Tuesday, January 08, 2019

Morning by Morning, January 8 - Looking Over into the Promised Land
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of king and Lord of lords, come rule and reign in my heart and the moments of my day.  ...
 
"I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, and what He will answer concerning my complaint" (Habakkuk 2:1).
 
Before I begin my day and go about my Father's business, I want to first take my stand and position myself at my station to "see what (You) will say to me." I'm looking and listening, waiting for Your visions and Your voice -- not my visions, not my voice, not what I would imagine, but what You would show me and share with me.  ...
 
As I watch and wait, it seems I hear You saying in my heart, "Come up here with Me. Come and see what I want to show you." ...
 
Yes, Lord. With the eyes of my heart, I'm looking; with the ears of my spirit, I'm listening.  ...
 
I believe I see a vast plain, as if I'm looking down on it from a mountaintop and You are standing beside me. What is this plain? What does it mean? What does it speak of, Lord?  ...
 
This Scripture comes to mind:  "On that very day the Lord addressed Moses as follows: 'Ascend this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites for a possession'" (Deuteronomy 32:49).
 
Lord, I know You took Moses up to the top of Mount Nebo and showed him the Promised Land that the people would possess. But Moses died there "because (he) broke faith with (You) among the Israelites at the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, by failing to maintain (Your) holiness among the Israelites" (Deuteronomy 32:49).
 
You're making me nervous now, Lord.  ...
 
And yet, I sense Your smile. What comes to me is this: "This vision is not about you dying, but about My people living. It's about My people entering into their promised land. It's about My desire that My people would be prepared to enter in by allowing Me to first enter in to their hearts by My Spirit to make My holiness become their nature. Come out of the "wilderness of Zin" -- the wilderness of sin -- and come in to the vast plain of all My promises by the power of My grace to forgive you and free you, to release you from all that would hold you back from being all I created you to be."  ...
 
Yes, Lord. As I seek to test this vision and this word by the plumb line of Your Word and the nature of Your Character, this Scripture comes to mind:  "'My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by Him; for the Lord disciplines those whom He loves, and chastises every child whom He accepts.' Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not His children. Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected the. Should we no be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best tot hem, but He disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share His holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:5-14).
 
Lord, as You know, I like to hear more about Your grace than Your discipline and more about Your healing than Your correction. Words like "obedience," "correction," "discipline," "chastisement," "submission," are about as popular today -- even among Your people of Your Church -- as "holiness," "purity," "surrender," and "sanctification." Aren't words like "love" and "grace" and "kindness" and "forgiveness" a little more popular and just as powerful, since they are all words from Your Word?  ...
 
It seems I hear You saying in my heart:  "My son. They are all My words from My Word. All are true. And all are necessary. All are a part of My plan and purposes for My people. Moses died a physical death at the place where I showed Him My promises for My people. You and all My children must die a death to your flesh and all that is less than the holiness of My nature to enter in to the fullness of all My promises for You. But take heart, for I give you My grace. It is My holiness, not yours. It is through what I have done, not through what you can do. It's not by your power, nor by your might, but by My Spirit. It's all by the provision I have made through the Blood of My Son that sets you free from all that would hold you back from entering in to all I have for you and all My children, My son. Humble yourself in My sight, and I will lift you up. Confess and repent of your sin, I will forgive. Turn away from all the world, the flesh, and the devil have to offer, and I will empower you to walk through the doors, to go through the gates of all I have set before you and My people in this season of time in the unfolding of My eternal plans. In this way, healing and holiness are related. In this way, the fullness of life in My Spirit is directly related to the death of your flesh. It's all by My grace and all in My love, but it is also all very necessary according to My Word and My will. There are no shortcuts along the journey of My sanctification of your soul and My preparation of your heart to receive and embrace all My promises for you and all of My children through Christ. This is what it means to allow Me to prepare the way of the Lord in you. This is what it means to clear away the stones, to remove every barrier, so that you can 'go through the gates' into the glory of My greatness that I desire to manifest in you and all who are called by My name."  ...
 
Yes, Lord. Give me grace to process all I believe You are speaking to me today. Help me test all things and hold fast to what is good and true (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Give me a heart to hear and eyes to see what Your Spirit is saying to me (Matthew 11:15; Revelation 2:29). As best as I can and all by Your grace, I do want to "Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (and) see to it that no one (including myself and all You've entrusted to me on my call and on my watch) fails to obtain the grace of God" (Hebrews 12:14-15).  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




My Friend, I pray you are set free from all that would hold you back from being all your Father created you to be and entering into the fullness of all He has for you, as you go through the gates He has set before you this year, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   

Morning by Morning, Daily Devotional Book. One's year's worth of a selection of my daily prayer devotionals -- written fresh every morning from the communion of prayer to begin your day embraced by your Father, centered in Jesus, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Join me on the journey and share this with a friend who's longing for a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.

