Morning by Morning, January 3 - Following the Pillar of the Presence of God

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift my eyes, open my heart, and speak Your name, as I begin my day with You in the holy communion of prayer - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...

"The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and He provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or the pillar of fire from its place in front of the people" (Exodus 13:21-22).

Lord, help me follow the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. Help me follow the Pillar of Your Presence wherever You lead me and whenever You say it's time to rise and go. Like Moses said, if You're not going with me, I don't want to go; but if You're leading me to go, I sure don't want to stay (Exodus 33:15).

I always want to be strategically positioned in the place of Your Presence and under the hand of Your favor. You are full of mercy and grace to redirect me when I misstep, correct me when I'm wrong, and realign me when I'm out of order, always in Your steadfast, unfailing love. You guide me by Your thoughts I welcome in my mind and by Your desires I welcome in my heart (Romans 12:2; Psalm 36:8). You guide me by the leading of Your Holy Spirit, going before me, coming alongside me, and abiding within me (Romans 8:14).

Lord, give me eyes to see Your pillar of cloud and Your pillar of fire. Give me spiritual sensitivity to recognize the moving of Your Spirit. Give me courage follow in passion and faith, full of zeal for the Lord to know my calling and fulfill my destiny in every season of my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, with the eyes of your heart open to the leading of the Lord, may you sense Him and hear Him and follow Him everywhere He sends you and everywhere He keeps you, all in His perfect timing and His perfect way this year. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend and Happy New Year!

Nearly twenty years ago, I sensed the Lord leading me from being a lawyer in Texas to Kentucky for equpping and training as a minister. I had no idea of all I would experience along that road for that season of time. Now, I sense the Lord leading me back home to Texas for the next season. Because of deep friendships and lasting relationships knit together in Kentucky, and with great anticipation of what lies ahead in Texas, it's both a little sad and very exciting, as I begin another time of transition to follow the Pillar of the Presence of God where I believe He's leading me. Please keep me and those in relationship with me in your prayers for this transition. God bless you and thank you for joining with me in the journey.

I will still be leading Messiah Ministries, but also joining in leadership as the Pastoral Director of Rapha God Ministries based in San Antonio, Texas, continuing my calling of equipping and ministry of inner healing -- healing from the inside out -- to see God's people set from from their past and awakened to their identity and destiny in Christ. I'll also continue to travel to speak and minister as the Lord leads with the relationships we've established and the new ones to be formed, at home and abroad.

For a few months of transition, the Messiah Ministries mailing address in Lexington will remain the same, but I will be moving to my new office and base for ministry will be at: 4 Dominion Drive, Building 1; San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com

God bless you and thank you for your prayers!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, January 1 - "Everything Has Become New"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is my first word in these first moments of this first day of this new year, 2013. May Your name be high and lifted up over every moment of every day of my life this year. ...

"So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Today is begins a new year - at least on the Gregorian Calendar of my culture, if not the Hebrew calendar that seems to truly mark the times and seasons and cycles of our lives according the bigger picture of Your eternal, unfolding plan. But I have high hopes for all You have planned for me in this year to come. It's a holy adventure of faith to fully entrust all my days into Your hands.

So help me let go of this past year, with all its high mountains and deep valleys, so I can fully take hold of all that You have for me now. You've not wasted a moment, but in a sense, it's all only preparation for is to come. Behold, the old has passed away in Christ. Behold, all things have become new in You. It is a new day, and I intend to arise and shine, to find my place, all by Your grace, in Your unfolding plan and my adventure of faith (Isaiah 60:1). I know it's going to be good (Jeremiah 29:11).

Let this be my perspective and attitude as I begin the adventure of this new year: "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 resurrections from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ has made me His own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own, but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:10-14). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, by the power of God's grace, may you let go of the past and press on toward the goal of the prize of the heavenly call of God for your life this year, with great favor and blessings of the Lordour God in the name of Jesus for all you need to fulfill His good plans for you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend and Happy New Year!

After a long season of fasting and prayer, I'm excited that I will begin a transition back to Texas after my twenty year season of life, equipping, and ministry in Kentucky. Thank you for being a part and continuing to join wtih me in the great adventure of faith and journey of prayer, my friend!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 31 - The End and the Beginning

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of all I am and all I do today. ...

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty'" (Revelation 1:8).

We've come to the last day of another year in my journey of prayer and adventure of faith with You. You are the Alpha. You were there at the beginning of all created things. And You are the Omega. You will there at the end of every season and cycle of the journey through life of all Your created things. "(Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers - all things have been created through Him and by Him. He Himself is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:15-17).

