Morning by Morning—Daily Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

"Set Me Secure on the Heights" - October 5

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord; and I thank You first for loving me. Out of that love, I want to live for You and the glory of Your name today. ...

"For Who is God except the Lord? And Who is a rock besides our God?-the God Who girded me with strength, and made my way safe. He made my feet like the feet of a deer, and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand has supported me; Your help has made me great" (Psalm 18:31-35).

Your Word says, "Your help has made me great." Is it true, Lord, that it's in Your heart for my life to help me to make me great? It somehow seems a little prideful, arrogant, or self-centered; it even seems a little sacrilegious to think about You making me great. You are God, and You are great.

It seems I hear You say: "My son, you are great because you are My child. That is your identity; that is your greatness. I save you and sanctify you; I strengthen you and support you; I train you and equip you to live out your great destiny because of your great identity in Me."

Thank You, Lord. Help me see myself and each of Your children as You do. "Set me secure on the heights" of this truth of Your Word. I renounce in the name of Jesus all false-pride, false-humility, and false-religion that would say anything less than what Your Word says of me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Friends, please keep us in prayer as we begin our Level 1 School of Spiritual Ministry today in Lexington! Our Messiah Ministries' 4 Day School for equipping and impartation in healing prayer ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org

For those who can't come join us in person, we have our Level 1 and Level 2

4-Day Schools of Spiritual Ministry available on DVD, as well as my books and our other ministry resources: www.messiah-ministries.org/resources

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

"My Soul Waits in Silence" - October 4

Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, be King and Lord of all that I am and all that I have. ...

"For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people. Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us" (Psalm 62:5-8).

When I rise in the morning to sit in the silence to listen for Your voice, I'm entrusting my heart and thoughts to You. Everything else becomes dim in my view for these first few moments of the morning, when You alone are my focus. Here in the silence of surrender, here in the time of trusting, I reset the priorities of my life to remember that You alone are my rock and my salvation; You alone are my fortress and refuge; You are alone are my deliverance and honor; You alone are my God.

And as I pour out my heart before You and open up my heart for You, You draw near and hold me close. You lift my face and fill me up. You remind me that You know all about me-every need and burden, every worry and fear, every sin and failure, every hope and desire. You remind me that You're for me. "If God is for (me), who can be against (me)? (Romans 8:31) Then it's from that place of knowing Your steadfast love, Your constant gaze, and Your abiding Presence, that I rise and go forth to meet the day-trusting in the One Who alone is God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

For those who can't come join us in person, we have our Level 1 and Level 2

4-Day Schools of Spiritual Ministry available on DVD, as well as my books and our other ministry resources: www.messiah-ministries.org/resources

It's not too late to sign up for our 4 Day School starting Wednesday! We're excited that the registrations for our upcoming Level 1 School of Spiritual Ministry indicate this may be our biggest class ever! Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healing prayer ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org

Monday, October 03, 2011

"A Tree of Life" - October 3

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day and every day knowing I'm embraced by the Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12).

Lord, let my desires be Your desires. Let my longings, be Your longings. When You fulfill the desires that are consumed with Your desires and satisfy the longings that are driven by Your longings, they are a tree of life for me. They are like a tree planted by the waters that does not wither in the dry seasons and does not break in the storms. They bear the fruit of a life filled with peace and love and joy, no matter what challenges and circumstances may come.

You are the God Who "fulfills the desire of all who fear Him" and the God Who "watches over all who love Him" (Psalm 145:19-20). You are the God Who wants Your joy fulfilled in us (John 17:13). And You are the God Who invites us, "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4).

Every day may not be like this day. But this day, my heart is full of gratitude and peace and joy. I woke up in my warm bed, next to my loving wife, after a wonderful night of fulfilling ministry with our New Life Community of friends with the home group from our church. My children are healthy and have Jesus in their hearts. I have productive work to do today that will make a difference in peoples' lives, as I help them trust You with their burdens and pain to be whole and free in the power of Your name.

