Good morning, Lord Jesus. With my body yielded to my soul, my soul yielded to my spirit, and my spirit yielded to Your Holy Spirit, I worship You and watch for You and wait for You. …
“It is zeal for Your house that has consumed me…. I humbled my soul with fasting…. But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of Your steadfast love, answer me” (Psalm 69:9-13).
In preparation for our city-wide, regional Strategic Prayer Summit coming up in two weeks, many are joining together to fast and pray this week. Something about fasting allows the mind, will, and emotions of our soul to yield to our spirit, as our human spirit draws deeply into communion with Your Holy Spirit. Something about fasting, seems to enhance the crucifixion of our flesh and the life of our spirit. As we humble ourselves in Your sight, You lift us high into Your Presence (James 4:10).
Fasting is not magic or manipulation of the will of God. It’s a means of humility, a means of expressing our deliberate choice of desperate dependence upon You. It’s a means You choose to use to build our faith, strengthen our spiritual authority, realign our priorities and perspectives, as we choose to die daily to ourselves and arise in the life of Christ (Mark 9:29).
Fasting is a means of Your grace to draw us more deeply in declaration of the reality of our relationship with You: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is not longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:19-20).
As we fast and pray in our city and region, O Lord, hear our prayer, hear the cry of our hearts. Let zeal and passion for You and Your Kingdom to be established in our hearts and our land consume us. Awaken us from our complacency and unite us in our purpose to express Your love and reveal Your nature to the lost and broken You’ve called us to love and to serve as ambassadors in Your name. Let the enemy of our souls and the soul of our cities, who seeks to steal and kill and destroy, be crushed under our feet, as our feet stand in Yours (Romans 16:20).
As we humble our souls in fasting and prayer, let our spirits arise in worship and praise. “Let heaven and earth praise (You), the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah; and His servants shall live there and possess it; the children of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His name shall live in it” (Psalm 69:34-36).
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Friends, please keep us in prayer the weekend of February 4-5, 2011 for our 4th Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit - "Let the Walls Come Down!" Our ministry will be leading this gathering again, hosted this year with Pastor Richard Gaines at Consolidated Baptist Church on the northwest side of Lexington, Kentucky ( http://www.consolidatedbaptist.org ). We'll be joining together in unity from the various streams and traditions of the diverse Body of Christ in our region for prayer, praise, and proclamation as week the Lord's word and vision for the coming year in this place where He has assigned us. If you're in our region, please come and spread the word--it will be Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night. A flyer with tentative schedule is attached. May the Lord move in the power of His Presence for revival and awakening in your city and region, as well as ours! God bless you!
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give to the Calling and Vision of Messiah Ministries:
www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
Monday, January 24, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
“Listen to His Voice” - Jan 21
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me begin this day embraced by the Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. …
“O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. O that today you would listen to His voice!” (Psalm 95:6-7)
Even under the old covenant, Your sheep could hear Your voice. And now, in the fullness of time, fulfilled in Christ, we have an even “better covenant” with even “better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). And in Your fulfillment of all the covenant requirements and all the covenant promises, You said, “I Am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me … and they will listen to My voice” (John 10:14-16).
We can hear You. You’ve created us with the capacity to hear the voice of God. But we have to choose to listen. Lord, help me listen. Help me learn how to get quiet, to consciously humble myself in Your Presence, to watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit. Remove every barrier, overcome every obstacle, draw me to You and away from every distraction. I know You can speak to me anytime, whether I’m listening or not. But I also know You want to teach me how to pray, how to listen for the still, small voice that says, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
I thank You for the diverse ways You speak to me and allow me to hear You now. But I want more. I want to hear You more clearly, more distinctly, more accurately and precisely. I want to be more attune and more in tune with the leading of Your Spirit throughout the moments of my day. And then give me the courage and confidence to trust You and obey You. What could be more important? What could be more wonderful? “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:14). I am Your child, a son of God. And I ask You to enable me, empower me to be led by Your Spirit as I listen to Your voice. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Come to the Fountain This Friday Night! January 21st, our Messiah Ministries’ monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship, hosted in the Chapel at Centenary UMC, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, Kentucky at 7 PM. This month will also be a Pre-Summit Gathering of worship and prayer for our 4th Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit coming up soon the weekend of February 4-5, hosted this year at Consolidated Baptist Church. All are welcome. Please come join us and spread the word!
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give in Support of the calling of God through Messiah Ministries: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
“O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. O that today you would listen to His voice!” (Psalm 95:6-7)
Even under the old covenant, Your sheep could hear Your voice. And now, in the fullness of time, fulfilled in Christ, we have an even “better covenant” with even “better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). And in Your fulfillment of all the covenant requirements and all the covenant promises, You said, “I Am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me … and they will listen to My voice” (John 10:14-16).
We can hear You. You’ve created us with the capacity to hear the voice of God. But we have to choose to listen. Lord, help me listen. Help me learn how to get quiet, to consciously humble myself in Your Presence, to watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit. Remove every barrier, overcome every obstacle, draw me to You and away from every distraction. I know You can speak to me anytime, whether I’m listening or not. But I also know You want to teach me how to pray, how to listen for the still, small voice that says, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
I thank You for the diverse ways You speak to me and allow me to hear You now. But I want more. I want to hear You more clearly, more distinctly, more accurately and precisely. I want to be more attune and more in tune with the leading of Your Spirit throughout the moments of my day. And then give me the courage and confidence to trust You and obey You. What could be more important? What could be more wonderful? “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:14). I am Your child, a son of God. And I ask You to enable me, empower me to be led by Your Spirit as I listen to Your voice. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Come to the Fountain This Friday Night! January 21st, our Messiah Ministries’ monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship, hosted in the Chapel at Centenary UMC, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, Kentucky at 7 PM. This month will also be a Pre-Summit Gathering of worship and prayer for our 4th Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit coming up soon the weekend of February 4-5, hosted this year at Consolidated Baptist Church. All are welcome. Please come join us and spread the word!
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give in Support of the calling of God through Messiah Ministries: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
Thursday, January 20, 2011
At the End of All Things - Jan 20
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up, exalted and glorified, in my heart and throughout my day. …
“The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers” (1 Peter 4:7).
I don’t know the day or the hour of the end of all things, none of us do except the Father (Mark 13:32). But the end of all things could be today for me or for any one of us—at least the end of all things, as we know it, on this side of heaven. So every day must count. What if every day counted as if it were the last day? What if every day counted as if You were coming in Your glory in the clouds tomorrow? What sort of life would I lead today? What sort of choices would I make today that I would not make otherwise?
Maybe the answer to these questions speaks of the true desires of my heart. What are the things in my heart that I would regret if they never came to pass? What are the things in my heart that would be a great disappointment to me if I stood there with You on the other side of heaven, having left them undone?
I know Your mercy and grace, the power of Your love, will cover it all. There will be no condemnation, only joy in Your Presence on that day (Matthew 25:23). Your grace will be sufficient; and Your grace will cover the abundance of my sins because I’ve entrusted my life into Your hands. “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5:20, NKJV). Praise God! Hallelujah! I’m so glad I don’t have to earn Your approval or my salvation—I have it already and forever by just being Your son who’s received Your Spirit in me through my personal relationship with You (Galatians 4:6-7). But when it’s all been said and done, I just wonder what I’d wish had been said and done through my life to the glory of Your name that wasn’t.
O Lord, You know the days of my life that remain. You see the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. All my days are in Your hands. So, I pray You would discipline me, transform me, cleanse me, purify me, inspire me, awaken me, anoint me, empower me—even as You take my self-centered thoughts off of me—to fulfill my destiny and fully live out my identity that I have in You. “More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith” (Philippians 3:8-9). That’s the state of being, the desire of my heart I want to have whenever that final day comes at the end of all things. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Come to the Fountain This Friday Night! January 21st, our Messiah Ministries’ monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship, hosted in the Chapel at Centenary UMC, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, Kentucky at 7 PM. This month will also be a Pre-Summit Gathering of worship and prayer for our 4th Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit coming up soon the weekend of February 4-5, hosted this year at Consolidated Baptist Church. All are welcome. Please come join us and spread the word!
