Morning by Morning, August 29 - Who Am I?

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. First things first -- as I begin my day, I want to begin with You in the communion of prayer -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  ...

 

"Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near Him, He asked them, 'Who do the crowds say that I am?' They answered, 'John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets has arisen.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered, 'The Messiah of God'" (Luke 9:18-20).

 

The crowds are rarely right. The masses often miss it. It's human nature to be led by human emotions and driven by human desires. So You're always inviting us to look to You instead of listen to them, to seek Your face instead of seek their fame, and let Your Word shape our will instead of their whims that can change with the wind.

 

What could be a more important question than this -- "Who do you say that I am?" If You are "the Messiah of God" -- God come in the flesh as God with us and Christ within us, to sacrifice Your life for us and show us how to live our lives in You, what could be more important? It defines everything and determines our destiny now in this age and the age to come (John 3:16).

 

Yet, perhaps almost as important in our spiritual journey is to ask You as well, "Who do You day that I am?" At the end of the day and at the end of my journey through this life, it doesn't really matter who the crowd says that I am or what the world thinks of me. The only thing that will matter is who You say that I am.

 

"We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.' So then, each of us will be accountable to God" (Romans 14:7-12).

 

By the grace of the faith You've given me, I believe You are the Son of God, the Messiah of God -- crucified, dead and buried and raised from the dead, sitting at the right hand of the Father, and You will come again to judge the living and the dead. You're One with the Father and One with the Holy Spirit. So the question that's on my heart today is "Who do You say that I am?"  ...

 

As I wait in the silence and listen for the voice of my Good Shepherd, it seems I hear You saying in my heart:  "You are My son, My beloved son. Above all else, I want you to know this. And as you come to fully know this down in the depths of your soul, it will not longer matter to you who anyone else in all this world says that you are."  ...

 

Yes, Lord. Help me learn what this really means. Help me embrace who I really am, just as I embrace who You really are. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you will be confident in who you are as a son or daughter of God, confident in your faith in the One who loves you and calls you by name as His own, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

   

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 26 - Fire of God Fall!

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start today and everyday seeking Your face, listening for Your voice, resting in Your presence, and waiting for Your leading -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  ...

 

"I will call on the name of the Lord; the God who answers by fire is indeed God" (1 Kings 18:24).

 

You don't play with matches, unless you want to be burned. And you don't pray for the fire of God to fall unless you're ready to be consumed with a fiery passion and all-consuming desire to live for God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength. "For indeed our God is a consuming Fire" (Hebrews 12:19).

 

All are called to the baptism of repentance -- to turn away from the sin and self-centeredness of living our lives merely on our terms, for our own purposes, and turn to God in the surrender of our hearts and the salvation of our souls. But fewer are they who will embrace Your baptism of fire. As John the Baptist proclaimed, "I baptize you with water for repentance, but One who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matthew 3:11).

 

Answer my prayers with Your fire today, O God. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit. Baptize me in Your Holy Fire. Burn out of me everything that is not yet fully committed, fully surrendered to You (Matthew 3:12). Set me ablaze with a fresh passion to live my life for Your purpose -- confident in my identity as a chosen son of God and fulfilling my destiny as a carrier of Your flame and ambassador of Your name (Acts 1:5).  

 

"So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). And that appeal of God is not to spend our lives merely inviting people to turn from their sins and go to heaven instead of hell when they die, but so much more. It is the cry of the heart of our Father, "turning the world upside down" in the power of the Holy Spirit and the mighty name of Jesus to the glory of our Father, as we invite whosoever will to come and embrace that same all-consuming Fire (Acts 17:6). That's what it means to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). Let me settle for nothing less.

 

Come, Holy Spirit. Strike that match and set that fire down in my soul today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray the fire of God will fall on you today, setting you ablaze with a fresh passion of His Holy Fire to turn your world upside down to the glory of God, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

  

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 25 - "Renewed Day by Day"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Awaken my spirit in the communion of prayer with Your Spirit -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  ...

 

"So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because 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 4:16-18).

 

I need to be new -- "renewed day by day." Thank You that the moment You came into my heart and gave me Your Spirit to abide in my soul, I became new -- "a new creation" in Christ (v. 5:17). From that day forth, I can proclaim the truth that "everything has become new!" (v. 5:17)  But at the same time, I also need to know that You're still at work within me, that I need You to still be at work within me to be "renewed day by day" (v. 4:16).

