Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Morning by Morning, October 25 - Remember When
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Embraced by my Father, centered in the Son, filled with the Spirit -- I want to begin my day surrounded and grounded in You, O Lord, my God.  ...
 
"Remember the days of old, consider the years long past; ask your father, and he will inform you; your elders, and they will tell you" (Deuteronomy 32:7).
 
As Moses came to the end of his life on this earth and passed the torch of his leadership to Joshua to carry the people of God into the land of their inheritance, he reminded the people to always remember. As Your Spirit had already spoken through Moses over fifteen times throughout the writing of the Book of Deuteronomy, the people were to "remember" the Lord their God and all You had done for them and how You were always with them (v. 5:15; 7:18; 8:2; etc.). 
 
And just as You spoke to them, You speak to us -- reminding us to "remember when."  ...
 
Yes, Lord. I remember the day You saved me -- when You brought me out of the slavery of my Egypt. I remember the days it seemed like I wandered in the wilderness, but You were there to keep the shoes of my soul from wearing out and the weariness of my spirit from giving up. I remember the times when I could have chosen a better route or chosen to believe a better report, but gave in to fear or held back from fully trusting You in faith, yet You were there to even cause that to work together for good. And I can remember times when it seemed the golden calves of this world got more of my heart and my attention and my time that belonged to You, yet You led me to repentance in Your kindness and love to welcome me back into the intimacy of worshipping You alone as Lord of my life.
 
Yes, I "remember the days of old." I remember when. And at the same time, I'm so thankful for all You don't "remember." You're the God who says in Your Word, "You have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities. (Yet), I, I Am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:22). You're the God whose Word says, "He will again have compassion upon us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19). And You're the God who promises us in Your Word, "He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far He removes our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:10-12).
 
So as I remember when, I want to always remember You. I want to always remember that You love me, that You're for me, that You forgive me, that You're always with me, and that You'll never give up on me until all that You desire for me and to form within me is all accomplished according to Your plan and Your purpose for me (Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 1:6). By the power of Your grace, I will "remember the Lord, who is great and awesome," even as I remember when (Nehemiah 4:14) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

I pray you'll always remember the One who always remembers you with love and mercy in His heart for you, as He is faithful to bring to completion all His plans and purposes for you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

 


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

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Monday, October 24, 2016

Morning by Morning, October 24 - Here and There
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin my day pressing in to Your Presence.  ...
 
"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me fast" (Psalm 139:7-10).
 
In the mystery of Your omnipresence, You are limitlessly everywhere; and at the same time, You are here intimately here. In the mystery of Your omniscience, You know everything going on in all the world; and at the same time, You know every thought in my mind and every desire in my heart. And in the mystery of Your omnipotence, You can do all You desire whenever You will; and at the same time, You honor my choices in the freedom of will that a true relationship of love that requires the freedom to love You or not, to worship You or not, to obey You or not.
 
So in the mystery of faith, I willingly choose to welcome my omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent God to come into my heart, to know my thoughts and my desires, and move powerfully in every moment of my day. I know You're everywhere in the world; but I also know You're also right here with me. You're both here and there. And I also know that "in Your Presence (alone) there is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11). Thank You for the gift of allowing me to embrace Your Presence today and every day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

I pray you'll know the fullness of joy of the Presence of our God in your heart and every moment of your day. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

 


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

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Thursday, October 20, 2016

Morning by Morning, October 20 - Trusting the Security of God's Sovereignty
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, be King and Lord of my heart and my life today.  ...
 
"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will" (Proverbs 21:1).
 
In the mystery of both Your will and our freedom -- all at the same time -- there's a place to trust in the security of Your sovereignty. In that place, even our bad choices can be used for Your purposes and even what was meant for evil can be worked together for good (Genesis 50:20). Trusting in the security of Your sovereignty, "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
 
So move in our hearts, Holy Spirit. And move in the hearts of those who have authority and influence over our lives and our land. Turn these hearts like a stream of water "wherever (You) will" to work together for good. 
 
You honor the choices we make in the freedom a true relationship of love with You requires, as You "set before (us) life and death, blessings and curses" and invite us always to "choose life so that (we) and (our) descendants may live, loving the Lord (our) God, obeying (You), and holding fast to (You)..." (Deuteronomy 30:19). In the sovereignty of Your will, You also seek to move in the heart of "one who worships (You) and obeys (Your) will" in the freedom of will You allow (John 9:31). And in the sovereignty of Your will, You also give us over to the consequences of the choices we make, even when it breaks Your heart and hurts our lives (Romans 1:28-32). And all the while, You are always at work in our hearts and our world to unfold Your plans according to Your word and Your will (Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 5:11).
 
