Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Morning by Morning August 16  - Guided by Grace in the Joy of His Presence
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You that You're with me always -- just like You said -- "Be sure of this:  I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20 NLT).
 
"Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to You for refuge. I said to the Lord, 'You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from You.... Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.... I will bless the Lord who guides me.... I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice! My body rests in safety.... You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasure of living with You forever!" (Psalm 16:1-11 NLT)
 
Thank You for guiding me every day. "I will bless the Lord who guides me." I trust You to guide me in Your good ways -- in "the way of life." I trust You to know and to desire what's best for me. I trust You to nudge me when I'm tempted to step off Your path and to encourage me with every step on the right one. And I trust You to go with me, "granting me the joy of Your presence" in every moment of my day.
 
Even on a hard day, You have all Your little ways of reminding me You're with me, that You're watching over me, and that You're committed to me to bring me through everything I face. I'm free to be fully alive to the full range of emotions that every moment brings -- whether good or bad, joyful or painful, encouraging or discouraging -- because I know You'll not let me get stuck in any place that would forever steal my peace and my joy. You'll even turn the most painful or destructive things into good, reminding me there's no place I'll ever go where You're not right there with me through it all. "I will not be shaken, for (You are) right beside me."
 
 "No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice!"  I'm truly blessed -- like every one of those who have truly entrusted their lives to You -- to be guided by grace on my journey of faith in "the joy of Your presence!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


I pray you'll truly entrust your life to the Jesus, to be guided by grace in the joy of His presence, knowing He's with you and for you every step of the way, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!




Join me on the journey of prayer every day!
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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, August 15, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 15 - Satisfied with Nothing Less
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my spirit with Your Spirit and my heart with Your heart, so that Your will becomes my will and Your ways become my ways -- more and more, every day.  ...
 
"Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith" (Philippians 3:7-10).
 
I've tasted and seen much of what this world has to offer. And at times, I've tried to do good and be good at what I thought religion had to offer and required of me. But whether I was trying to please the rulers of this world or the leaders of religion, what I've come to know is that what I really want, deep down inside, is to please You. That's become my hunger and my passion. And by the power of the grace of God that stirs my heart and moves my soul, by God I'll settle for nothing less because I've come to know I'll never be satisfied with anything less.
 
"I want to know Christ" (v. 10). I want to "gain Christ" (v. 8). I want to "be found in Him" (v. 9). I want to be free from trying to live a life that somehow defines success as "having a righteousness of my own," based on my own abilities or hard work or self-will or self-righteousness. And I want to embrace a life where I daily humble myself to willingly choose to be desperately dependent on You alone   -- hungering and thirsting for more of You, more of Your Presence, more of Your Spirit, more of Your power at work in me to change me from the inside out to be more like You every day. This is the righteousness of a right heart that I'm asking You to form in me.
 
So as best as I can and all by Your grace, this is the choice I choose to make today and that I pray I will make every day:  "I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.... I press on toward the goal for prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (v. 12-14). To be like You, because You are work in me, from the inside out by Your Spirit within me, is my goal. And You are my Prize. May I settle for nothing less and never be satisfied with anything less. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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



I pray you'll be free from the expectations and demands of the world and religion, and be free to pursue Christ by the desire and power of His Spirit at work within you, just as He is pursuing you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!




Join me on the journey of prayer every day!
Morning by Morning
Second Edition



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, August 14, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 14 - "Overcome Evil with Good"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice, here in my heart and here in these first moments of my morning that I offer to You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...
 
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
 
Don't curse the darkness, be a blessing of light. Stop murmuring and complaining about all that's wrong, and be a part of all that's right. Quit staring down the problems and start looking up to the One who is the answer. Let go of your longing for the good 'ole days and take hold of the hope that promises the best is yet to come, even in the midst of all that's dark and evil and wrong. "For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you! Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn!" (Isaiah 60:2-3) 
 
So with hope in your heart and passion in your spirit, "Arise, shine; for your light has come, (for) the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!" (Isaiah 60:1) "Lift up your eyes and look around.... Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice.... and I will glorify My glorious house.... I will appoint Peace as your overseer and Righteousness as your taskmaster. Violence shall no more be heard in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.... the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.... Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever.... I AM the Lord; in its time I will accomplish it quickly!" (Isaiah 60:1-22)
 
Yes, Lord. Your kingdom come; Your will be done -- here on earth, as it is in heaven; here in my heart, as it is in Your heart; here in my home and my community and my nation, as it is in Your kingdom -- the kingdom of God, where our God rules and reigns. As You encouraged us with Your promise long ago -- long before the depths of darkness and evil we see and are yet to see -- "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33 NKJV)
 
Yes, Lord, You have overcome. Now, by the power of Your Spirit living in me, come overcome through me today. Let Your good overcome evil; let Your light overcome darkness; let Your love overcome hatred; let Your kingdom overcome my world, starting right here in my heart. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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



I pray the light of the glory of God will arise and shine through you in your world today, as He empowers you by His Spirit to overcome evil with good and advance His kingdom through your life, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!