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give in Support of the calling of God through Messiah Ministries: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
“The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers” (1 Peter 4:7).
I don’t know the day or the hour of the end of all things, none of us do except the Father (Mark 13:32). But the end of all things could be today for me or for any one of us—at least the end of all things, as we know it, on this side of heaven. So every day must count. What if every day counted as if it were the last day? What if every day counted as if You were coming in Your glory in the clouds tomorrow? What sort of life would I lead today? What sort of choices would I make today that I would not make otherwise?
Maybe the answer to these questions speaks of the true desires of my heart. What are the things in my heart that I would regret if they never came to pass? What are the things in my heart that would be a great disappointment to me if I stood there with You on the other side of heaven, having left them undone?
I know Your mercy and grace, the power of Your love, will cover it all. There will be no condemnation, only joy in Your Presence on that day (Matthew 25:23). Your grace will be sufficient; and Your grace will cover the abundance of my sins because I’ve entrusted my life into Your hands. “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5:20, NKJV). Praise God! Hallelujah! I’m so glad I don’t have to earn Your approval or my salvation—I have it already and forever by just being Your son who’s received Your Spirit in me through my personal relationship with You (Galatians 4:6-7). But when it’s all been said and done, I just wonder what I’d wish had been said and done through my life to the glory of Your name that wasn’t.
O Lord, You know the days of my life that remain. You see the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. All my days are in Your hands. So, I pray You would discipline me, transform me, cleanse me, purify me, inspire me, awaken me, anoint me, empower me—even as You take my self-centered thoughts off of me—to fulfill my destiny and fully live out my identity that I have in You. “More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith” (Philippians 3:8-9). That’s the state of being, the desire of my heart I want to have whenever that final day comes at the end of all things. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Come to the Fountain This Friday Night! January 21st, our Messiah Ministries’ monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship, hosted in the Chapel at Centenary UMC, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, Kentucky at 7 PM. This month will also be a Pre-Summit Gathering of worship and prayer for our 4th Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit coming up soon the weekend of February 4-5, hosted this year at Consolidated Baptist Church. All are welcome. Please come join us and spread the word!
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give in Support of the calling of God through Messiah Ministries: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
In Honor of Ruby - Jan 19
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I will rise, as You draw me up into the embrace of Your Presence in the communion of prayer. …
“O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I am about to set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of jewels, and all your wall of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the prosperity of your children” (Isaiah 54:11-14).
All of Ruby’s children have been taught by the Lord. Great is their prosperity of spirit, because of the faith and hope and love she sowed into their hearts and lives. And now the pinnacle of Ruby’s life on this earth has come, as You have come to take her through the gates of jewels and wall of precious stones into the fullness of Your Presence where she’ll spend eternity with You, “face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Her days of affliction and storms, discomfort from pain, and all anxieties of fear are now forever gone. Her faith has become sight, and O, what a Sight she sees! (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)
One of Ruby’s children is my dear friend and prayer partner, Carol. And with her brother, Larry and their family, they were with their mother through those sacred moments of letting go of this world and embracing the next. “Father, please!”—as if to say, “Father, I’m ready! Daddy, come get me! I’ve fought the good fight; I’ve finished my race; I want to come home!” And so You did. “What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
No longer storm-tossed, no longer afflicted, now forever comforted. Ruby is home. To be “away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). And now we will continue to see what a legacy of faith and hope and love she has left behind in the hearts and lives of her children and children’s children, throughout all her generations. Great shall be the posterity of her children, for great has been the posterity of her faith. May Your peace fill their hearts, as they entrust Ruby’s soul to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Friends, please join with me as we hold up in prayer the family and friends of Ruby Shivertaker during this time of both grieving her loss with loved one's on earth, but also celebrating the joy her homecoming in heaven. I pray the same for you through these sacred moments of your life as well. God bless you.
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
“O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I am about to set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of jewels, and all your wall of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the prosperity of your children” (Isaiah 54:11-14).
All of Ruby’s children have been taught by the Lord. Great is their prosperity of spirit, because of the faith and hope and love she sowed into their hearts and lives. And now the pinnacle of Ruby’s life on this earth has come, as You have come to take her through the gates of jewels and wall of precious stones into the fullness of Your Presence where she’ll spend eternity with You, “face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Her days of affliction and storms, discomfort from pain, and all anxieties of fear are now forever gone. Her faith has become sight, and O, what a Sight she sees! (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)
One of Ruby’s children is my dear friend and prayer partner, Carol. And with her brother, Larry and their family, they were with their mother through those sacred moments of letting go of this world and embracing the next. “Father, please!”—as if to say, “Father, I’m ready! Daddy, come get me! I’ve fought the good fight; I’ve finished my race; I want to come home!” And so You did. “What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
No longer storm-tossed, no longer afflicted, now forever comforted. Ruby is home. To be “away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). And now we will continue to see what a legacy of faith and hope and love she has left behind in the hearts and lives of her children and children’s children, throughout all her generations. Great shall be the posterity of her children, for great has been the posterity of her faith. May Your peace fill their hearts, as they entrust Ruby’s soul to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Friends, please join with me as we hold up in prayer the family and friends of Ruby Shivertaker during this time of both grieving her loss with loved one's on earth, but also celebrating the joy her homecoming in heaven. I pray the same for you through these sacred moments of your life as well. God bless you.
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Imperishable, Undefiled, Unfolding Inheritance - Jan 18
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Prince of Peace, be my Peace. Joy of the World, be my Joy. Fountain of Life, be my Life. ...
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfolding, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).
Thank You for my inheritance in heaven. Thank You that it's "imperishable"--it can't be destroyed or taken away, sealed forever in Your no-slip-grip, forever extended to the hands and hearts extended to You. Thank You that it's "undefiled"--it can't be tainted or tarnished, perfected in the holiness and purity of Your splendor and glory. Thank You that it's "unfolding"--it continues to advance and increase, infinitely expanding like the universe You created with the mighty words of God.
And thank You for my inheritance of Your protection and provision of my salvation by grace, through faith, in Christ that I experience every moment of every day in my journey toward heaven. My salvation is sure. My hope is alive. Because my confidence is in You. No matter what way I may "suffer various trials" on this side of heaven, I need not question Your great mercy and need not doubt Your steadfast love (v. 1:6).
This is why I can always say "It is well with my soul," no matter what each day may hold. This is why my soul can always sing, no matter what I may be need to endure when my faith is "tested by fire" (v. 1:7). Through new birth into this new life in Your Spirit, You've given me the gift of the freedom to choose to "rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy" (v. 1:8). This is "the outcome of (my) faith, the salvation of (my) soul" (v. 1:9).
By the mercy of Your grace and the persistence of Your unfailing love I have "come to trust in (You)" so that all my "faith and hope are set on God" (v. 1:21). This is the treasure that's stored up for me in heaven, but also the treasure that's already mine today, here on earth as it is in heaven. What an inheritance we have as sons and daughters of God in Jesus Christ our Lord! (v. 3:8) In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Come to the Fountain This Friday Night! January 21st, our Messiah Ministries' monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship, hosted in the Chapel at Centenary UMC, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, Kentucky at 7 PM. This month will also be a Pre-Summit Gathering of worship and prayer for our 4th Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit coming up soon the weekend of February 4-5, hosted this year at Consolidated Baptist Church. A flyer is attached to forward on. All are welcome. Please come join us and spread the word!
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give to our Ministry: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfolding, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).