By the power of the grace of God at work within me and the hearts of all who have authority and influence over me, I'm choosing to trust in the security of Your sovereignty. As in the prayers of the first generation of Your Church who turned to You, trusted in You, and "raised their voice together to (You) and said, 'Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them,' may we cry out to You and welcome You to come have Your way in our lives and in our land for the purposes of Your glory (Acts 4:24). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

I pray you'll find peace and hope for your life and our land, trusting in the security of God's sovereignty. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

 


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

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Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Morning by Morning, October 19 - "Come Away with Me"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear what You're saying and see what You're doing, as You lead me into Your will for my life today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  ...
 
It seems I hear You saying in my heart, "Come away with Me."  ...
 
Yes, Lord. In these first moments of my morning, I want to embrace Your invitation to come away with You -- to focus on You first while I'm fresh, to set everything else aside for a few moments as I'm directly, deliberately seeking You, watching and waiting, surrendering in the silence, listening for Your leading, and resting in Your Presence. In my heart, I'm coming away with You for awhile.  ...
 
As the Son of Man seeking the will of the Father, You "went away and prayed" (Mark 14:39). You spent time alone with the Father. Though You had loved ones nearby, You also needed some time alone. Though You had a strong sense of Your calling and destiny, confident in Your identity in Your relationship with the Father, You also took time to seek the specific leading of the Lord. You were willing to surrender to the will of the Father that came into Your heart, as You watched and waited to know His will in what was to come (Mark 14:36).
 
Thank You for this gift of Your grace to come away with You. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Let the words that I hear in my heart come alive and active in me (Hebrews 4:12). And then as I rise and go out into my world today, empower me to be not only a hearer of Your word, but also a doer of Your word -- as best as I can and all by Your grace (Matthew 7:24; James 1:22). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

I pray you'll respond to the nudging of the Spirit to come away with the Lord when you're fresh and ready to hear, as He strengthens you in His Presence and leads you in your heart to trust and obey His will. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

 


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

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Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Morning by Morning, October 18 - "Perpetual Fire"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Heavenly Father. Good morning, Holy Spirit of God. You are the Lord, my God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- and I welcome You into my heart and every moment of my day.  ...
 
"The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it shall not go out. Every morning the priest shall add wood to it, lay out the burnt offering on it, and turn into smoke the fat pieces of the offerings of well-being. A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar; it shall not go out" (Leviticus 6:12-13).
 
The physical rules of the Old Covenant speak of the spiritual relationship we have with You in Christ (2 Timothy 3:16). So just as the priest tended to the fire of the altar, You call me to tend to the fire of my heart. Let it be "a perpetual fire" that "shall be kept burning" and that "shall not go out."
 
Drawn me into the holy place of prayer "every morning." Lead me to gather up the "wood" of Your Word You've chosen as revelation for my day to rekindle the flame, as You breathe the breath of Your Spirit upon Your Word in my heart. I offer my life a living sacrifice, as a "burnt offering" before You. In the holy "fire" of Your Holy Spirit, burning in my heart with a passion for You, I worship You in spirit and truth, that the "smoke" of my prayers and praise may arise as a pleasing aroma to You. 
 
These are my "offerings of well-being" -- here in the morning and throughout the moments of my day. May it be well with my soul, this day and every day, as Your "perpetual fire" burns in me. In Jesus' name I pray.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

May the perpetual fire of God burn in your heart and may it be well with your soul, as you draw near to Him in prayer and praise every day. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

 


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

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Monday, October 17, 2016

Morning by Morning, October 17 - The Spirit of the Bride
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here at the beginning of my day and at the center of my life.  ...
 
"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come'" (Revelation 22:17).
 
Come, Lord Jesus. Your Spirit moves in my heart to cry out to You to come. Come in the clouds and return to the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16). And, at the same time, come in my heart to rule and to reign, as Your kingdom comes and Your will is done, here in me and here in my world, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).
 
Your Spirit moves in the heart of Your bride -- throughout all the earth and in every generation between Your first coming and Your second -- crying out to You to come. What is this Spirit of the Bride You desire in our hearts?  ...
 
