Morning by Morning&#8212;Daily Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Friday, August 18, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 18 - The Coming Day the Sun will be Darkened Across America

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- I worship You in every dimension of Your Being and welcome You into every dimension of my being. ...

"And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls" (Joel 2:30-32 NKJV).

In a few days, on August 21, 2017, "the sun shall be turned into darkness" across America. On that day many will gather to celebrate the signs in the heavens, and many will gather to cry out to God in repentance and prayer for the sins in the heart of our nation. Many will study the science of this event, and many will search for it's spiritual significance.

It's of interest to me that this day of the total eclipse of the sun marks the first of the forty days leading up to the Day of Atonement on the Biblical calendar -- the forty days set apart for prayer and repentance to prepare for the most holy day on the Jewish year. Perhaps it's a sign in the heavens of a call to prayer for repentance and revival in our hearts and in our land -- as if we needed one.

And just as the ancient prophecy speaks of dramatic moves in the heavens, it also speaks of a dramatic move of the Spirit: "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days" (Joel 2:28-29).

So often in Your Word and in our lives, Your judgment leads to conviction; conviction leads to repentance; repentance leads to mercy; and mercy leads to revival, as You "create in (us) a clean heart," "renew a (right) spirit with (us)," and "restore unto (us) the joy of Your salvation" (Psalm 51:10-12). May Your signs in the heavens lead us to seek Your Scriptures and search our hearts and lead us to our Savior. And by the power of the grace of God, may we yet repent and return to You in our hearts and in our land to experience a great breakthrough revival and awakening and outpouring of Your Spirit in the great "harvest" Your Word promises to come (Matthew 9:37-38; 13:24-30 and 36-43).

Thank You for Your covenant of revival that comes in power, as Your people see what You're revealing, hear what You're saying, and obey what You're doing. "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV). "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12 NKJV).

So come, Holy Spirit. May we hear the voice of Jesus and "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 4:17) May You use these signs in the heavens to lead us to repentance in our hearts and revival in our land. Thank You that the Day of Atonement was eternally fulfilled on the Day of the Cross. And may the day that the sun is darkened across America be a day that America begins to repent and return to the light of the glory of the Son. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you'll be moved to pray and repent in your heart and for our land, that we may experience revival and awakening for the great harvest to come, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Join me on the journey of prayer every day!

Morning by Morning

Second Edition

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!

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 17 - The First Word of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In my prayers and worship, in these offerings of the first fruits of day, I draw near to You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- and welcome You to draw near to me. ...

"Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.... Then Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men' " (Mark 1:14-17 NKJV).

The first word of the gospel of the kingdom of God is not "Believe in Me" or "Follow Me" or "Go into all the world and make disciples of Me" or even "Go, be baptized in the Holy Spirit, pursue the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit, save souls, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, storm the gates of hell, preach with power, teach with authority, grow up into the maturity of Christlikeness, as you are being transformed and conformed into the image of the Son of God." Without question, these are all part of the gospel of the kingdom (Mark 6:7; Matthew 10:8 and 28:18-20; John 14:12 and 20:21; Luke 9:1-2; Acts 1:4-8). But all these powerful commands and worthy aspirations are not first.

The first word of the gospel of the kingdom of God is simply "Repent."

Before anything else, we must repent. We must make a choice to turn to You -- to change our mind, to have a change of heart, to trust You and entrust our lives to You, as best as we can and all by Your grace, just as we are. We must simply repent.

And it's not just a one-time choice, a one-time prayer, a one-time mark of a red-letter day on our spiritual calendar. It's choosing a lifestyle of repentance -- choosing to continue to turn our hearts over to You, every moment of every day. It's the on-going attitude of a heart of being transformed by the renewing of minds, being conformed to the image of the Son of God, being filled with Your Spirit, and being empowered to be more like You every day.

We can't do any of that in our own power. We can't even desire any of that in our own will. Apart from You, we can do nothing that would ever bring any good or lasting fruit for ourselves or for others. You have to give us the desire and the power. But You're always so ready to do just that. Our part is to make that choice and keep on making that choice. Our part is to repent.

We repent because the kingdom of God is at hand. And as we repent, the kingdom of God begins to live and grow in our heart -- for "the kingdom of God is within (us)" (Luke 17:21 NKJV). "For the kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

So come, Holy Spirit. Move in my heart to repent and keep on repenting in a lifestyle of repentance -- allowing You to keep changing my mind, my heart, and my soul into who I'm created me to be. Abba Father, let Your kingdom come and Your will be done, here on earth and here in my heart, as I continue to turn and entrust my heart to You.