Thank You for my inheritance in heaven. Thank You that it's "imperishable"--it can't be destroyed or taken away, sealed forever in Your no-slip-grip, forever extended to the hands and hearts extended to You. Thank You that it's "undefiled"--it can't be tainted or tarnished, perfected in the holiness and purity of Your splendor and glory. Thank You that it's "unfolding"--it continues to advance and increase, infinitely expanding like the universe You created with the mighty words of God.
And thank You for my inheritance of Your protection and provision of my salvation by grace, through faith, in Christ that I experience every moment of every day in my journey toward heaven. My salvation is sure. My hope is alive. Because my confidence is in You. No matter what way I may "suffer various trials" on this side of heaven, I need not question Your great mercy and need not doubt Your steadfast love (v. 1:6).
This is why I can always say "It is well with my soul," no matter what each day may hold. This is why my soul can always sing, no matter what I may be need to endure when my faith is "tested by fire" (v. 1:7). Through new birth into this new life in Your Spirit, You've given me the gift of the freedom to choose to "rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy" (v. 1:8). This is "the outcome of (my) faith, the salvation of (my) soul" (v. 1:9).
By the mercy of Your grace and the persistence of Your unfailing love I have "come to trust in (You)" so that all my "faith and hope are set on God" (v. 1:21). This is the treasure that's stored up for me in heaven, but also the treasure that's already mine today, here on earth as it is in heaven. What an inheritance we have as sons and daughters of God in Jesus Christ our Lord! (v. 3:8) In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Come to the Fountain This Friday Night! January 21st, our Messiah Ministries' monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship, hosted in the Chapel at Centenary UMC, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, Kentucky at 7 PM. This month will also be a Pre-Summit Gathering of worship and prayer for our 4th Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit coming up soon the weekend of February 4-5, hosted this year at Consolidated Baptist Church. A flyer is attached to forward on. All are welcome. Please come join us and spread the word!
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give to our Ministry: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
Monday, January 17, 2011
Men of God in Holy Array - Jan 17
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You’re the Lord of Heaven and Earth. You’re the Lord of my life and this day. …
“Your troops will be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, Your young men will come to You like dew from the morning’s womb” (Psalm 110:3, NIV).
During our closing time of Communion together, as I stood before the men of God who came together for this men’s spiritual retreat, in the Spirit I saw us all standing before You. Men of God, willing to server, ready for battle, arrayed in the holy splendor of Your righteousness, filled with light of the glory of Your Holy Spirit.
It had been a good weekend. A very good weekend indeed. Saturday night, five of them raised their hands and came forward to pray for Your salvation. More came to pray to be filled with Your Holy Spirit, sanctified entirely, surrendering all to You, holding nothing back. Others prayed for healing, for freedom, for the “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” that comes as we open our hearts to Your Kingdom and bow our knees to the King of kings and Lord of lords (Romans 14:17). Even a young man in a wheel chair was totally set free of tremendous pain and began to regain flexibility in his knees. In fact, You uprooted much pain, shame, fear, bitterness, rejection, infirmity, pride and rebellion from many of us, as You emptied us, healed us, freed us, and filled us (Ephesians 5:18). You are a mighty God. And You’ve called us to be Your men of God.
And You will be faithful to bring to completion all that You have begun in each one of us (Philippians 1:6). As we declared to You and one another at the beginning of our weekend together, by the grace of God, “We’ll never be the same. We’ll not leave this mountain unchanged.” As so it was. As we looked to You, You changed us; and as we keep looking to You, You’ll keep on changing us (2 Corinthians 3:18). You’re positioning us, with the men and women of God throughout the earth, in holy array for the day of Your battle and for the battles that every day brings—not in our power, our wisdom, or our righteousness, but in Yours. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Come to the Fountain This Friday Night! January 21st, our Messiah Ministries' monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship, hosted in the Chapel at Centenary UMC, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, Kentucky at 7 PM. This month will also be a Pre-Summit Gathering of worship and prayer for our 4th Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit coming up soon the weekend of February 4-5, hosted this year at Consolidated Baptist Church. A flyer is attached to forward on. All are welcome. Please come join us and spread the word!
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give to our Ministry: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
“Your troops will be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, Your young men will come to You like dew from the morning’s womb” (Psalm 110:3, NIV).
During our closing time of Communion together, as I stood before the men of God who came together for this men’s spiritual retreat, in the Spirit I saw us all standing before You. Men of God, willing to server, ready for battle, arrayed in the holy splendor of Your righteousness, filled with light of the glory of Your Holy Spirit.
It had been a good weekend. A very good weekend indeed. Saturday night, five of them raised their hands and came forward to pray for Your salvation. More came to pray to be filled with Your Holy Spirit, sanctified entirely, surrendering all to You, holding nothing back. Others prayed for healing, for freedom, for the “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” that comes as we open our hearts to Your Kingdom and bow our knees to the King of kings and Lord of lords (Romans 14:17). Even a young man in a wheel chair was totally set free of tremendous pain and began to regain flexibility in his knees. In fact, You uprooted much pain, shame, fear, bitterness, rejection, infirmity, pride and rebellion from many of us, as You emptied us, healed us, freed us, and filled us (Ephesians 5:18). You are a mighty God. And You’ve called us to be Your men of God.
And You will be faithful to bring to completion all that You have begun in each one of us (Philippians 1:6). As we declared to You and one another at the beginning of our weekend together, by the grace of God, “We’ll never be the same. We’ll not leave this mountain unchanged.” As so it was. As we looked to You, You changed us; and as we keep looking to You, You’ll keep on changing us (2 Corinthians 3:18). You’re positioning us, with the men and women of God throughout the earth, in holy array for the day of Your battle and for the battles that every day brings—not in our power, our wisdom, or our righteousness, but in Yours. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Come to the Fountain This Friday Night! January 21st, our Messiah Ministries' monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship, hosted in the Chapel at Centenary UMC, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, Kentucky at 7 PM. This month will also be a Pre-Summit Gathering of worship and prayer for our 4th Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit coming up soon the weekend of February 4-5, hosted this year at Consolidated Baptist Church. A flyer is attached to forward on. All are welcome. Please come join us and spread the word!
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give to our Ministry: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Somebody’s Praying for Me - Morning by Morning, Jan 13
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Holy, holy, holy, Lord—God of power and might—heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. …
“For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with the strength that comes from His glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:9-12).
This morning, as I pray with You, I’m suddenly aware of those who are praying for me—praying that I would be filled with the knowledge of Your will, praying that I would lead a life worthy of the Lord, praying that I would please You and bear fruit for You and Your Kingdom, praying that I would grow in the knowledge of God, praying that I would be strengthened with Your power, praying that I would endure everything with patience and joy and thanksgiving, praying that I would encounter and experience the fullness of my calling and destiny and inheritance in Christ. Somebody’s praying for me right now. I can feel it.
Thank You for their prayers. Their prayers are an expression of Your heart for me. “And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27). How humbling it is to think on this thought, that You express Your heart for me and establish Your will for me through the prayers of those take time to pray for me. What an indescribable gift!
And now I pray for them, for every one of them who is praying and has prayed and will pray for me. May they reap what they have sown, a double portion, even a hundred-fold and more (Mark 4:20). May they “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). May they be “filled with all the fullness of God,” filled with all the fullness of Your heart and will and plans and purpose for their life (Ephesians 3:19). May they grow in the knowledge of Your grace and the power of Your love for them, leading a life full of the “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” of “the Kingdom of God” abiding and growing within them more and more every day (Romans 14:17).
May they know that somebody’s praying for them right know. May they feel it and believe it and embrace it, as an expression of Your heart in the power of Your love for them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Friends, please keep us in your prayers this weekend, as I travel today to lead a men's spiritual retreat outside Atlanta, Georgia with the theme "Free to Be Like Jesus!" If you'd be interested in ordering my book on this theme for yourself or small group study or someone else, please see our Resources Page at www.messiah-ministries.org
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Support our Ministry:
www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
“For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with the strength that comes from His glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:9-12).