Many expected, many prophesied that 2012 would be a life-changing, even world-changing year. And it has been. Some ways we know, so ways we don't, so ways we will find out soon enough. But in the midst of all the change - the changes I chose and the changes that were chosen for me - I do pray You will use them all to change me from the inside out, to change me to be more like You (Romans 8:28).

As I come to the end of 2012 and prepare my heart and soul to enter 2013, may this be my hope and my prayer, to make me more like You each day. "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 3:2-3). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, I praise God for every way He has used and is using the changes taking place in your life to make you more like Him every day. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend and Happy New Year! Thank you for joining with me in the journey this year! I look forward to beginning next year with you in prayer, my friend.

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 28 - Treasure and Ponder Our Supernatural Experiences with God

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day and every day embraced by the Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...

"But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:29).

Do we treasure our spiritual encounters and supernatural experiences? Do we esteem the words of God spoken into our spirits and confirmed by the witness of others? Do we ponder them and think on them? Do we allow ourselves to be aligned with them, expecting them to come to pass, all in Your time and all in Your way?

Or do we just say, "Oh, that was a nice moment" or "Hum, that was really interesting?"

Do we take lightly the spiritual dimension of our lives or treat it as strange and hide it away, as if we're afraid someone will know that we really do believe in the unseen realm and supernatural things of God?

Your Word encourages us to take seriously this spiritual dimension, to treasure and ponder our supernatural experiences with trusting faith and expectant hope: "We look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). "Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 2:2-3). "Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12).

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

Friends, I praise God for every Divine encounter you've had with Him and will have with Him in the year to come. May you treasure them and ponder them in your heart in trusting faith and expectant hope that every good thing of God will come to pass in your life in His timing and His way. Please pray the same for me. I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas. God bless you, my friend and Happy New Year!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 26 - "Christ Remains Forever"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. One with the Father, One with the Holy Spirit, be One within me, abiding in me as I abide in You (John 15:4).

"The people answered Him, 'We have heard from the law that Christ remains forever; and how can You say, 'the Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man? Then Jesus said to them, 'A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light'" (John 12:34-38, NKJ).

The presents are opened and the tree is bare. In a day or two, even the batteries that power all the kids new toys will begin to run low. But One Thing remains. "Christ remains forever."

The light of Christ has come into the world and into our hearts. The prophetic word has been fulfilled: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined..." (Isaiah 9:2).

And the light of Christ is not just a star over Bethlehem. It's not even limited to the Spirit of God that rested upon Jesus of Nazareth who went about all the Holy Land healing the sick, defeating the darkness, and proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom of God. The light of Christ is the "Spirit of Christ" that continues to abide in us as we continue to abide in Christ (Romans 8:9).

We are "sons of the light," bearing the light of Christ everywhere we are and before everyone You send us. You said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will ever walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). This is the Spirit of Christ that remains long after "Christmas Day" has come and gone. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, I pray you cotinually be filled with all the fullness of the Spirit of Christ, that the light of Christ in you would shine brightly forever and never fade. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 25 - Christmas Morning Glory

Good morning, Lord Jesus. It's Christmas morning and I celebrate the coming of Christ - the birthing of a Baby in a manger, the astonishing mystery of our mighty God humbling Himself in the likeness of human flesh and blood, and the amazing grace that the Author of Life would desire to come and live in the hearts of His children throughout the world and every generation. ...

" 'For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!' " (Luke 2:11-14, NKJ).

Lord Jesus, You were that Babe in the manger. You were the fulfillment of the messianic prophecy of the coming of Christ as God in the flesh, God with us, Immanuel: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Come into the manger of my heart, a humble place prepared for You. Come be wrapped in the swaddling clothes of my worship, embracing Your Presence and declaring Your glory. Come hear the choirs of angels and the praises of Your people from every tribe and tongue and nation of the earth this morning thanking You - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - for the birth and life, the death and resurrection, the coming and the coming again of Christ the Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, I join with you in praising God in all His glory on this Christmas Morning. "Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth recieve her King!" May know the joy of Christ in your heart today. May you know you that you are deeply loved. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend. Merry Christmas!

From our hearts to yours ... Merry Christmas!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 24 - Christmas Eve Hope and Joy

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Christ the Lord, be adored in my heart and throughout my day. ...

"In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over the flocks by night. Then and angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord' " (Luke 2:8-11).