As Your Word proclaims and promises, "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14 NKJV). Come, Lord Jesus. "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'" (Revelation 22:17) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you'll daily choose to repent and embrace the kingdom of God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength -- as best as you and all by God's grace, that the King of the kingdom may advance His kingdom in you and in the world around you every day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Join me on the journey of prayer every day!

Morning by Morning

Second Edition

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!

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Morning by Morning August 16 - Guided by Grace in the Joy of His Presence

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You that You're with me always -- just like You said -- "Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20 NLT).

"Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to You for refuge. I said to the Lord, 'You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from You.... Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.... I will bless the Lord who guides me.... I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice! My body rests in safety.... You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasure of living with You forever!" (Psalm 16:1-11 NLT)

Thank You for guiding me every day. "I will bless the Lord who guides me." I trust You to guide me in Your good ways -- in "the way of life." I trust You to know and to desire what's best for me. I trust You to nudge me when I'm tempted to step off Your path and to encourage me with every step on the right one. And I trust You to go with me, "granting me the joy of Your presence" in every moment of my day.

Even on a hard day, You have all Your little ways of reminding me You're with me, that You're watching over me, and that You're committed to me to bring me through everything I face. I'm free to be fully alive to the full range of emotions that every moment brings -- whether good or bad, joyful or painful, encouraging or discouraging -- because I know You'll not let me get stuck in any place that would forever steal my peace and my joy. You'll even turn the most painful or destructive things into good, reminding me there's no place I'll ever go where You're not right there with me through it all. "I will not be shaken, for (You are) right beside me."

"No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice!" I'm truly blessed -- like every one of those who have truly entrusted their lives to You -- to be guided by grace on my journey of faith in "the joy of Your presence!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you'll truly entrust your life to the Jesus, to be guided by grace in the joy of His presence, knowing He's with you and for you every step of the way, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Join me on the journey of prayer every day!

Morning by Morning

Second Edition

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!

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 15 - Satisfied with Nothing Less

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my spirit with Your Spirit and my heart with Your heart, so that Your will becomes my will and Your ways become my ways -- more and more, every day. ...

"Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith" (Philippians 3:7-10).

I've tasted and seen much of what this world has to offer. And at times, I've tried to do good and be good at what I thought religion had to offer and required of me. But whether I was trying to please the rulers of this world or the leaders of religion, what I've come to know is that what I really want, deep down inside, is to please You. That's become my hunger and my passion. And by the power of the grace of God that stirs my heart and moves my soul, by God I'll settle for nothing less because I've come to know I'll never be satisfied with anything less.

"I want to know Christ" (v. 10). I want to "gain Christ" (v. 8). I want to "be found in Him" (v. 9). I want to be free from trying to live a life that somehow defines success as "having a righteousness of my own," based on my own abilities or hard work or self-will or self-righteousness. And I want to embrace a life where I daily humble myself to willingly choose to be desperately dependent on You alone -- hungering and thirsting for more of You, more of Your Presence, more of Your Spirit, more of Your power at work in me to change me from the inside out to be more like You every day. This is the righteousness of a right heart that I'm asking You to form in me.

So as best as I can and all by Your grace, this is the choice I choose to make today and that I pray I will make every day: "I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.... I press on toward the goal for prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (v. 12-14). To be like You, because You are work in me, from the inside out by Your Spirit within me, is my goal. And You are my Prize. May I settle for nothing less and never be satisfied with anything less. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you'll be free from the expectations and demands of the world and religion, and be free to pursue Christ by the desire and power of His Spirit at work within you, just as He is pursuing you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Join me on the journey of prayer every day!

Morning by Morning

Second Edition

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!

Monday, August 14, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 14 - "Overcome Evil with Good"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice, here in my heart and here in these first moments of my morning that I offer to You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).