 

How do You renew me day by day, Lord?  ...

 

It seems I hear You saying in my heart:  "My son, seek Me. Consciously, deliberately open your heart to My Presence, allow My Spirit to abide in your spirit. Let Me put My thoughts in your mind and My desires in your heart. Allow Me to change you into My image  -- day by day -- one day at a time, even one moment at a time."

 

Yes, Lord. Let it be so. I choose to acknowledge my need to be renewed in Your Spirit today. And I desire to pursue Your Presence. Come, Holy Spirit. Fill me afresh today (Ephesians 5:18). Renew me afresh today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you will be refreshed and renewed in the deeply abiding Spirit of God in the depths of your soul day by day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

      

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 24 - "For the Sake of the Joy"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- I welcome every dimension of Your Being into every dimension of my being -- spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).  ...

 

As I wait for the leading of Your Spirit, beginning my day in the communion of prayer, I hear in my heart these words:  "for the sake of the joy."  ...

 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 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 as the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2).

 

You endured Your cross and all that went with it "for the sake of the joy." And as You call us to "take up (our) cross daily, and follow (You)," You give us the power of Your grace to press on and press through every cross we bear and all that goes with it "for the sake of the joy" as well (Luke 9:23).

 

And when we've made it through another painful, bloody mess of our last ordeal, Your joy fills our hearts and Your praise fills our mouths. It's by the power of the victory of Your cross that we have the power to endure and overcome whatever cross is set before us. And whatever it was and whatever may yet come, in Your eternal perspective it's only a "slight momentary affliction" that is "preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure" (2 Corinthians 4:17). 

 

That's how we can "consider it nothing but joy" when we "face trials of any kind," knowing that "the testing of (our) faith produces endurance; and (we can) let endurance have its full effect, so that (we) may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). "Looking to Jesus," I pray I will keep growing in maturity, persevering in faith, overcoming every trial "for the sake of the joy" You've set before me (Hebrews 12:2). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray your heart will be filled with joy and your mouth be filled with praise, as you keep looking to Jesus through every trial, being made mature and complete in Him, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

     

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 23 - "I Commit My Spirit"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me hear Your voice and follow Your lead, Good Shepherd of my soul (John 10:4).  ...

 

"For You indeed are my rock and and my fortress; for Your name's sake lead me and guide me.... Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God" (Psalm 31:3-5).

 

I commit my spirit into Your hand and welcome Your Spirit into my heart. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart, as You lead me and guide throughout the moments of my day. Let it be a natural part of my nature, now redeemed in You as a child of God, being daily conformed into the nature of the Son of God (Romans 8:29). "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (Romans 8:14).

 

It seems I hear You say in my heart:  "More of Me; less of you. More of My Spiritual nature; less of your fleshly nature. More of My will; less of your will. I will increase; and you will decrease, as you humble yourself to allow Me to change you into My image, more every day, to the degree you willingly choose to seek Me and follow Me."

 

Yes, Lord. Give me that desire. And give me that power -- to will what is right, then to do what is right, because You are the One at work within me, making things right within me. "For it is God working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases (You)" (Philippians 2:13 NLT). 

 

My flesh doesn't will this, but my spirit does. "(My) spirit indeed is willing, but (my) flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I commit my spirit into Your hand today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you will conformed into the image of the Son of God, more every day, as you commit your spirit into His hand, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

  

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 22 - "His Favor is for a Lifetime"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day and every day committed to You in the communion of prayer -- embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.  ...

 

"I will extol You, O Lord, for You have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You have healed me. O Lord, You brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life that I should not go down to the Pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you His faithful ones, and give thanks to His holy name! His anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.... You have turned my morning into dancing; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!" (Psalm 30:1-12)

 

In our daily journey through this broken and fallen world, many are our foes, but forever is Your favor. Many are our opportunities to give in and give up, but these are also our opportunities to give it all over to You, as we look up and call on the One who is "mighty to save" (Isaiah 63:1).

 

You said, "In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). And because You've overcome, we can overcome. Because You've won, we can win. Because You are our Peace, we can have peace, even in the midst of the tribulation of this world. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels no rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39).