On that first Christmas Eve, the angel of the Lord turned the shepherds fear into hope and their terror into joy. At first they didn't understand the meaning of this great light and glory that burst into their darkness. But in their divine encounter, they were soon stirred in their spirits, as they "went with haste," to go seek the One who was born to be Savior of all (v. 15-16).

Many thought we'd never see this Christmas Eve or if we did there would not be much light in our darkness or much hope in our fear. The world is weighed down with the concerns of war in Israel, slaughter in Syria, a nuclear Iran, the fiscal cliff, the Mayan calendar, sharia law, poverty, injustice, and all the other terrors and woes of 2012.

We need a Savior. We need the One who can steady our hearts and calm our fears, who can renew our hope and restore our joy. It's not any man or self-proclaimed messiah; it's not any governmental action or political vote; it's not religious performance or self-righteous judgment that will come shining in our darkness and stirring in our hearts. It's Jesus - our Savior, Messiah, and Lord - who was born in Bethlehem and longs to be born in us.

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

My Friend, I pray the Spirit of our Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ, will break into your darkness, calm your fears, renew your hope, and restore your joy. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend. Merry Christmas!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 21, 2012 - The Day of the Lord in Our Hearts

Good morning, Lord Jesus. December 21, 2012-Today is the last day on the Mayan Calendar; and today is the day of salvation in our hearts-a good day for salvation for everyone who doesn't yet know the Love and Grace of God our Creator and Father, revealed in Jesus Christ. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. ...

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the Day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with His promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by Him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation" (2 Peter 3:9-15).

One day will be the last day on this earth as we know it. There will be a Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-10). Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again! (Revelation 1:7-8) There will be a "great and terrible Day of the Lord"-great for those who put their hope and trust in You alone for their salvation and terrible for those who will not (Malachi 4:5). But Your heart is full of mercy and love, not wanting any to perish, but that all would turn to You and call on Your name and embrace the fullness of Your salvation. And all who believe in You will never perish, but will have eternal life (John 3:16).

And You not only want us to go to heaven when we die, You also want heaven in us now (Luke 17:21; Romans 14:17). One day, there will be "a new heaven and a new earth" (Revelation 21:1). But at the same time, we can also experience a new heaven and new earth in our hearts every moment of every day between this day and the Day of the Lord to come. "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

On the Day of the Lord there will be both mercy and judgment. "For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil" (2 Corinthians 5:10). And each one of us will need the fullness of Your mercy because all have fallen short of Your glory in our lives on this earth. But we have a Savior who is reaching out today to each one of us who will humble themselves and open their hearts and call on Your name for Your forgiveness of our sins-"that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19).

"See, now is the day of salvation!" (2 Corinthians 6:2) "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.... Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the Living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.... For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who is every respect has been tested, as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 3:7-4:16).

Lord Jesus, I look up to heaven and call on Your name, "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). And I call on Your name for everyone on this earth who still needs to know the love and mercy of our God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. Let today be the day of their salvation. Let today be a great day of the Lord for them, when all the old things pass away and all things become new-a new heaven and new earth in their heart-the fullness of Your salvation, from the inside out. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I join with you in the agreement of prayer for everyone on your heart who needs to know Jesus. May the Holy Spirit of the Living God break into thier circumstances and awaken thier spirit to call on the name of the Lord and be saved. This will probably not be the last day on earth for most of us, but it is the day of salvation -- like every day -- for all of us. God bless you, my friend. Merry Christmas!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 20 - One World Ruler

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, align my spirit, soul, and body with Your word and Your will for my life today. ...

"In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.... All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the City of David, called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David" (Luke 2:1-4).

Men in power have sought to use their position for their own purposes since the beginning of time. Whether requiring all the world to be registered under the control of a one-world government to establish a new world order, whether requiring all buying and selling to be restricted to those who bear the mark of submission to the regime in power, or other means of global political, religious dominion, there is a spirit at work in the world that wants to exalt itself and rule as the guardian, peace-keeper, and messiah of all mankind (1 John 2:18). It is the counterfeit and opposite of the Spirit of Christ who conceived the Child ordained to be the true Prince of Peace and Ruler of All in the womb Mary, the betrothed of Joseph (Isaiah 9:6).

Yet, Lord, You even use the purposes and plans of men who are trying to build their own kingdoms to assert their own dominion upon the world to advance the purposes of Your eternal kingdom that will not pass away, under the authority of the One who will rule and reign forever (Daniel 7:14; Revelation 1:4-6). "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9, NKJ). "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and His Anointed ... (but) He who sits in the heavens laughs... Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth..." (Psalm 2).

