Morning by Morning, October 5 - Pursing Both Peace and Holiness

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my steady Rock and the Anchor of my soul. You are one with the Father, one with the Holy Spirit; and as I entrust to You my heart and my life, You make me one with You (John 17:21).  ...

"Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God" (Hebrews 12:14-15).

Your Word compels me and commands me to pursue both peace and holiness -- not just peace and not just holiness; not peace without holiness and not holiness without peace. And it's only by the grace of God that I can. 

In my pursuit of holiness, help me never become religious, self-righteous, and "holier-than-thou" in some kind of spiritual pride as if it's by my own goodness or wisdom. Holiness is Christ in me (Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Holiness is my heart surrendered to Your heart, allowing You to form Your thoughts in my mind, Your desires in my heart, and Your nature in my nature. "For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).

And at the same time, in my pursuit of peace, help me never compromise with holiness and truth, just "going-along-to-get-along," excusing and condoning something less than Your will and Your ways, for the sake of being liked or not being rejected, maligned, or misunderstand for simply seeking to walk in Your Truth and honor Your Word. That's appeasement, not peace. That's the world's peace, not Your peace (John 14:27).

Pursuing both peace and holiness -- all by the power of Your grace at work within me -- is impossible apart from a living, vibrant, and deeply personal relationship with You. Apart from You, I can do nothing (John 15:5). So I praise You and thank You that I never have to spend a single moment of my life apart from You. You are with me always (Matthew 28:20). I am in You and You are in me (John 15:4).

So You lead me by Your Spirit to walk in both peace and holiness, growing in grace and the nature of Christ, step by step, seeking to "follow in (Your) steps" on my journey of faith through every challenge and question I face (1 Peter 2:21). "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (Romans 8:14). "Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this:  when He is reveled, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And all who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:2).

My Father God, I welcome Your Holy Spirit to make me more like Jesus today. "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 4:17). As You do -- with "Christ in (me), the hope of glory" -- You empower me to pursue both peace and holiness with all my heart because You're changing my heart every day from the inside out (Colossians 1:27). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, I pray your heart is being changed from the inside out every day in your deeply personal and intimate journey with God, empowering you to pursue both peace and holiness, 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, October 4 - "Wonderful Joy Ahead" through the "Many Trials" We Endure

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name over every moment of my day, that everything I encounter must bow it's knee to Your name (Philippians 2:9-22).

 

"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting in Him will be the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:6-9 NLT).

 

Sometimes it may look like there is anything but "wonderful joy ahead." Sometimes it may look like things are growing worse, darkness is growing darker, division is growing deeper, and hope is growing fainter. And it will, just as You said (Matthew 24:1-28). But at the same time, the light of the glory of God in those who believe, in those who love You and trust You, will arise and shine within us, as the glory of the Lord arises upon us! (Isaiah 60:1-3)

 

When "(our) faith remains strong through many trials," we see our faith grow brighter than the darkness; we see our hope overcome every moment of despair; and we see our God display His glory through every trial we face. That's how we can "rejoice with a glorious inexpressible joy" that the world around us can't understand and even our own hearts find hard to believe, as we see You bring us through the battles and storms and every trial of our faith. And that's worth so much more than any false peace or hollow victory this world could ever offer. That's the gift of God -- "the reward for trusting in Him" -- that lasts forever as eternal treasure in our souls "far more precious than gold!" 

 

These days we live out on this earth, through the trials of this broken and fallen world, are the flames of the Refiner's fire (Malachi 3:2; Daniel 12:10; Revelation 3:18). But it's only in the fire You refine our souls into the pure gold of Your glorious love and "inexpressible joy" You've created us to know by learning to trust in You. Holy Fire of God, All "Consuming Fire," burn in me today, as I encounter and overcome ever trial I endure (Hebrews 12:29). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, I pray you are filled with "inexpressible joy" as you faithfully endure every trial you face in the power of God's grace and love for you, 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, October 3 - Only by "Sharing in the Spirit" are Dividing Walls Broken Down

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God, I look to You and listen for Your leading to begin my day intentionally, deliberately pursuing and embracing Your Presence  -- here with me and here within me.  ...

 

"If there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete:  be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and one mind" (Philippians 2:1-2).

 

Religion and politics will never unite us. Doctrinal decisions and theological dogma will not unite us. Enforcing the rules and demanding obedience cannot unite us. Only "sharing the Spirit" can unite us with "the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and one mind." 

 

As we each pursue Your Presence and welcome Your Spirit in our hearts and our lives, You align us with You and with one another. In the "sharing of the Spirit," You "break down the diving wall, that is, the hostility between us" so that "through (Christ, all) of us have access in one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:14-18). It's the "Spirit of Christ" -- the Holy Spirit of God -- who unites us as one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world (Romans 8:9).

 

Your Word compels us and commands us to be found daily "bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as (we) were called to the one hope of (our) calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:1-6).

