Morning by Morning, May 10 - Spiritual Warfare Prayer and Proclamation

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Align my heart with Your heart and my thoughts with Your thoughts, as I begin my day surrendered to You and surrounded by Your Presence -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"When an attendant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. His servant said, 'Alas, master! What shall we do?' He replied, 'Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them.' Then Elisha prayed:  'O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.' So the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw; the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:15-17).

 

The horses and chariots that surrounded Elisha and his servant were real. They really were sent by sent by a wicked ruler to seize and capture the man of God to stop him from fulfilling his calling and mission of God (2 Kings 6:11-14). The plans of his enemy coming against him were not a veiled threat, a figment of an overactive imagination, or a manifestation of paranoid, irrational thoughts. The man of God and those near him were truly under attack.

 

In the same way, we really do have a spiritual enemy who is "like a roaring lion" who "prowls around, looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). He is a "thief" who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10). And sometimes we really are surrounded by those he has sent against us to seize us and capture us and stop us from fulfilling our calling and mission of God. Sometimes we truly are under spiritual attack.

 

But no matter the plan of attack, no matter the size and strength of the army of hell sent against us, there is One greater! The "Commander of the Army of the Lord" is His name! (Joshua 5:14) And "the One who is in (us) is greater than the one who is in the world!" (1 John 4:4) As You warned us long ago, "in this world (we) will have tribulation, but (we need not fear, for You) have overcome the world!" (John 16:33 NKJV)

 

So as the song of deliverance and victory in You proclaims, "It may look like I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded by You!" For "as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people!" (Psalm 125:2).

 

Surround me, Lord. Surround me and all who are near to me with Your "wall of fire" (Zechariah 2:5). Let nothing cross the line You've drawn between me and my enemies in the Blood of Jesus -- the power of "the Blood of the Lamb" that makes me an overcomer and more than a conqueror in Christ (Revelation 12:11; Romans 8:37).

 

Surround me and all who are near to me with "the whole armor of God" -- the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of peace, the sword of the spirit, and the shield of faith, as I "pray in the Spirit" and take my "stand" against every attack and plan of my spiritual enemy to stop the call and mission of God through our lives (Ephesians 6:13-18). By the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, we are "strong in the Lord and in the strength of (Your) power!" (Ephesians 6:10)

 

Like the servant of the man of God, open my eyes to see it! Open my mind to believe it! Open my spirit to recieve it! By the power of the Blood of the Lamb, every curse sent against me is broken and every assignment against my calling and mission is cancelled in the mighty name of Jesus! (Galatians 3:13; Philippians 2:5-11; Revelation 12:11).

 

By the power of Your grace, surrounded by You and "clothed in Christ," I will not give in to fear; I will not surrender, nor will I retreat before the enemies of the Cross and the enemy of my soul (Galatians 3:26). To the contrary, I will stand even more firm, as You stand in me and I stand in You (Ephesians 6:14; John 15:5). 

 

As I call upon Your name to submit every area of my heart and life to You and Your Word and Your Spirit, I will "resist the devil, and he will flee from (me)!" (James 4:7). As I "live in the shelter of the Most High" and "abide in the shadow of the Almighty," as I "say to the Lord, 'my Refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust,'" You will "deliver me from the snare" of my enemy and I "will only look with my eyes and see the punishment of the wicked" for "(You) will command (Your) angels concerning (me) to guard (me) in all (my) ways" (Psalm 91:1-11). I will "trample under foot" the plans and schemes of my enemy" (Psalm 91:13). Just as You have promised:  "Those who love Me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know My name. When they call to Me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them My salvation!" (Psalm 91:14-16)

 

So right now, as for me and my house, as for me and all those who are near to me in my calling and mission of God, I proclaim the promise of God in the mighty name of Jesus:  "The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under (my) feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with (us all)!" (Romans 16:20) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you know you are surrounded by the One who is stronger than anything ever coming against you, standing firm in Christ, clothed in Christ and the whole armor of God, to see how the God of peace shortly crushes Satan under your feet, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Preaching in Pakistan through our Internet Ministry

Friends, thank you so much for all your prayers and support for our outdoor evangelistic meetings in Pakistan through our Skype Internet Ministry. Each month, I am preaching in different villages around Lahore, Pakistan in the Punjab Region. They set up a big screen with an interpreter and ministry team in an outdoor tent-type setting. Please keep us in prayer this Saturday when I'll be preaching a message of hope, healing, and salvation (Saturday morning Texas time and Saturday evening Pakistan time). God bless you and thank you for all your encouragement and prayers!

