Prepare the Way of the Lord!” - March 10, 2021

 

Morning by Morning, March 10 - “Prepare the Way of the Lord!” Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin this day and every day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ... “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken’” (Isaiah 40:3-5 NKJV). I hear in my heart this morning, “Prepare the way of the Lord! Prepare the way of the Lord!” ... Yes, Lord. That’s been the heart of my calling and focus of ministry for nearly twenty-five years -- to “Prepare the way of the Lord” in the hearts of Your people, to prepare the body and bride Christ for the coming of our King, not just on the earth at the second coming of Christ, but also in our hearts every day between now and then through prayer and inner healing and spiritual freedom, ministering the healing love of God in the powerful name of Jesus, at home and abroad. It’s been my yearning desire to see the nature of Christ formed in me and in Your people, growing up to maturity, set free from all that would hold us back from being all You created us to be (Galatians 4:19). What are You speaking to me this morning in this cry I hear in my heart? ... I believe I hear You saying: “This is a new season of preparation. A season of deeper preparation. More thorough preparation. My people are more desperate for change, more desperate for hope, more desperate to pursue Me and My Spirit in their hearts that I may make a difference in their lives and in their world. But there are high places in their hearts that must be brought low. There are low places in their spirits that must be lifted up. There are crooked places in their paths and in their ways that must be made straight. And only I can do that. They must turn to Me and yield to Me and allow Me to uproot and remove everything in them that is not yet like Me, that I can fill them afresh with My Spirit and display My glory through their lives. I am releasing this fresh anointing of My Presence and My power to “Prepare the way of the Lord” in this new season of preparation.” ... Yes, Lord. Let it be so in me. As You do this in me -- more deeply than ever before -- do this through this ministry You’ve entrusted to me more powerfully than ever before. “Prepare the way of the Lord” in me and through me, by Your Spirit.  Bring down the high places of pride that would rise up in resistance and rebellion to Your authority in our lives. Lift up the law places of depression, discouragement, hopelessness, confusion, and despair. Make the crooked places straight in our hearts, our thoughts, our desires, and our actions so we can walk in righteousness and holiness of heart and life in You by the power of Your Holy Spirit at work within us (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). “Christ in (us), the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Father, set us free from all that would hold us back from being all You created us to be. Set us free from our sins and sorrows, our wounds and regrets, our strongholds and chains, our lies and false beliefs, and all that’s less that who You say we are and all You’ve created us to be by the power of Your grace. Set us free to be like Jesus in our world, with His character in our hearts and His power in our words and prayers in the authority of His name! Yes, Lord -- Free to be like Jesus! “Because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17) Father, You’ve sent Your Holy Spirit to prepare a holy bride for the coming of the King of Glory, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Prepare the way of the Lord! Prepare the way of the Lord in me, in us, in our world! “The Spirit and the bride say ‘Come!’” (Revelation 22:17) In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may our Father send His Holy Spirit to prepare the way of the Lord in your heart for the coming of our King Jesus today and every day, in you and through you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!  Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries: Tommy & Rocio Hays Messiah Ministries 17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407 San Antonio, Texas 78257 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: Messiah-Ministries.org

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries "Preparing the Way of the Lord"

Free to Be Like Jesus —Transforming Power of Inner Healing & Deliverance Amazon/TommyHays/ FreeToBeLikeJesus Morning by Morning, 365 Day Prayer Devotional for Deeper Intimacy with God Amazon/TommyHays/ MorningByMorning

Unrelenting and Unashamed - March 9, 2021

 

