Fearlessly, Faithfully, Trusting God - September 28

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Heavenly Father. Good morning, Holy Spirit. Lord God, You are One, in all the fullness of every Dimension of Your Being, and You are holy. You are Love and You love me. You love me and You are for me. So I begin my day in the unwavering knowledge of that perfect truth. ...

"But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I Am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... Because you are precious in My sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I Am with you" (Isaiah 43:1-5).

Yes, Lord. I embrace Your truth and Your love. I thank You that Your perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). I thank You that knowing Your love for me fills me with faith to trust in You through every fire and flood that I pass through in this broken, fallen world, full of broken fallen people, including me.

You are always with me; You never leave me nor forsake me, but continue on in the journey with me - morning by morning and moment by moment. You are a good God, worthy of all my trust. So by the power of the grace You've given me, I am fearlessly, faithfully trusting You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, I'll be speaking in Harrodsburg, Kentucky the weekend of Oct 5-7, hosted by Prodigal Ministries, Hebrew Roots Fellowship at the Mercer County Fairgrounds ( www.ProdigalMin.org ):

Tabernacles 2012 - Spiritual Empowerment

"Equipping the Saints for the Season of His Return"
Friday Oct. 5th 7:00 pm; Sat Oct 6th Times TBA; Sun Oct 7th 7:00 pmPlease come join us if you can!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Spirit Cry - September 27

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me abide in You as You abide in me. My spirit cries out to You and calls on Your name for Your presence, Your perspective, and Your peace. ...

"With my soul I have desired You in the night. Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early. For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness" (Isaiah 26:9, NKJ).

Lord, I want to seek You with my spirit. Let the deep of my human spirit cry out to the deep of Your Holy Spirit (Psalm 42:7). Draw me close to You; help me hear Your voice and follow the leading of Your Spirit. Allow the principles of Your kingdom and the judgments of Your righteousness to guide my steps and show me the way.

I don't want to assume what is right or rely on my own thoughts to know what is best. I want to know Your desire, because it is my desire to know You. I want to know You, even as I am known. And I can only know You, as I seek You and spend time with You and willingly choose to yield to You - not just in these quiet moments of the morning, but throughout the moments of my day. Help me do that, Lord, as best as I can and all by Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, I'll be speaking in Harrodsburg, Kentucky the weekend of Oct 5-7, hosted by Prodigal Ministries Hebrew Roots Fellowship at the Mercer County Fairgrounds ( www.ProdigalMin.org ):

Tabernacles 2012 - Spiritual Empowerment

"Equipping the Saints for the Season of His Return"
Friday Oct. 5th 7:00 pm; Sat Oct 6th Times TBA; Sun Oct 7th 7:00 pmPlease come join us if you can!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

"Keep Your Eyes on the Horizon" - September 24

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're my Savior, my Lord, my Best Friend. I welcome You into my morning and every moment of my day. ...

"Those of steadfast mind You keep in peace - in peace because they trust in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock" (Isaiah 26-3-4).

I'll always remember the boat captain shouting through the chaos, "Keep your eyes on the horizon." I wasn't sure if the swirling chaos was a raging sea around me or inside of me, as I hurled more of my breakfast over the bow of the boat. We were going out to sea, against the waves, on my first offshore fishing trip when I was a young man. They didn't have waves and seas and massive splashes of salt water crashing over boats where I grew up on the dry, flat plains of west Texas. So it was a new adventure for me.

Somehow the wisdom of keeping my eyes on the steady horizon, instead of the tossing waves and see-sawing boat, helped steady my stomach and my nerves. And the storm inside of me began to subside. By the end of the day, we caught a lot of fish and had a lot of fun. Then I was glad we had gone too far to turn back and had no place to go but forward.

I often think of that story in the midst of the storms and unnerving waves that come crashing across the bow of my boat on this adventure of my life. But You're still the Captain of my boat, and I can always hear Your Spirit cry out, "Keep your eyes on Me!"

You're my constant horizon, my everlasting rock. You always steady my fears and calm my nerves and encourage me to keep pressing on and moving forward. You remind me that when it's all said and done, if I can just weather the swirling storms, I'll be able to look back and say it was a good day and a great adventure. And we even had lots of fun, despite losing my breakfast every now and then! Thank You for the gift of a steadfast mind that You keep in peace, helping me always to keep trusting in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, God bless you, my friend, as you keep your eyes on the Lord and keep moving forward into your destiny in Christ. Please pray the same for me, and thank you for going with me in the journey of prayer.

Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Show Me the Way to Choose - September 21

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and open up my spirit to seek Your face and listen for Your voice. ...

"Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and His decrees. For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt for it is great. Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose" (Psalm 25:8-12).

O Lord, You know me even more than I do and more than anyone else. You know every thought of my mind, every yearning of my spirit, every desire of my heart, every weakness of my soul. Yet You still love me. Yet You're always for me. And You're always reaching out to me to help me hear Your voice, follow the leading of Your Spirit, and walk in way that I should choose.

Forgive me for every time I felt I knew Your voice and sensed the leading of Your Spirit that was my own desire out of my own sense of need or my own wisdom, instead of Yours. Help me learn from my mistakes, my missteps, and my sins. Help me grow in wisdom and maturity of spirit. Thank You for the wisdom that comes by living through the humiliation and pain of our mistakes. And thank You for the grace that comes when we earnestly repent and entrust ourselves completely to You. "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; and broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).

Help me make right choices in the circumstances I face today and every day. Help me truly hear Your voice and truly sense the leading of Your Spirit. Help me surrender my lordship to Your Lordship of every hurt, every wound, every fear, every failure, every confusion, every battle -- everything.

As best as I can and all by Your grace, I want to live my life for the sake of Christ. I want to choose what is right and then live it out by the power of Your grace. And if I misunderstand and choose what is wrong, I want You to convict me and correct me and then help me live it out by the power of Your grace. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends,  thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer. Please pray for me to make the right decisions in every area, looking to the Lord, but especially in some areas that are esepecially painful and difficult, along with the Godly counsel and steadfast love of those closest to me. I pray the same for you in every area of your life, my friend.

Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Seeking to Know God - September 20

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I welcome You into the beginning of my day, and throughout every moment, until the end. ...

"Thus says the Lord: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know Me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

I want to be one who understands You, who knows You. I want to be one who seeks You, who spends time with You, who yields and surrenders completely to You. When all is said and done, Lord, let this be my boast - that I was one who sought You above all else.

Even though this is my desire, I know it's not yet true. I know there are still other things that I find myself seeking or needing or wanting. And even though these may be good things, even things You've created me to need, there is only one thing that is the best thing - to seek and know You above all else.

The more I seek You, the more I will find You (v. 29:13). The more I seek You, the more I will find the fullness of Your nature - that You are full of steadfast love, justice, and righteousness. These are the things that delight You. And as I seek You and allow You to cause me to become more like the One I seek and worship, I will delight in these things as well, more and more every day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Friends, thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer. Please pray for me to make the right decisions in every area, looking to the Lord, but especially in some areas that are esepecially painful and difficult, along with the Godly counsel and steadfast love of those closest to me. I pray the same for you in every area of your life, my friend.

Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Healing the Hungry and Hurting - September 19

Morning by Morning,

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and call on Your name. Help me start this day and every day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...

"When the crowds found out about it, they followed (Jesus); and He welcomed them, and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured" (Luke 9:11).

As You walked this earth as the Son of Man, fully surrendered to the will of our Heavenly Father, and fully anointed with the Presence and power of the Holy Spirit, crowds of people followed You. They were spiritually hungry and desperately hurting. You looked at them and loved them. You reached out to them to welcome them, to teach them about the Kingdom of God, and to heal them. And Your Word says You've never changed (Hebrews 13:8).

Today, You're still welcoming hungry and hurting people; You're still teaching about the Kingdom of God; and You're still healing those who humble themselves to seek Your face and call on Your name. Your Church is now the expression of Your Body, filled with Your Spirit, continuing Your ministry of welcoming, teaching, and healing. As the Father sent You, so You send us (John 20:21). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Tommy, I'm very excited and honored to be teaching on the healing ministry of Jesus and His Church with the leaders and pastors at theAnnual Clergy School for the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church this week. They are desiring that their pastoral leaders be equipped and trained in healing prayer ministry. Praise God! Please keep us in prayer and please pray for other doors of opportunity like this to open.

