Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 11 -- Grow and Overflow to "Abound in Hope"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- I welcome You in every dimension of Your Being into every dimension of my being.  ...
 
"May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).
 
You are "the God of hope." And Your heart for us is that we would "abound in hope." 
 
How do we "abound in hope?"  It's "by the power of the Holy Spirit." And how does "the power of the Holy Spirit" cause us to "abound in hope?" It's by stirring in our hearts with expectant faith that You will "fill (us) with all joy and peace in believing."
 
What is it to "abound?"  ...
 
I believe I hear You speaking to my heart:  "My son, to abound is to grow and overflow. I want you to grow and overflow with My nature growing in you and flowing through you."  ...
 
Yes, Lord. To "abound" is to grow and overflow. And whatever grows and overflows in me will pour out of me to touch everything and everyone around me -- whether good or bad. It can be hopelessness or hope, discouragement or encouragement, doubt or faith, fear or courage, insecurity or confidence, division or unity, selfishness or selflessness, weariness or enthusiasm, chaos or peace, sadness or joy. "The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). It's out of the abundance of whatever is inside us that will overflow and abound out of us.
 
So come, Holy Spirit. Empower me with Your good treasure. "Hope does not disappoint (me), because God's love ahs been poured into (my) heart through the Holy Spirit that has been given to (me). As You pour Your love into me, fill me with "all joy and peace in believing" today. Let me grow and overflow to "abound in hope" to impact my world with my Father's heart all around me today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays



May you filled with joy and peace in believing, as you grow and overflow to abound in hope and impact your world today with the love of God that pours in and through you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

    


  Free to Be Like Jesus Teaching 
Biblical Principles of Inner Healing and Spiritual Freedom

Friends, if you are in the Austin area, I will be teaching a 6 week series on the Biblical Principles of Inner Healing and Spiritual Freedom at Life in the City United Methodist Church on Wednesday Nights beginning January 11, 2017 at 6pm. All are welcome. Come if you can and please keep us in prayer. It will be based on my book Free to Be Like Jesus!  www.lifeinthecityaustin.org

 


My New Prayer Devotional Book
 Begin 2017 in a Journey to Deeper Intimacy with God 

Friends, I'm excited that we just published my new book Morning by Morning, Second Edition that is now available through Amazon and Kindle. It's a 365 Day Devotional with a selection of many of my favorite devotionals from the last several years of my prayer journey. Thank you for joining with me on this journey! And I pray these simple morning prayers are a great blessing and encouragement to you to start your day embraced by the love of our Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 10 - "Utterly Astonished!" at the Power of the Name of Jesus
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is the name above every name! (Philippians 2:9)  And I begin my day proclaiming Your name over every area of my life -- Jesus Christ is Lord over all! (v. 13)  ...
 
"Peter said, 'I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.' And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God! ... While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's Portico, utterly astonished. When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, 'You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified His Servant Jesus.... And by faith in His name, His name itself has made this man strong, whom you seek and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you" (Acts 3:6-16).
 
With the eyes of my heart, I see those words "utterly astonished" glowing red as is You were blowing on burning embers to fan them into flame. I believe I hear You speaking to my heart:  "Look and see! You will be amazed at the things I will do in this new season in the power and glory of My name! You will be utterly astonished!" ... 
 
Yes, Lord. I am excited and expectant. As You said to me in the intimacy of prayer to begin this new year, "Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known" (Jeremiah 33:3). "As it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him'" (1 Corinthians 2:9).
 
Let this be a year that long-awaited promises are fulfilled, that prophetic words come to pass. Break through and break out! Show up and show off! Let the whole world see that God is alive, the Word of God is true, the Holy Spirit of the living God is on the move, and Jesus Christ is Lord! Let us be "utterly astonished" as we stand amazed in the Presence and power of our mighty God displaying the glory of Your mighty name!
 