I believe I hear You saying in my heart, "This Spirit of the Bride I desire in the hearts of My people is a spirit of humility, passion, and love."
 
"Humble yourselves before Me. Trust in Me alone, rather than yourselves or anything else that's anything less than who I Am in My relationship with you. The opposite of humility is pride. I oppose the proud, but give grace to the humble. Set aside your pride that insists that you be in control instead of entrusting control of your life and all that is near to your heart to Me."
 
"Pursue Me passionately, with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength. Don't hold back. Don't give in to compromise or complacency, but pursue Me first and foremost, as the One Thing that matters most in your life. Have no other gods before Me. Seek Me first and My righteousness, and then all that you need will be added unto you."
 
"Love Me and love one another. I Am Love. And I created you for a relationship of love -- in relationship with Me and with one another. Learn to love. Pursue love. And learn to be loved. Apart from love, nothing matters. Just as apart from Me, you can do nothing. The greatest powers and accomplishments are nothing apart from love and have no lasting value apart from love. Learn this, above all else."
 
"This is the Spirit of the Bride. This is the spirit and heart of the bride I desire. Let her rejoice and be glad. Let her be made ready for Me to come." 
 
Yes, Lord. "Let us rejoice and (be glad) and give (You) the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready" (Revelation 19:7). Let Your Holy Spirit move in us to prepare the way of the Lord, here in our hearts and here in the earth.
 
"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come'" (Revelation 22:17). And in reply, "The One who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I Am coming soon.'" (Revelation 22:20). Together will all who hunger and thirst for You in humility, passion, and love, we say, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

May the Holy Spirit stir in your heart with humility, passion, and love with the Spirit of the Bride in you, crying out for Jesus to come in our world and in our hearts, in Jesus' name. As we know, this is not a gender thing, but a deeply spiritual thing. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

 
Friends, I believe the Holy Spirit gave me this word in some depth about humility, passion, and love to share with the men and women of Vamos en Christo Ministries, where I spoke at their retreat this weekend. But I also believe it's a word He is speaking to us as the Body and Bride of Christ in this hour, leading us to yearn for Him and and His revival and awakening in our hearts and in our land. Please join with me in that prayer. God bless you!


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

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Friday, October 14, 2016

Morning by Morning, October 14 - Chosen, Holy, and Beloved -- Clothed in Christ
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your voice, Good Shepherd of my soul, as I begin my day in the communion of prayer, O Lord, my God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  ...
 
"As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.... Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful... And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:12-17).
 
I'm chosen by God to be like Jesus. I'm called to live my life each day with the perspective and attitude that I'm doing "everything in the name of the Lord Jesus" while Your Spirit is at work doing everything to form the nature of the Lord Jesus in me. And I can only clothe myself in things like compassion and kindness and humility and meekness and patience and love to the degree that I willingly choose to be clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 13:14).
 
Some days I don't feel like one of "God's chosen ones," just like some days I don't feel very "holy" or even "beloved." But I am, by the grace of God, whether I feel like it or not. By grace, through faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I'm sealed and secure in my eternal identity and destiny in the family of my God as part of "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that (I) may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called (me) out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
 
So come, Holy Spirit. Clothe me with nature of Christ today. "As He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 17). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

I pray you trust and believe that by the grace of God you are chosen, holy, and beloved, clothed in Christ, displaying His glory and His nature through you life today, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

 


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

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Thursday, October 13, 2016

Morning by Morning, October 13 - Reaping the Grace We Sow
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.  ...
 
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back" (Luke 6:38).
 
In the ways of Your Spirit, we reap what sow. The harvest of our lives reveals the seeds that were sown in our hearts. And every seed bears fruit after its own kind. "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. I you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:7-9).
 
You've given me good seed -- Your Word, Your Spirit, Your Life -- sown into my soul. Let it grow up in me, into maturity, into a "harvest of righteousness" -- where all is right with God, right with others, right within myself, all by the power of Your grace at work within me each day (Philippians 1:11).
 
So let my words and my actions today be an expression of what You've done in me. You've sown so much of Your grace into me -- a "good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over." Give me the wisdom and the desire to sow Your grace into every encounter I'll have today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

I pray you experience the good measure of God's grace in your life today -- a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 



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

Please share this word to encourage a friend!
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