This morning, as I pray with You, I’m suddenly aware of those who are praying for me—praying that I would be filled with the knowledge of Your will, praying that I would lead a life worthy of the Lord, praying that I would please You and bear fruit for You and Your Kingdom, praying that I would grow in the knowledge of God, praying that I would be strengthened with Your power, praying that I would endure everything with patience and joy and thanksgiving, praying that I would encounter and experience the fullness of my calling and destiny and inheritance in Christ. Somebody’s praying for me right now. I can feel it.
Thank You for their prayers. Their prayers are an expression of Your heart for me. “And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27). How humbling it is to think on this thought, that You express Your heart for me and establish Your will for me through the prayers of those take time to pray for me. What an indescribable gift!
And now I pray for them, for every one of them who is praying and has prayed and will pray for me. May they reap what they have sown, a double portion, even a hundred-fold and more (Mark 4:20). May they “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). May they be “filled with all the fullness of God,” filled with all the fullness of Your heart and will and plans and purpose for their life (Ephesians 3:19). May they grow in the knowledge of Your grace and the power of Your love for them, leading a life full of the “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” of “the Kingdom of God” abiding and growing within them more and more every day (Romans 14:17).
May they know that somebody’s praying for them right know. May they feel it and believe it and embrace it, as an expression of Your heart in the power of Your love for them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Friends, please keep us in your prayers this weekend, as I travel today to lead a men's spiritual retreat outside Atlanta, Georgia with the theme "Free to Be Like Jesus!" If you'd be interested in ordering my book on this theme for yourself or small group study or someone else, please see our Resources Page at www.messiah-ministries.org
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Support our Ministry:
www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
"I Bow My Knees" - Jan 12
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me humble my heart in the sight of the Lord, that You may draw me up into the embrace of Your Presence in the communion of prayer. …
“For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray …” (Ephesians 3:14-19).
I bow my knees before You to pray. To bow my knees is to bow my heart, to bow my will. To bow my knees is to say I acknowledge Your place of authority in my life—not just my life as a whole, but the moments of my life as they unfold day by day. To bow my knees is to say I trust You and Your love for me. “I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness; for You have exalted Your name and Your word above everything. On the day I called, You answered me, You increased my strength of soul” (Psalm 138:2-3).
As I bow down low, You lift my spirit high. As I surrender to You my will, my thoughts and my desires, You empower me with Yours. You exchange my dirt for Your gold, my rags for Your riches, my sins for Your mercy. You draw me out of my meager world I struggle to manage in my own strength and establish me in the surpassing greatness of Your glorious Kingdom, where You clothe me in Your righteousness and empower me with Your authority as a son of God. This is “the hope to which He has called (us), which are the riches of His glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurably greatness of His power for us who believe, according to the working of His great power” (Ephesians 1:18-19).
For this reason, I bow my knees to pray. For this reason entrust all that I am and all that I have to You, Lord God Most High. “O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. O that today you would listen to His voice!” (Psalm 95:6-7) In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give to our Ministry: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
“For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray …” (Ephesians 3:14-19).
I bow my knees before You to pray. To bow my knees is to bow my heart, to bow my will. To bow my knees is to say I acknowledge Your place of authority in my life—not just my life as a whole, but the moments of my life as they unfold day by day. To bow my knees is to say I trust You and Your love for me. “I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness; for You have exalted Your name and Your word above everything. On the day I called, You answered me, You increased my strength of soul” (Psalm 138:2-3).
As I bow down low, You lift my spirit high. As I surrender to You my will, my thoughts and my desires, You empower me with Yours. You exchange my dirt for Your gold, my rags for Your riches, my sins for Your mercy. You draw me out of my meager world I struggle to manage in my own strength and establish me in the surpassing greatness of Your glorious Kingdom, where You clothe me in Your righteousness and empower me with Your authority as a son of God. This is “the hope to which He has called (us), which are the riches of His glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurably greatness of His power for us who believe, according to the working of His great power” (Ephesians 1:18-19).
For this reason, I bow my knees to pray. For this reason entrust all that I am and all that I have to You, Lord God Most High. “O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. O that today you would listen to His voice!” (Psalm 95:6-7) In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give to our Ministry: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
“Abba! Father!” - Jan 11
Good morning, Lord Jesus. All I am and all I have, I entrust into Your care. …
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a child, and if a child, also an heir, through God” (Galatians 4:4-7).
Abba! Father! Daddy! I’m You’re son, not a slave. I’m Your child, not just part of Your creation. You know every cry of my heart. You know need of my life. You even know every hair on my head. And You care. You care deeply—even more than I can imagine.
You want to hear my questions. You want to heal my hurts. You want to lift my burdens, encourage my hopes, and inspire my dreams. You are at work in ways I do not see, moving in ways I cannot feel. All because You care for me and I am infinitely important to You. To realize that is not pride, it’s humility. It’s not thinking more highly of myself than I should, It’s thinking rightly of myself as You desire. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
You a God who cares. You a God who’s a perfect Father and a merciful Savior and a Best Friend. So in obedience and faith, I cast all my cares on You, because You care for me. Take them from me, Daddy. I’m Your child and I need Your help. I know You hear me when I call. And I know help is on its way. As I do, I breathe in deeply of the Spirit of Your Son, the Spirit of Christ within me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). I breathe in hope of the glory of Your manifest Presence, ever abiding with me—my Father and Friend, my Constant Companion, who never leaves me nor forsakes me, who is always with me (Hebrews 13:5). And in that peace, all anxiety must flee away. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give to our Ministry: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a child, and if a child, also an heir, through God” (Galatians 4:4-7).
Abba! Father! Daddy! I’m You’re son, not a slave. I’m Your child, not just part of Your creation. You know every cry of my heart. You know need of my life. You even know every hair on my head. And You care. You care deeply—even more than I can imagine.
You want to hear my questions. You want to heal my hurts. You want to lift my burdens, encourage my hopes, and inspire my dreams. You are at work in ways I do not see, moving in ways I cannot feel. All because You care for me and I am infinitely important to You. To realize that is not pride, it’s humility. It’s not thinking more highly of myself than I should, It’s thinking rightly of myself as You desire. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
You a God who cares. You a God who’s a perfect Father and a merciful Savior and a Best Friend. So in obedience and faith, I cast all my cares on You, because You care for me. Take them from me, Daddy. I’m Your child and I need Your help. I know You hear me when I call. And I know help is on its way. As I do, I breathe in deeply of the Spirit of Your Son, the Spirit of Christ within me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). I breathe in hope of the glory of Your manifest Presence, ever abiding with me—my Father and Friend, my Constant Companion, who never leaves me nor forsakes me, who is always with me (Hebrews 13:5). And in that peace, all anxiety must flee away. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give to our Ministry: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
Monday, January 10, 2011
Wisdom from the One Who Knows - Jan 10
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I give You my heart, mind, soul, and strength. …
“Before they call, I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).
Before I pray, You already know the desires of my heart. Before I speak, You already know the petitions forming in my thoughts. You already know everything about me, in every dimension of my being and in every moment of my life—past, present, and future. You already know the temptations I’ll face, the opportunities I’ll have, and the choices I’ll make. And whether I acknowledge Your Presence, seek Your help, embrace Your guidance or not, “You are there” with me, just as You have always been there with me, and always will be there with me, through it all (Psalm 139:8-12).
So I would be a fool to fail to begin my day without seeking Your face and welcoming Your embrace. I would be a fool to fail to bow my will to Your wisdom and entrust the moments of my day to Your leading. “Those who trust in their own wits are fools; but those who walk in wisdom come through safely” (Proverbs 28:26). “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).
