Monday, April 30, 2018

Morning by Morning, April 30 - "Filled with All the Fullness of God"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Majestic and mighty One, fill my heart and my life today.  ... 

"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 His glory, He may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you 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 you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:14-19). 

Lord, how is it possible that I may be "filled with all the fullness of God?"  ... 

It seems I hear You saying in my heart:  "The more you yield, the more you are filled. Yield to My love--to love Me and love others, as you receive My love for you. I Am Love. As I fill you with My love, I am filling you with all the fullness of God." ... 

Yes, Lord. Help me learn to yield. Help me learn to love. Help me learn how to be filled with all the fullness of God. 

"God's love has been poured into (my) heart through the Holy Spirit that has been given to (me)" (Romans 5:5).  

As You said long ago to Your first disciples, so You continue to speak into the hearts of every disciple:  "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).  

Yielding to You and Your love is the only way to be filled with Your Spirit and conformed to Your nature--to "become participants of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.... God is love and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them" (1 John 4:7-16).  

As best as I can and all by Your grace, I yield to You and Your love today. Free me to be faithful to yield even more to You tomorrow. Morning by morning--even moment by moment--keep filling me "with all the fullness of God." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

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




My Friend, I pray you are filled with all the fullness o God--yielding to Him and His love for you and His love through you, more and more every day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

   
   
Tommy Hays' 365 Day Prayer Devotional
Morning by Morning, 2nd Edition
"A Deeply Intimate Journey with Jesus"

 


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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Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Morning by Morning, April 25 - Every Day with Jesus
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, be King and Lord of my heart and my life this day and every day. ...
 
You're our Savior. And You're also our Example. Your life on earth is a model for our life in You. You teach the way by showing us the way--how to live well, how to love well, even how to suffer well and ultimately die well. "For this (we) have been called, because Christ also suffered for (us), leaving (us) an example, so that (we) should follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:18). "As He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).
 
Let Your Word come alive in my thoughts. Let Your Spirit arise in my heart. Let Your example be a compass for my soul in every choice I make along the journey of my day. Remind me every moment that I'm never alone. You're with me "always" (Matthew 28:20). And remind me every moment that I'm never on my own to try to live out this life in my own power, my own wisdom, or my own righteousness, but by the power of Your grace at work with me, making me more like You each day. "For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what please Him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).
 
So I look forward to start each day with You--to intentionally, deliberately welcome Your Spirit and Your Word and Your Presence into me and every moment of my day. In daily trust and surrender, "(my) life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1). You're showing me the way to live every day in You--every day with Jesus. In Jesus' name pray. Amen.

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




My Friend, I pray you walk with Jesus every day--in His steps, by His example, in His Spirit with your life hidden with Christ in God, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

   
   
Tommy Hays' 365 Day Prayer Devotional
Morning by Morning, 2nd Edition
"A Deeply Intimate Journey with Jesus"

 


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, April 24, 2018

Morning by Morning, April 24 - Live and Move and Be in Him
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Here in my heart, here in the communion of prayer to begin my day, let me be embraced in my Father's arms, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit to begin my day well and live my day well, all in the power of Your grace and the intimacy of Your Presence.  ...
 
"In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:25).
 
Lord, let there be less of the world in me and more of You in me. Let there be less of my will and more of Your will, less of my ways and more of Your ways. Instead of it being all about me, let it be all about You. Free me from myself so that I live and move and have my being in You rather than me. 
 
How to I do that, Lord?  ...
 
It seems I hear You saying in my heart, "Turn Your attention to Me. Take time to look to Me and listen to Me, to sit silently before Me with your spirit actively worshipping Me and welcoming Me into union with you. Allow Me to put My thoughts in your mind and My desires in your heart so I can guide your steps in My ways as I walk with you on the journey of each day."  ...
 
Yes, Lord. Let it be so. "Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17). As I abide in You, You abide in me (John 15:4). May it become "not longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). 
 
Give me a deeper hunger, even an insatiable yearning in my spirit, to become one spirit with You. By the power of Your grace, may I live and move and have my being in You--more and more, every day. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with (us) all" (2 Corinthians 13:13). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




Tommy, I pray you live and move and be in the Lord--embraced by your Father, centered in Christ, and filled with His Holy Spirit, becoming more like Him and walking more closely with Him every day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

   
   
Tommy Hays' 365 Day Prayer Devotional
Morning by Morning, 2nd Edition
"A Deeply Intimate Journey with Jesus"

 


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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Monday, April 23, 2018

Morning by Morning, April 23 - The Face of Christ
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and the center of my day.  ...
 
"For it is the God who said, 'Let light 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. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us" (2 Corinthians 4:6-7).
 