Let the expectant hope You stirred up in the hearts of Your people long ago be stirred up in us all this year:  "'Yes,' says the Lord, 'I will do mighty miracles for you, like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt.' All the nations of the world will stand amazed at what the Lord will do for you.... Once again You will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under Your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean. You will show us Your faithfulness and unfailing love as You promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago!" (Micah 7:15-20 NLT) 
 
Yes, Lord. Let it be so, in the mighty name of Jesus! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays



May you be stirred in your heart with expectant hope and be utterly astonished at the power of name of Jesus, as you proclaim Him as Lord over all of your life this year, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   


  Free to Be Like Jesus Teaching
Biblical Principles of Inner Healing and Spiritual Freedom

Friends, if you are in the Austin area, I will be teaching a 6 week series on the Biblical Principles of Inner Healing and Spiritual Freedom at Life in the City United Methodist Church on Wednesday Nights beginning January 11, 2017 at 6pm. All are welcome. Come if you can and please keep us in prayer. It will be based on my book Free to Be Like Jesus!  www.lifeinthecityaustin.org

 

My New Prayer Devotional Book
 Begin 2017 in a Journey to Deeper Intimacy with God 

Friends, I'm excited that we just published my new book Morning by Morning, Second Edition that is now available through Amazon and Kindle. It's a 365 Day Devotional with a selection of many of my favorite devotionals from the last several years of my prayer journey. Thank you for joining with me on this journey! And I pray these simple morning prayers are a great blessing and encouragement to you to start your day embraced by the love of our Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

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Monday, January 09, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 9 - Overflowing Grace
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice.  ...
 
"I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He has judged me faithful and appointed me to His service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 1:12-14).
 
Toward the very end of his life and ministry, the Apostle Paul thought of himself as having been "the foremost" among all sinners who had received Your "utmost patience" and overflowing grace (v. 16). I, too, have received a lot of grace -- overflowing grace -- in Your utmost patience with me. And I'm grateful that You're still patient with me, still strengthening me, still at work within me to make me more like You each day. I'm grateful that You love us too much to leave us in the darkness of our ignorance and unbelief or imprisoned in the pride of our stubbornness, arrogance, and self-righteousness. 
 
You "came into the world to save sinners" -- just like Paul and me and everyone who willingly chooses to humble themselves to trust in You and Your grace for us (v. 15). And then You turn our lives around to appoint us and empower us to Your service for Your glory in our identity as completely forgiven and deeply loved sons and daughters of God (v. 12). That's the power of Your overflowing grace and unfailing love for all who choose to believe. Our lives are "an example to those who would come to believe in (You) for eternal life" (v. 16). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays



May you see and embrace the overflowing grace of God in your life through Jesus Christ, allowing Him to appoint you and empower you in His service for His glory each day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

  

  

My New Prayer Devotional Book
 Begin 2017 in a Journey to Deeper Intimacy with God 

Friends, I'm excited that we just published my new book Morning by Morning, Second Edition that is now available through Amazon and Kindle. It's a 365 Day Devotional with a selection of many of my favorite devotionals from the last several years of my prayer journey. Thank you for joining with me on this journey! And I pray these simple morning prayers are a great blessing and encouragement to you to start your day embraced by the love of our Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

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Friday, January 06, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 6 - The Love that Conquers the World
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me closer, that I can hear Your voice, sense Your presence, and follow Your leading, now and throughout the moments of my day.  ...
 
"For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:3-5)
 
The love that conquers the world is a love that's grounded in our obedience and faith in God -- the God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. Just as You said You came to bring us Your peace and not the world's peace, You come to teach us Your love and not the world's love (John 14:27).
 
You love is not 00shy-g00shy, anything-goes love. You love is not turn a blind eye, let it be, c'est la vie love. Your love speaks the truth (Ephesians 4:15). Your love confronts and corrects, disciplines and disciples (Hebrews 12:6). Your "love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). "(Your) love never ends.... And now faith hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:8-13).
 