 

Register for the Healing Academy.
Friends, I'll be teaching at the Healing Academy on Healing and Deliverance Prayer Ministry this coming February 5-8, 2019 in the Nashville area at the Aldersgate Renewal Ministries Center. Please come join us if you're being called to healing prayer ministry! Sign up today:    Healing Academy

Keynote Speaker in Shropshire, England for March Conference "Release for the Captives!"
Friends, I'm excited to be invited as Keynote Speaker this year for the European Conference of the Holy Spirit through Aldersgate Renewal Ministries in Shropshire, England in March. The theme this year is "Release for the Captives!"  Come join us!



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 07, 2019

Morning by Morning, January 7 - "Early in the Morning to Listen to Him"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart to guide my steps in Your will throughout the moments of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...
 
"Every day He was teaching in the temple, and at night He would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called. And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to Him in the temple" (Luke 21:37-38).
 
Your temple is now my heart. The Holy of Holies is now the place where my human spirit communes with Your Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 13:13). And every day You want to teach me in the temple of my heart and lead me by Your Spirit from the holiness and intimacy of my communion with You. "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (Romans 8:14).
 
So I "get up early in the morning to listen to (You) in the temple." I'm a son of God and a sheep of Your pasture, seeking to hear Your voice and sense Your leading. As Your Word says, Your "sheep hear (Your) voice" and Your "sheep follow (You) because they know (Your) voice" (John 10:3-5). 
 
Taking time with You alone -- here beyond the veil of everything else in my world, here in the Holy of Holies of Your Presence in contemplative prayer, here in the communion of my spirit abiding with Your Spirit -- I come to know You even as I am known. As You said in Your Word, "I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father.... and they will listen to My voice" (John 10:14-16).
 
Just like You cleansed the temple in Jerusalem, keep cleansing the temple of my heart (John 2:13-17). Get everything out that keeps me from knowing You more deeply, sensing Your Presence more intimately, and hearing Your voice more clearly. Let this temple be "a house of prayer," holy and cleansed, forgiven and free, looking and listening to follow Your leading from intimate communion with You (Luke 19:45-46). A deeper spiritual life with You is certainly worth getting up a little early in the morning -- morning by morning -- to listen to You in the temple of my heart. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




My Friend, I pray you're drawn beyond the veil into the Holy of Holies of the temple of your heart with Jesus each day to hear His voice and sense His leading throughout the moments of your day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   

Morning by Morning, Daily Devotional Book. One's year's worth of a selection of my daily prayer devotionals -- written fresh every morning from the communion of prayer to begin your day embraced by your Father, centered in Jesus, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Join me on the journey and share this with a friend who's longing for a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.

 

Register for the Healing Academy.
Friends, I'll be teaching at the Healing Academy on Healing and Deliverance Prayer Ministry this coming February 5-8, 2019 in the Nashville area at the Aldersgate Renewal Ministries Center. Please come join us if you're being called to healing prayer ministry! Sign up today:    Healing Academy

Keynote Speaker in Shropshire, England for March Conference "Release for the Captives!"
Friends, I'm excited to be invited as Keynote Speaker this year for the European Conference of the Holy Spirit through Aldersgate Renewal Ministries in Shropshire, England in March. The theme this year is "Release for the Captives!"  Come join us!



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 02, 2019

Morning by Morning, January 2 - Going Through the Gate this New Year!

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Make me more like You each day.  ... 

"Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples. The Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, 'See your Salvation comes; His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him!' They shall be called, 'The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord'; and you shall be called, 'Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken'" (Isaiah 62:10-12) 

With the eyes of my heart open, with the ears of my spirit listening, I believe I see a gate set before me. It's large and arched, with no doors. And it's up high. It's not fancy, but it is beautiful. It's simple and strong. I would say it's ivory-colored, ancient with age.  ... 

As I look and listen, it seems I hear in my heart: "Go through! Go though! Go through the gate I have prepared for you. But first, and always, prepare they way in your heart. Prepare the way of the Lord. For I am the Lord and I am the Gate. Clear away the stones. Remove every barrier. Lift up what is broken down. Make straight what is crooked. Bring low what has been lifted up to be set in the place that I alone am to have."   ... 