Thank you for all your encourgement and support that make this ministry possible! God bless you and favor you in every area of your life, my friend.

Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

"Joy in the Presence of the Angels of God" - September 17

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord, because You first loved me. Draw me close into the intimacy and communion of prayer in these first moments of my morning. ...

"Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10).

Heaven responds to our hearts. And all heaven breaks out in joyous celebration over a life that's changed when a heart is opened to embrace the love and mercy of God available to all through faith in Christ.

On the last night of our Men's Retreat at Living Waters, up here in the mountains of western North Carolina, heaven responded to our hearts with great celebration and joy. Seven men came forward to get down on their knees with me to open their hearts to God and let the Spirit of Christ come in like a mighty rushing wind for the first time. Praise God!

Somebody shouted, "Let's go to the creek!" So we did. There were explosions of joy that lit up the heavens as the men came bursting up out of the water. Someone sounded the shofar with long blasts that must have shaken the heavens in the spiritual realm. And a young man told me the next morning, the Lord opened his spiritual eyes to see streams of brilliant colors rushing out of the horn and over all of us with every blast! Maybe shofars are like heavenly party favors for spiritual birthday celebrations!

Lord, thank You for letting us join in Your joy and the celebration of heaven when a soul is saved and Your heavens are opened to another child of faith who's come home to God. Thank You for letting the brilliant colors that surround Your throne come swirl around our hearts on earth as it is in heaven (Revelation 4:3). In the presence of Your angels and the Presence of our God, great is our joy! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Friends, thank you so much for your prayers for us at the Living Waters Men's Retreat in the mountains near Bravard, North Carolina, http://www.thereismoreministries.com and for my ministry at Joy Outreach Fellowship http://joyoutreach.net in Bravard on Sunday. I've been invited to come speak at the Men's Retreat again next September so men, please make plans to come join us if you can. Registration is free and offerings are voluntary.

Please keep me in prayer as I travel to West Virginia to teach on inner healng prayer ministry at the Annual Clergy School for the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. They are desireing that their pastoral leaders be equipped and trained in healing prayer ministry. Praise God!

Thank you for all your encourgement and support that make this ministry possible! God bless you and favor you in every area of your life, my friend.

Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

9-11 Prayer for Our Nation - September 11

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is the name above every name. With my first breath in these first moments of my morning, I speak out and honor Your name. And now with a simple focus upon You alone, I wait and listen for the leading of Your Spirit. ...

On this day that's now forever known as "9-11," my heart turns to You on behalf of my nation and on behalf of the nations of the world. I'm remembering the words of Scripture spoken by a pastor at our National Cathedral in Washington, as our nation grieved and mourned the shock and horror of that day in 2001:

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh - my adversaries and foes - they shall stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet will I be confident.... For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock... Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! 'Come,' my heart says, 'Seek His face.' Your face, O Lord, do I seek..." (Psalm 27:1-8).

Many in our nation and the nations of the world went to our knees that day to cry out to You and seek Your face. Whether by the grief of our anguish for the tragic and senseless loss of life or by the fear of what might come next or by the leading of the Holy Spirit of our living God, all the world seemed to know for a day there is no true hope without God and there is no true comfort without prayer.

Holy Spirit, bring us to our knees again - here in America and in the nations of the world. Father God, You alone must be our stronghold - not a strong national defense, not a strong economy, not a strong President. You alone must be our light and our salvation. As we humble ourselves to call on Your name and return to Your ways, then the security we desire and the redemptive destiny to which every nation is called will come to pass.

The choice of that destiny is in the hands of the people of God in every tribe and tongue and nation of the earth (Revelation 14:6-7). And every nation will be judged and give an account of how we have lived out our destiny, whether trusting in You or centered on ourselves (Matthew 25:31-46). Will our hands be clenched in anger, will they be pushing the rest of the world away to withdraw in isolation and fear, or will they be lifted to You in prayer?

The words of Your promise of restoration and Your covenant of revival are forever the same: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). Lord, let it be so, in my own heart and in the heart of my nation and the nations of the world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Tommy, please join with me in prayer today for our nation and the nations of the world to turn to God in prayer, our only true Hope. The darkness of evil and destruction in this broken and falled world will get darker until the return of Christ. But at the same the Holy Spirit of God will continue to arise and shine in the hearts of those who will truly call on His name and live lives that display His glory throughout all the earth (Isaiah 60:1). We are meeting for a city-wide prayer gathering outside the Courthouse in downtown Lexington today at noon. And I pray for a stirring of the Holy Spirit to humility before God, faith in Him, and obedience to His Word in your city and mine. God bless you and thank you for joining with me in this daily journey of prayer.

Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

"Pounded by the Storm" - September 10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look to You and call on Your name - Master, Savior, Jesus. ...

"We were being pounded by the storm.... Paul then stood up and said, 'Men, you should have listened to me and not set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss. I urge you now to keep up your courage.... For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and to whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul....' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told' " (Acts 27:18-25).

Lord God Almighty, I belong to You; I worship You; and I have faith in You. Thank You for standing by me through every storm. Thank You for Your mercy and steadfast love, even when I don't always do as I'm told and even when I act on my own, without first asking You. Thank You for Your heart and Your power to even redeem the damage and loss, as I humble myself to entrust it You.

So I will take courage and I will not fear. I will embrace Your words into my spirit whenever I feel pounded by the storm: "Peace, be still" (Mark 4:39). You are my Redeemer, the God who causes all things to work together for my good (Romans 8:28). You are the God who uses all things to make me more like You (Romans 8:29). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Commit and Trust - September 9

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be my wisdom and my vision; be my strength and my guide. Speak, and I will listen; lead, and I will follow - as best as I can and all by Your grace. ...

"Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like noonday" (Psalm 37:5-6).

Help me begin each day choosing to trust You, choosing to commit my way to You. Then help me live that out throughout the moments of my day. I know You love me and I know You're for me; I know You want Your very best for me and for every one of Your children.

You're my Father and Friend - You correct me when I'm wrong and comfort me when I hurt. You're my Advocate and Counselor - You speak up for me when I'm misunderstood and teach me when I misunderstand. You're my Lord and Savior - You take control when I entrust myself to You and make me whole and free when nothing else in all this world ever will or ever can.

You call us and encourage us: "Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him, do not fret.... Refrain from anger, forsake wrath. Do not fret.... Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.... Depart from evil and do good; so you shall abide forever. For the Lord loves justice; He will not forsake His faithful ones" (v. 37:7-28).

This is the heritage we have as sons and daughters of God, when we willingly choose to find our hope and refuge in You alone (v.37:1-40). You act mercifully and move mightily on behalf of all who commit their way to You. It's never on the basis of our righteousness, but Yours. It's never on the basis of what we deserve, but what You have done. And it's never on the basis of who anyone says we are, but who You are and who You say we are, as children of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, September 7 - "The Fountain of Life"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day and every day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...

"How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light" (Psalm 36:7-9).

Lord, I want to drink deeply from Your fountain of life. I want to drink from the living water that flows freely from the river of Your delights. Let me thirst for nothing but You, finding my delight in only what delights You. Take away my thirst for everything that's anything less than what's pure and healthy for my soul.

You are that Fountain of Life. And Your Holy Spirit is the Living Water (John 7:37-39). As You give me grace and desire to drink deeply from the Fountain of Your Living Water, cleanse me from my sins, heal me of my hurts, free me from my chains, and fill me with Your Spirit. "It is the Spirit that gives life" (John 6:63). Lord, let Your Spirit of Life refresh and renew me today. Fill me up and pour me out, as You will. I trust You and I love, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Friends, I pray you will drink deeply today from the Fountain of Life. May the Lord fill you with His Holy Spirit and flow freely through your life. Please pray the same for me. This is a challenging time for me personally and for our ministry, so please keep us in prayer as the Holy Spirit leads. God bless you and thank you for walking with me in this journey of prayer -- Tommy

Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Steady Steps - September 6

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your Word says Your sheep know Your voice. Help me hear what You're saying to me today. ...

"Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your custom toward those who love Your name. Keep my steps steady according to Your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me" (Psalm 119:132-33).

I love You, Lord; I love Your name. I love how Your steadfast love and tender mercies endure forever, how You hear us when we call, and reach out to us when we hurt. I love how You reveal to us our iniquities to You can correct us and forgive us and help us grow in spiritual maturity in the image of Christ. I love how You give us peace in the midst of the times of chaos in our world and even joy in the midst of our battles. I love how You never leave us nor forsake us, but always reach out to us wherever we've gone in our hearts and minds. I love how You call us and encourage us to come along and follow You wherever You lead, trusting Your promises and trusting You know what's best for us in every season of our lives.