Today, I have a confident hope in my heart that You are at work in my life, fulfilling the desires and satisfying the longings that You have placed there to guide my steps along the path of Your plan for my life. It's all by Your grace. Thank You for this day that You've given me the grace to recognize the fruit of this tree of life that's flourishing exceedingly, abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

For those who can't come join us in person, we have our Level 1 and Level 2

4-Day Schools of Spiritual Ministry available on DVD, as well as my books and our other ministry resources: www.messiah-ministries.org/resources

Friday, September 30, 2011

The Place of Sacrifice and Surrender - September 30

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my face and open up my heart to welcome the King of Glory into the moments of my day. ...

"At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Oman the Jebusite, he made his sacrifices there" (1 Chronicles 21:28).

David lifted up his prayers, and You sent forth Your answers. David offered up his sacrifices from his heart, and You sent forth Your fire from heaven (v. 26). David found a place to honor You with his petitions, and You met him there to honor him with Your Presence. When we draw near to You, You draw near to us (James 4:8).

When we find the place where You answer our prayers with the fire of Your Presence, we want to sacrifice there. That's the place where we are moved to offer to You all that we have and all that we are. That's the place where we want to live our lives wholly surrendered to You. That's the place where we willing choose, as best as we can and all by Your grace, "to present (our) bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is (our) spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1).

For David, it was a place on the earth at the threshing floor of Oman the Jebusite. For us, it's a place in our hearts where Your Holy Spirit threshes out our flesh from Your Spirit, our thoughts from Your thoughts, our desires from Your desires. It's the place where we come with humility and faith in the example of our Lord to say, "Not my will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42).

Lord, let me find that place of perspective and purpose. Let me find that place of sacrifice and surrender. Let me find that place where You send Your fire from heaven and Your answers to my prayers throughout the moments of my days in the journey of faith. Thank You so much for all the ways You've been answering my prayers with Your Presence and power. It makes me want to sacrifice more and surrender all, trusting You with all my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

For those who can't come join us in person, we have our Level 1 and Level 2 4 Day Schools of Spiritual Ministry available on DVD, as well as my books and our other ministry resources: www.messiah-ministries.org/resources

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Destined According to Purpose - September 29

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You and trust You in my heart and with all my life - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...

"In Christ we also have obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of Him Who accomplishes all things according to His counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:11-12).

You created me and destined me according to a purpose. And though You already know every choice I'll ever make and every choice that everyone will ever make who will have any influence upon my life throughout all generations, You still empower me with the freedom to choose every moment of every day. Every question and decision, every test and challenge, becomes an opportunity to embrace You and Your destiny for my life or not: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendents may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19).

In the freedom that the nature of Your love requires, it's both my privilege and responsibility to choose well in the grace You give whether to trust in You or trust in myself, whether to lean into Your will for my life or push back against it. I have the freedom to choose whether to "resolve to do the will of God" or resolve to do something else, something less (John 7:17).

So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I choose You and I choose life. I choose the life You've destined for me. I set my hope on You and choose to live my life for the praise of Your glory. I choose to embrace the inheritance I have already obtained in Christ. I will not despise my birthright, nor deny my heritage. In You, I am a son of God, created with purpose, calling, and destiny. And I believe You are able and willing to accomplish all You have purposed in Your heart for my life according to Your will. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

It's not too late to sign up for our School starting Wednesday! We're excited that the registrations for our upcoming Level 1 School of Spiritual Ministry indicate this may be our biggest class ever! Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healing prayer ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org

We're excited that the registrations for our upcoming Level 1 School of Spiritual Ministry indicate this may be our biggest class ever! Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healing prayer ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org

Tonight, please come for healing prayer ministry at The Healing Rooms of Lexington every Thursday Night, hosted by our ministry team in Lexington. Details on our ministry web site calendar: www.messiah-ministries.org

Please come for healing prayer ministry at The Healing Rooms of Lexington every Thursday Night, hosted by our ministry team in Lexington. Details on our ministry web site calendar: www.messiah-ministries.org

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

"So I Send You" - September 28

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to me as You desire; send me forth as You will. I am Yours; I am ready; I am willing. ...

Holy Spirit, You've been speaking to my wife and speaking to me through her words with You. I join in agreement with all my heart with Sylvia's prayer, as we pray with You as one:

"So Send I You"

Father, open my heart. When You open my heart each morning I can receive Your nudgings, Your words, corrections...whatever is on Your heart for me and all of mine...otherwise with a closed heart I am empty and pouring from an empty pitcher.