Ministry Trip to Uganda

Friends, please keep us in prayer as our team prepares to travel to the African nation of Uganda May 16-29 for teaching, preaching, and evangelism in the refugee camps, pastors and leaders conferences, and a variety of settings to spread the Fire of the Holy Spirit and the love of God in Jesus' mighty name! Thank you and 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!

Morning by Morning, May 9 - Heaven's Perspective for Heaven's Purposes

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are welcome here in my heart and every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...

 

"Listen, you that are deaf; and you that are blind, look up and see! Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like My messenger whom I send? Who is blind like My dedicated ones, or blind like the servant of the Lord? He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear.... Who among you will give heed to this, who will attend and listen for the time to come? (Isaiah 42:18-23)

 

Lord, let me see from Heaven's perspective. Open my eyes to see with spiritual eyes; open my ears to hear with spiritual ears. Give me the grace to "give heed" to what Your Spirit is saying to Your church in this hour and to prepare "for the time to come."

 

As I look and listen, waiting for the leading of Your Spirit, I believe I hear in my heart:  "Prepare! Prepare! Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight! Make straight! Make straight His paths. Remove the stones. Clear the path. Build up the way. Go through the gate. One day I will return in the skies in My glory, but this day I am coming in My glory and My power into the hearts of My people. I will have a people on this earth who will display My glory with My nature in their hearts and My authority in their words. So arise! Shine! My Light has come and My glory is arising upon My people who are called by My name!"  ...

 

Yes, Lord. Prepare Your way in my heart (Isaiah 40:3). Build up Your way in my thoughts and desires (Isaiah 57:14). Lead me in Your way through the Gate of Your Presence, forgiven and free, cleansed and pure from all that is not yet like You, so I can see with Your eyes, hear with Your heart, and walk in Your ways from Heaven's perspective and for Heaven's purposes (Isaiah 62:10). Lift up the banner of Your love and the identity of Your name over my life to send me forth in the power of Your Spirit and the nature of Your character (Isaiah 62:10). Let me be a part of those who take heed and answer Your call for this time and "the time to come":  "Arise, shine; for your Light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the face of the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.... Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice!" (Isaiah 60:1-5)

 

Don't leave me out! I'm all in! I want to be part of Your remnant who are passionately pursuing all that You are and all You desire (Isaiah 28:5; Revelation 19:7). As You said long ago, You are still speaking today to all who have ears to hear what Your Spirit is saying to Your church:  "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:12-14). Lord, I want to find it. I want to find You, to be found faithful in You -- seeing from Heaven's perspective and living for Heaven's purposes -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you find and go through the narrow Gate, passionately pursuing all the Lord is and all the Lord wills, seeing from Heaven's perspective and living for Heaven's purposes, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Ministry Trip to Uganda

Friends, please keep us in prayer as our team prepares to travel to the African nation of Uganda May 16-29 for teaching, preaching, and evangelism in the refugee camps, pastors and leaders conferences, and a variety of settings to spread the Fire of the Holy Spirit and the love of God in Jesus' mighty name! Thank you and 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!

Morning by Morning, May 7 - Filled with the Cloud of the Glory of God

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Abide in me, as I abide in You. ....

 

"Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.... And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord" (1 Kings 8:6-11).

 

My body is Your temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). And my heart is Your inner sanctuary, the most holy place of the house of the Lord in me (Ephesians 3:16).

 

Holy Spirit, come in the cloud of Your glory -- the glory of the manifest Presence of God -- and fill me up (Ephesians 5:18). Fill me up until I can't stand in my own strength, until I can't think in my own wisdom, until I can't take any glory for any good thing I'll ever do because it's all You at work within me, giving me the desire and the power to glorify God in the moments of my day (Philippians 2:13).