To seek to “understand what the will of the Lord is” is the wisest and most important choice I will make today. That’s why I want it to be my first choice and my continual choice throughout the moments of my day. Why would I not willingly trust the One who answers before I call and knows my needs before I speak? Why would choice, instead, to foolishly trust in myself alone, denying the wisdom of the ages that’s available to me for the asking? (James 1:5)
These ancient words are forever true: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones…. Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding…. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are those who retain her…. Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble…. Surely He gives scorn to the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools” (Proverbs 3:5-35, KNJV).
Lord, I need Your grace and Your wisdom. Let me know Your will so I call walk in Your ways. I welcome You to continually put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart by the leading of Your Holy Spirit throughout the moments of my day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give to Our Ministry: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
“Before they call, I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).
Before I pray, You already know the desires of my heart. Before I speak, You already know the petitions forming in my thoughts. You already know everything about me, in every dimension of my being and in every moment of my life—past, present, and future. You already know the temptations I’ll face, the opportunities I’ll have, and the choices I’ll make. And whether I acknowledge Your Presence, seek Your help, embrace Your guidance or not, “You are there” with me, just as You have always been there with me, and always will be there with me, through it all (Psalm 139:8-12).
So I would be a fool to fail to begin my day without seeking Your face and welcoming Your embrace. I would be a fool to fail to bow my will to Your wisdom and entrust the moments of my day to Your leading. “Those who trust in their own wits are fools; but those who walk in wisdom come through safely” (Proverbs 28:26). “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).
To seek to “understand what the will of the Lord is” is the wisest and most important choice I will make today. That’s why I want it to be my first choice and my continual choice throughout the moments of my day. Why would I not willingly trust the One who answers before I call and knows my needs before I speak? Why would choice, instead, to foolishly trust in myself alone, denying the wisdom of the ages that’s available to me for the asking? (James 1:5)
These ancient words are forever true: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones…. Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding…. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are those who retain her…. Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble…. Surely He gives scorn to the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools” (Proverbs 3:5-35, KNJV).
Lord, I need Your grace and Your wisdom. Let me know Your will so I call walk in Your ways. I welcome You to continually put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart by the leading of Your Holy Spirit throughout the moments of my day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give to Our Ministry: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
Friday, January 07, 2011
“My God Has Become My Strength” - Jan 7
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I bow low in awe of Your majesty and draw near in wonder of Your intimacy. …
“My God has become my strength” (from Isaiah 49:5).
My God … has become … my strength. As Your Spirit leads me to read through this passage of Scripture this morning, my thoughts can’t move beyond these words. My God … has become … my strength.
In the eyes of the world, this would be a declaration of weakness, dependence, vulnerability, servitude. And so it is. But it’s a willing declaration made from whom one who’s come to believe You are the One who is worthy to be the center of his life. It’s a complete dedication of heart, mind, soul, and strength to the One who knows best and always has his best interest at heart. And it’s a deliberate decision to trust in You instead of himself or anyone else or anything else to be Lord of his life.
The prophet Isaiah’s words describe a heart of deep humility—the deliberate decision to be desperately dependent upon God. He’s discovered that humility is greatest key of the Kingdom of God. Nothing draws the grace of God, opens up the heavens of God, and embraces the favor of God like the heart of humility before God. “But He gives all the more grace; therefore, it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’ ” (James 4:6). You taught the Apostle Paul this same powerful spiritual principle: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me… for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
“My God … has become … my strength.” Isaiah’s words are personal—“My God.” His words acknowledge the journey of faith in the unfolding process of time and steady transformation from deepening trust—“has become.” And his words speak of the steadfast, confident assurance that he has resolved to live his life in the power of Your Spirit rather than dependence upon his flesh—“my strength.”
O Lord, my God. You are my God, just as You are Isaiah’s and Paul’s. You’re the God of every prophet and apostle, every disciple and servant, every son and daughter. The truth is You are the God of us all, whether we acknowledge You or not. But it is our choice to choose whether You will become our strength, whether we will deliberately choose to be desperately dependent upon You in humility and faith. So by whatever measure of humility and grace You’ve given me, I make my choice and my declaration with these spiritual models of men of faith who have gone before me—“My God has become my strength.” In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
“My God has become my strength” (from Isaiah 49:5).
My God … has become … my strength. As Your Spirit leads me to read through this passage of Scripture this morning, my thoughts can’t move beyond these words. My God … has become … my strength.
In the eyes of the world, this would be a declaration of weakness, dependence, vulnerability, servitude. And so it is. But it’s a willing declaration made from whom one who’s come to believe You are the One who is worthy to be the center of his life. It’s a complete dedication of heart, mind, soul, and strength to the One who knows best and always has his best interest at heart. And it’s a deliberate decision to trust in You instead of himself or anyone else or anything else to be Lord of his life.
The prophet Isaiah’s words describe a heart of deep humility—the deliberate decision to be desperately dependent upon God. He’s discovered that humility is greatest key of the Kingdom of God. Nothing draws the grace of God, opens up the heavens of God, and embraces the favor of God like the heart of humility before God. “But He gives all the more grace; therefore, it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’ ” (James 4:6). You taught the Apostle Paul this same powerful spiritual principle: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me… for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
“My God … has become … my strength.” Isaiah’s words are personal—“My God.” His words acknowledge the journey of faith in the unfolding process of time and steady transformation from deepening trust—“has become.” And his words speak of the steadfast, confident assurance that he has resolved to live his life in the power of Your Spirit rather than dependence upon his flesh—“my strength.”
O Lord, my God. You are my God, just as You are Isaiah’s and Paul’s. You’re the God of every prophet and apostle, every disciple and servant, every son and daughter. The truth is You are the God of us all, whether we acknowledge You or not. But it is our choice to choose whether You will become our strength, whether we will deliberately choose to be desperately dependent upon You in humility and faith. So by whatever measure of humility and grace You’ve given me, I make my choice and my declaration with these spiritual models of men of faith who have gone before me—“My God has become my strength.” In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Servants in Whom God will be Glorified - Jan 6
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I call on Your name and listen for Your voice. …
“Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb, He named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid me; He made me a polished arrow, in His quiver He hid me away. And He said to me, you are My servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified” (Isaiah 49:1-3).
Isaiah was a boy, who grew to be a man, who came to know he was created and called by God with purpose and destiny for his life. He was both a son and servant of God. And so was the nation of people of whom he was born and to whom he was sent. He was chosen. And his nation was chosen. They were chosen to be means of the revelation of Your love and mercy for us all. As You said of Isaiah and his nation, “It is too light a thing that you should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (v. 49:6).
And as Israel’s Redeemer and Messiah, as the Redeemer and Messiah of us all, the Light and Salvation of all nations, You embraced Isaiah’s words and calling and destiny as a foretaste of Your own—yet in a dimension and fulfillment that Isaiah could not have fully known. As both Son of Man and Son of God, You would be the Son and Servant of God, You alone would be the Salvation of God that reaches to the end of the earth, to the people of all nations and all generations (Matthew 12:17-21; Luke 4:17-19; John 12:41).
And now the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of the Messiah, the Holy Spirit of the Living God, dwells in each of us who are called by Your name, embracing Your gift of Salvation and Redemption for us and our world. “You are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9). In that sense, we each can also see the words and calling and destiny of Isaiah as a foretaste of our own, in the unique way You have created and called each one of us to reveal Your love and light to the world around us: “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Yes, Lord. By the mercy and mystery of the power of Your grace and love, may I carry Your message of salvation and redemption wherever You call me or send me as one of Your lights in this world, because the Spirit of the One who is the Light dwells in me. As You said to Your first disciples and to all who would follow You throughout the ages, “You are the light of the world … let your light shine before others …” (Matthew 5:14-16). This is our calling and destiny, to be fulfilled as Your servants, Your sons and daughters by the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us (Matthew 28:18-20). Isaiah knew his calling and destiny. So did You. And we are to know ours. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
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“Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb, He named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid me; He made me a polished arrow, in His quiver He hid me away. And He said to me, you are My servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified” (Isaiah 49:1-3).