This is the love that conquers the world. This is the love that's conquered my heart and moves me to obey You and trust You and choose to live my life though faith in You. And I love You because You first loved me (1 John 4:19). "The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.... To the King of the ages, (to the King of Love), immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever!" (1 Timothy 1:14-17) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

May you know deeply in your heart and be consumed fully in your life with the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ, the King of Love, that conquers the world, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

  

  
Friends, I'm excited that we just published my new book Morning by Morning, Second Edition that is now available through Amazon and Kindle. It's a 365 Day Devotional with a selection of many of my favorite devotionals from the last several years of my prayer journey. Thank you for joining with me on this journey! And I pray these simple morning prayers are a great blessing and encouragement to you to start your day embraced by the love of our Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. God bless you and Merry Christmas!

 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!
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Thursday, January 05, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 5 - "Grow Up" to More Like Jesus
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of all that I am and all that I do today.  ...
 
"We must grow up in every way into Him who is this head, into Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).
 
If the goal of my life is be more like You, then the goal of each day must be to seek to be more like You in each choice I make along the way. So put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Change me from the inside out, so that what I say and what I do reflect what You are saying and what You are doing inside of me, all by the power of Your grace at work within me. "For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).
 
As You said long ago to Your first disciples, You remind me and every one of Your disciples today:  "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me.... For apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5). 
 
I thank You, Lord, that I never have to be apart from You, that You are with me always (Matthew 28:20). And You are always with me, at work within me by Your Spirit and the power of Your grace, to make me more like You each day (Romans 8:29). As You are, so am I to be -- as best as I can and all by Your grace (1 John 4:17). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays



May you grow up by the power of the grace of God at work within you to be more like Jesus today in every choice you make along the way, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

    
  

  
Send a book to a friend to start off 2017 with me in seeking to begin my day centered in Jesus! Friends, I'm excited that we just published my new book Morning by Morning, Second Edition that is now available through Amazon and Kindle. It's a 365 Day Devotional with a selection of many of my favorite devotionals from the last several years of my prayer journey. Thank you for joining with me on this journey! And I pray these simple morning prayers are a great blessing and encouragement to you to start your day embraced by the love of our Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. God bless you and Merry Christmas!

 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!
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Wednesday, January 04, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 4 - Following the Pillar of the Presence of the Lord
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Christ the King, come rule and reign in me and every moment of my day.  ...
 
"The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night" (Exodus 13:21).
 
Come, Holy Spirit. You are the Pillar of the Presence of the Lord. In communion with You, the Father and the Son dwell in me. And in communion with You, the Father and the Son lead me. You are the Cloud that comforts me and the Fire that consumes me. You always point me to the Light of my Savior to lead me in the way that leads to life (John 16:13-15).
 
So open the eyes of my heart to see where Your pillar of cloud by day and Your pillar of fire by night will lead me today. Make me more sensitive to the leading of Your Spirit stirring in my spirit and speaking to my heart. "When (I) turn to the right or when (I) turn to the left, (my) ears shall hear a word behind (me), saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'" (Isaiah 30:21). 
 
Give me confidence to believe the promise of Your Word:  "All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God ...  (and) it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:14-16). Give me the discipline to never take another step until I see and sense the Pillar of Your Presence move and the courage to move immediately and obediently the moment I do. This is the great the joy of my journey -- that I journey every moment of every day in communion with You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays



May you know deeply in your heart you are a child of God, led by the Spirit of God, moving patiently, confidently and courageously in step with the Pillar of the Presence of the Lord each day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

  
  

Friends, I'll be speaking at the First Wednesday Worship and Prayer Service at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge Campus in San Antonio for the first Wednesday of the New Year tonight. Please come join us. All are welcome! Our Rapha God Ministries team will be partnering with the Oak Hills Church prayer team to offer personal prayer ministry.  www.oakhillschurch
   
Start off 2017 with me in seeking to begin my day centered in Jesus!
Friends, I'm excited that we just published my new book Morning by Morning, Second Edition that is now available through Amazon and Kindle. It's a 365 Day Devotional with a selection of many of my favorite devotionals from the last several years of my prayer journey. Thank you for joining with me on this journey! And I pray these simple morning prayers are a great blessing and encouragement to you to start your day embraced by the love of our Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. God bless you and Merry Christmas!