Morning by Morning, March 9 - Unrelenting and Unashamed Good morning, Lord Jesus. I surrender to Your Lordship in every area of my life. ... “Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the Gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. For this Gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the One in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to Him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the Good Treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us” (2 Timothy 1:8-12). Paul suffered persecution and imprisonment for the sake of the Gospel. But his message to those he was discipling -- like Timothy, his spiritual son, and the generations being raised up to herald that same gospel of hope and truth -- was not to back off or lay low or just go with the flow. His word of wisdom was not to be careful not to offend anyone with the truth or hurt anybody’s feelings by holding fast to the authority of the Word of God. His counsel was not to find ways to compromise with the culture or appease their demands or bow down to their gods or worship the ways of the world as the way to win some to the Gospel. No. Paul’s message to those he was mentoring in the faith was “Do not be ashamed” (v. 8); “Join with me in suffering for the Gospel” (v. 8); “Hold (fast) to the standard of sound teaching” (v. 13); and “Guard the Good Treasure entrusted to you” (v. 14). His message was to stand firm in the faith. No surrender. No retreat. It was in this context that Paul spoke those famous words to Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (v. 7). “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice” (v. 7 NRSV). Forgive us for our cowardice. Forgive us for our compromise. Forgive us for apologizing to the culture for standing firm when we should be repenting for bowing down to any god but You. You have “saved us and called us with a holy calling” (v. 9). Remind us every day. Empower us every day. By the power of Your grace at work within us, may we “Guard the Good Treasure entrusted to (us), with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us” (v. 14).  Now is the time to stand firm. Now is the time to hold fast. Now is the time to show the world we’re not going anywhere. We will not be silenced. We will not surrender. But we will declare the goodness of God as Savior of all. “For this gospel (we) were appointed,” even if we suffer the persecution of the culture (v. 11). Unrelenting and unashamed, we will never stop honoring and exalting our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Good Treasure of His Word of Spirit, Life, and Truth to a world literally dying to hear Your Good News of this Gospel. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be filled with the Holy Spirit, never silenced and never cancelled, boldly proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God despite any persecution we endure through these days, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!  Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries: Tommy & Rocio Hays Messiah Ministries 17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407 San Antonio, Texas 78257 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: Messiah-Ministries.org

Persecution Only Results in Greater Power! - March 8, 2021

 

Morning by Morning, March 8 - Persecution Only Results in Greater Power! Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be welcome here and at home, here in my heart and every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ... “That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:1-8). The church of Jesus -- the body and the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ -- has thrived under persecution from the very beginning. Despite the persecution, You always rise up and flow out of Your people with Your power. Stephen was a martyr of the faith, full of the Holy Spirit, whose life was ended and voice was silenced on this earth. But the Spirit who lived in his heart lived on! Though Your disciples were scattered, they refused to be silenced. They “proclaimed the Messiah” and the Good News of the kingdom of God “from place to place” and everywhere they went. And You confirmed Your word to all who were drawn near and “listened eagerly” to their words of hope and were “hearing and seeing the signs” of the power of Your name. Salvation, healing, and deliverance, followed by “great joy” were the “signs” that followed Your followers. Even one of their greatest persecutors, Saul of Tarsus, who was “ravaging the church” would soon be changed forever by a powerful and personal encounter with You (Acts 9:1-19). He would become Your chosen instrument of great revival and awakening to set the world ablaze with a passion for Jesus despite the times of great persecution (Acts 9:15). Persecution would only result in greater power! So give us courage to not be discouraged. Give us power in the midst of the persecution. The Message of the Cross will not be cancelled. The Spirit of the Living God will not be silenced. In fact, this great movement for this great harvest is just beginning! (Matthew 13:39)  Lord, we are so honored to be Your chosen instruments alive on the earth as the body and the bride of Christ in our days for such a time as this! Send Your Spirit, confirm Your Word with Your signs of great awakening in the midst of this growing persecution. By the power of Your grace, we will not be silenced nor cancelled. No surrender and no retreat! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.  Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be filled with the Holy Spirit, never silenced and never cancelled, boldly proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God despite any persecution we endure through these days, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!  Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries: Tommy & Rocio Hays Messiah Ministries 17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407 San Antonio, Texas 78257 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: Messiah-Ministries.org

Not Mustard-Making but Mountain-Moving Faith! - March 5, 2021

 