Yes, Lord. As I wait on Your Spirit to confirm what I believe I'm seeing and hearing in my spirit, Your Word comes to mind: "Very truly, I tell you, I Am the Gate for the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I Am the Gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:7-10). 

Yes, Lord. You are "the Gate" (John 10:7). You are the "the Ancient One" (Daniel 7:9). You are "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through (You)" (John 14:6). 

To know You is to know my Father. To see You is to see my Father. As You said, "If you know Me, you will know My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.... Believe Me that I Am in the Father and the Father is in Me" (John 14:7-11). As You said, "The Father and I are One" (John 10:30). 

My Father God, dear Lord Jesus, You've sent Your Holy Spirit to "abide" in me "forever" as "the Spirit of Truth" (John 14:15-17). You never "leave (me) orphaned" because You are always with me -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- always with me, always abiding within me, always leading me into all Truth, through the Gate of the One who is the Truth -- the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:18). As You said, "You will know that I Am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you" (John 14:20). As Your Word says, "Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17). 

You never called me to merely understand the Truth or mentally assent to the correct doctrinal statements and creedal affirmations about the Truth. No, You've called me and invited me and drawn me to "know the Truth" (John 8:32). To "know" You is to love You in response to Your love for me, to "abide" in You as You abide in me (John 15:4). It's to "go through the Gate," to "go beyond the veil," to "enter in" to the intimacy of most deeply personal relationship of life with You every moment of my life and throughout every moment of my day.  

Through this Gate is the place where I can freely and faithfully "come in and go out and find pasture" as one of Your sheep who hear Your Voice and know Your Truth (John 10:9). It's the place of "rest" -- of embracing Your promise and invitation to intimacy in You: "Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest is still open, let us take care that none of (us) should seem to have failed to reach it" (Hebrews 3:1). 

Yes, Lord. I know You are speaking so much more to me in my spirit that I can bear to hear in the moment. But I believe You are inviting me into a deeper place in You than I've ever known. You said, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, so that where I Am, there you may be also" (John 14:3). That "place" is so much more than just going to Heaven when I die. It's having Heaven in me now. It's having "the Kingdom of Heaven" in me now, because "the King" of Heaven, the "King of Glory" abides in me now and every moment of every day (Matthew 3:2; Psalm 24:7). 

So by the power of Your grace and Your Spirit, abiding in You and Your Word, living more fully in You and Your Truth, I will go through! I will enter in! I will embrace and "proclaim the Good News, 'The Kingdom of Heaven has come near!" (Matthew 10:7) 

Let every stone and barrier be removed! Let all that's exalted in pride be brought low and all that's weary and worn be lifted up! As best as I can and all by Your grace, may I be one of Yours preparing the way of the Lord and going through the Gate You've set before me! 

My spirit cries out to Your Spirit, "deep calls to Deep!" (Psalm 42:7) "As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the Living God. When shall I come and behold the Face of God?" (Psalm 42:1-2)  

With the heart of David in the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, I'm crying out to You with all that I am and all You've put within me to desire to be in You:

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

Yes, Lord. "Such is the company of those who seek Him, who seek the Face of the God of Jacob" (Psalm 24:6). They "ascend the hill of the Lord" and "stand in His holy place" with "clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false" (Psalm 24:3-4). "They will receive blessing from the Lord" (Psalm 24:5). You and Your ever-abiding Presence is that Blessing we receive from the Lord! "I keep the Lord ever before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoice; my body rests secure.... You show me the Path of Life. In Your Presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore!" (Psalm 16:8-11) 

Ancient One, my ancient and strong Gate, You remind me of Your invitation from Your Word:  "Thus says the Lord:  Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16). 

Lord, I'm looking and I'm asking. Lord, I'm seeking and pursuing, because Lord, You know I'm needing Your mercy and love, Your grace and truth, Your abiding-Presence in every area of my life and every moment of my day. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the Kingdom of Heaven.... Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.... Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:3-8). May Your Holy Spirit prepare the way of the Lord in me to encounter and experience the fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven in You. 

With all the faith and passion You've given me, this New Year I'm going through this Gate -- all in Your time, all in Your way, and all by Your grace! Teach me how and lead me through! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




My friend, I pray you go through the Gate of all the Lord is and has for you this New Year, deeply abiding in His Presence, rejoicing and resting secure in Him with all the fullness of joy He has for you, in Jesus' name! And may the blessings of the Lord overtake you, as the love of the Lord overflows in you and through you! May you experience and embrace and proclaim this Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   

Morning by Morning, Daily Devotional Book. One's year's worth of a selection of my daily prayer devotionals -- written fresh every morning from the communion of prayer to begin your day embraced by your Father, centered in Jesus, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Join me on the journey and share this with a friend who's longing for a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.