As I awoke this morning, I heard You whisper, "So send I you."

"Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, so send I you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained' " (John 20:19-23, NKJV).

The disciples were gathered together in fear, not faith. You came to them despite their weakness and lack of faith and brought peace. Your agenda, the reason You came into the earth, was to destroy the works of the devil, which certainly includes fear (1 John 3:8). But You gave all, and willingly suffered and died in order to accomplish that task. You showed the disciples the scars on Your hands and side to remind them of your sufferings...to which we are called...in order to live a life of resurrection power (Philippians 3:10).

You bring peace in the midst of the storm, in the face of fear. You call us to live our lives destroying the works of the devil, refusing to give in to fear, as we interact in situations and with others on a daily basis. As the Father sent You, Jesus, to live a fearless life of radical love for Him and others, regardless of results or cost, so You send us. Breathe Your Holy Spirit on us and cause us to forgive the sins of others, that our wounds would be healed and the scars would become our marks of being one sent by You (2 Corinthians 6:4-10). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Freinds, Sylvia and I have been with Laura Beach in Louisville this week to teach and minister at the National LifeServe Conference 2011 for spiritual leaders Monday through Thursday: http://lifeserve.group.com/Please We've had incredible times of ministry. Please keep us in your prayers!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Resisting "the Ruler of the Power of the Air" - September 26

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Rock and Refuge, my Strong Tower and Fortress. ...

"You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient" (Ephesians 2:1-2).

Early today, before morning's light, I had an opportunity to arise and go to war in the spirit with the spiritual watchmen of my community against "the ruler of the power of the air." The tornado sirens began to wail from the city tower. And like many who were called to arise and take our post on the spiritual wall of our city, I bowed in my heart to pray in the name of the Lord and then I rose in my spirit to stand in the strength of the Lord. Like You taught us in Your Word and the example of Your life, we commanded this storm, "Be still!" (Mark 4:39).

We have a spiritual adversary who is at work in this world (1 Peter 5:8). And though You come to bring life and life abundantly, our adversary "comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10). And when he does, Your Holy Spirit stirs up our human spirits to take the authority we have in the power of Your name and speak against his plans for our destruction (Matthew 17:20). You command us to press forward and not back down, to actively resist him and not passively surrender to him: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

In this broken, fallen world, being redeemed by our merciful and mighty God, it may not seem like we win every battle on this side of heaven. That's why You call us to continue to pray for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done, here on earth as it is in heaven. That's why You call us to continue to embrace the "power and authority" You give us on earth with Your heaven in us, as the Body of Christ, filled with the Spirit of Christ (Luke 9:1-2). So until that day finally comes and Your Kingdom is fully here at Your return, we are to pray in humility and stand in authority, as Your Spirit leads our spirits.

And on these mornings when the darkness of the storms have passed, we can arise and shine, shouting the high praises of God, that Your Light has come and glory of the Lord has risen upon us! (Isaiah 60:1) We can marvel in Your majesty that our God did arise and our adversary was scattered. The storms of the night have passed and the peace of the morning has come. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Freinds, Sylvia and I will be traveling today to teach and minister with Laura Beach in Louisville at the National LifeServe Conference 2011 for spiritual leaders Monday through Thursday: http://lifeserve.group.com/Please keep us in your prayers!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

"What Do You See?" - September 22

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my day and the foundation of my life. ...

"The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Jeremiah, what do you see?' And I said, 'I see a branch of an almond tree.' Then the Lord said, 'You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it'" (Jeremiah 1:11-12).

Come, Holy Spirit. Open the eyes of my heart to see what You're doing in my life and through my life today. Let me see what the word of the Lord is going forth to accomplish. Let me see the trees that are to stand firm in the wind; let me see the branches that are to hold much fruit; let me see the blossoms that signal new life. "With all wisdom and insight He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according His good pleasure that He set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth" (Ephesians 1:8-10).