Morning by Morning, March 5 - Not Mustard-Making but Mountain-Moving Faith! Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart to teach me Your ways and make me more like You today. ... “When they came to the crowd, a man came to Him, knelt before Him, and said, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you’” (Matthew 17:14-21). You weren’t speaking to Your disciples about mustard-making faith, but mountain-moving faith. And as You were, You weren’t rebuking the father for his compassion for his son or the son for the burden of his affliction. You said nothing about their measure of faith. No, You rebuked the demon and the disciples! As insidious as the demon of destruction was that tormented the boy, so was the insidious demon of doubt that was limiting the ministry of the disciples. There was something about the quality or quantity of their faith that was “little.” And their “little faith” was limiting their ministry and leaving the people who were suffering and struggling for healing and freedom in the power and authority of Your name stuck in the grip of the enemy of their souls. What about us as Your disciples today? What about me as Your disciple today? ... You said in the “red letters” of Your own words that “if (we) have faith the size of a mustard seed, (we) will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for (us).” We can try to explain it away or water it down or come up with doctrines and teachings that try to excuse our lack of experience of the Word of God, but it’s still the Word of God -- the “red letter” words You spoke Yourself.  Just as You also said, “All things are possible for the one who believes” (Mark 9:23). And just as You also said, “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in My name you ask Me for anything, I will do it” (John 14:12-14). We can mock and ridicule and say that’s “out of balance” and “out on the fringes” all we want at our own peril of being disobedient to the Word of God. But those aren’t the words of some “wild-eyed charismatic preacher.” They are the words of Jesus straight from the Word of God.  Lord, forgive us for our mockery and blasphemy that tries to justify in religious language our lack of faith and lack of obedience to You. We repent. I repent. Let us no longer settle for something far less than who You say we are, falling far short of all You send us to do in the authority of Your name. In these days and the days to come, we’re going to need mountain-moving faith instead of mustard seed excuses. We need deliverance from the demon of doubt, freedom from the spirit of religious-excuses, and a fresh infusion of the Spirit of Faith! Whether it’s quality or quantity, we just need more -- more of You, more of Your Spirit, more of Your Presence, more of Your power, expressed through our faith as Your disciples in this world that’s desperate to encounter the Living Presence of the Living God in the mighty name of Jesus! Lord, let us settle for nothing less. Lord, let me settle for nothing less. With the character of Your nature in our hearts and the authority of the power of Your name in our words and our prayers, let us see some mountains move! We not here on this earth for such as time as this to make mustard but to move mountains! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.  Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be filled afresh with a Spirit of Faith to be empowered and obedient to the Word of God and see some mountains move in the authority and power of the name of Jesus, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!  Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries: Tommy & Rocio Hays Messiah Ministries 17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407 San Antonio, Texas 78257 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: Messiah-Ministries.org

“God Himself Will Provide” - March 4, 2021

 

Morning by Morning, March 4 - “God Himself Will Provide” Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me close to You. Never let me go. Lead me in Your ways and make me more like You today. ... “Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘Father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ He said, ‘The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ Abraham said, ‘God Himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son’” (Genesis 22:7-8). Your Word says, “God tested Abraham” (Genesis 22:1). And so many times our questions test us, just as the questions of those entrusted to our love and care can test us. Our wonderings about where our provision will come from, where our hope will come from, where our clear guidance and blessed assurance will come from all try us and test us to see where we’ll turn and to whom we’ll turn. The questions of Isaac tested the faith of Abraham. But as “the father of all who believe” -- the father of our faith -- Abraham responded in a faith that trusted the character and nature of our God, no matter what his present circumstances looked like (Romans 4:16). He was teaching us through his testing to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). He was teaching through his testing how to “follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had” (Romans 4:12). Abraham’s response of faith -- “God Himself will provide” -- is the response of faith that passes every test. It’s the response that opens the doors of our hearts and the windows of heaven for all we need to get us through every question we have -- trusting in the character and nature of our God that we continue to learn through every test. “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let (my) foot slip -- He who watches over (me) will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over (me) will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:1-4). “My God shall supply all (I) need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (Philippians 4:19-20) “Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:10). Thank You for the freedom to ask the questions, Father. And thank You for the grace to trust You in faith -- first for who You are and then for every good thing I need. As Abraham learned and forever declared, for himself for all who believe, “God Himself will provide” (Genesis 22:8). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you grow in faith and trust in the Lord your God to personally provide all you need according to His riches in glory, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!  Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries: Tommy & Rocio Hays Messiah Ministries 17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407 San Antonio, Texas 78257 Messiah-Ministries.org Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: Messiah-Ministries.org

“Stand Firm and Take Action” - March 3, 2021

 Morning by Morning, March 3 - “Stand Firm and Take Action”

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Arise in my heart and flow through my words, as I entrust my heart and my words to You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

“He shall seduce with intrigue those who violate the covenant; but the people who are loyal to their God shall stand firm and take action” (Daniel 11:32).

Through seduction and deception, there’s a spirit at work in hearts and minds to turn against the will and the Word of God. But at the same time, there is a Spirit who is at work in the hearts and minds of all who humble themselves to call on Your name, who will be loyal and faithful to the end, no matter what. They will “stand firm and take action.”

Now is the time we must pray for greater courage. Now is the time we must develop stronger character. Then when the day comes when we’re being forced to bow down and renounce the truth we know in our hearts, to deny the ways of righteousness and be swallowed up in the ways of the world with no distinction between the culture of Your Kingdom and the culture that’s destroying and denying all that’s holy and right and true, we will still “stand firm” and we will still “take action” no matter the cost.