You are my King of Glory; You are my Prince of Peace. You are the sovereign Ruler of all the earth who causes all things to work together for good, all in Your time and all in Your plan. No matter what ways I have planned in my heart, I ask You to direct my steps. And no matter what ways the rulers of this world have planned in their hearts, I trust You to see it all and use it all to accomplish Your purposes and advance Your kingdom. I look forward to the day when we hear the heavenly decree, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, I pray the Spirit of Christ abiding within you will direct your steps and bring God's great favor upon your life in the power of His grace. Fear not, He is at work in the world, even though the enemy of our souls is at work as well. But our God reigns and one day we will know it was all worth it to live forever in His eternal kingdom of righteousness and peace and joy! Keep the faith, and please pray the same for me. I hope my morning prayer today was not too heavy, but I try to pray it as it comes every morning. God bless you, my friend. Merry Christmas!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 19 - "Filled with the Holy Spirit"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All the moments of my day are already in Your hands, so I take these first moments of my day to deliberately entrust myself completely to You, as best as I can and all by Your grace. ...

"But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John ... even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit' " (Luke 1:13-15).

Even before he could speak with his voice and even before he could draw breath with his lungs, You filled John with Your Holy Spirit. He had never heard the Scripture with his physical ears, still being fashioned and formed in his mother's womb. He had never bowed down at the altar on his physical knees, still being woven and knit together by the hand of God as an unborn child. Yet his human spirit was fully alive and now fully filled with the Spirit of God even before his birth.

This was Your will for John's life to accomplish Your purposes in the people of his generation, in ways he never could apart from the fullness of Your Spirit freely filling him and freely flowing through him. And this is Your will for each one of us in our own generation-to "be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). This is "from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out" now in abundance upon the earth, upon all flesh; for "this promise is for (us), for (our) children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Him" (Acts 2:33-39).

Daddy Abba, my Father God, fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit today. Let me accomplish all You have purposed in Your heart for my day and for my life through the fullness of the Presence and power of Your Spirit. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I want to do my part in my generation. It seems You didn't choose to fill me with Your Spirit in my mother's womb like John, but You've filled me now; so help me not waste another moment of the time I have to fulfill Your purposes through my life, all in Your timing and all in Your way. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray you will be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit of the Living God today and every day to fulfill your purposes in our generation with the Presence and power of God's Spirit abiding in you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend. Merry Christmas!

Friends, I was spending time with a family yesterday, when the conversation turned to talking about how our greatest need is to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in our hearts. One of the ladies said, "That's what I need." So together we prayed that prayer. Praise God! Thank you for all the ways you pray for me so that I can be led by God's Spirit in the lives He brings across my path every day. I pray the same for you!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 18 - "Do Not Be Afraid" to Trust and Obey

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek the heart of my Father, the mind of Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as I start my day in the communion of prayer with my God. ...

"'Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' And all this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Look the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us.' When Joseph awoke from sleep; he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife and had no marital relations with her until she had borne a Son; and he named Him Jesus" (Matthew 1:20-25).

When Your Holy Spirit comes into our lives and starts changing our plans, it's easy, and maybe even natural, to be afraid at first. We start to think of what it would mean and what people would think. We start to wonder whether we have what it takes to do what You say and put our trust in Your will instead of our plans.

But You know our nature. And You love us anyway. So You send Your word in the way You choose to encourage our hearts to do what's best. Sometimes it takes a nudge; sometimes it takes being hit upside the head with a two-by-four. Sometimes it even takes the angel of the Lord speaking to us in our sleep. But You love us enough to speak to our heart in a way we can hear. Then it's up to us, by the power of Your grace, to choose to trust and obey.

Joseph chose to trust and obey. He let You change his plans. Then he had the honor of being the step-father of the Son of God, the Messiah of mankind. Though the Child in the womb of his wife was not his own, Joseph named Him and raised Him for the time entrusted to him to do his part in the unfolding of Your plans for the good of all.

Our fear is often an expression of our selfishness, just as our doubts are often an expression of our faithlessness. But You know our nature. And You love us anyway. You have a plan and purpose, a calling and destiny for each of our lives through every season of our lives. They are good plans to fulfill the hope and dreams You've placed in our hearts (Jeremiah 29:11). And You know we could never have the courage or the wisdom to fulfill them on our own. You know we need a Savior who is not only God watching over us but who is God with us. We need Emmanuel. We need Jesus. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, I pray the Lord encourage you in faith as He sends you His word in the ways you can hear to trust and obey His plans for your life. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend.