 

Though sorrow may last for the night, Your joy comes with the morning. Though the waves of the sea trying to batter us into submission may roar and the mountains of our security under our feet may tremble and quake, though it may seem like our soul has gone down to Sheol to be buried in the Pit of our destruction, You reach out in the power of Your grace, You lift us up in the embrace of Your love, and You speak "Peace! Be still!" in the midst of our hearts (Mark 4:39). 

 

You let us know that it was You alone who was mighty to save. And You remind us that forever is Your favor and covers every moment of our lifetime in Your steadfast love and unfailing grace. So my soul will praise You and not be silent, for You have turned my mourning into dancing and clothed me with joy! O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you will experience the favor of our God through any tribulation you face, knowing His mighty power of save in His steadfast love and unfailing grace, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 19 - Strong and Mighty, Faithful and True

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my head in praise and open up the gates of my heart in prayer, as I begin my day worshipping You and welcoming You into every moment of my day and every area of my life.  ... 

 

"Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory many come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory!" (Psalm 24:7-10 NRSV)   ...

 

We heard the good and long-awaited news yesterday that a close friend of mine was found Innocent of all charges, declared Not Guilty by the jury and announced by the judge in his federal court case. He said he was innocent from the beginning, three and a half years ago, and proved it in the trial of his life, even representing himself. 

 

But every day, he was on his knees in prayer, growing more desperately dependent upon You alone each day as his Defender and Deliverer, his Advocate and Savior. He was learning to draw courage and hope from You alone as his Source of strength to persevere in faith until this day would come. And so were his wife and family and so many who knew his integrity and honor, with so many who knew his heart and called him friend. With the jury's Verdict -- which means "to speak the truth" -- it seems this long nightmare is finally over and a new day can finally begin. Praise God! "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning!" (Psalm 30:5)

 

Thank You for Your justice. Thank You for Your mercy. What You do for us as our Father, You require of us as Your children:  "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8 NKJV). And in all humility, we all know that the victory of this verdict had much more to do with Your righteousness alone than the righteousness of my friend or any of us who prayed. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:22-25).

 

You have shown Yourself strong and mighty in this battle for truth to be established and justice to be done in my friend's life. And this day of praise, I lift up my head and open up my heart to praise Your holy name, O King of glory! You are the One "called Faithful and True, and in righteousness (You are the One who) judges and makes war" as "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:11-16). So You have, once again. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you will see the justice and mercy of our God, as you walk humbly with Him, the One who is strong and mighty, faithful and true, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

 

Friends, Thank You so much for all the encouraging notes and prayers! We're praising God for all He has done for my close friend, Mikal Watts and his family through this trial. His name and his honor have been restored in the power of the mighty name of Jesus! And I pray for God's restoration and grace in your life and the lives those on your heart in prayer. God bless you!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 17 - Dedication to Vindication

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Sovereign King, merciful and mighty God, You are my Lord and Savior, and I welcome Your saving grace and ruling lordship into every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  ...

 

"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn and her salvation like a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory.... Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest, and give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth.... The Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth:  Say to daughter Zion, 'See, your salvation comes; His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him'" (Isaiah 62:1-11 NRSV).

 

We are Your sentinels -- Your watchmen on wall. You position us in prayer and deploy us in battle.  You encourage us and empower us to persevere in faith until we see Your victory and the vindication of Your people established on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

 

You stir in our hearts to seek Your heart in prayer. You put Your thoughts in our minds and Your desires in our hearts. Then You invite us to partner with Your Word and Your will by the moving of Your Spirit in our prayers and praises and proclamations until we see Your kingdom come and Your will be done in the matters You've put in our hearts to pray:  "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27).

 

You know every matter on my heart today. And I believe by faith You are the One who put those matters on my heart to pray. So by the power of the grace of God, I will pray. And I will persevere in faith. And I will proclaim Your truth and Your will according to Your Word. And I will praise You now for the victory and the vindication to come -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you will see the victory and vindication of God in every matter He's put on your heart to pray, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

 

Friends, thank you so much for all the encouraging notes and prayers! Please continue to join with me in prayer for a close friend of mine and his family, as he continues to go through his trial this week. Closing Arguments were yesterday and now the jury will decide. Please continue to join with me to press through in prayer until the end for him and his family. We pray for clarity, discernment, that all things be exposed in the light of the truth, that the judge and jury may discern and judge rightly, as well as for the favor and mercy of the Lord for my friend and his family. And may God cause all of this to work together for good. We trust that the battle is won in the Spirit, as we pray for it to be manifested on earth as it is in heaven. God bless you!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 17 - Dedication to Vindication

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Sovereign King, merciful and mighty God, You are my Lord and Savior, and I welcome Your saving grace and ruling lordship into every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  ...