Join me on the journey of prayer every day!
Morning by Morning
Second Edition



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, August 11, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 11 - Great and Awesome Deeds We did not Expect
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your Word be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  ...
 
"When You did awesome deeds that we did not expect, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your Presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who works for those who wait for Him" (Isaiah 64:3-4).
 
You love to surprise us with Your "suddenlies." You love to bewilder us with Your breakthroughs. You love to show up and show off in Your glory and grace when we need You the most. You do great and awesome deeds that we don't expect and we don't deserve just because You love us and You're for us and You want Your very best for us. No one's ever seen any God like You. There's no one like You, Lord!
 
Give me faith to expect the unexpected. I believe in the God of the breakthrough. I believe in my miracle-making God. So let Your Spirit fill my heart with gratitude and fill my mouth with praise, even before I see You move again, like I've seen You move so many times before.
 
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of (Your) glory, (You) may grant that (I) may be strengthened in (my) inner being with power through (Your) Spirit, and the Christ may dwell in (my) heart through faith, as (I am) being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that (I) may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that (I) may be filled with all the fullness of God! Now to Him who by the power at work within (me) is able to accomplish abundantly far more that all (I) can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever!" (Ephesians 3:14-21) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


I pray the Holy Spirit stirs up in your heart great faith to expect the unexpected from our Great God who loves to do for you exceedingly, abundantly far more than you could ever ask or imagine, in His power for His glory, 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, August 10, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 10 - "This is My God, and I will Praise Him!"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I willingly choose to be desperately dependent upon You alone.  ...
 
"Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: 'I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my might, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name.... The Lord will reign forever and ever!" (Exodus 15:1-18)
 
I sing the song of Moses -- the song of victory and deliverance and salvation of my God. I join in the eternal of song of all who have seen the mighty hand of God move mightily on their behalf in their darkest hours and toughest battles, to make a way where there seemed to be no way, and to make Yourself known and show Yourself faithful in Your constant and certain presence through it all. "This is my God, and I will praise Him!"
 
Praising You lifts my eyes up to the hills where my strength comes from. Praising You reminds me of the One who is greater than anything I'm facing. Praising You proclaims Your victory even before the battle is fought. And praising You shifts the atmosphere of everything around me for the kingdom of heaven to break in to the kingdom of my world.
 
So I will praise You. I will trust You. I will worship You in spirit and truth, as I sing this song of victory and deliverance and salvation over my day, even before the battles are fought, believing in faith that in You my victories are already won. "This is my God, and I will praise Him!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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



I pray you the song of victory and deliverance and salvation rising up in your spirit, as you praise our God through every battle you face, knowing your victory is won in Him, 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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Wednesday, August 09, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 9 - God Will Make a Way
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day and every day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit.  ...
 
"I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 43:19).
 
You're the God who makes a way where there seems to be no way. And while You're making a way, You call me to wait. It's in the waiting that I'm learning to trust You and allow You to make the way in Your wisdom, Your power, and Your timing. It's in the waiting that I'm learning to "trust in the (You) with all (my) heart, and lean not on (my) own understanding; in all (my) ways acknowledge (You), and (You) shall direct (my) paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
 
So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I choose to wait for You to make a way in the places where I look but can't see a way. Open the eyes of my heart to see the One who is the Way -- "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). With my eyes on You, with my heart set to wait on You, trusting in You, I'm choosing to believe You will make a way. And that way will be good and right and true, because it's made by You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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



I pray you will be filled with trust and faith as you wait on God, trusting in Him with all your heart, to make a way for you in the places where there seems to be no way, 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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Tuesday, August 08, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 8 - "I Will Look and See the Salvation of My King"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come into my heart, come lift up my spirit, come shape my thoughts, come guide my steps in the way that leads to life in You today.  ...
 
"You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you!" (2 Chronicles 20:17).
 
My heart is stirred with the words of a song of trust and praise You're writing on my heart this morning.  ...
 