Father, I want to see what You're doing and hear what You're saying, according to Your good pleasure to make known to me Your will for my day. I want to see You in all things. And I want to fulfill all things You have in Your heart for the challenges and opportunities that I will encounter along my journey today. "With the eyes of (my) heart enlightened, (I) may know what is the hope to which (You) have called me, what are the riches of (Your) glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of (Your) power for us who believe, according to the working of (Your) great power" (Ephesians 1:18-19). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Friends, please keep us in prayer this weekend at the annual Men's Spiritual Retreat at Rock Eagle outside Atlanta with the North Georgia Conference of United Methodist Men. Over a thousand men will be coming; and I'll teaching and ministering on healing, deliverance, and spiritual warfare in the equipping sessions, in the evening prayer and praise gatherings, and on the Thurday night time of prayer and fasting for the conference: http://ngcumm.org

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healing prayer ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

New Jerusalem, the City of Peace - September 21

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, fill my spirit, soul, and body with the fullness of Your Presence. ...

"Jerusalem - built as a city that is bound firmly together. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.... Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.' For the sake of my relatives and friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good' " (Psalm 122:3-9).

The destinies of nations are impacted by their decisions regarding Jerusalem. So in these days where the leaders and people of the nations of the earth make their decisions and take their votes concerning the city of Jerusalem, let us "pray for the peace of Jerusalem," as You have commanded us in Your Word.

Let us pray for her out of a love for her. Let us pray for her out of a Spirit-led desire for her to know peace within her walls and security within her towers. Let us seek her good and not her harm. Let us seek her honor and not her shame. You have anointed our prayers to have power and You have determined our prayers will have consequences. For our sake and for the sake of Your heart and Your will in this world, let us seek Your face so we can pray Your heart regarding Jerusalem. "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 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 8:26-27).

What city has known the strife and war, the wounds and scars of Jerusalem? Yet it is named "the city of peace." Its name reveals its destiny. And we're to pray its destiny, not its past; we're to pray in faith, not in doubt; we're to pray in hope, not in hatred; we're to pray for its unity, not its division. It's to be a city "bound firmly together" as a prophetic picture of Your heart for Your people of all nations bound firmly together in our hearts as one by Your Spirit. "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, Who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:1-6).

We do not yet see that unity of one body in Christ on this earth, just as we do not yet see one Jerusalem united in one Spirit of Peace. Yet our part is to pray - to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem," just as we are to pray for peace on earth. And in our prayer, led by Your Spirit, we are ultimately praying for the coming of the One Who is "the Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

One day our prayers will be answered and our hopes will be fulfilled in the return of Christ: "And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne say, 'See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them; He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more, for the first things have passed away.' And the One Who is seated on the throne said, 'See, I Am making all things new' " (Revelation 21:2-5).

Give us Your heart to pray for all things to become new. Give us Your heart to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all the earth to live in peace because we willingly choose to embrace the Prince of Peace and the Presence of God in our midst. As one, our body is Your temple and our heart is the city of God, the new Jerusalem. As one in the Spirit and one in the Lord, we are the city of peace - at peace with God, at peace with one another, at peace within ourselves. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

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

www.messiah-ministries.org

Please come for healing prayer ministry at The Healing Rooms of Lexington every Thursday Night, hosted by our ministry team in Lexington. Details on our ministry web site calendar: www.messiah-ministries.org

Monday, September 19, 2011

Courage, Unity, and Sacrifice - September 19

Morning by Morning, September 19 - Courage, Unity, and Sacrifice

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Commander of the Army of the Lord; and I arise to report for duty and embrace my mission for this day. ...

"So Gideon and the hundred who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the smashed the jars that were in their hands. So the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow; and they cried, 'A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!' Every man stood in his place all around the camp, and all the men in the camp ran; they cried out and fled" (Judges 7:19-21).

Your Holy Spirit is strategically aligning us and spiritually inspiring us with Your divine strategies and heavenly wisdom to defeat the enemies of our souls and advance the Kingdom of our God. You are uniting us as one with those You have chosen to take their stand with us. You are stirring up our courage in the confidence of Your power and the sword of Your Spirit of truth to accomplish every mission You've set before us. And You are bringing us to the place where the clay jars of sin and flesh are broken before God so that the light of Your glory can arise and shine through us.