 

May Your Spirit bear witness with my spirit that I am a child of God -- embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit of the Living God (Romans 8:14-17). Fill this temple with "this cloud of glory" until my heart and my face "glow brightly with the glory of the Lord" (Ezekiel 10:4). Then, when I get up and go out from this morning time of prayer, tucked away in communion with You in "the secret place of the Most High" (Psalm 91:1 NKJV), I know You will go with me, abiding within me (John 15:5). And may everyone I encounter today recognize me as one who has "been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13 NKJV). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be filled with the cloud of the glory of God in your heart and throughout the moments of your day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Ministry Trip to Uganda

Friends, please keep us in prayer as our team prepares to travel to the African nation of Uganda May 16-29 for teaching, preaching, and evangelism in the refugee camps, pastors and leaders conferences, and a variety of settings to spread the Fire of the Holy Spirit and the love of God in Jesus' mighty name! Thank you and 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!

Morning by Morning, May 6 - Sanctified and Baptized in the Holy Fire of the Holy Spirit

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- I worship You in every dimension of Your Being from 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 call you is faithful, and He will do this" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). 

Holy Spirit, You are the Fire of God who burns in my heart to purify me and sanctify me -- entirely, completely, whole-heartedly in spirit and soul and body (Romans 15:16). By the power of Your grace at work within me, I "have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood; that grace and peace may be (mine) in abundance" (1 Peter 1:2). 

Holy Fire of God, burn in me. You are "a consuming Fire" (Hebrews 12:29). Consume me. Purify me. Sanctify me. Burn everything out of me that's not yet like You until I'm willingly, joyfully, and entirely "obedient to Jesus Christ" with His authority in my words and His nature in my heart. Make me more like Jesus each day (Romans 8:29; 1 John 4:17). "Christ in (me), the hope of glory," as You make me "mature in Christ" yielding to Your holy Flame and embracing Your consuming Fire (Colossians 1:27-28). 

Lord Jesus, You are the One who is "powerful" to "baptize (me) with the Holy Spirit and Fire" (Matthew 3:5). This is "the promise of the Father" -- to "be baptized with the Holy Spirit" so that I "receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon (me); and (I) will be (one of Your) witnesses ... to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:4-8). 

Baptize my spirit and soul and body in Your holy, all-consuming Fire! Set me ablaze to display Your glory like burning bush (Exodus 3:2), like a brand snatched from the fire (Zechariah 3:2), like a sacrificial flame that will never go out (Leviticus 6:13), like fire sent down from heaven declaring You alone are God (1 Kings 18:38)! Touch my lips with a coal from the altar of heaven (Isaiah 6:8) and let Your river of fire flow out of my spirit (Daniel 7:9)! You are "like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap (to) sit as a Refiner and Purifier of silver; and (You) will purify (me) like gold and silver until (I) present offerings (of all that I have and all that I am) to the Lord in righteousness (Malachi 3:2-3). 

Holy are You. And You have called us to holiness in You (1 Peter 1:16). You will have a holy bride, holy sons and daughters -- "that (You) might sanctify and cleanse (us) with the washing of water by the word (as) a glorious church, no having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that (we) should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:26-27 NKJV)! Sanctified and holy in You, set ablaze and on fire, baptized in Your Holy Spirit, "(we) are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, (Your) own special people, that (we) may proclaim the praises of Him who called (us) out of darkness into (Your) marvelous light!" (1 Peter 2:9 NKJV)  

Lord Jesus, before You ascended to heaven and poured out Your Holy Spirit upon the church, You said "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49). Lord, send Your Fire! Let us be that Fire that sets our world ablaze for You! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be sanctified and baptized in the holy Fire of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Ministry Trip to Uganda

Friends, please keep us in prayer as our team prepares to travel to the African nation of Uganda in May for teaching, preaching, and evangelism in the refugee camps, pastor and leaders conferences, and a variety of settings to spread the Fire of the Holy Spirit!

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, May 3 - "Bold for Christ" in "the Spirit of Christ"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit to walk in Your ways -- with the authority of Your name in my words and the nature of Your character in my heart. ...

 

"I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die" (Philippians 1:18-20 NLT).