 

"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn and her salvation like a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory.... Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest, and give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth.... The Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth:  Say to daughter Zion, 'See, your salvation comes; His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him'" (Isaiah 62:1-11 NRSV).

 

We are Your sentinels -- Your watchmen on wall. You position us in prayer and deploy us in battle.  You encourage us and empower us to persevere in faith until we see Your victory and the vindication of Your people established on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

 

You stir in our hearts to seek Your heart in prayer. You put Your thoughts in our minds and Your desires in our hearts. Then You invite us to partner with Your Word and Your will by the moving of Your Spirit in our prayers and praises and proclamations until we see Your kingdom come and Your will be done in the matters You've put in our hearts to pray:  "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27).

 

You know every matter on my heart today. And I believe by faith You are the One who put those matters on my heart to pray. So by the power of the grace of God, I will pray. And I will persevere in faith. And I will proclaim Your truth and Your will according to Your Word. And I will praise You now for the victory and the vindication to come -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you will see the victory and vindication of God in every matter He's put on your heart to pray, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

Friends, thank you so much for all the encouraging notes and prayers! Please continue to join with me in prayer for a close friend of mine and his family, as he continues to go through his trial this week. Closing Arguments will be today. Please pray for courage for the judge who has continued to take the Motion to Acquit under consideration, in a rare move, even as the case is given to the jury to decide their verdict. Please continue to join with me to press through in prayer until the end for him and his family. By the grace of God, this trial seems to be going exceptionally well, with more truth being revealed every day. We pray for clarity, discernment, that all things be exposed in the light of the truth, that the judge and jury may discern and judge rightly, as well as for the favor and mercy of the Lord for my friend and his family. And may God cause all of this to work together for good. We trust that the battle is won in the Spirit, as we pray for it to be manifested on earth as it is in heaven. God bless you!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 16 - Power of Positive Praising

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good Shepherd of my soul, let me hear Your voice and follow Your lead.  ...

 

"So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went, Johoshaphat stood and said, 'Hear me, O Judah and your inhabitants of Jerusalem:  Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.' And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:  'Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.' When they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated" (2 Chronicles 20:20-22 NKJV).

 

Some speak of the power of positive thinking. And it's true that "as (one) thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). You said, "According to your faith let it be to you" (Matthew 9:29). But Your Word also speaks of the power of positive praising, as when King Johoshaphat and all the people of Israel rose early in the morning and began to praise the beauty of Your holiness and proclaim their faith in Your mercy that endures forever. As they worshiped You, You set an ambush for their enemies and defeated their plans to destroy Your people.

 

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4). And one of the mightiest weapons of our warfare is worship and praise. When we worship You and praise You, when we lift up our eyes and our hearts to You, we remember the One who is our help, the One who never ceases to war in the heavens on our behalf (Psalm 121:1-2). In You, our victory is won and the battle belongs to the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:15).

 

So as I rise up early this morning, my first thoughts are not of the battle of the day or the enemies of my soul or even the needs of my family or the calling of my ministry. My first thoughts are of You. My first acts are worship and praise. "Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth... For He is coming, for His is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth" (Psalm 96:8-13). By the grace of God in the leading of Your Spirit, this is the power of positive praising. And I'll be excited to look and see the deliverance of the Lord (Psalm 18:17). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you will see the mighty deliverance of our God on your behalf, as you rise early in the morning to worship and praise the Lord in the beauty of His holiness, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

Friends, thank you so much for all the encouraging notes and prayers! Please continue to join with me in prayer for a close friend of mine and his family, as he continues to go through his trial this week. Please pray for courage for the judge who has taken the Motion to Acquit under consideration, in a rare move, before the case is given to the jury to decide their verdict probably early this week. Please continue to join with me to press through in prayer until the end for him and his family. By the grace of God, this trial seems to be going exceptionally well, with more truth being revealed every day. We pray for clarity, discernment, that all things be exposed in the light of the truth, that the judge and jury may discern and judge rightly, as well as for the favor and mercy of the Lord for my friend and his family. And may God cause all of this to work together for good. We trust that the battle is won in the Spirit, as we pray for it to be manifested on earth as it is in heaven. God bless you!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 15 - "They Shall Not Prevail"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is above every name (Philippians 2:9). And I lift up Your name in worship and praise above every moment of my day and every matter on my heart.  ...

