Thursday, August 08, 2019

Morning by Morning, August 8 - Christ Supremacy
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Make me more like You today. ...
 
"(Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:15-20 NKJV).
 
In the kingdom of God, there is no white supremacy or black supremacy, no progressive supremacy or conservative supremacy, no democrat supremacy or republican supremacy, no pro-life supremacy or pro-abortion supremacy, no pro-gay supremacy or pro-straight supremacy, no pro-gun supremacy or pro-gun-control supremacy. There is only Christ's supremacy. The One to whom our Father has entrusted with "preeminence" over all things (Colossians 1:18).
 
There is one name that is above every name. There is one name before whom all heaven and earth, all issues and positions, all races and sexes, all cities and nations must bow. "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
 
That's my position statement. That's my political agenda. That's my Constitution and Bill of Rights with every Amendment. That's my declaration of where I stand because that's my exaltation of the One before whom I bow.
 
When our hearts and homes, our mindsets and mouths, our thoughts and prayers are filled with "the Spirit of Christ" there is no room for hate, no room for evil, no room for racism, no room for any of the wickedness or lawlessness or darkness of this broken and fallen world to take root in our souls or soul of our nations (Romans 8:9). For me and the people of our land and the nations of our world, I join in this ancient prayer: "Create in me a clean, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and renew a right spirit within me" (from Psalm 51:10-12 KJV). 
 
As we yield to Your Spirit and bow to the supremacy of Christ, Your truth and Your love with triumph in us and through us. As You make a difference in us, we will make a difference in our world (Acts 17:6). "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.... But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malic, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all" (Colossians 3:1-11). 
 
May the supremacy of Christ rule and reign in me! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may the supremacy of Christ rule and reign in you, as you are filled with the Spirit of Christ to make a difference in your world, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

       

Thank you for joining with me on this journey of prayer -- Morning by Morning! God bless you!


   
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Wednesday, August 07, 2019

Morning by Morning, August 7 - The Source of Good and The Source of Evil
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind, Your desires in my heart, Your words in my mouth, as I abide in You and You abide in me (John 15:4). As I watch and wait for Your leading, let me see what You're doing and hear what You're saying, so I can pray and proclaim Your kingdom and Your will on earth as it is in heaven   -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...
 
"We know that we are God's children, and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:19-20).
 
When I see wickedness and evil in our world, when I my mind wants to wonder why You allow it and my heart wants to ask where You are in the midst of it, Your Spirt points me to Your Word -- "the whole world lies under the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19). Sin and evil are never Your will. You're never the source behind the manifestations of wickedness and evil in our world. No, it's just the opposite. You said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). The Source of good is never the source of evil. You're the Source of life; its' the thief who is the source of death. You're the Source of all that is right and good and holy and true; it's the thief who comes to steal that from us and destroy that within us and among us.
 
This wickedness and evil in our world are the works of the devil, as he works in the hearts and minds of those who embrace the principles of his kingdom instead of embracing the principles of Your kingdom (Ephesians 6:12).  And at the same time, Your Word says "The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). It's the so-called "god of this world (that) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4). You called him "the ruler of this world" who must "be driven out" (John 12:31). And as we choose You and Your kingdom and Your will, he is driven out of our hearts, out of our minds, and out of our world:  "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" James 4:7-8).
 
This is how we overcome! This is how we change our world as we let You change us! This is how we come into agreement with the victory of the Cross and the power of the Blood in the name of Jesus! (Revelation 12:11; Colossians 1:20; Philippians 2:5-11) This is how You are fulfilling the promise and proclamation of Your Word -- "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15)
 
So in the midst of the battle and as You continue to enforce the victory of Your Cross and advance the power and glory of Your kingdom in my heart and in my world, I take courage and find peace in Your words:  "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NKJV). "The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you" (Romans 16:20). 
 