 

So the ancient prayer, "Come, Holy Spirit" is one of the most important and powerful prayers we could pray --- as Your Church, as the Body and Bride of Christ, as Your people who are called by Your name in our land and throughout the earth. As we pray, "Come, Holy Spirit" we are "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). Then we are united as one in the Spirit and one in the Lord to embrace the great blessings of God that can only flow from our unity of "sharing in the Spirit" according to the ancient promise of Your Word:

 

"How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard of Aaron running down over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained His blessing, life forevermore!" (Psalm 133)

 

Yes, Lord. Stir in our hearts, stir in my heart to pray as one with my kindred in Christ across this land and throughout the earth, "Come, Holy Spirit!" For there -- there in the place of unity, in the place of Your Presence by the unity of "sharing in the Spirit" -- You command and ordain Your blessing of Your life for us. 

 

Lord Jesus, as You prayed by the Spirit to our Father in heaven during Your last days on the earth on behalf of all Your disciples to come and follow You throughout all generations:  "That they may all be one. As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me" (John 17:21). May Your prayer be answered, may Your kingdom come, and my Your will be done -- here in me and here in us. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

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

My friend, I pray you live into the fullness of your inheritance as a child of God, joyfully embracing all the Lord has for you and deeply confident of the truth you've been made right in God's sight, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

      

Friends, I'm excited to be sharing a message of hope and healing at the First Wednesday Service of Worship and Prayer at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge Campus in San Antonio this coming Wednesday Night, October 3, at 7pm. All are welcome!

First Wednesday Service of Worship and Prayer 

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, October 2 - "Made Right in God's Sight"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Release the authority of Your name on my lips and grow the authenticity of Your character in my heart. Make me more like You today (Romans 8:29).  ...

 

"Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.... We know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.... So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God" (Romans 5:1-11 NLT).

 

I'm made right in Your sight. I'm set free to be more like You. I'm a friend of the God who's a friend of sinners like me. I'm filled with the Spirit of the God who fills me with His love. I'm privileged to stand in the place of underserved privilege that I could never earn and that can never be taken away. And every day, I'm joyfully looking forward to embracing all You have for me because of all You are to me and all You've done for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, I pray you live into the fullness of your inheritance as a child of God, joyfully embracing all the Lord has for you and deeply confident of the truth you've been made right in God's sight, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

     

Friends, I'm excited to be sharing a message of hope and healing at the First Wednesday Service of Worship and Prayer at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge Campus in San Antonio this coming Wednesday Night, October 3, at 7pm. All are welcome!

First Wednesday Service of Worship and Prayer 

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, October 1 - "Take Heart"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Align my heart with Your heart, my thoughts with Your thoughts, as I look and listen for Your leading.  ...

 

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NLT).

 

Our peace is in You. It's not the peace of appeasement or the peace of compromise with what's true and what's right. It's not the peace of the world that tries to goes along to get along at any cost. It's a peace that can only come as we look to the One who is our "Prince of Peace" -- our "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

 

As You said, it's not a peace without "many trials and sorrows," without many challenges and battles, without many hurts and heartbreaks. But You are with us through it all, reminding us that You have already overcome it all. And as we keep looking to You, trusting in You, You cause it all to work together for good when it's all said and done (Romans 8:28).

 

We're not overcomers unless we've overcome something. We don't have a testimony unless we've been tested. We can't be more than conquerors unless we've had something to conquer. That's how You develop Your character in us. That's how we "take heart" and boldly proclaim our hard-fought, fire-tested hope with the confidence and integrity of Your Word through every challenge we face in our broken and fallen world:  "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love" (Romans 5:3-5).

 

By the power of Your grace, I will "take heart" through it all because I've entrusted my heart to You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, I pray you "take heart" in the peace of the "Prince of Peace" through every challenge you face, letting the Holy Spirit develop God's character in You, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

      

Friends, I'm excited to be sharing a message of hope and healing at the First Wednesday Service of Worship and Prayer at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge Campus in San Antonio this coming Wednesday Night, October 3, at 7pm. All are welcome!

First Wednesday Service of Worship and Prayer 

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, September 28 - Free to Express Both Fury and Hope

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Give me right heart, a right spirit, as I begin my day trusting in You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...

 

A psalm of David -- in his frustration and fury at the ways of the world around him and of those with the power and influence over him -- comes to my mind this morning, as I reflect on the events of these days. You give us permission to fully express our thoughts and feelings to You without varnish or veneer; and then You give us invitation to turn it all over to You, into the hands of the One who is the only Judge who really matters: 

 

"Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry; 

give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit. 

From You let my vindication come; 

let Your eyes see the right.

 

If You try my heart, if You visit me by night, 

if You test me, You will find no wickedness in me; 

my mouth does not transgress. 

As for what others do, by the word of Your lips 

I have avoided the ways of the violent. 

My steps have held fast to your paths; 

my feet have not slipped.

 

I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God; 

incline Your ear to me, hear my words. 