Lord Jesus, let Your face shine through my face today. Let Your light pierce through my darkness and push back any darkness around me today. Let Your glory overcome my clay and Your Spirit consume my flesh to make me more like You today. And let Your power--Your extraordinary power that comes only from You--be made perfect in my weakness, as I rest in Your grace to shine with Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




M Friend, I pray the face of Christ shines through your face every day, 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

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Friday, April 20, 2018

Morning by Morning, April 30 - God's Good Treasure
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. As for me and my house, I seek to serve You, Lord. I seek to honor You and worship You, entrusting my life to You and loving You with all my heart and mind and soul and strength--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...
 
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).
 
Do I treasure You, Lord? Do I truly treasure Your Word in my heart? (Psalm 119:11)  Do I put You first--first in my thoughts, first in my desires, first in my choices--with no other gods before You? (Exodus 20:3)  Do I seek first the kingdom of God and Your righteousness before seeking to build my own kingdom and seeking after all the trappings of the false treasures the kingdoms of this world have to offer? (Matthew 6:33)  ...
 
It seems I hear You speaking in my heart:  "My son, I AM your Treasure. It is true that at times I am not what you treasure most in the moment, but you are willing to let Me remind you of your true treasure--that your name is written in My book of life, that My Spirit lives in your heart, that you are My child, My disciple, and even My friend, living every day throughout all eternity in personal, passionate relationship with Me. And you remember that there are no greater treasures then these."  ...
 
Yes, Lord. Thank You for Your patience with me, for all Your mercy and grace for me, for Your unfailing, everlasting love for me. Help me treasure You more every day. By the power of Your grace, may I faithfully "guard the good treasure entrusted to (me), with the help of the Holy Spirit living in (me)" (2 Timothy 1:14). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




My Friend, I pray you treasure the One who lives in you and knows you intimately as His child and disciple and friend, to live every day throughout all eternity in a deeply personal, passionate relationship with 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

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Thursday, April 19, 2018

Morning by Morning, April 19 - Entirely Sanctified in the Fire and Power of the Holy Spirit
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God--I worship in every dimension of Your Being and welcome You into every dimension of my being--spirit, soul, and body.  ...
 
"May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do this" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
 
You are the God of peace, the God of shalom. By the power of Your grace You bless me and anoint me and empower me to be at peace with You, at peace with one another, and at peace within myself.
 
And by the power of Your grace, Your Holy Spirit is at work within me to purify and sanctify me in my spirit, in my soul, and in my body. And not just a little bit, but entirely, wholly, and completely. You are faithful and You will do this, because this is Your will for me--that I would be entirely surrendered so that I could be entirely sanctified. "For this is the will of God, (my) sanctification.... For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).
 
By the power of Your grace that I desperately need every moment of every day, I want to be "kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Your blood cleanses my sins as I admit them and turn them over to You (1 John 1:9). And Your Holy Spirit keeps sanctifying my soul as I keep surrendering my mind and will and emotions to You and Your mind, Your will, and Your emotions--filling me up to the degree that I keep making more room for You (Ephesians 5:18). "For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).
 
One day will be the day of "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). And by the power of Your grace, I want to be one of Your children of God who is passionately prepared for You--one of the many "sons" You've been bringing "to glory" (Hebrews 2:10 NKJV) and one of those who are part of Your bride of Christ who has "made herself ready" (Revelation 19:7)--not in my power, but Yours; not in my righteousness, but Yours. It's "not by might, nor by power, but by (Your) Spirit, says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).
 
So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I willing choose to entrust as much of me to You as I can and to receive as much of You within me as I can. Baptize me with Your Holy Spirit and Your holy fire (Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:4). Consume everything in me that's not yet like You (Matthew 5:48). Conform me into the image of the Son of God (Romans 8:29).
 
Lord Jesus, make me more like You each day. As You are, so am I to be in my world. "God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.... God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God.... God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:12-17).
 
Lord Jesus, "the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'" (Revelation 22:17). One day You'll come again in Your glory in the skies (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11). And every day between this day that day to come, I pray You'd come in Your glory here in my heart--"Christ in (me), the hope of glory!" (Colossians 1:27) Come and keep baptizing me with Your Holy Spirit, keep setting me ablaze with the fire of Your passion, keep sanctifying me entirely in spirit and soul and body, keep perfecting me in Your love, and keep empowering me by Your Presence! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




My Friend, I pray you are continually being sanctified entirely in the fire and power of the Holy Spirit, that you be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by the One who is faith and who will do this in you, 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

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Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Morning by Morning, April 18 - Living Stones on the Breastpiece of Our High Priest
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my eyes and listen with my heart for the leading of Your Holy Spirit, here in arms of my Father. ...
 