 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

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Tuesday, January 03, 2017

Morning by Morning, January 3 - "Continue"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. In Your abiding Presence, I want to start my day embraced by my heavenly Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit.  ...
 
"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 -- provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven" (Colossians 1:21-23).
 
"Continue securely established and steadfast in the faith."  ...  As I read these words and let them settle into my spirit this morning, I hear Your Spirit emphasizing the word "Continue."  ... 
 
As I ponder this word, I believe I hear You saying, "Ask Me what is to continue and what is to remain. As you leave behind the past year and enter into the new, ask Me what you are to carry with you and what you are to leave behind."   ...
 
Yes, Lord. You're bringing to mind Your Word proclaimed through the Apostle Paul in his spiritual journey:  "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 for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).
 
As I begin this new year, I want to take time to let Your Spirit search my heart and show me what is to continue and what is to remain, what to hold on to and what to let go. Show me the habits that need to be broken, the hurts that need to be healed, the heart condition that needs to be changed. Uproot and remove everything in me, lift up and break off everything from me, that would keep me from fully embracing You and Your plan for my life this year. Reveal and remove all that's less than Your best so You can replace it with all that truly is. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

May you hear the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart to show you what is to continue and what is to remain, what you're to hold on to and what you're to let go as you move into this new year, continuing your journey into spiritual maturity in Christ, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend and Happy New Year!

 
  

Friends, I'll be speaking at the First Wednesday Worship and Prayer Service at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge Campus in San Antonio for the first Wednesday of the New Year tomorrow night. Please come join us. All are welcome!
   
Start off 2017 with me in seeking to begin my day centered in Jesus!
Friends, I'm excited that we just published my new book Morning by Morning, Second Edition that is now available through Amazon and Kindle. It's a 365 Day Devotional with a selection of many of my favorite devotionals from the last several years of my prayer journey. Thank you for joining with me on this journey! And I pray these simple morning prayers are a great blessing and encouragement to you to start your day embraced by the love of our Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. God bless you and Merry Christmas!

 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

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Morning by Morning, January 2 - Glorious Adventure!
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of the world, be King of my world -- here in my heart and here in the every moment of my day.  ...
 
"Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known" (Jeremiah 33:3).
 
As I begin this new year, I want to begin by seeking Your face, calling on Your name, and listening for Your leading. I want Your vision to be my vision, Your plans to be my plans. I want to position myself in both humility and faith, that I can hear what You're saying and see what You're doing, as You tell me great and hidden things that I have not known. Let this be a great adventure of revelation in the unfolding of this year -- morning by morning and moment by moment with You.
 
Your Word says "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out" (Proverbs 25:2). Fill me now with expectant hope to search out the things that You've concealed like hidden treasures for me to search out and find on my adventure in faith and daily journey of prayer.  "'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him' -- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
 
Come, Holy Spirit. Let the glorious adventure begin! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays



May you be filled with expectant hope for the glorious adventure the Lord has set before you this year, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend and Happy New Year!

 


Happy New Year and God Bless You, Tommy!
Thank You for joining with me this year
 in our daily journey of prayer!
  

   
Start off 2017 with me in seeking to begin my day centered in Jesus!
Friends, I'm excited that we just published my new book Morning by Morning, Second Edition that is now available through Amazon and Kindle. It's a 365 Day Devotional with a selection of many of my favorite devotionals from the last several years of my prayer journey. Thank you for joining with me on this journey! And I pray these simple morning prayers are a great blessing and encouragement to you to start your day embraced by the love of our Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. God bless you and Merry Christmas!

 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!
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