So, Lord, turn to me today and be gracious to me. Keep my steps steady. Let me not turn to the left or the right in my own wisdom or desires apart from Yours, but help me wait to hear the voice of Your Spirit saying, "This is the way, walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Friends, I pray the Lord will speak clearly to your heart and guide your steps in His steadfast love for you today. Please pray the same for me. God bless you and thank you for walking with me in this journey of prayer.

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

"Seek First the Kingdom" - September 5

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords; You are my King and my Lord. Rule and reign in my heart and life today. ...

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

Before I seek my breakfast, I want to seek Your kingdom. Before I seek my car keys, I want to seek Your kingdom. Before I seek to take care of my needs and fulfill my desires, I want to seek Your kingdom. As I do, You bring me into Your righteousness - right relationship with God, right relationship with others, right relationship within myself.

To the degree that I entrust myself to You, seeking You and Your will above all else, Your kingdom comes and Your will is done. For Your kingdom is within me (Luke 17:21). Your kingdom of the dominion of the King; and everywhere I yield to and embrace Your dominion in my heart and life is the kingdom of God within me. It is my "Father's good pleasure to give (me) the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).

So I lift up my eyes and open up my heart, that the King of the kingdom of God may come in. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I bow down to Your will and hail You as my King in every area of my life. Change my heart and what I desire; change my mind and how I think, to make me more like You today. You are my King and I seek to seek You first. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

"By My Spirit" - September 4

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let this day be a good day, because my good God is guiding my steps into all that You know is best for me. ...

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).

The purposes of God can't be accomplished by mere human might and power. And whatever we do seem to accomplish in our own might and power should rightfully be questioned whether it was really the purposes of God or our own. Apart from You, we can do nothing (John 15:5). Apart from you, even our most righteous deeds are only filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

So, Lord, I don't want to be apart from You. I don't want to make my plans and make my choices to accomplish my own purposes in my own might and power. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I choose to be wholly surrendered and completely yielded to You and Your will. Help me begin and continue each day emptied of myself and filled with Your Spirit. When I fail, please be quick to restore me; when I misstep, please be quick to correct me. Don't let me waste a moment of these limited days You've entrusted to us to live and serve on this side of heaven (Matthew 25:21). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

"I Love You, O Lord, my Strength" - September 3

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is my first word. Your Presence is my first desire. Be with me now and throughout the moments of my day. ...

"I love You, O Lord, my strength" (Psalm 18:1).

David was a king and a warrior, a sinner and a saint, a prophet and a poet. At times his heart would sing and at times his heart would shatter. But he loved You, and he was not afraid or embarrassed to express his love for You. He wasn't afraid or embarrassed to express his doubt and his fears or his hurts and anger to You. He knew the power and the peace that comes when we lift up our eyes and open up our heart to You to be our Lord and our strength.

I love You, O Lord. You are my Lord and my strength. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I seek to put my whole trust in You. From this place, all the storms that come will only make me cling closer to the One who is my only secure refuge and rock. All the battles I engage will only make me more desperately dependent upon the One who empowers me to overcome. And all the questions and doubts that bombard my mind will only lead me to the One who is the correct and confident answer to them all (v.18:2-50). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Friends, I pray the Lord your love will be your strength thruogh every challenge that may come and that the One who loves you will hold you close and bring you through. Please pray the same for me, in Jesus' name.

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

All that I Have - August 30

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All that I am and all that I have I entrust to You. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I give my life to completely to You. ...

"Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, 'You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow Me' " (Mark 10:21).

We were praying for each other around a little circle in a little church. We had just prayed over a woman full of the fire of the Lord who had endured more than most could bear. We were about to move on in prayer for the next person when I heard Your Holy Spirit speak to my heart, "Give her all you have in your pockets." It was so clear I couldn't even hesitate, and wouldn't dare in such a deep sense of the Presence of the Lord.