 

"They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you" (Jeremiah 1:19).

 

We're in a battle every day (John 10:10). The enemies of our soul never give up the fight. It's just that some days are much less subtle than others. Some days they're more in our face than sneaking around behind our back. But though they fight against us, they will not prevail against us. For You are with us and You will deliver us. "(We) are of God, little children, and have overcome them:  because greater is He that is in (us), than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4 KJV).

 

Arise today, O Lord. Let my enemies be scattered! (Psalm 68:1) "As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; and as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly!" (Psalm 68:2-3 NKJV)

 

We're only righteous in You, because You set things right in us through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). And though our enemies fight against us, even though things are not always right in the means and systems they use to try to destroy us, they will not prevail against us. Your truth will stand. Their lies will fall. Your will shall be done. And all along the way, You will be at work in us, teaching us to trust more in You, making us more like You, through every fight we endure and every enemy we overcome (Romans 8:28-29). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you will see the Lord our God arise to scatter your enemies, who shall not prevail against you, but will only be used to empower you to trust more in our God and become more like Him through every fight you face and overcome, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

    

"I, the Lord, will roar like a Lion" (Hosea 11:10 NLT)

 

Friends, please continue to join with me in prayer for a close friend of mine and his family, as he continues to go through his trial this week. Please pray for courage for the judge who has taken the Motion to Acquit under consideration, in a rare move, before the case is given to the jury to decide their verdict probably early this week. Please continue to join with me to press through in prayer until the end for him and his family. By the grace of God, this trial seems to be going exceptionally well, with more truth being revealed every day. We pray for clarity, discernment, that all things be exposed in the light of the truth, that the judge and jury may discern and judge rightly, as well as for the favor and mercy of the Lord for my friend and his family. And may God cause all of this to work together for good. We trust that the battle is won in the Spirit, as we pray for it to be manifested on earth as it is in heaven. God bless you!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 12 - "Desired Haven" of Peace

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). Rule and reign over every dimension of my life today. Under the sovereignty of Your kingship and the authority of Your lordship, I have nothing to fear in all that I may face. And the best of all is that You are with me through it all. So I begin my day speaking out Your name and listening for Your voice.  ...

 

"Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to the desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:28-31 NKJV)

 

As a close friend of mine continues to present his case in the trial of his life, he's crying out to You. As each distortion is clarified and every misrepresentation is confronted, You are exposing the lies and revealing the truth to establish his innocence, while he cries out to You. His desired haven in the storm at hand is the restoration of the honor of his name. And the heaven he'll find will be in the peace and joy he'll know in his soul when You calm this storm and still these waves to bring him out of this distress. 

 

One day soon, we'll all join with him and all his family and friends to give thanks to You for all Your goodness and wonderful works. That's my prayer for him and proclamation over him, as Your Spirit continues to stir in our hearts to persevere in prayer until all is done and he is home in that desired haven of peace. You are our Haven of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; John 14:27). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I rejoice with you and thank the Lord our God for bringing you through every storm into His haven of peace for you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

    

Friends, please continue to join with me in prayer for a close friend of mine and his family, as he continues to go through his trial this week. He'll likely be calling his last witnesses today, with the judge giving the case to the jury to decide their verdict early next week. Please continue to join with me to press through in prayer until the end for him and his family. By the grace of God, this trial seems to be going exceptionally well, with more truth being revealed every day. We pray for clarity, discernment, that all things be exposed in the light of the truth, that the judge and jury may discern and judge rightly, as well as for the favor and mercy of the Lord for my friend and his family. And may God cause all of this to work together for good. We trust that the battle is won in the Spirit, as we pray for it to be manifested on earth as it is in heaven. God bless you!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!