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 17 - Holy Sign of the Virgin Birth

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In these first moments of my morning, I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, I welcome You into my day and trust You with the guidance of my steps. ...

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call Him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14, NKJ).

Almost eight hundred years before Your virgin birth from the womb of a virgin girl named Mary, Isaiah prophesied of Your coming as our Messiah (Matthew 1:23). In this holy mystery so hard to fully grasp, the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us as Immanuel-God with us (John 1:14).

The nature of Your birth was a "sign" to all of the nature of our God, a God willing to humble Yourself even into the likeness of human flesh and blood to reveal to us Your great love for us and desire to be near with us. "Let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:5-7).

The Holy Spirit entered the womb of Mary to conceive our Savior (Matthew 1:18). And now Your Holy Spirit is a sign to us that You are still with us, the Spirit of Christ within us (Colossians 1:27). Your Holy Spirit, abiding within us, is always reminding us that You are still near to us and always reminding us of Your nature and Your love for us (John 16:14). O Come, Immanuel. We will rejoice that God is with us. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, may you be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ today, carrying God with you, abiding within you, everywhere you go. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend.

Friends, thank you for your prayers for us this weekend at Cornerstone Assembly of God in Danville, Kentucky, at our Brokenness to Breakthrough! meetings. Two men came forward to get down on their knees with me to pray for Jesus to come into their hearts for the first time Sunday morning in salvation. And the Holy Spirit moved mightily to bring healng and freedom in many hearts. Praise God! Thank you so much for being a partner in ministry with us through your prayers. I welcome them as I continue in personal prayer ministry appointments this week in Lexington, Kentucky and southern Indiana.

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Helping Us Minister the Healing Love of God through Messiah Ministries

Dear Friends of Tommy Hays & Messiah Ministries,

In this time of year when we join with the family of God throughout the earth to celebrate the birth of this Holy Child who changed our world, we also celebrate all the ways He is still our "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6, fulfilled in Jesus the Christ, our Messiah).

Thank you for joining with me and our ministry team at Messiah Ministries to minister the healing love of God through all the opportunties and encounters the Lord has opened for us to be an expression of His power and grace at home and abroad.

Just in the past few days, I've seen a man on his knees crying out to God with all his heart to be totally devoted to Him and a woman literally jumping for joy after being emptied out of years of bondage and pain. I shouted with joy with the pastor and friends of a little girl set free from a tremendous amount of suffering and pain--all by the mercy and love of our God, who is still healing the brokenhearted and setting the captives free.

Just this fall, we've been able to help teach and equip many believers sensing the call to be used by God in His ministry of inner healing -- healing from the inside out. I was excited to be able to share this message in amazing ways among the pastoral leaders at their clergy schools and reatreats in Texas, West Virginia, and the nation of Estonia. Through our Schools of Ministry in Lexington and Austin, through our emmerging partnership in ministry with Rapha God Ministries and Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, through the men's retreat in North Carolina and the campmeeting for the Feast of Tabernacles in Kentucky and so many churches and encounters along the way, we've seen our God moving mightily in His power and love to heal His people and prepare His bride.

Thank you for being a vital partner with us through all your prayers, encouragement and financial support. And thank you for continuing to join with me personally in my own journey of healing through a heartbreaking time, trusting the grace and redeeming power of our loving God. I'm truly excited and expectant to look and see what the Lord will do in this next season ahead! We know the Lord always uses all we go through to glorify His name if we entrust ourselves to Him and His care.

From Heather Butler who faithfully leads our Intercessory Prayer Team from her home in Wales, from Bob and Doris McCray who tirelessly lead the weekly prayers for Israel, from Susan, Sabrina, Jane, John, Jeffery and Tina, Amy and Gary, Brooke and Shannon, and all who join with us as prayer partners, worship leaders and volunteers, we thank you for helping us fulfill our calling of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God."

We earnestly invite you to continue to join with us by your prayers and financial support. Your prayer covering is truly essential and your financial support is greatly appreciated, whether monthly or whenever the Holy Spirit moves you to partner with us to share this message and ministry of healing and hope to a hurting generation. We don't charge set fees for ministry, but joyfully welcome your generous contributions to help make this ministry available to all.

Please let me know if you would like me to speak with you personally about our vision and emmerging plans of partnerships in ministry through the Lord's amazing open doors of opportunity in this season ahead. May the Spirit of God fill your heart and home with all the peace and joy of Jesus our Messiah this Christmas season and throughout the New Year to come.