Don't curse the darkness, be a blessing of light. Stop murmuring and complaining about all that's wrong, and be a part of all that's right. Quit staring down the problems and start looking up to the One who is the answer. Let go of your longing for the good 'ole days and take hold of the hope that promises the best is yet to come, even in the midst of all that's dark and evil and wrong. "For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you! Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn!" (Isaiah 60:2-3)

So with hope in your heart and passion in your spirit, "Arise, shine; for your light has come, (for) the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!" (Isaiah 60:1) "Lift up your eyes and look around.... Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice.... and I will glorify My glorious house.... I will appoint Peace as your overseer and Righteousness as your taskmaster. Violence shall no more be heard in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.... the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.... Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever.... I AM the Lord; in its time I will accomplish it quickly!" (Isaiah 60:1-22)

Yes, Lord. Your kingdom come; Your will be done -- here on earth, as it is in heaven; here in my heart, as it is in Your heart; here in my home and my community and my nation, as it is in Your kingdom -- the kingdom of God, where our God rules and reigns. As You encouraged us with Your promise long ago -- long before the depths of darkness and evil we see and are yet to see -- "These things I have spoken to you, that 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 NKJV)

Yes, Lord, You have overcome. Now, by the power of Your Spirit living in me, come overcome through me today. Let Your good overcome evil; let Your light overcome darkness; let Your love overcome hatred; let Your kingdom overcome my world, starting right here in my heart. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray the light of the glory of God will arise and shine through you in your world today, as He empowers you by His Spirit to overcome evil with good and advance His kingdom through your life, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Join me on the journey of prayer every day!

Morning by Morning

Second Edition

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!

Friday, August 11, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 11 - Great and Awesome Deeds We did not Expect

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your Word be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ...

"When You did awesome deeds that we did not expect, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your Presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who works for those who wait for Him" (Isaiah 64:3-4).

You love to surprise us with Your "suddenlies." You love to bewilder us with Your breakthroughs. You love to show up and show off in Your glory and grace when we need You the most. You do great and awesome deeds that we don't expect and we don't deserve just because You love us and You're for us and You want Your very best for us. No one's ever seen any God like You. There's no one like You, Lord!

Give me faith to expect the unexpected. I believe in the God of the breakthrough. I believe in my miracle-making God. So let Your Spirit fill my heart with gratitude and fill my mouth with praise, even before I see You move again, like I've seen You move so many times before.

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of (Your) glory, (You) may grant that (I) may be strengthened in (my) inner being with power through (Your) Spirit, and the Christ may dwell in (my) heart through faith, as (I am) being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that (I) may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that (I) may be filled with all the fullness of God! Now to Him who by the power at work within (me) is able to accomplish abundantly far more that all (I) can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever!" (Ephesians 3:14-21) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray the Holy Spirit stirs up in your heart great faith to expect the unexpected from our Great God who loves to do for you exceedingly, abundantly far more than you could ever ask or imagine, in His power for His glory, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

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!

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 10 - "This is My God, and I will Praise Him!"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I willingly choose to be desperately dependent upon You alone. ...

"Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: 'I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my might, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name.... The Lord will reign forever and ever!" (Exodus 15:1-18)

I sing the song of Moses -- the song of victory and deliverance and salvation of my God. I join in the eternal of song of all who have seen the mighty hand of God move mightily on their behalf in their darkest hours and toughest battles, to make a way where there seemed to be no way, and to make Yourself known and show Yourself faithful in Your constant and certain presence through it all. "This is my God, and I will praise Him!"

Praising You lifts my eyes up to the hills where my strength comes from. Praising You reminds me of the One who is greater than anything I'm facing. Praising You proclaims Your victory even before the battle is fought. And praising You shifts the atmosphere of everything around me for the kingdom of heaven to break in to the kingdom of my world.

So I will praise You. I will trust You. I will worship You in spirit and truth, as I sing this song of victory and deliverance and salvation over my day, even before the battles are fought, believing in faith that in You my victories are already won. "This is my God, and I will praise Him!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you the song of victory and deliverance and salvation rising up in your spirit, as you praise our God through every battle you face, knowing your victory is won 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

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 9 - God Will Make a Way

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. ...

"I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 43:19).

You're the God who makes a way where there seems to be no way. And while You're making a way, You call me to wait. It's in the waiting that I'm learning to trust You and allow You to make the way in Your wisdom, Your power, and Your timing. It's in the waiting that I'm learning to "trust in the (You) with all (my) heart, and lean not on (my) own understanding; in all (my) ways acknowledge (You), and (You) shall direct (my) paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I choose to wait for You to make a way in the places where I look but can't see a way. Open the eyes of my heart to see the One who is the Way -- "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). With my eyes on You, with my heart set to wait on You, trusting in You, I'm choosing to believe You will make a way. And that way will be good and right and true, because it's made by You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

I pray you will be filled with trust and faith as you wait on God, trusting in Him with all your heart, to make a way for you in the places where there seems to be no way, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257