In that spirit of courage and unity and sacrifice, You are fanning a flame in the heart of the army of the Lord that You are calling, equipping, and empowering. And in that spirit, a shout of victory rises up in our hearts with the high praises of God in our mouths! "In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us" (Romans 8:37). And in whatever battles we face, "let God rise up, let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee before Him.... But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy!" (Psalm 68:1-3). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Friends, the Lord gave me these words -- Courage, Unity, Sacrifice -- when I preached the Sunday morning message of 9-11 in Pennsylvania, near the field where one of the four planes crashed on that day 10 years ago. I shared those words again this past weekend with the men at our Men's Retreat at Living Waters near Bravard, North Carolina. I believe they are words the Holy Spirit is stirring the heart of the Body of Christ in this hour. So I pray this for you and for for me, as we advance together in the Kingdom of God. God bless you!

www.messiah-ministries.org

Thursday, September 15, 2011

"Let Her Be the One!" - September 15

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my King, my Lord, and my Savior. ...

"Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his house, who had charge of all he had, '... go to my country and to my kindred and get a wife for my son.' ... Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all kinds of choice gifts from his master; and he set out and went to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor. He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water; it was toward evening, the time when women go out to draw water. And he said, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. I am standing here by the spring of water, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. Let the girl to whom I shall say, 'Please offer your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels'-let her be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that You have shown steadfast love to my master Abraham.' Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah..." (Genesis 24:2-15).

Abraham sent his most trusted servant to find a bride for his son, Isaac. Father God, You have sent Your Holy Spirit to prepare a Bride for Your Son, Jesus. And Father, I believe, Your Spirit has been moving in my heart to desire a bride for myself. Perhaps it's out of my own desires or my own needs-to have a trusted companion in the journey, a faithful partner in my ministry and family, a best friend through the everyday challenges and celebrations of trying to live a life of radical faith and fulfillment of the calling and destiny You sealed into my heart. Even so, You care about my desires and needs. But I believe You're the One Who's put these very desires into my heart to fulfill a calling and destiny I can't fulfill alone.

Abraham's servant prayed for a quick work. And as he saw Rebekah, he cried out in prayer, "Let her be the one You have appointed for Isaac!" And when I saw Sylvia, I believe with all my heart it was Your Holy Spirit crying out in my spirit, "Let her be the one You have appointed for me!" And I believe with all my heart You are the One Who set my eyes on her, as fixed as the sun. I believe You are the One Who stirred in my heart to court her and pursue her until I could hold her in my arms as my bride and never let her go. Isaac fell in love with Rebekah the moment he set his eyes on her and without delay "brought her into his mother's tent ... and loved her" (Genesis 24:62-67). And I believe Your Spirit led me without delay or long engagement to take Sylvia into my heart and into my family and love her with all that I have and all that I am.

We are two people who have had challenging lives, especially in the brokenness and pain of the failed relationships of our past. But You are the God Who redeems all things, causing all things to work together for good when we choose to keep loving You, trusting You, and entrusting to You all things in our lives (Romans 8:28). There is no wound You will not heal, no bondage You will not break, no sin You will not forgive, as we surrender all to You at the foot of the cross and under the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:9).

Yet, as much as You care about us personally, You care as much or more for the advancement of Your Kingdom through the lives of Your servants who are Your sons and daughters. Your plans and purposes for our lives and through our lives to touch the lives of others with the message of Your steadfast love and unfailing mercy will come to pass (Jeremiah 29:11). And despite all our brokenness and failures, our ultimate calling and destiny in Christ for the sake of our part in the coming of the Kingdom of God will not fail, "for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29).

My life has never been normal. Neither has my journey from faith to faith, from lawyer to minister, from a little town on the plains of west Texas to the nations of the world "preparing the way of the Lord ... ministering the healing love of God" through Messiah Ministries. And neither has Sylvia's life been normal, from faith to faith, from small business owner to prophetic voice, from a little town in south Alabama to the nations of the world with the message that "the kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our God." But together, we will live and love and laugh. Together we will journey with each other, stand beside each other, and be a prophetic picture of the redeeming love and power of our God, Who never gives up and always wants the best for His children.

