Morning by Morning, February 22 - Courage of Conviction

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Here I am, Lord. Send me. First, I'm here in prayer. Then, I'm sent into my world to live and love and minister from the overflow I receive here in my deeply intimate and personal time with You, where deep calls to Deep and I abide You as You abide in me -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...

 

"And the One who was seated on the throne said, 'See, I am making all things new.' Also He said, 'Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.' Then He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be My children. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murders, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death'" (Revelation 21:5-8).

 

Lord, give me courage of conviction. These Words are "red letter Words" in my Bible, spoken from the mouth of Jesus. Forgive me for every way I've ever been cowardly. And at the same time, forgive me for every way I've ever joined in the sin or come into agreement with the heart and attitude of those who are faithless, polluted, murders, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, or liars. I know what it to sin. And I know what it is to confess it, repent of it, and be forgiven of it when I was willing to admit the sin for the sin that it was, instead of excuse it or explain it away. There's no greater joy than to be restored again to "the joy of (my) salvation" (Psalm 51:12), with "clean hands and (a) pure heart" (Psalm 24:4), and to be forgiven and cleansed "from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). 

 

But sometimes the fear of man makes me waiver. Sometimes the voices of intimidation make me step back. Sometimes the concern for my reputation makes me stand by in silence. And if I'm really being honest with You and with myself, I have to admit that's giving in to the heart and spirit of "the cowardly" (Revelation 21:8 in "red letter Words).

 

Lord Jesus, line up my heart with Yours, my mind with Yours, my will with Yours. Give me Your Heart and Spirit. Replace my cowardice with Your courage -- the courage of conviction. "For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7 NRSV) -- not "a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).

 

The courage of conviction restores my heart and spirit to "the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:2; 2 Corinthians 5:11). And in "the fear of the Lord" I grow in grace and Your Church grows in our world, just as You modelled for us in the early Church that turned the cultures of this world "upside down" in the power and authority of Your Word and Your Spirit (Acts 17:6). "Meanwhile the Church throughout Judea, Galilee, Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers" (Acts 9:32). That was Your plan for Church growth. That was Your plan for a way forward. That was Your plan for "making disciples of all nations" and "teaching them to obey everything that (You) have commanded (us)" (Matthew 28:19-20).

 

In humility and faith, in confession and repentance, in trusting obedience to You and Your Word, I pray for more courage of conviction. I pray that by the power of Your grace, I will "be strong and courageous," not "frightened or dismayed, for the Lord (my) God is with (me) wherever (I) go" (Joshua 1:9). Here I am, Lord. Send me (Isaiah 6:8). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, may you be forgiven and free from all that would hold you back from walking faith and speaking the truth in love with the courage of conviction the Holy Spirit of God is awakening 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

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, February 21 - Holiness of Heart, Not Compromise with Culture

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father, One with the Holy Spirit, and I welcome You to be One within me as I abide in You. "Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17; John 15:4).  ...

 

As I offer to You the first moments of my morning each day, to be watching and waiting in Your Presence, grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit, I'm listening to see how You will lead. As I wait on You this morning, You're bringing to mind an image of the temple and a Scripture from one of the prophets about not compromising with the culture and religions around us. As I seek it out, I find this in Your Word:

 

"Then He brought me to the gate, the gate facing east. And there, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east; the sound was like the sound of mighty waters; and the earth shone with His glory... As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the inner court; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. While the man was standing beside me, I heard Someone speaking to me out of the temple. He said to me:  Mortal, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will reside among the people of Israel forever. The house shall no more defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their whoring and by the corpses of their kings at their death. When they placed their threshold by My threshold and their doorposts beside My doorposts, with only a wall between Me and them, they were defiling My holy name by their abominations that they committed: therefore I have consumed them in My anger. Now let them put away their idolatry and the corpses of their kings far from Me, and I will reside among them forever... When they are ashamed of all they have done, make known to them the plan of the temple.... This is the law of the temple:  the whole territory on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. This is the law of the temple" (Ezekiel 43:12).