By the power of Your grace at work within us, by the power of Your Spirit moving through us, we will even “carry out great exploits” to exalt Your name and display Your glory (v. 32 NKJV). We will “instruct many” and teach them the ways of the Ancient Path set forth in Your Holy Word and led by Your Holy Spirit (v. 33 NKJV). 

Then even in the face of intimidation and persecution being unleashed by the culture of the world, even in the face of the threats of “sword and flame,” of “captivity and plunder,” we will continue to “stand firm” by the grace of God. Even their attacks will be turned around and redeemed by You, as You cause even those things to work together for our good, that we may be further “refined, purified, and cleansed until the time of the end” (v. 35).

Come, Holy Spirit. Refine us, purify us, cleanse us. Strengthen us, encourage us, empower us. With Your courage in our hearts, we’ll overcome the onslaught of the culture of this world, standing firm in the culture of Christ and taking action for the cause of the Kingdom and the glory of God. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you stand firm and take action, strengthened and empowered by the Holy Spirit in the character and authority of Christ, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you! 

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org

Angels Arise! Holy Spirit Come Down! - March 2, 2021

Morning by Morning, March 2 - Angels Arise! Holy Spirit Come Down!

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord of all, be Lord of my life and every moment of my day. ...

“At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running back and forth, and evil shall increase” (Daniel 12:1-4).

Many are “running back and forth” at this time. “Running” because they’re not resting in the security of faith and the faithfulness of Your word. “Back and forth” because they’re not standing firm and holding fast to Your word of truth, to the stability of Your will revealed in Your Word, to the plumbline of Scripture as the Standard and Authority for our lives. And as a result, “evil shall increase” and “a time of anguish” shall come.

But at the same time, all who are “wise” will turn the One who is our Stability and Strength, our Standard and Shepherd, our Strong Tower and Shining Light in the midst of the darkness and confusion, despite the increase of lawlessness and evil. You’re sending forth Your word and Your angels -- even the great prince Michael and the angelic armies of heaven to break into these times to break through these challenges that we can break out in a revival like the world has never seen! 

Angels arise! Holy Spirit come down! Unseal the book and send forth Your word! Let there be a great awakening and revival in our hearts and in our land!

Lord, let my name be “found written in the book.” Let me be one of Yours who will “shine like the brightness of the sky.” Let me “lead many to righteousness” because the only One who is always righteousness lives in me to arise and shine through me.

Lord, let Your people who are called by Your name “awake” to “everlasting life!” In the darkness of these days, display Your glory for all to see! Breakthrough revival! Great awakening! As You unseal the book, let every soul who would hear Your voice and humble their heart to turn to You and call on Your name be sealed and secure in Your mercy and love!

Lord, let me be a part of that! Pass me not and don’t leave me out! I’m all in and I’m all Yours! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you shine like the brightness of the sky and lead many to righteousness with the Spirit of the One who is righteous arising and shining through you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you! 

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org

An Excellent Spirit" - March 1, 2021

 Morning by Morning, March 1 - "An Excellent Spirit"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Guide my heart and guide my steps into all You have in mind for the moments of my day. ... 

"An excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel" (Daniel 5:12). 

Daniel had "an excellent spirit." Even Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon and his son after him who had been "weighed on the scales and found wanting" for his blasphemy against God, recognized Daniel's faithfulness and God-given spirit of excellence. 

With spiritual wisdom and discernment, with faithfulness and humility, Daniel would not bow down to the false gods of the culture that surrounded him and constantly pressured him to conform. He bowed his knees to nothing but God. And he honored nothing above his God. So You filled his heart with "an excellent spirit" and gave him strategic favor to prevail and persevere and even prosper in every place You strategically positioned him for Your purposes. 

Holy Spirit of the Living God, You are the excellent Spirit who fills our hearts as we open our hearts to the Living Presence of the Living Christ. You fill us with knowledge and understanding, with spiritual wisdom and discernment, with faithfulness and humility, that we can stand firm in our faith, despite all the pressures of our current culture we may endure. Like the foreshadowing of the example of Daniel of the Old Covenant and the present fulfillment of every faithful follower of Jesus Christ under the New Covenant, Your power and presence fills our hearts to "be shameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which (we) shine like stars in the world.... holding fast to the word of life" (Philippians 2:15-16).  