Lord, let it be so, in me and in my world. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.... Deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever" (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be take courage and find peace in knowing the One who is advancing His kingdom in your heart and in our world, as we embrace the One who is the Source of all that is good and holy and right and true, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

      

Thank you for joining with me on this journey of prayer -- Morning by Morning! God bless you!


   
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Tuesday, August 06, 2019








































Morning by Morning, August 6 - The Power of Our Thoughts and Prayers in the Face of Tragedy
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my eyes and open up my heart to You, O Lord, my God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...
As I wait upon the leading of Your Spirit this morning, what comes to mind are the recent events going on in my world. There's terror and murder, wickedness and evil, taking place here in my home state of Texas and across the country in Ohio. It's not only here at home but also in varying measures across our land and around our world in these darkening times. Your Word prophecies that evil, lawlessness, and darkness will increase (Isaiah 60:2; Matthew 24:12). And so it is.
In the throughs and turmoil of another national tragedy, there's much anger and angst, fury and fear, chaos and clamoring for change and for control of what seems like a world spinning hopelessly out of control. But when everything is being shaken, Your Word and Your Spirit remind us to look to the One who is never shaken (Hebrews 12:27). 
Your Word and Your Spirit remind us to look to the Rock who is our Strength -- "The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer, my God, my Rock in whom I take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold.... In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears" (Psalm 18:1-6). And when we pray, when we cry out to You in desperation and in faith, You hear us, You answer us, and move mightily on behalf of us -- "The Lord also thundered in the heavens and the Most High uttered His voice. He sent out His arrows, and scattered them; He flashed forth lightnings and routed them ... and the foundations of the world were laid bare at Your rebuke, O Lord! (Psalm 18:12-15)
Not only to You move mightily on our behalf, You stir us to action to do our part in Your power -- "For who is God except the Lord? And who is a rock besides our God? -- the God who girded me with strength, and made my way safe. He made my feet like the feet of a deer, and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.... For You girded me with strength for the battle.... The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation! .... You delivered me from the violent! For this I will extol You, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to Your name!" (Psalm 18:31-49)
Yes, terror and murder, wickedness and evil, are increasing in these darkening times. But at the same time, our God reigns! And our God arises! And not only do You reign and arise for us, You also reign and arise through us, as we call on Your name and answer Your call to display Your light and Your glory here in the midst of the darkness of our world -- "Arise! Shine! For your Light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn!" (Isiah 60:1-3)
So Father, I'm a little put out with the people who say they're offended by my thoughts and prayers. I'm a little irritated by their insinuations and innuendos that my faith is without action, that my thoughts have no meaning, and that my prayers have no power. The truth is I am the light of the world because the Light of the world lives in me! (Matthew 5:14) The truth is my prayers move mountains because my faith moves Your heart! (Mark 11:22-25) The truth is when we humble ourselves in prayer and take our stand in faith, as the people of God who are called by Your name, You move in our hearts, You speak through our thoughts, You arise in our spirits, and You heal our land! (2 Chronicles 7:14) 
Our thoughts and our prayers, expressed in humility and faith, choosing to trust You and praise You through every tragedy we face are the most powerful "weapons of our warfare" we have! (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) So "Let God arise! Let His enemies be scattered! Let those who hate Him flee before Him! ... So let the wicked perish at the Presence of God but let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God! ... To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old. Indeed He send out His voice, a mighty voice! Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God! (Psalm 68:1-35) 
As You arise, we arise because You arise within us (Colossians 1:27). You will give us the courage and the wisdom we need to display Your glory through our lives and in our land. We are not defeated but more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). We will not be overcome for we are overcomers in You (Revelation 12:11). As You encourage us long ago, You continue to encourage us today -- "In the world you will have much tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). 
So by the power of Your grace, I will not be intimidated or afraid. And I will not be backing off of my thoughts and prayers for suffering people of my land or for hope of my world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My Friend, may you be unintimidated and unafraid in your thoughts and your prayers, trusting in the One who has overcome and is overcoming through you the murder and terror, the wickedness and evil, in these darkening times of our world, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

      

Thank you for joining with me on this journey of prayer -- Morning by Morning! God bless you!