 

As You taught on the walk to Emmaus, the law and the prophets of Scripture find their ultimate fulfillment in You, Lord Jesus (Luke 24:27). And all that happened to the people of Israel in their journey and experience of God in the Old Covenant is intended to speak to us as examples with spiritual principles under the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 10:11). So I'm listening to hear what You would speak to me from this ancient Word that's ever true for my life today.  ...

 

What comes to my spirit and up to mind is a renewed call to holiness and purity. "Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). We are to pursue peace -- to seek to live at peace in the shalomof God with You and with one another. And at the same time, we are to pursue holiness -- holiness of heart and life, yielded to Your will and trusting in Your ways, with Your Word as our Authority and Your Spirit as our Guide. And we are not to pursue peace at the expensive of pursing holiness.

 

Forgive me for however I have compromised with my culture, settled for something less than Your best, given in to the fear of man rather than honoring You in the fear of the Lord -- setting up my own "threshold" by Yours and my own "doorposts" beside Yours. Forgive me for every way I have defiled Your "holy name" by misrepresenting Your Nature, by misstating Your Word, or resisting Your Spirit. I pray this for myself and as I "stand in the gap" of intercession on behalf of my Church and all You've entrusted to my care, as far as Your grace will go (Ezekiel 22:30).

 

Our Father God, I thank You for Your steadfast love and merciful heart, so ready to forgive and restore. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!" (Lamentations 3:22-23)

 

Just as You spoke Your Word of forgiveness and mercy, of hope and healing, of restoration and redemption to the people of Israel and their kings who had sinned against You, You still speak Your Word to us and our "kings" today, always pursuing us and calling us to turn our hearts again to You: "If we say that we have fellowship with Him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:6-9).

 

Come, Holy Spirit. Convict us of our sins that we may be cleansed form all unrighteousness, in the power of Your grace and the mercy of Your love. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement that ignited a great revival said to his preachers, "Expect no revival unless you preach repentance." We repent, Lord (2 Corinthians 7:14). Create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us, that we would not be cast away from Your Presence but restored to the joy of our salvation (Psalm 51:10-12). "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). This is "the plan of the temple" (Ezekiel 43:11) -- Let this be the plan for our Church.

 

Together as Your Church, together as one, we are Your Temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). And we welcome Your Spirit to come fill Your Temple with Your Glory -- the Glory of the manifest Presence of God. Come like a rushing Wind! Come light the Fire again! Awaken us! Revive us! Set us ablaze with Your Holy Spirit to be Your witnesses and make Your disciples -- not compromising with our culture but proclaiming Your Cross and Your Resurrection in the power of Your love. There is only true "peace through the Blood of the Cross" (Colossians 1:20). In the great awakening and revival that begins with each one of us, "(We) will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon (us); and (we) will be (Your) witnesses ... to the ends of the earth!" (Acts 1:8) Thank You for the power of both the Cross and the Flame! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, may you be stirred in a renewed passion and pursuit of holiness of heart and life, looking to the Cross of Christ and consumed in the Flame of the Holy Spirit, to be a part of God's great awakening and revival in our hearts and in our land , 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, February 20 - God's One Church Plan

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the heart and lead me in the path that leads to the fullness of life in You today. ...

 

"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33 NKJV).

 

We all come from different streams of the Body of Christ. We are to flow together as one in a River of Life to bring salvation and peace, hope and healing, grace and mercy in the love of God our Father, revealed in Jesus Christ, and offered freely to all through the Holy Spirit to a world desperately in need of You. Together as one, out of our hearts that are seeking Your heart "flow Rivers of Living Water" (John 7:38). Together as one, the world will know that the Father has sent His Son in mercy and love (John 17:23).

 

And we long for that Living Water of Your heart flowing through our hearts to be pure -- holy and clean, full of life and love, untainted and undefiled. We long to honestly, sincerely represent You and Your heart with integrity and clarity, with humility and kindness, with courage and boldness, with truth and love, grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. "All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

 

I've come from the stream of the Methodist Church, being ordained for ministry when You called me out of my career as a trial lawyer to be a servant leader in the Body of Christ. Rather than pastoring a local church, You called me into healing prayer ministry to minister Your healing love and power in the authority of Your Name, to heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free across denominational lines and throughout the broader Body of Christ, at home and abroad. I've been seeking to faithfully live out my calling in fulltime ministry now for twenty-two years -- all in Your power and all by Your grace.