God bless you and Merry Christmas!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Rd.

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Tax-deductible contributions of any amount can be made:

Online at Messiah Ministries Web Site by Clicking Here

or through PayPal.com to our Account at MessiahMin@aol.com

Checks, Credit Card or Automatic Contributions can be arranged by contacting Susan Lewis at 859-422-1794 or by mail to:

Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Rd.

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

You can join our Interactive Intercessory Prayer Team by contacting Heather Butler at PrayerLead@messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 14 - Shame into Praise

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face, call on Your name, and listen for Your voice. ...

"After those days, (Zechariah's) wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 'This is what the Lord has done for me when He looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I endured among my people... Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown His great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her (Luke 1:24-58).

In Your great mercy, You take away our disgrace. In Your favor and grace, You turn our shame into praise. You hear our cry and heal our pain; You empty our sorrows and fill us with Your Spirit when we embrace the encounters of Your Presence (v. 1:41) And then even those who once looked down upon us in our times of struggle that looked like a curse begin to look up to God, rejoicing with us, when they see the blessing and power of Your steadfast love to redeem all things we entrust to You. What a Savior and Messiah You are! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, may the Lord turn every place of struggle and shame into rejoicing and praise! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend.

Please keep us in prayer as our ministry continues to partner with Rapha God Ministries in San Antonio, Texas this week, with teaching and ministry of inner healing -- healing from the inside out (www.RaphaGodMinistries.com). I'll be back in Kentucky to speak and minister at Cornerstone Assemby of God in Danville, Kentucky, Sunday December 16th in the morning and evening meetings From Brokenness to Breakghrough!

(www.DanvilleCornerstone.net). Please come join us if you can. All are welcome!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, December 12 - Freed from Doubt, Filled with the Spirit

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day and every day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...

"Zechariah said to the angel, 'How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.' The angel replied, 'I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur'" (Luke 1:18-20).

Zechariah's doubt and unbelief didn't nullify the words of God or the good news of the Gospel. Gabriel knew they would "be fulfilled in their time." Just because his message of hope and glad tiding of joy wasn't embraced, Gabriel's confidence of who he was in the eyes of God as one who stands in the presence of God was not shaken by someone else's lack of faith.

But while Gabriel knew Zechariah's promises from God would be fulfilled, he also knew that there would be a season of suffering for Zechariah, as he suffered the consequences of his choices to question the words of God spoken personally to him. Zechariah's questioning of his worthiness to be blessed by God was not seen by God as humility, but rather as the sin of doubt and unbelief. So instead of living those next nine months shouting the praises of God with expectant faith from a heart of joy at the astounding goodness of God, he wouldn't be able to speak at all.

Yet even then, You didn't leave him nor forsake him. You didn't turn Your back on him or cancel Your promises for him. You let the consequences of Zechariah's choices have their work in his heart. And somewhere along the way, Zechariah had a change of heart. Somewhere along the way, he chose to believe the words and the promises of God. And when the day came for the promises to be fulfilled, just as You had said, he spoke his first words with a depth of faith that had been fashioned and formed through the consequences of his suffering (v. 1:59-66). Now, where there had been the spirit of unbelief, Zechariah was freed from doubt and "filled with the Holy Spirit," as he began to boldly declare Your message of hope and good news of the Gospel (v. 1:67-79).

Father, forgive me for my sins of doubt and unbelief. Forgive me for doubting the promises of God, of focusing too much on how undeserving and unworthy I am instead of how merciful and mighty You are. Forgive me for every way and every day I waste by not living with expectant faith with great anticipation and joy of the fulfillment of Your promises to me. Deliver me from evil, free me from doubt, and fill me with Your Spirit. And let my words and the message of my life be a bold declaration of praise to You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, I pray you will be freed from doubt and unbelef, joyfully embrace all of God's promises to you, and be filled with the Holy Spirit of God today. May your life, despite all your challenging circumstances, be a bold declaration of praise to our God. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend.

Please keep us in prayer as our ministry continues to partner with Rapha God Ministries in San Antonio, Texas this week, with teaching and ministry of inner healing -- healing from the inside out (www.RaphaGodMinistries.com). I'll be back in Kentucky to speak and minister at Cornerstone Assemby of God in Danville, Kentucky, Sunday December 16th in the morning and evening meetings (www.DanvilleCornerstone.net). Please come join us if you can. All are welcome!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org