I thought I had put one of my larger notes of Euros in my pocket in case it was needed that morning. But as I put the contents of my pockets into her hands, explaining why, I was very surprised to see that I had put all my personal money and all my ministry money for the trip in my pocket that morning! But it was way too late to start wavering in faith, second-guessing, and rationalizing by that time!

But then I knew for sure it was the leading of Your Spirit when we heard her say in her own language: "I praise God! I had only two Euros left in my account. I've been going into the woods to find berries to eat. I've been thanking God that at least I am alive."

We all praised God. And when it was time for them to pray for me, the joy of the Lord began to bubble up and flow out of me more freely than I've experienced in a very long time. When I could finally speak again, all I could say was, "Thank You, Lord, for making me a hilarious giver!" (from 2 Corinthians 9:7) We all burst into more laughter and praise (living out Psalm 126:2).

Thank You, Lord. How wonderful You are to break the burden of my own concerns about Your provision with such a beautiful and powerful way of displaying Your faithfulness - to her and to us all. "And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever" (Philippians 4:19-20)

Lord Jesus, help me be more and more sensitive to the leading of Your Spirit. Give me courage to rise and respond in obedience to come and follow You wherever You lead. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Friends, I begin the journey home today, flying back to Florida and then driving to Kentucky to our home base in Lexington. I'm so thankful for your prayers and for your friendship in this daily journey of prayer. I praise God for our Interactive Intercessory Prayer Team of prayer warriors from many nations, led by Heather Butler, our Pastor of Prayer Ministries, from her home in Wales. If you'd like to be part of one of our prayer teams connected through the internet, please let Heather know at PrayerLead@messiah-ministries.org If you are led to be part of our regular, monthly support base to help us share God's message of healing and hope, at home and abroad, please let me know at TommyHays@messiah-ministries.org Like missionaries, we raise our own support to fulfill our calling. And by joining with me Morning by Morning in prayer, I know you are already part of our reglular prayer support base and I praise God for you! We could not even begin to live out this calling and ministry without you! As you can imagine, there are constant battles coming against marriage, family, health, ministry, relationships, and finances. But our God is greater, and we prevail through prayer for one another. Becuase of the prayer cover, I'm certain there are innumberable attacks of the enemy we never even realize or feel. And those we do, we stand aginst together in Christ through the power of prayer. My prayers are with you, my friend, to expereince all the fullness and faithfulness of God. Thank you for praying that for us.

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Road

Lexington, Kentucky 40502

"River of the Water of Life" Flowing Freely - August 29

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day and every day in the embrace of my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:1-2).

Thank You for Your river of life. Thank You for Your living waters that flow from Your throne and through our lives, bringing healing and life to our hearts and our land throughout the nations of the earth. One day it will flow without measure and without restriction. But between this day and that one, let it flow in us and flow through us. This is the water of the Spirit of God (John 7:37-39).

Last night at our healing service in Voru, Estonia, the river of Your Spirit was flowing freely in our praises and in our prayers. You were healing spirit, soul, and body. Praise You for the pastor whose arm as healed and he kept spinning it around like a bicycle wheel, fast and faster, where he had very limited motion and pain before. Praise You for the tears that flowed, as burdens of pain and shame were released. And praise You for the spirit of joy and holy laughter that suddenly and surprisingly erupted in the hearts of the Baptist ladies in the back corner! (Psalm 126:2) Lord, let Your river flow in this land and in our hearts throughout the nations of the earth! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Friends, please pray for us in Estonia as I travel with my Estonian team to Tartu and Tallinn, across the country in a prayer journey. We are so grateful for all your encouragement, prayers, and support that allow us to share this message of hope and healing at home and abroad as the Holy Spirit leads. God bless you and love through you in His power wherever you are and everywhere He sends you!

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

Eyes to See "A New Era" - August 28

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Here I am, Lord. Lead me today into Your will - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...

"Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, 'Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it' " (Luke 10:23-24).

An old Estonian man who had seen much in his lifetime came to our meetings under the tent at Camp Gideon last week. He was ninety-seven years old, and he had seen and heard more in his life than I can even imagine. He lived through the horrors of two world wars, was conscripted by force into the Nazi army, then captured by the Soviets and accused as a spy to be sent to prison camp for ten years in Siberia and another ten years in the Ukraine. Yet his faith brought him through. I was so honored to be able to say a prayer of blessing with him and to honor him as a father in the faith. His old eyes were shining with fresh excitement and joy.