Wondrously show Your steadfast love, 

O Savior of those who seek refuge 

from their adversaries at Your right hand.

 

Guard me as the apple of the eye; 

hide me in the shadow of Your wings, 

from the wicked who despoil me, 

my deadly enemies who surround me.

They close their hearts to pity; 

with their mouths they speak arrogantly. 

They track me down; now they surround me; 

they set their eyes to cast me to the ground. 

They are like a lion eager to tear, 

like a young lion lurking in ambush.

 

Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them! 

By Your sword deliver my life from the wicked, 

from mortals-by your hand, O Lord-

from mortals whose portion in life is in this world. 

May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them; 

may their children have more than enough; 

may they leave something over to their little ones.

 

As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; 

when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness" (Psalm 17).

 

Our true enemies and our true battles are not against human flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of darkness that seek to steal, kill, and destroy every dimension of our lives and all that is good in our world (Ephesians 6:12; John 10:10). So "the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Our mighty weapons are things like humility, repentance, prayer, patience and perseverance in the face of cruelty and injustice, thanksgiving, worship, faith, hope, and love -- all in the power of Your grace to call on Your name and entrust ourselves to "the One who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:23).

 

Lord, let it be so in me. Let it be so in my land. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, I pray you are free to fully express all your thoughts and feelings to the One who loves you and is always for you and will never let anything separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus, no matter what you endure on your journey of faith through this broken and fallen world, 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, September 27 - Exposing the Truth by the Spirit of Truth

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is the name above every name (Philippians 2:9). And I declare Your name over every area of my life and every moment of my day. I declare Your power and authority over me and my world, as I seek to live out this day under Your lordship and will.  ...

 

"When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say" (Luke 12:11).

 

Holy Spirit, You are "the Spirit of truth" and You "guide (us) into all the truth (John 16:13). You bring all things out into the light to expose the works of darkness and reveal the intentions of the heart. "Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore what (we) have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what (we) have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops" (Luke 12:2-3). Come have Your way in my heart and in my land, and even at the highest levels of the governmental authorities of our nation.

 

As darkness is exposed and truth is revealed, Father God, let Your Holy Spirit fill the minds and mouths of every child of God with the right words to set things right. "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne" (Psalm 89:14). Let righteousness and justice be affirmed in our hearts and as the rule of law in our land.

 

With truth in our mouths and the One who is the Truth in our hearts  -- all by the power of Your grace and the mercy of Your love -- may we seek to live each day before our God and the eyes of our world "blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation in which (we) shine like stars in the world ... holding fast to the word of life" (Philippians 2:14-16). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

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

My friend, I join with you in prayer for you and for all who will speak their voice in truth by the leading of the Holy Spirit, that righteousness and justice may have its way in our hearts and in our land, in Jesus' name! 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, September 25 - A Voice for All Victims -- Whether Wrongfully Abused or Wrongfully Accused

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and every moment of my day, as I live and move and have my being in You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  ...

 

"Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined; he remained there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love; he gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. The chief jailer commit to Joseph's care all the prisoners who were in prison, and whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The chief jailer paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph's care, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper" (Genesis 39:20-23).

 

Joseph was wrongfully accused of sexual assault. His integrity and honor were questioned. His good name was slandered. And the one who claimed to be the victim and survivor was lying to cover up her deeper motives and advance her own agenda (v. 6-18). But he was judged and condemned by the mere accusation alone, with his life forever changed (v. 19).

 

You're a God who hates violence and abuse of any kind. You heal the brokenhearted and save the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). You're an Advocate who speaks up for us and an Activist who does something about the injustice You see, as You seek to set things right in the righteousness of Your will and Your ways (Palm 17). And at the same time, You're a God who hates lies and deceit, cover-ups and smears. "These are the things that you should do:  Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the Lord" (Zechariah 8:16-17).

 

But even in the prison of all Joseph was made to endure, You were with him (Genesis 39:23). Even through the injustice and slander, You "showed him steadfast love (and) gave him favor" (v. 21). Even when his world was falling apart from the perspective of this world, You stood by him and even prospered him (v. 23). You weren't wasting a moment of his sufferings to prepare him to yet accomplish through him exceedingly, abundantly far more than he could ever ask or imagine (Genesis 41:57). You turned around all that was intended for evil in his life and used it all for great good in his life and all the lives You would touch through him for many generations to come (v. 50:20).

 

Lord, give voice to the victims -- whether wrongfully abused or wrongfully accused. And bring all things out of darkness and into Your light. When it's in the light, it's a fair fight. Then You can set things right, for "righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You" (Psalm 89:14). And no matter what comes or how long it takes, You will always bring good out of it -- no matter the source or the motive of it -- for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, I join with you in prayer for the voice of every victim to be heard, whether wrongfully abused or wrongfully accused, and that the Lord our God would set things right and work it all together for good, in Jesus' name! 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!