 

Register for the Healing Academy.
Friends, I'll be teaching at the Healing Academy on Healing and Deliverance Prayer Ministry this coming February 5-8, 2019 in the Nashville area at the Aldersgate Renewal Ministries Center. Please come join us if you're being called to healing prayer ministry! Sign up today:    Healing Academy

Keynote Speaker in Shropshire, England for March Conference "Release for the Captives!"
Friends, I'm excited to be invited as Keynote Speaker this year for the European Conference of the Holy Spirit through Aldersgate Renewal Ministries in Shropshire, England in March. The theme this year is "Release for the Captives!"  Come join us!



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 01, 2019

Morning by Morning, January 1 - First Place from the First Day
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father and One with the Holy Spirit. And in the mystery of faith and the mercy of grace, You desire to be one with me as I keep giving myself to You, just as Your Word promises that "anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17).  ...
 
Here on this first morning of this New Year, I sense a strong moving in my spirit to look to You first, to listen for You first, to put You first before any other -- before any other thing, any other person, any other desire. Before my breakfast, before my shower -- even before my first cup of coffee -- at least this day, this first day, I put You first above all else and before any other. I want to give You first place from the first day.
 
You deserve it. You are worthy of it. You are worthy of it all; You are worthy of my all. In the words of Your First Commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3).
 
But even in this "Famous First" of Your "Big Ten," I perceive in my spirit Your Father Heart of God that calls me to put You first because, in at least one sense, You put me first -- "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). My love for You comes out of Your love for me. I love You first because You first loved me.
 
My honor of You, my reverence of You, my worship of You, my priority of You is all ultimately grounded in Your love for me and the response of my love for You. As selfish as it seems, I worship the One who loves me so much. I worship no other because there is no other who loves me so much. 
 
And it's Your love that compels me to obedience. "For the love of God is this, that we obey His Commandments" (1 John 5:3). As You made clear in the "red letter words" of Your Word: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.... They who have My commandments and keep them are those who love Me; and those who love Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love them and reveal Myself to them.... Those who love Me will keep My word, and My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them" (John 14:15-23).
 
The more I perceive and receive Your love for me, the more I love You and want to obey You, the more I want to have no other gods before You.
 
Teach me more about this, this year. Lead me more into deeper surrender, deeper love, deeper obedience, as You empower me to place You in the place You deserve -- First Place in my life and First Place form the first day of this New Year. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




My Friend, I pray you turn Your heart to the One who deserves First Place from the First Day of this New Year, in Jesus' name! And may the blessings of the Lord overtake you as the love of the Lord overflows in you and through you! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   

Morning by Morning, Daily Devotional Book. One's year's worth of a selection of my daily prayer devotionals -- written fresh every morning from the communion of prayer to begin your day embraced by your Father, centered in Jesus, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Join me on the journey and share this with a friend who's longing for a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.

 

Register for the Healing Academy.
Friends, I'll be teaching at the Healing Academy on Healing and Deliverance Prayer Ministry this coming February 5-8, 2019 in the Nashville area at the Aldersgate Renewal Ministries Center. Please come join us if you're being called to healing prayer ministry! Sign up today:    Healing Academy

Keynote Speaker in Shropshire, England for March Conference "Release for the Captives!"
Friends, I'm excited to be invited as Keynote Speaker this year for the European Conference of the Holy Spirit through Aldersgate Renewal Ministries in Shropshire, England in March. The theme this year is "Release for the Captives!"  Come join us!



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, December 25, 2018

Morning by Morning, December 25 - Merry Christmas!
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Today worshippers of God around the world celebrate the birth of Christ and every day I celebrate my new birth in You (John 3:3).  ...
 
Thank You, Lord Jesus - One with the Father and One with the Holy Spirit - You've humbled Yourself in the likeness of human flesh and blood to be our Savior and show us the way that leads to a life filled with the peace and joy that only a life in Christ can bring (Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 14:17; John 15:11). "You show me the path of life. In Your Presence there is fullness of joy!" (Psalm 16:11)
 
"For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given; 
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV).
 
Merry Christmas, Lord Jesus. You're the One who makes Christmas merry for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend,  May you be filled with the peace and joy that only a life in Christ can bring, in Jesus' name!  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you, my friend! 

Merry Christmas and God Bless You,
Tommy
from Tommy & Rocio Hays & Family!

Thank You for joining with me this year
 in our daily journey of prayer!

  


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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