of the security.

O how great is the Father's love for us. O how vast beyond all measure. By Your grace, I choose to embrace all the love You have for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

If You're in the Lexington Area, please Join us This Weekend March 30-31, Friday Night and Saturday, for our Spiritual Gifts Weekend in Lexington, Kentucky for Activation and Impartation of Spiritual Gifts Click Here for Our Events Calendar Sylvia and I will be teaching and we will be recording the sessions live if you'd like to order it on DVD shortly.

Come join us for our Messiah Ministries' 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry April 18-21, 2012 in Lexington, Kentucky, focusing on healing prayer and prophetic ministry Click Here for Our Events Calendar Please spread the word to your friends who may have a calling and passion to be equipped and empowered for this type of ministry. You can also order our Level 1 and Level 2 Schools, and other healing and equipping resources, recorded live on DVD and CD Click Here for Our Ministry Resources

"Rider in the Heavens" - March 28

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I steady my soul and rest in Your Spirit, as I listen for Your voice and wait for Your leading. ...

"O Rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, He sends out His voice, His mighty voice" (Psalm 68:33).

Lord Jesus, You are the Rider in the heavens. You are the mighty Voice of God, the very Word of God: "Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its Rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name inscribed that no one knows but Himself. He is clothed in a robed dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:11:13).

O Rider in the heavens, I want to hear Your voice. I want to fully trust in Your faithfulness and truth. I want to seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness. I want to see You move mightily in the heavens , on the earth, and here in my heart, as You establish the fullness of the victory of Your cross through the power of Your blood. And I want to celebrate with You now and throughout eternity that "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ" (Revelation 11:15, NKJ). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

If You're in the Lexington Area, please Join us This Weekend March 30-31, Friday Night and Saturday, for our Spiritual Gifts Weekend in Lexington, Kentucky for Activation and Impartation of Spiritual Gifts Click Here for Our Events Calendar Sylvia and I will be teaching and we will be recording the sessions live if you'd like to order it on DVD shortly.

Come join us for our Messiah Ministries' 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry April 18-21, 2012 in Lexington, Kentucky, focusing on healing prayer and prophetic ministry Click Here for Our Events Calendar Please spread the word to your friends who may have a calling and passion to be equipped and empowered for this type of ministry. You can also order our Level 1 and Level 2 Schools, and other healing and equipping resources, recorded live on DVD and CD Click Here for Our Ministry Resources

Press In to the Promise of Intimacy - March 27

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I open my heart and welcome You in, as we begin this day together in prayer. ...

Press in

Press in

I press in to You

Come in

Come in

Let Me come in to you

For you are here

And I Am here

For you are near

And I Am near to you

Press in

Yes, Lord. I hear You stirring this song in my spirit, calling me to press in to You. And I hear my spirit responding. Thank You for Your promise of intimacy with all who respond to Your call: "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).

I want to begin this day pressing in, drawing near to You. And I also want to continue pressed in, drawn near throughout all the moments of my day. That's another one of Your great promises of intimacy: "Abide in Me as I abide in you" (John 15:4). "By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit" (1 John 4:13).

You give us of Your Spirit so we can live every moment of every day abiding in You. How could we neglect such a great promise? By Your grace, I will not. By Your grace I will embrace Your great promise of intimacy with me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Come join us for our Messiah Ministries' 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry April 18-21, 2012 in Lexington, Kentucky, focusing on healing prayer and prophetic ministry Click Here for Our Events Calendar Please spread the word to your friends who may have a calling and passion to be equipped and empowered for this type of ministry. You can also order our Level 1 and Level 2 Schools, and other healing and equipping resources, recorded live on DVD and CD Click Here for Our Ministry Resources

Join us This Weekend March 30-31, Friday Night and Saturday, for our Spiritual Gifts Weekend in Lexington, Kentucky for Activation and Impartation of Spiritual Gifts Click Here for Our Events Calendar

Put Your Gifts into Practice - March 26

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me into that deep place of communion in prayer. ...

"Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress" (1 Timothy 4:14-15).

You want us to know our gifts of God. You want us to put them into practice with devotion and passion. You want us to keep learning, keep growing, keep serving. "Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received" (1 Peter 4:10).

In living out our gifts, we are allowing You to live out that expression and dimension of Yourself through each of us. You have given us Your Spirit, Your great Gift. And with the Spirit of Christ abiding in us, we can be Your Body, bearing Your gifts, touching lives in the power of Your grace (1 Corinthians 12:1-31). In devotion to You, help me put into practice all You've entrusted to me today. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Thank you for praying for our Revival at All Nations Church. We had an incredible move of God's Spirit. One lady had a tremendous breakthrough from fear Saturday night, among many more lives the Lord touched and changed in the power of His love. Your prayers and support make this ministry possible. God bless you!

Come join us for our Messiah Ministries' 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry April 18-21, 2012 in Lexington, Kentucky, focusing on healing prayer and prophetic ministry Click Here for Our Events Calendar Please spread the word to your friends who may have a calling and passion to be equipped and empowered for this type of ministry. You can also order our Level 1 and Level 2 Schools, and other healing and equipping resources, recorded live on DVD and CD Click Here for Our Ministry Resources

Join us March 30-31, Friday Night and Saturday, for our Spiritual Gifts Weekend in Lexington, Kentucky for Activation and Impartation of Spiritual Gifts Click Here for Our Events Calendar