I pray to have that "excellent spirit." I pray to be filled afresh everyday with Your Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). I pray to be a "good steward" of the spiritual gifts, the spiritual fruit, and the spiritual character of Christ You're forming in me (1 Peter 4:10). And I pray to be "found faithful" to stand firm as I humbly bow to nothing but You, no matter what pressures may come or our culture may seek to impose (1 Corinthians 4:2). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be filled with the Holy Spirit of the Living God, the Spirit of the Living Presence of the Living Christ, to have an excellent spirit to be found faithful to our God through these challenging times, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org

 

"Work of Faith" and "Labor of Love" from a "Steadfastness of Hope" - February 26, 2021

 Morning by Morning, February 26 - "Work of Faith" and "Labor of Love" from a "Steadfastness of Hope"

 Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, come rule and reign in my heart and life today. ... 

"We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3). 

When we have a "steadfastness of hope" in You, our "work of faith" is a "labor of love." Everything we do flows out of who we are. And everything we do in love is an expression of who You are in us. And all that has to begin with a heart full of hope, grounded in faith, trusting in You. 

Fill my heart with hope today, Lord. Let my hope be steadfast, unshakeable, certain and sure in You alone, that my work of faith and labor of love may bring You glory. There's such a deeply interwoven relationship between my hope and my faith. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). 

Faith is a confidence and conviction in what I hope for but don't yet see, what I long for but don't yet experience. So fill my heart with Your hopes, Your desires, Your will and Your plans in my life and through my life. Then as I work and labor in hope and love, I will be found faithful to You. For just as there is a deeply interwoven relationship between my hope and my faith, so there is a deeply interwoven relationship between my love and labor of obedience to You and Your will. You've taught us to trust and obey, to love and obey: 

"Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.... 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. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word of that you hear is not Mine, but is from the Father who sent Me.... The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.... Rise, let us be on our way" (John 14:12-31). 

Steadfast in hope, confident in faith, trusting and obeying by the power of Your Holy Spirit stirring in me, I rise today from my time of prayer to be on my way in this labor of love and work of faith. May I be found faithful -- as best I can and all by Your grace, secure in Your love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be steadfast in your hope and faith in your work of faith as a labor of love, bring glory to God in all you are and all you do, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org

 

Discerning by "Peace" - February 25, 2021

Morning by Morning, February 25 - Discerning by "Peace"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're the Peace that surpasses all understanding. So I welcome You and Your peace here in my heart and mind and every moment of my day. ...

 

"Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all" (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

 

Your peace is such a discerning factor to help guide my steps along this journey of the adventure of faith. Through the years You've given me some steps to follow in seeking discernment -- whether I'm seeking to discern Your voice in my heart, a choice to make by the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, a prophetic word someone else is sharing with me or the body of Christ or one I sensing a leading to share with someone else, or a teaching, or a doctrine, or anything else where I need to know what is right and true or wrong and false:

 

My Five Key Steps of Discernment:

 

1. Does it conform to the written Word of God?

2. Does it conform to the character of God?

3. Does it bear witness with my spirit?

4. Does it bear witness to the council of others I trust?

5. What is the fruit?

 

The sense of "peace" is a key factor in each of these steps of discernment, but especially in number three -- "Does it bear witness with my spirit?"

 

Over the past week, I've really been struggling with a significant decision to make. As always, I started in prayer, alone and with my wife. Where I sensed it was ok, I took some initial testing steps of action, while continuing to take my discernment steps. But as I couldn't sense the complete peace I longed to sense as a firm confirmation for such a significant decision, I finally said "no" to the opportunity. And went to bed. This morning, I praise You that I have such a deep sense of Your peace in my spirit!

 

We can all "miss it" when we seek Your guidance, because it's so easy for other things to confuse us, distract us, or otherwise get in the way. But I believe it's truly a "win-win" situation if we will first take time to humble ourselves in Your sight, to seek the leading of Your Spirit, and seek to "discern what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).

 

Once we start in humility before You, if we "get it right," You'll confirm it. Even if we "get it wrong," You'll correct us and redeem our mistakes and even lead us back to the place where we stepped off the Your path of Your will to get us back on the right path again. That's just a working out of Your mercy and grace that we have in You as children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ. That's just a working out of one of my favorite life Scriptures that gets me through so much, on my journey of faith:

 

"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).

 

In Your steadfast love and Your tender mercies that never come to an end, I always manage to find Your peace -- all by Your mercy and grace for me that's new every morning!

 

So morning by morning -- heart to heart, deep to deep, one step at a time -- I continue my journey with You -- full of Your peace and full of expectant faith to look and see what You will do! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be filled with the One who is your perfect Peace, as you seek to discern the will of God for your life each -- morning by morning, and step by step, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org