I will look and see
The salvation of my King
There's nothing I can do
There's nothing I can be
It doesn't rest on me
I don't have the strength
But trusting in Your power
Trusting in Your Word
Trusting in the One
Who's with me in this hour
I will have no fear
I will not retreat
I will look and see
The salvation of my King
 
Yes, Lord. By power of Your grace, I will look and see the salvation of my King. My position in the battles I face is not to get stronger or get smarter. It's not to be Father of the Year, Husband of the Month, Boss for the Day, or Winner of the Lottery. There's nothing I can do to win the battles I face every day of my life but turn it all over to You. You are Lord. And I am not. You're my Savior and my King; and You alone sit on the throne of my life and my world.
 
So I will position myself for the battle -- here in my heart, here on my knees, here in worship and remembrance and gratitude for who You are and all You've done. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I will trust in You as I entrust it all to You. Apart from You, I can do nothing (John 15:5). And the Good News is that I'm never apart from You, that You are with me always, that You've already gone before me to fight and win my battles in the ways that have already won the victory for me in all the ways that really matter (John 15:7). So as for me, I will look and see the salvation of my King. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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



I pray you are filled with hope and faith and peace, as you position yourself in your heart and on your knees to look and see the salvation of our King in every battle you face, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!


Friends, some days just seem a little bit overwhelming with all the pressures and responsibilities around us. I woke up kind of feeling that way today. I'm thankful the Holy Spirit lifted my heart and my eyes to look and see the salvation of my King and embrace the love and presence of my Father today. I feel much better now as I send out my morning prayer than when I began. I praise God for the way He's ready to do that every time we turn to Him in trusting surrender. Thank you for joining with me in this daily journey of prayer, this daily journey of life. I pray you are strengthened and encouraged by the Spirit of the Lord in your life today and every day. God bless you! --Tommy


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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Monday, August 07, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 7 - Treasure the Word
 
"With my whole heart I seek You; do not let me stray from Your commandments. I treasure Your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against You" (Psalm 119:10-11).
 
Is Your word truly a treasure to me? Do I treasure Your word in my heart? Or is it some kind of obligation, some list of all the dos and don'ts of a legalist, religious life?  Is Your Scripture my treasured authority to judge right from wrong, what is good and what is evil, how to live a life that honors You and delights in You? Are the words I hear in my heart, as I seek You with my whole heart, to welcome Your Spirit to guide my steps like precious jewels more valuable any treasure this world has to offer me? ... Or am I just pretending to believe You and follow You?
 
Come, Holy Spirit. May I truly treasure the word of God. May God's word be "spirit and life" to me (John 6:63). May it be like the kingdom of heaven to me -- "like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" (Matthew 13:44). May it be like a precious pearl to me -- "like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that had and bought it" (Matthew 13:45-46). "For where (my) treasure is, there (my) heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21).
 
You have blessed me as Your very child. You've called me by name and told me I'm Yours. You've given me Your written Word as the authority for my life, and every day, You speak to me Your living word to lead me and empower me to live it out in the mercy and love of Your grace. May I truly treasure what I have and never take it for granted. By the grace of the One who is the Word made Flesh, now living in me to live out Your word through me life, may I "guard the good treasure entrusted to (me), with the help of the Holy Spirit living in (me)" (2 Timothy 1:14). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


I pray you are stirred by the Holy Spirit to treasure God's word in your life today and every day, 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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Friday, August 04, 2017

Morning by Morning, August 4 - Morning Mercies
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up, here in my heart and throughout my day.  ...
 
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.... The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:22-25).
 
There's something about the morning. No matter the troubles of a challenging day before or even the anxieties of a restless night before, there's something about the dawn of a new day. When the sun comes up, my spirit lifts up. When my heart opens up to You to wait for You in my morning prayer, when my soul seeks You to worship You in spirit and truth in the offering of my first fruits of the my morning, it seems all is well with my soul.
 
You use the freshness and quietness of these morning moments alone with You to simply remind me that Your mercies are "new every morning," that "great is Your faithfulness," that Your "steadfast love ... never ceases," that Your "mercies never come to an end." These are my morning mercies. And I'm so thankful for them. 
 
No matter how hard the day before, no matter how hard today or tomorrow may be, no matter that sorrow or anxiety may have lasted for the night, Your joy and mercy and peace come with the morning in my morning mercies of God! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


I pray all is well with your soul, no matter what you may be going through, as you begin this day revived and refreshed in the morning mercies of God, 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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