 

My Father God, I thank You that the "the Spirit of Jesus Christ" fills me and helps me and leads me. Holy Spirit of the Living God, You are "the Spirit of Christ," "the Spirit of the God living in (me)" (Romans 8:9). By Your Spirit abiding within my spirit, "truly (my) fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3). And in the mystery of faith and the communion of Your Spirit with my spirit, "Christ lives within (me), so even though (my) body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives (me) life because (I) have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in me!" (Romans 8:10-11 NLT). Lord, let me never forget that and never take that for granted!

 

Lord Jesus, make me more like You each day. "Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did" (1 John 2:6 NLT). It's not by my own goodness or righteousness, but all by Your Spirit abiding in my spirit that You're able to express Your nature through my life in the power of Your grace. "God has given us His Spirit as proof that we live in Him and He in us.... All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.... So we will not be afraid in the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world" (1 John 4:13-17 NLT).

 

So by the power of Your grace, may I be "bold for Christ" and seeking to live my life more and more like Christ, as You keep filling me afresh with "the Spirit of Christ" every day. Join my heart with Your heart, my thoughts with Your thoughts, so that my ways become Your ways, for "the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17 NLT).

 

Now, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with (us) all!" (2 Corinthians 13:14) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, may you be bold for Christ in the Spirit of Christ as you abide in Him and He abides in you, filling you afresh with the Spirit of the Living God 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

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, May 2 - Freedom from the Self-Centered Pride of the Spirit of Babylon

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my heart what is on Your heart, as I seek Your face and listen for the leading of Your Spirit -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"Twelve months later as (King Nebuchadnezzar) was walking on the roof of his palace in Babylon, he said, 'I have built this great Babylon as my royal home. I built it by my power to show my glory and my majesty.' The words were still in his mouth when a voice from heaven said, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, these things will happen to you:  Your royal power has been taken away from you. You will be forced away from people. You will live with the wild animals and will be fed grass like an ox. Seven years will pass before you learn this lesson:  The Most High God rules over every kingdom on earth and gives those kingdoms to anyone He chooses.' Immediately the words came true" (Daniel 4:28-33 NCV).

 

The spirit of Babylon is the spirit of pride -- self-centered "pride" in the sense of all that I am and all that I have and all that I do is all about me; self-centered "pride" in the sense of I'm going to do what I want to do whenever I want to do it and however I want to do it and there's nothing God or anybody else can do about it. No wonder "God is against the proud, but He gives His grace to the humble" (James 4:6 NCV). No wonder "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).

 

When we don't acknowledge You as God and King of our hearts, with Your Word as our Authority and Your Spirit as our Guide we're simply like those who "did what was right in their own eyes" during the cycles of disobedience and destruction in the days when "there was no king in Israel" (Judges 17:6). Like Nebuchadnezzar, full of the spirit of Babylon and the ways of this world apart from You, full of pride, full of ourselves, we soon suffer the consequences until we learn the lesson that there is a Most High God who intends to rule and reign in our hearts and in our land.

 

But in an amazing display of Your mercy and grace, even King Nebuchadnezzar was able to humble himself to repent of his pride and turn to You in acknowledgement of Your truth and Your place as the Authority in our lives. "At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, and I could think normally again! Then I gave praise to the Most High God; I gave honor and glory to Him who lives forever. God's rule is forever, and His kingdom continues for all time.... Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, give praise and honor and glory to the King of heaven. Everything He does is right and fair, and He is able to make proud people humble" (Daniel 4:34-37 NCV).

 

As Your Word assures us, when we "humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, (You) will lift (us) up" (James 4:10 NKJV). "If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "The sacrifice acceptable to god is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).

 

Come, Holy Spirit. Expose and uproot the pride from me that gives any glory or honor or praise for any of the good things in my life to the credit of myself -- my own abilities, my wisdom, my own goodness. "Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father" (James 1:17 NLT). Set me free from the spirit of Babylon, with all its worldly self-centered pride, and give me a heart of humility to honor You and acknowledge You as the Source of every good thing in my life. Then, even "though (I may) fall seven times, (I) will rise again," restored and redeemed in the power of Your mercy and love (Proverbs 24:16). And by the mercy of Your grace, may that be the attitude of my heart long before I have to eat grass like an ass (KJV) for seven years to learn this lesson of humility and pride! (Daniel 5:21) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you filled with a humble heart, free from any spirit of self-centered pride, as the Lord lifts you up in His mercy and love, receiving all glory, honor, and praise for every good thing in your life, 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!