Isaiah was a boy, who grew to be a man, who came to know he was created and called by God with purpose and destiny for his life. He was both a son and servant of God. And so was the nation of people of whom he was born and to whom he was sent. He was chosen. And his nation was chosen. They were chosen to be means of the revelation of Your love and mercy for us all. As You said of Isaiah and his nation, “It is too light a thing that you should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (v. 49:6).
And as Israel’s Redeemer and Messiah, as the Redeemer and Messiah of us all, the Light and Salvation of all nations, You embraced Isaiah’s words and calling and destiny as a foretaste of Your own—yet in a dimension and fulfillment that Isaiah could not have fully known. As both Son of Man and Son of God, You would be the Son and Servant of God, You alone would be the Salvation of God that reaches to the end of the earth, to the people of all nations and all generations (Matthew 12:17-21; Luke 4:17-19; John 12:41).
And now the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of the Messiah, the Holy Spirit of the Living God, dwells in each of us who are called by Your name, embracing Your gift of Salvation and Redemption for us and our world. “You are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9). In that sense, we each can also see the words and calling and destiny of Isaiah as a foretaste of our own, in the unique way You have created and called each one of us to reveal Your love and light to the world around us: “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Yes, Lord. By the mercy and mystery of the power of Your grace and love, may I carry Your message of salvation and redemption wherever You call me or send me as one of Your lights in this world, because the Spirit of the One who is the Light dwells in me. As You said to Your first disciples and to all who would follow You throughout the ages, “You are the light of the world … let your light shine before others …” (Matthew 5:14-16). This is our calling and destiny, to be fulfilled as Your servants, Your sons and daughters by the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us (Matthew 28:18-20). Isaiah knew his calling and destiny. So did You. And we are to know ours. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
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Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Walls of Division Come Down! - Jan 5
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Steadfast and sure, mighty and majestic, You the One I totally trust. Welcome into my heart and every moment of my day. …
“Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Last night we met to plan with our diverse team to plan our annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit that You’ve called our ministry to lead for several years now. It seems You’ve led us to unite together in prayer, from across all the diverse streams and traditions of our city-wide church and region to seek Your face, as we encounter Your Presence together in prayer, praise, and proclamation. And every year, You’ve come to speak to us and impart into us Your vision and purposes for Your Church in our region in the coming year in a way that stirs our hearts and revives our souls to seek to fulfill our commission with renewed passion for You and the people You’ve called us to love and serve.
We’ve never seen such racial diversity and unity of Your Body coming together for this Prayer Summit. And the fervent expectancy of encountering Your Presence and experiencing Your power, as we hunger and thirst to welcome and embrace Your Holy Spirit to transform us and our communities is higher than I’ve ever known. “How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!… For there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore” (Psalm 133, NKJV).
In all our planning and preparation, in every moment of this Prayer Summit, may Your name, Lord Jesus, be high and lifted up. Your name is the cry and creed that unites us as Your Body in this city and region and throughout all the earth. And when Your name is high and lifted up, when we exalt You alone and the sacrifice of love You’ve poured out for us upon the cross, You draw all people to You (John 12:32). When we come together in the bond and unity of Your Holy Spirit as the Body of Christ, You move in power to draw the souls of men and women to You as Lord. As You prayed long ago in Your time on this earth as both Son of Man and Son of God, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one. As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me” (John 17:20-21).
Last night, as we listened together for Your voice, I believe I heard You say, “Bringing down the walls of division, raising up a wall of prayer.” Lord, let it be so. Let our unity in the Spirit bring down the spiritual walls of division among us in the spiritual realm of our city and region. Raise up Your wall of prayer around us, opening up Your heavens over us. As You spoke Your Word through two of our leaders: “See, I have inscribed you upon the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me” (Isaiah 49:16). “A day for the building of your walls! In the day the boundary shall be far extended” (Micah 7:11).
Yes, Lord. Bring down our walls of division; raise up Your wall of prayer—here and around the world, throughout the Body of Christ. Let us be one in Your Holy Spirit as You and our Father are One. Let our prayers and praise be continually before You. Extend the boundary of our hearts with love for You and the people of our land You’ve entrusted to us to love and serve. Let Your Kingdom come within us and through us, “because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Friends, please keep us in prayer the weekend of February 4-5, 2011 for our 4th Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit. This year our ministry will be leading this gathering hosted with Pastor Richard Gaines at Consolidated Baptist Church on the northwest side of Lexington, Kentucky ( http://www.consolidatedbaptist.org/ ). If you're in our region, please come and spread the word--it will be Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night. A flyer with tentative schedule will be available soon. May the Lord move in the power of His Presence for revival and awakening in your city and region, as well as ours! God bless you!
“Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Last night we met to plan with our diverse team to plan our annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit that You’ve called our ministry to lead for several years now. It seems You’ve led us to unite together in prayer, from across all the diverse streams and traditions of our city-wide church and region to seek Your face, as we encounter Your Presence together in prayer, praise, and proclamation. And every year, You’ve come to speak to us and impart into us Your vision and purposes for Your Church in our region in the coming year in a way that stirs our hearts and revives our souls to seek to fulfill our commission with renewed passion for You and the people You’ve called us to love and serve.
We’ve never seen such racial diversity and unity of Your Body coming together for this Prayer Summit. And the fervent expectancy of encountering Your Presence and experiencing Your power, as we hunger and thirst to welcome and embrace Your Holy Spirit to transform us and our communities is higher than I’ve ever known. “How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!… For there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore” (Psalm 133, NKJV).
In all our planning and preparation, in every moment of this Prayer Summit, may Your name, Lord Jesus, be high and lifted up. Your name is the cry and creed that unites us as Your Body in this city and region and throughout all the earth. And when Your name is high and lifted up, when we exalt You alone and the sacrifice of love You’ve poured out for us upon the cross, You draw all people to You (John 12:32). When we come together in the bond and unity of Your Holy Spirit as the Body of Christ, You move in power to draw the souls of men and women to You as Lord. As You prayed long ago in Your time on this earth as both Son of Man and Son of God, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one. As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me” (John 17:20-21).
Last night, as we listened together for Your voice, I believe I heard You say, “Bringing down the walls of division, raising up a wall of prayer.” Lord, let it be so. Let our unity in the Spirit bring down the spiritual walls of division among us in the spiritual realm of our city and region. Raise up Your wall of prayer around us, opening up Your heavens over us. As You spoke Your Word through two of our leaders: “See, I have inscribed you upon the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me” (Isaiah 49:16). “A day for the building of your walls! In the day the boundary shall be far extended” (Micah 7:11).
Yes, Lord. Bring down our walls of division; raise up Your wall of prayer—here and around the world, throughout the Body of Christ. Let us be one in Your Holy Spirit as You and our Father are One. Let our prayers and praise be continually before You. Extend the boundary of our hearts with love for You and the people of our land You’ve entrusted to us to love and serve. Let Your Kingdom come within us and through us, “because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Friends, please keep us in prayer the weekend of February 4-5, 2011 for our 4th Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit. This year our ministry will be leading this gathering hosted with Pastor Richard Gaines at Consolidated Baptist Church on the northwest side of Lexington, Kentucky ( http://www.consolidatedbaptist.org/ ). If you're in our region, please come and spread the word--it will be Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night. A flyer with tentative schedule will be available soon. May the Lord move in the power of His Presence for revival and awakening in your city and region, as well as ours! God bless you!
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
The Unfolding of Creation - Jan 4
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I give You my heart, mind, soul, and strength. I give You my spirit, soul, and body. I give You my all, because You gave Your all for me. …
“The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).
In the beginning, You said, “Let there be light;” and there was light. At the moment of conception in my mother’s womb, You said, “Let there be Tommy;” and there was me. Your words bring to life all that there is. And just like at the very beginning of creation or the very beginning of me, Your words also contain all that will unfold to display the fullness of Your creation in the fullness of time (Psalm 139:16). “How weighty to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (v. 139:17).