"Of the blue, purple, and crimson yarns they made finely worked vestments, for ministering in the holy place; they made the sacred vestments for Aaron; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He made the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen.... He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, like the work of the ephod, of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson years, and of fine twisted line. It was square; the breastpiece was made double.... They set in it four rows of stones. A row of carnelian, chrysolite, and emerald was the first row; and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and a moonstone, and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they were enclosed in setting of gold filigree. There were twelve stones with the names corresponding to the names of the sons of Israel; they were like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes" (Exodus 39:1-14).
 
As high priest, Aaron was commanded to wear the twelve stones of the twelve tribes of Israel upon his breast as he ministered to the Lord in the holy place. Each stone was unique and precious. And each had its purpose and place.
 
Lord Jesus, You are our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). And You hold our names upon Your breast, near to Your heart, as You carry us in to the holy place of God our Father, even the Holy of Holies of His Presence. You've created each one of us uniquely, with identity and purpose and destiny. We are carefully chosen, precious and beloved to You.
 
Let us also be precious to one another. Give us eyes to see and honor the uniqueness of the other stones, the other precious jewels You treasure and embrace as near to Your heart as ourselves. Free us from jealousy and envy, from pride and comparison. Uproot our insecurities and implant within us a sincere confidence in You. 
 
"Like living stones, let (us) be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). Like precious treasure, let us shine with the light of Your glory and praise You for the light of Your glory that shines on one another. In Jesus' name I pray Amen.

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




My Friend, I pray you are confident and secure as the carefully chosen, precious and beloved child and treasure of God you are, honoring the same uniqueness in one another,  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

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Monday, April 16, 2018

Morning by Morning, April 16 - My Morning Time with God
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're one with the Father and one with the Holy Spirit; be one within me, as I abide in You and You abide in me.  ...
 
"Let me hear of Your steadfast love in the morning, for in You I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.... Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on a level path" (Psalm 143:8-10). 
 
I settle in to my place of prayer and center in with my focus on You. I lift up my heart and open up my spirit, as I greet You and welcome You into the moments of my day. "Good morning, Lord Jesus."
 
I could say, "Good morning, heavenly Father" or "Come, Holy Spirit" or "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!"  But for many years, from when I first began to journal my morning prayer, this has been my simple way to focus my heart and begin my day centered in You--embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.
 
And every morning is a good morning because Your good Spirit is with me--to love me and lead me on the level path of life in You, to teach me and tell me the ways of Your will--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. You put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. You take me by hand and lead me by the heart on my journey of faith that begins each day in worship and prayer, in trusting surrender and faithful obedience.
 
In these morning moments of deep communion in prayer, You begin my daily journey of making me more like You, as I intentionally, deliberately entrust my soul again completely to You. "For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--make us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image" (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT).
 
Thank You for letting me hear Your steadfast love in the morning. Thank You for letting me experience the peace and joy of Your Presence as I seek to simply be still and know that You are God, here at the foundation of my day with You at the center of my life (Psalm 46:10). "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your Presence and the pleasures of living with You forever" (Psalm 16:11). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




My Friend, I pray you experience the peace and joy of the Presence of God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--as you intentionally, deliberately entrust you soul to Him every morning and throughout the moments of your day, 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

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Friday, April 13, 2018

Morning by Morning, April 13 - "The Throne of Grace"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Through the blood of the Lamb that cleanses my soul, I enter into the Holy of Holies of Your Presence in worship and prayer to begin this day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit of God.  ... 

"Since, then, we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who in every respect has been test 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 4:14-16). 

With both boldness and humility I come before Your throne of grace--with boldness because I'm fully forgiven; with humility because it's by everything You've already done and nothing that I could have ever done. You are "the Source of eternal salvation for all who obey (You)" to put our hope and trust in You, allowing You to cleanse our souls and fill our hearts with Your mercy and love (Hebrews 5:9). 

So let me never dishonor Your sacrifice and Your love by shrinking back from Your Presence or failing to faithfully and joyfully embrace Your eternal invitation to boldly approach Your throne of grace. Remind me each day of Your mercy and love, so that I "never neglect so great a salvation" (Hebrews 2:3). That would be the greatest sin of all, rejecting the power and love of the blood of Jesus, already poured out for me at inconceivable cost out of Your unfathomable grace. "We are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved" (Hebrews 10:39). 

Just as You welcome me into the Holy of Holies of Your Presence, I welcome You into the holy of holies of my heart. Just as You welcome me to abide in You, I welcome You to abide in me (John 15:4). Let there never be any wall, any veil, or anything else in all creation that would ever separate me from You and Your love for me. "I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the power of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below--indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord!" (Romans 8:38-39 NLT) 
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




My Friend, I pray come boldly before God's throne of grace and welcome Him to come boldly abide in the Holy of Holies of your heart everyday, never neglecting so great a salvation we have 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!
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