 

In the coming days, leaders and delegates from my stream will be meeting at a special-called General Conference in St. Louis to make huge decisions that will influence the direction and flow of our stream. And every stream affects all the streams of this River of Life that flows through this world-wide Body of Christ, no matter our denominational or non-denominational identity. We are "one Body" (1 Corinthians 12:12) and we have one Head of this Body of Christ, for "Christ is the head of the Church, the Body of which He is Savior" (Ephesians 5:23). "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 4:4-6).

 

Along with other spiritual leaders in my stream, I received a call to fasting and prayer for the delegates and decisions that will be made at this upcoming General Conference. For us, our stream is flowing into "the Valley of Decision" (Joel 3:14). And as I turn my heart to prayer, I believe I hear You speaking this Scripture in my heart:  "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). It actually came to me in the form of the old song, sung in the old King James, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these things shall be added unto you. Hallelu, Hallelujah...." 

 

And I believe I hear You speaking in my heart: "Seek Me first. Not unity for the sake of unity, but the unity of your spirit with My Spirit as you yield your will to My Will. Not your kingdom but My Kingdom. Not your ways but My Way. Not your plan but My Plan. If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me. Be willing to hear My voice. Be willing to obey My Word. Be willing to be led by My Spirit. I am the Head and you are My body. I am the Vine and you are My branches. You are My ambassadors, sent to represent My heart, revealed through My Word by My Spirit. Seek Me first. Seek My Kingdom. Seek My righteousness. Have no other gods, no other agendas, no other motives, no other desires before Me. Humble yourselves, seek My face and pray. If you are willing to listen, I will speak and I will lead. But do not tell Me what you want to hear. Listen to Me and I will speak. I always speak from My Heart and according to My Word. So test everything you believe you hear by the Plumb Line of my Word and hold fast to what is True." ...

 

Yes, Lord. ...

 

I pray for humility and faithfulness in my own heart and in the hearts of all who will be making these major decisions. I pray the same for every brother and sister in Christ in every stream throughout Your Church throughout the earth. May we seek You first and Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness. May we not waiver or compromise. May we not shrink back or give up. But may we listen and trust and obey. May we awaken and arise to stand firm in the Faith as we seek Your face and love in Your grace. May we represent Your heart to our world with integrity and courage. May we be like Christ -- for as You are, so are we to be in our world (1 John 4:17; 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 8:29). And may we be Your witnesses in Your power and Your love to the ends of earth, together as one (Acts 1:8). Seeking Your Face, listening for Your Voice, trusting Your Will, and obeying Your Word should be our one church plan because this is Your Pan for Your Church. This is our way forward -- "for there's no other way but to trust and obey." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

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

My Friend, may you seek the Lord's Face, listen for His Voice, trust in His Will, and obey His Word, as He sends you forth in the power of His love to be His witness in your world, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. And please join with me in prayer for all who are making momentous decisions upon behalf of the United Methodist Church in these coming days. I pray for God's wisdom and guidance in your stream and in the world-wide Body of Christ. God bless you, my friend! 

  

Pakistan Internet Ministry Report. Friends, I had another opportunity to share a message of hope and healing in a remote village in Pakistan on Saturday Night through our Internet Ministry. I preach though an interpreter and a large screen in a different village each month, as our resources permit. I just received this praise report from Pastor Fazal who coordinates these meetings for us -- 287 Salvations and 98 Reports of healing and freedom from pain and sickness of different kinds! Praise God! Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement for us!

 

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, February 18 - A New Thing Springs Forth Now

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Make me more like You today. ...

 

"I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.... I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people, the people whom I formed for Myself so that they might declare My praise!" (Isaiah 43:19-21)

 

Come, Holy Spirit. Open the eyes of my heart to perceive what You are doing (Ephesians 1:18). Set me free from any fear of the "new thing" that "springs forth." For "now" is the time. "Now it springs forth."