Pastor Kaupo had spent much time with him one day to hear many of his stories. He said he had visitations of angels two times in his life. The last time the angel said, "You will live to see the beginning of a new era." He told Pastor Kaupo he believed he was now seeing that new era, as his people were being freed in the Spirit with the joy of the Lord, while the chains of spiritual oppression and heaviness were being broken. Praise God! Lord, let it be so!

Let this be a new era, where Your light is breaking into the darkness as never before, where Your Spirit is giving us the garments of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness. Let Your joy be our strength and Your peace be our comfort, no matter what we may endure in these days. Open our eyes to see and our ears to hear what our Father is doing in our midst, in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Tommy, please pray for us in Estonia as I ahve some personal payer ministry times with people today and lead a healing service tonight at the Methodist Church in Voru in the Southeast corner of the country. We are so grateful for all your encouragement, prayers, and support that allow us to share this message of hope and healing at home and abroad as the Holy Spirit leads. God bless you and love through you in His power wherever you are and everywhere He sends you!

Be empowered, equipped, and encouraged to fulfill your destiny in Christ!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.messiah-ministries.org

Hope and Joy in the Wilderness - August 27

Friends, sorry that I've not been able to send out my morning prayers regularly the past week, with very limited internet access at the Retreat at Camp Gideo in Estonia. Thank you for your prayer for me!

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my voice and sing out Your praise to start off my day centered in You. ...

"Therefore I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. From there I will give her her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a valley of hope. There she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt" (Hosea 2:14-15).

Thank You, Lord, for the times You allure us into the wilderness, for the times we journey through the desert places. Though it's hard to see You in it, You are always with us through it. And it's in those very places and those very times that You speak tenderly to us, that Your turn valleys of sin and shame and pain into doors of hope. There You refresh us and renew us; You uplift us and encourage us, as You welcome us home into the deep place in Your heart. From the dry and lonely wilderness, we are more than ready to come to hear Your voice and embrace Your love.

In these past days at Camp Gideon, along the Baltic Sea in northern Estonia, You drew Your people away from the cities and busyness of their lives into this wilderness place, carved out of the land. It was a time to rest and be restored, to drink deeply from the living water of Your Spirit and be refreshed and renewed.

You brought me here along with them, both to give and to receive, as You spoke tenderly to us and move powerfully within us. You lifted our burdens and broke our chains; You healed our hurts and filled our hearts. And on the last night, You broke through the last barriers to burst forth with joy!

In our hearts Your fulfilled Your Word: "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus, it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.... Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those of a fearful heart, 'Be strong, do not fear! ... Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.... And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away!" (Isaiah 35:1-10) In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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

Thank you! for all your prayers, encouragement and suppport for our ministry and this ministry trip to Estonia. The pastors were just telling me this morning there was great breakthrough in the spiritual realm and in the hearts of the people. I was expressing to my interpreter yesterday that I was a little discouraged when I hugged an elderly lady we prayed for the night before for healing in her body but she was still walking with her cane; but my interpreter(Ave, one of our Messiah Ministries' Prayer Team Warriors) told me I should be greatly encouraged by the tremendous healing in the hearts the people were obviously experiencing by the great joy and freedom, where there had been deep heaviness and oppression before. Praise God!

Please pray for rest and renewal, even as we continue ministry today now at the other end of the country. We go this afternoon to minister to the people on the Russian border in the village of Vitka with Pastor Tea, and with my hosts Pastors Kaupo and Thea. Tea's father was matyred in Soviet times for boldly preaching the name of Jesus, and the Lord moves mightily today in this region where the blood of the martyrs cries out for the salvation of souls and healing of the land.

Friends, please pray for Messiah Ministries. We've just sent out a letter to our supporters and those who've been touched by the Lord through our ministry to join with us in prayer and financial support. This is so critical for us to continue to fulfill our calling to bring the Lord's message of healing and hope -- healing from the inside out -- healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, at home and abroad. Like missionaries, we raise our own support for this full-time ministry. Please prayerfully consider joining with us as a monthly supporter and whenever the Lord leads you. God bless you and thank you for standing with us to do our part with the gifts the Lord has given us to minister the healing love of God and advance the Kingdom of God in Jesus' name

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