Your words contain the genesis of what will become revelation. Your words give illumination to what will become impartation. They are the conception that will become consummation. They are both the seed and the soil of what will become the full harvest of our lives and all creation, as Your words unfold with like a tiny acorn that unfolds into a mighty oak tree.
Give me patience to wait for the unfolding of Your words You’ve imparted and implanted within me. Give me spiritual sensitivity to keep directing my focus and opening my heart to the light they bring. Give me expectant faith for the unfolding of Your words for my life this new year and this new season. And give me the simple wisdom to understand my part to prepare and position and participate, as best as I can and all by Your grace, in the unfolding of Your plans for my life in the unfolding display of Your creation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
“The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).
In the beginning, You said, “Let there be light;” and there was light. At the moment of conception in my mother’s womb, You said, “Let there be Tommy;” and there was me. Your words bring to life all that there is. And just like at the very beginning of creation or the very beginning of me, Your words also contain all that will unfold to display the fullness of Your creation in the fullness of time (Psalm 139:16). “How weighty to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (v. 139:17).
Your words contain the genesis of what will become revelation. Your words give illumination to what will become impartation. They are the conception that will become consummation. They are both the seed and the soil of what will become the full harvest of our lives and all creation, as Your words unfold with like a tiny acorn that unfolds into a mighty oak tree.
Give me patience to wait for the unfolding of Your words You’ve imparted and implanted within me. Give me spiritual sensitivity to keep directing my focus and opening my heart to the light they bring. Give me expectant faith for the unfolding of Your words for my life this new year and this new season. And give me the simple wisdom to understand my part to prepare and position and participate, as best as I can and all by Your grace, in the unfolding of Your plans for my life in the unfolding display of Your creation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
Monday, January 03, 2011
“It is Well” - January 3, 2011
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to begin this day and the journey of this new year here in Your Presence, yielded to Your Spirit, surrendered to Your will, committed to Your way. …
“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 2-4).
It is well with my soul when I walk in the truth. And I know that it brings Your heart joy whenever You see my faithfulness to the truth. Just as I know it breaks Your heart in those moments when I am less than faithful to all that’s in Your heart for the choices of my life. And I praise You for this truth of Your steadfast love and tender mercies, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). As we commit our hearts to walk in the paths of Your righteousness, You never cease to keep guiding our hearts back to the way that leads to life. “For though they fall seven times, they will rise again” (Proverbs 24:16).
So in these first days of this new year, I entrust again my heart and commit again my path to the wisdom and the way of the One who is “called Faithful and True” (Revelation 19:11). Let my prayer and my commitment, all by the grace You give, bring You joy today and throughout the days to come. Quickly draw me back if I begin to stray, quickly convict me of my sin if I falter or fail, quickly embrace me again as I allow my heart to follow to leading of Your Spirit in to an ever-deepening place of intimacy and trust in the arms of my God. Throughout all the days of the journey to come this new year, let it be well with my soul because I’ve entrusted my soul to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
God bless you, my friend, as you begin this new year with your heart and soul committed to Christ. Thank you for joining my in the journey of prayer, as we look with expectant faith to see all the Lord will unfold in our lives this year! May it be well with your soul!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Morning by Morning, Dec 31 – First and Final Word of Love
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Heavenly Father. Good morning, Holy Spirit. You are one God in three Persons, revealing three dimensions of Your Being, all united in pure and perfect love. And I have this lifetime and all the rest of eternity to seek You and love You, in response to Your perfect love for me. …
“So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them” (1 John 4:16).
This morning I’ve come to the end of another year of my journey of prayer—seeking Your face, listening for Your voice, following Your leading, as I seek to begin my day deliberately, intentionally centered in Christ, embraced by the Father, and filled with the Holy Spirit morning by morning. Most of these mornings, I’ve journaled my prayers in the expression of my heart of my best understanding of Yours. And every morning, You’ve drawn me into the place of excited expectation to listen to hear what You would speak to my heart and stir in my spirit. Thank You for the gift of this daily adventure and the blessing of calling me into this journey of prayer.
But after all the Scriptures, images, conversations, and encounters we’ve had in our communion of prayer along the way, You’ve brought me back to this foundational Word in these closing moments of this year: “God is love.” That’s really the heart of it all, the foundation, the cornerstone, the bedrock, the be all and end all of coming to know You in the communion of prayer and the journey of life. This is the alpha and omega of knowing You. This is the beginning and end of any journey with You. As You said long ago, everything You’ve ever said to us through Your written Word or prophetic words are rooted and grounded in this nature of Your Being (Matthew 22:37).
So as I write these last words of this past year in my journal of prayer with You, I sing to You this simple song You’re writing now on my heart in my time with You. …
As I seek Your face
And embrace Your grace
I know I need Your love
More than life, more than breath
More than doing right or anything else
I know I need Your love
And I thank You Lord
For Your steadfast love
It is who You are to me
More than faithful, more than true
More than Your Word and all that’s good
I know You are Love to me
Yes, Lord. I know You are Love to me. Love is Your first and final word for me. Love is Your eternal word for me. And for all who will embrace You on the basis of Your love for them (John 3:16). I thank You for loving us enough to reveal to us this truth of who You truly are. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
To Subscribe: www.messiah-ministries.org/home
To Give: www.messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Preparing to Spring Forth in the New Season - Dec 30
Good morning, Lord Jesus. With clean hands and a pure heart, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and purified by the fire of the Spirit, draw me up to the mountain of the Lord through the communion of prayer. …
“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. 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” (Isaiah 43:18-19).
Thank You for the lessons of this past year. Thank You for the opportunities to grow in grace, to dig deep in humility, to reach out in love. Thank You for walking with me through every valley, standing with me through every fire, and climbing with me to every peak. You’ve never left me, never forsaken me; You’ve always been faithful be here with me through it all. And I know by faith and by experience that that will never change. Praise You, Lord—my God and Savior, my Maker and Master, my Constant Companion and Best Friend.
Now that the experiences and encounters of this past year are a part of who I’ve become, all filtered through Your hands and redeemed by Your grace, prepare my heart and soul for the year to come. Increase the sensitivity of my spirit to perceive what You are doing. Open the eyes of my heart to see all You want to show me in Your wisdom and settle my soul in peace to rest in Your goodness and faithfulness for all that You choose not to show me.
Give me courage to let go of the former things You’re leading me to entrust to Your ever-unfolding plans and boldness to embrace the new thing You’re preparing for me in the season ahead. As it begins to spring forth, let me not shrink back, but spring forth with it in expectant faith. I have no doubt that by this time next year, I will again be with You in prayer that I “might declare (Your) praise” (v. 43:21). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
I pray for God's Holy Spirit to prepare your heart for the days and season to come in this next new year of your life. May the Lord fulfill all His plans through your life, as He fills you with the "righteousness and peace and joy" of His Kingdom within you (Romans 14:17). God bless you and thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer!
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
"Flee to Egypt" - Dec 28
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me close to You. Help me start this day and every day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...
"Now after (the wise men) had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the Child to destroy Him.' Then Joseph got up, too the Child and His mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had spoken by the Lord through the prophet, 'Out of Egypt I have called My Son' " (Matthew 2:13-15).
Even the plans of God can be opposed by men. And yet, even the opposition of man is part of the plans of God. The murder of Joseph and Mary's Child was never in the heart of God, but God always knew that murder would be in the heart of Herod. So God sent His word through His angel in a dream to His children to respond in obedience to save the life of Christ and fulfill His plans.
Did Joseph have the freedom of will to respond? Did Mary have the freedom of will to gather her Child and follow her husband to a foreign land away from her family to raise her Child among a people she didn't know? Did Herod have the freedom of will to humble his soul, renounce the murder in his heart, and honor this Child who was said to be born King of the Jews according to the Word of God?