 

Sometimes the past is the greatest enemy of the present. Sometimes our memory of how it was always done is the greatest enemy of allowing our imagination to see how You're doing things now. But in the refreshing, renewing waters of Your Spirit, the wilderness places become a well of salvation and the desert places become an oasis of hope. When we take hold of You and allow You to take hold of us, "there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

 

By the power of Your grace, hope deferred will not hold me back. Disappointment and discouragement of unfilled dreams will not stifle my faith for what is yet to come. Regret over mistakes made and opportunities lost will not throw a wet blanket of the fire You're kindling in my spirit. "This one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus! Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind!" (Philippians 3:13-15)

 

Yes, Lord. I do perceive it! I do receive it! And I'm excited to see what You will do, as I let go and take hold of this new thing that You're springing forth in me now -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God! In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, may you perceive and receive the new thing the Lord is springing forth in you, not holding back but taking hold of all He has for you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

  

Pakistan Internet Ministry Report. Friends, I had another opportunity to share a message of hope and healing in a remote village in Pakistan on Saturday Night through our Internet Ministry. I preach though an interpreter and a large screen in a different village each month, as our resources permit. I just received this praise report from Pastor Fazal who coordinates these meetings for us -- 287 Salvations and 98 Reports of healing and freedom from pain and sickness of different kinds! Praise God! Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement for us!

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, February 13 - Filled with Laughter and Joy

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my heart with the fullness of Your Presence -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them!' The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad!" (Psalm 126:1-3 NKJV)

 

You're a good God who loves to bring us out of captivity and into Your freedom. You heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18). You love to fill our mouths with laughter and our hearts with singing. And You love to do great things for us -- all because You love us and want to display Your goodness and to the world around us, so they will also know You and Your freedom and joy.

 

Yes, Lord. You've done great things for us and we are glad! It's not always easy, even sometimes almost more than we can bear. But You never leave us, never forsake us, never forget about us in our bondage or give up on us in our sin. You're always right here with us, at work within us -- giving us hope, giving us grace, giving us an expectant faith of the good things to come and the great things You'll do. You're always redeeming, always restoring, and always fulfilling Your good "plans (You) have for (us) ... for (our) welfare and not for harm, to give (us) a future with hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).

 

So even when it's hard, even before we see Your good plans come to pass, we can be glad and full of joy. Your joy is our strength that gets us through (Nehemiah 8:10). "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy! He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing see for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bring his sheaves with him!" (Psalm 126:6 NKJV) We can laugh and sing even in the midst of our battles for our God is good and our God has done great things for us. And the best is yet to come! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, may you be filled with laughter and joy, even in the midst of your battles, knowing the good plans and great things our God has 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, February 11 - "Great and Mighty Things"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Align my spirit, soul, and body with Your heart and Your will for my day.  ... 

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV). 

You're a great and mighty God! And You do great and mighty things! So I'm excited to see what You will do today.  

Some things may be dramatic; some things may be more subtle. But all You do is always good. You're a good Father who gives good gifts to Your children (Luke 11:13). And You have Your way of always working everything out to cause it all to work together for good -- no matter the source and no matter the circumstances (Romans 8:28). 

So I thank You for the blessing of adventure -- an adventure of faith every day. As I call to You, You answer. As I seek You, You show me the way.  As I put my life in Your hands, You put my life in the center of Your will -- and I believe it's Your will to show me great and mighty things I did not know -- in fact, "exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think!" (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV)  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

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

My friend, may you experience the great and mighty things the Lord has for you today, as you faithfully follow Him into His will for your day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me! God bless you, my friend! 

 

 Thank you for all your prayers for us at the Healing Academy at Aldersgate Renewal Ministries all last week! God moved in mighty ways; and we saw great and mighty things, through His healing and freedom in spirit, soul, and body, as well as His equipping and anointing for ministry! I pray you are equipped and anointed for the ministry the Lord has for you! God bless you!

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!