Thank You, Father, for sending Your Spirit to find the bride who's perfect for me. All by the grace of God, may I be perfect for her, as we live our lives for You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Dear Friends, Sylvia and I felt strongly led to keep our personal life very private during our courtship this summer and our wedding day September 6th. We exchanged our personl vows to each other and to God in a very private, deeply spiritual setting with one of our best friends officiating as minister. We would have loved to have had all of our friends join us for a great public wedding celebration, but we both felt the Lord's leading to have our special day be very private and intimate. We love you and are so thankful for your friendship and love for us! We are looking forward to sharing our joy with you in all the personal and ministriy settings to come!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays

Sylvia and I are in the process of updating our ministry web sites and facebook profiles, but feel free to visit our current web sites.

For Sylvia Jackson Hays: www.Kingdom1stFinancial.com

For Tommy Hays:

www.Messiah-Ministries.org

Sylvia's prophetic message as a Finacial Advisor adressing the current economic issues is available as a free ebook by emailing her at: Sylvia@Kingdom1stFinancial.com

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healnig praeyr ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line:

www.messiah-ministries.org

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Life Together in Love - September 14

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me close, help me listen, hear my prayer. ...

"Above all, clothe yourselves in love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called into one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God" (Colossians 3:14-16).

Last night after dinner, Sylvia and I were invited to join Louise and Harry Bezzell for their home group at the Apple Hill Lodge outside Moravian Falls, North Carolina. With young and old, children included, they've been meeting together every Tuesday night for worship, prayer, encouragement, and discipleship for ten years. They asked us to share our story of our journeys of faith that led us to You and to one another. Then they asked us to pray and prophesy over every one there, from the youngest children to the elder leaders. "For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged" (1 Corinthians 14:31).

How beautiful to see the Body of Christ living life together in harmony and love. And how wonderful to be welcomed as family with a father's blessing and opportunity to share the gifts of You've given us to encourage Your Bride wherever You lead us. Thank You for touching our hearts as we sang to You and prayed for one another. Thank You for the physical healing of the one with the pain of an abscessed tooth, and thank You for the deeper changes in all of our hearts and lives that will be made manifest in our journeys to come. What a joy to know wherever we go, we're always part of one body and one family with You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Tommy & Sylvia Hays

Friends, Sylvia and I are enjoying a couple of days in the mountains at Moravian Falls, NC between our ministry engagments in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Many speak of this area as a holy place with an open heaven. May we draw near to hear the voice of the Lord on this mountain. And I pray you'll hear His voice for your life as well. God bless you!

www.messiah-ministries.org

Monday, September 12, 2011

Diamond and Sapphires - September 12

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are steadfast and true, with me always in every way. ...

"Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet there was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. God did not lay His hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; also they beheld God, and they ate and drank" (Exodus 24:9-11).

A diamond with sapphires, set in white gold-it seems even the wedding ring that would represent our covenant with You and with each other would have prophetic significance and meaning for Sylvia and me. The diamond speaks of Your indestructible bond. The sapphires speak of Your abiding Presence. The golden ring speaks of Your eternal commitment, forever fulfilling Your promises to us. And You've called us to enter into this indestructible bond, this abiding Presence, and this eternal commitment in covenant with You and one another by the provision of Your grace and the power of Your love.

You've created Your children to long for love-Your love for us and Your love expressed through us. Love is the power that calls us to commitment, and love is the power that sustains that commitment. And it's only the covenant of commitment, rooted and grounded in the power of Your love, that's infused with the Presence of God and sealed with the authority of heaven. You dwell in the midst of our covenant of love. "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.... If we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us" (1 John 4:7-12).

Your love for each of us is indestructible, and Your Presence with each of us is ever-abiding. Your covenant of commitment to us is eternal, for "the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting" (Psalm 103:17). Thank You, Lord, for choosing to express Your covenant of love for me through my love for my bride and her love for me. May the diamond and sapphires she wears on her ring remind me each day of Your steadfast, unfailing love for us and for one another. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Tommy & Sylvia Hays

Friends, thank you for your prayers for us this weekend in Western Pennsylvannia: Empowered for Greatness conference with Tommy & Sylvia Hays at Alverton UMC with Pastor Tommy Shirer. The Holy Spirit moved mightily in all of our hearts, with many testimonies to the power of His life-changing love and power! Sylvia and I were just married Sept 6 and were ministering together for the first time as Husband and Wife in prophetic and healing prayer ministry. What a tremendous confirmation of God's heart and plan for us and our lives together!