Somehow in the mystery of Your sovereignty and our freedom, You know our choices, yet our choices are real. Your very nature and the nature of Your plans for our lives require our freedom: God is love; and You've created us for a relationship of love. Love requires freedom, because love without freely choosing to love is not love at all. So You could not be who You are, creating us in Your image, for a relationship with You in Your nature without the freedom of will that love requires (1 John 4:16).
Yet in Your sovereignty and infinite knowledge that sees the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end, You have always known every choice we will ever make. Your prophetic words of what will take place are merely an expression of what You have known to have always been true even before the unfolding of those events in the fullness of time. Joseph and Mary's choices were real. Herod's choices were real. Even the angel's choice to go share the message of God in a dream to Joseph was real. Any could have chosen to obey or disobey the choices You set before them, but their choices and ours are a reflection of our trust in You and our love for You in the freedom You've given us in the sovereignty of Your will (Deuteronomy 30:15-20; John 15:10).
And Herod's heart to destroy Mary's Child to thwart the plans of God is also a prophetic picture of the spiritual battle for the hearts and souls of men and women throughout all generations: "The the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to His throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished .... Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated ..." (Revelation 12:4-8).
Lord, thank You for the freedom You've given me to choose to love--love that's reflected in my choices to trust and obey. You have plans for my life, and there's a spiritual battle for the destiny of my soul and the fulfillment of Your plans. The same is true for us all (Jeremiah 19:11; 1 Peter 5:8). But You will be sending forth Your word and sending forth Your angels in ways I don't always know to stir in my heart and move in my life to accomplish Your plans--plans You've always known, all in the light of the choices I will always have (Psalm 139:16). Love will allow nothing less.
Sometimes Your love and Your plans may command me to even "flee to Egypt"--to places that may seem far away from what seems like the plans for my life. But Egypt may be necessary to preserve and prepare my life for the fulfillment of my destiny. It may be that it's "out of Egypt" that You desire to call forth Your son when You call me to come in the fullness of time. You already know whatever I'll face in the journey of my life. So let me be ready to choose to flee or to come however You command out of Your love and Your plans that I choose to belief are perfect for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply to Tommy Hays: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe or Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources
from Messiah Ministries: http://www.messiah-ministries.org/
"Now after (the wise men) had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the Child to destroy Him.' Then Joseph got up, too the Child and His mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had spoken by the Lord through the prophet, 'Out of Egypt I have called My Son' " (Matthew 2:13-15).
Even the plans of God can be opposed by men. And yet, even the opposition of man is part of the plans of God. The murder of Joseph and Mary's Child was never in the heart of God, but God always knew that murder would be in the heart of Herod. So God sent His word through His angel in a dream to His children to respond in obedience to save the life of Christ and fulfill His plans.
Did Joseph have the freedom of will to respond? Did Mary have the freedom of will to gather her Child and follow her husband to a foreign land away from her family to raise her Child among a people she didn't know? Did Herod have the freedom of will to humble his soul, renounce the murder in his heart, and honor this Child who was said to be born King of the Jews according to the Word of God?
Somehow in the mystery of Your sovereignty and our freedom, You know our choices, yet our choices are real. Your very nature and the nature of Your plans for our lives require our freedom: God is love; and You've created us for a relationship of love. Love requires freedom, because love without freely choosing to love is not love at all. So You could not be who You are, creating us in Your image, for a relationship with You in Your nature without the freedom of will that love requires (1 John 4:16).
Yet in Your sovereignty and infinite knowledge that sees the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end, You have always known every choice we will ever make. Your prophetic words of what will take place are merely an expression of what You have known to have always been true even before the unfolding of those events in the fullness of time. Joseph and Mary's choices were real. Herod's choices were real. Even the angel's choice to go share the message of God in a dream to Joseph was real. Any could have chosen to obey or disobey the choices You set before them, but their choices and ours are a reflection of our trust in You and our love for You in the freedom You've given us in the sovereignty of Your will (Deuteronomy 30:15-20; John 15:10).
And Herod's heart to destroy Mary's Child to thwart the plans of God is also a prophetic picture of the spiritual battle for the hearts and souls of men and women throughout all generations: "The the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to His throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished .... Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated ..." (Revelation 12:4-8).
Lord, thank You for the freedom You've given me to choose to love--love that's reflected in my choices to trust and obey. You have plans for my life, and there's a spiritual battle for the destiny of my soul and the fulfillment of Your plans. The same is true for us all (Jeremiah 19:11; 1 Peter 5:8). But You will be sending forth Your word and sending forth Your angels in ways I don't always know to stir in my heart and move in my life to accomplish Your plans--plans You've always known, all in the light of the choices I will always have (Psalm 139:16). Love will allow nothing less.
Sometimes Your love and Your plans may command me to even "flee to Egypt"--to places that may seem far away from what seems like the plans for my life. But Egypt may be necessary to preserve and prepare my life for the fulfillment of my destiny. It may be that it's "out of Egypt" that You desire to call forth Your son when You call me to come in the fullness of time. You already know whatever I'll face in the journey of my life. So let me be ready to choose to flee or to come however You command out of Your love and Your plans that I choose to belief are perfect for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply to Tommy Hays: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe or Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources
from Messiah Ministries: http://www.messiah-ministries.org/
Monday, December 27, 2010
“Overwhelmed with Joy!” - Dec 27
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my thoughts and at the heart of my desires. …
“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the Child who has been born King of the Jews? For we observed His star at its rising, and have come to pay Him homage’ … When they had heard the king they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy! On entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they knelt down and paid Him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:1-11).
All the heavens declare Your glory. All of nature is a sign of Your sovereignty. The very stars You created rose in the sky to align in rare majesty to proclaim Your coming. And those who were wise to read the signs of their times saw prophecies of old come to pass in their lives. “… For so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the ruler of Judah; for from you shall come a Ruler who is to shepherd My people Israel’ ” (v. 2:5-6).
I wasn’t there to look up in the heavens to see Your star. I wasn’t there to come and kneel at Your feet in the little town of Bethlehem. I have no treasure chests to open up to You and no costly gifts to lay down before You. But when I read Your story and think of Your birth and all that that means for me and for all You came to save in the mercy of Your love, I’m also just as overwhelmed with joy! God with us, Emmanuel. Jesus, the Salvation of all! As they say, “Wise men still seek Him.” In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
God bless you, my friend in this season of joy! I pray that no matter what season you're in and whatever the signs of your times, you will know the peace of Christ and the joy of the Lord, as you embrace His abiding Presence with you.
To Reply to Tommy Hays: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe or Contribute to Messiah Ministries: http://www.messiah-ministries.org/
Saturday, December 25, 2010
“Born this Day!” - Dec 25
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Happy Birthday! …
“ ‘To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a Child wrapped on bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’ ” (Luke 2:11-14)
Glory to You, Lord God! Fill our hearts and all the earth with Your peace again this morning. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light! … For unto us a Child is born, a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:2-6, NKJV). Let all the earth rejoice! Emmanuel, God is with us!
And as children around the world wake from their beds and hurry to see waits gifts are waiting for them, as mommys and daddys around the world delight to give good gifts to their children, as friends and family love one another and rejoice with each other in every tribe and tongue and nation today, let us remember the Gift of God this happy morn—the Gift of this Child who restores our hearts to child-like faith at the wonder of the love and grace of our God. Glory to God in the highest, and earth, peace, goodwill toward men and women, boys and girls, young and old, celebrating this day in all the joy of the Spirit of Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
To Reply to Tommy Hays: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe or Contribute to Messiah Ministries: http://www.messiah-ministries.org/
To Reply to Tommy Hays: TommyHays@aol.com
To Subscribe or Contribute to Messiah Ministries: http://www.messiah-ministries.org/
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