   
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Monday, August 05, 2019

Morning by Moring, August 5 - Walking in Agreement with God
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek You first and the Kingdom of God to begin my day in the right place, with You in the right place in my day (Matthew 6:33). ...
 
"Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?" (Amos 2:3 NLT)
 
I want to walk with You today, my Lord -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. I want to walk in agreement with You -- step by step, moment by moment, throughout the moments of my day.
 
But rather than setting my path and asking You to walk with me, I'm asking You to set my path and allow me to walk with You. Let Your Word and Your Spirit guide my steps. "I will hear what God the Lord will speak.... Yes, the Lord will give what is good.... Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway" (Psalm 85:8-13 NKJV). "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).
 
Give me grace to be more sensitive to the promptings of Your Spirit, more trusting of the wisdom of Your Word, and more obedient to the sense of Your direction in every decision I make and every step I take. Your will be my destination and Your presence my constant companion on my journey. Fulfill Your Word in me today:  "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left" (Isaiah 30:21). On our daily adventure of faith, I'm excited to see where You will lead! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My Friend, may you walk in agreement with God -- more sensitive to the prompting of His Spirit, more trusting of the wisdom of His Word, and more obedient to the sense of His direction, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

    
Thank you for joining with me on this journey of prayer -- Morning by Morning! God bless you!



 




 





  

   
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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Friday, August 02, 2019

Morning by Morning, August 2 - Becoming a "Man of God"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Here in these first moments of my morning, I enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
 
"As for you, man of God, shun all this (the "many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction"); pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witness" (1 Timothy 6:11-12).
 
With all my heart, I want to be a man of God. But even as I pray this out to You, I have to admit there are still some places in my heart that can easily be drawn into the "many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction" (1 Timothy 6:9). The truth is -- if I'm really honest with myself and with You -- there's still much of my flesh that still needs to die, much of my selfishness and plain old self-centered pride that needs to embrace deeper humility, fuller surrender, and greater dependence upon You alone as the Source of all the need and the Standard of all I'm called to be.
 
So I do make the good confession that I deeply desire to be a man of God. And at the same time, I make the honest confession that I still have a long way to go. I do take hold of eternal life in You and I do need You to take hold of every part of my heart that stills desires a worldly life in me.
 
I'm so thankful that You know me and You know all about me, yet You love me and You are for me. I take comfort and encouragement in the unending promise and unfailing grace of Your Word:  "For He know how we were made; He remembers that we are dust.... But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him" (Psalm 103:14-17).
 
I do fear You, Lord. Despite all my sins and struggles, I seek to honor You, to reverence You, to trust You, and obey You -- as best as I can and all by Your grace while You are still at work in me. "For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him ... (helping me moment by moment and day by day to) hold firmly to the word of life" (Philippians 2:13-16 NLT).
 
Like David, I want to be "a man after (God's) own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). By the power of Your mercy and love, I want to be the man of God You created me and called me to be. "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within (me), will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns" -- You'll be faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6 NLT). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My Friend, may you become the man or woman of God you were created to be, all by the power of God's grace at work within you, trusting He who began a good work in you will faithful to complete it, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   
Friends, many have suggested that I put these prayers that I write and send out from my morning devotional time each day into a book. Great idea! If you'd like to order one where we've collected one year's worth of my prayer devotionals into two different editions, you can order either the first edition (from the earlier years) or the second edition (from more recent years) of Morning by Morning through Amazon. Thank you for your encouragement and God bless you in your daily journey of prayer!

 




 



My Latest Book!
Friends, I'm excited we've recently published an updated version to my book Free to Be Like Jesus! -- Transforming Power of Inner Healing & Deliverance endorsed by Max Lucado, Andy Reese, and Randy Clark.

  

   
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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