Please keep us in prayer as we move on to North Carolina today, where I'll be leading a men's retreat in the mountains at Bravard, NC later this week. God bless you!

www.messiah-ministries.org

Friday, September 09, 2011

Sweet and Powerful Words - September 9

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my thoughts and in the middle of every moment of my day. ...

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body" (Proverbs 16:24).

There are no words like Your Words. They are powerful yet soothing, sharper than a sword yet sweeter than honey. They are "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). They are mighty for the bringing down of strongholds and creative in the establishment of Your Kingdom. "For they are life to those that find them, and healing to all their flesh" (Proverbs 4:22).

As I meditate on Your written Words, as I listen for Your living Words, I long for the life You infuse into my spirit and the direction You set into my day. Help me to hear them and act upon them. But also help me to speak them into my life as I trust them to shape my life into who I am to become and what I am to do. "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope" (Psalm 130:5).

And thank You so much for those who listen for Your voice and share the encouragement and comfort of Your Words into my heart. They are pleasant to me because they are pleasing to You. They are like honeycomb, with sweetness to my soul and healing to my body. They build me up and never tear me down; they encourage me to look forward and not dwell on the past; they inspire me to more than I could be because they are from the heart of the One Who wants the best for me (1 Corinthians 14:3).

Now, as I have received so freely and deeply, let me give in like measure. As I have been filled up with Your Words, let Your Words now flow out of me. "Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever" (1 Peter 4:11). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Tommy & Sylvia Hays

Friends, please come join us this weekend if you're in the Western Pennsylvannia area: Empowered for Greatness conference with Tommy & Sylvia Hays at Alverton UMC in Alverton, PA with Pastor Tom Shirer 724-925-7092. Sylvia and I were just married Sept 6 and will be ministering together for the first time as Husband and Wife in prophetic and healing prayer ministry. All are welcome!

www.messiah-ministries.org

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Tommy & Sylvia Hays - What God Has Joined Together - September 7

Tommy & Sylvia Hays -What God Has Joined Together!

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - You are God and You are So Good to me! ...

"Then the Lord said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.' ... Then the man said, 'This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.' ... Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh" (Genesis 2:18-24).

"So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6, KJV).

You are a great Father Who wants the very best for Your sons and daughters. You know everything we need because You created us to need those things. And You know everything we turn toward to fill those needs instead of turning to You; and though it breaks Your heart to see us hurt and fail, You never stop calling us and never stop drawing us into the best You still have for us, if we will turn to You and trust in You.

I've needed a partner in ministry and for my family, and a companion in my journey. And the honest truth is - no matter how painful it's been to endure or how embarrassing it is to admit - I've been married and divorced, engaged and disengaged, full of faith and hope and expectations for great things to come in my personal relationships and emptied of it all when it didn't come to pass as I had planned. But You are faithful; and You are forgiving. You are the God Who loves to redeem all things to bring beauty from ashes, joy from sadness, and hope from despair. You never tire of wanting Your best for each of us. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).

You gave Your best for me to me yesterday. In a small, private time of exchanging the vows of our hearts in our covenant with God and one another, I married the one I believe You have chosen for me - Sylvia Jackson Hays. And in my faith in You and knowing Who You are, I believe I am Your best for her. She's perfect for me! She's Spirit-filled, highly and accurately prophetic, smart, funny, drop dead gorgeous; both a financial advisor in the marketplace and a spiritual teacher in the church. But most of all, she's crazy about me and believes with all her heart You told her it would be an honor to be my wife. We both believe this is Your holy alignment for our Divine assignment and prophetic destiny in life and ministry for the extension of Your Kingdom through our lives in ways together we could never fulfill alone. "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).

Lord, as best as I can and all by Your grace, help me love Sylvia like Christ loves the Church; help me honor her, encourage her, love and cherish her, lay down my life for her in every way You lead me. Let her know every day that I am Your gift to her. And remind me every day that she is Your gift to me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Tommy & Sylvia Hays

Married September 6, 2011

www.messiah-ministries.org