Friday, January 05, 2018

Morning by Morning, January 5 - Experiencing the Presence and the Voice of God
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.  ...
 
"Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the splendor all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of Someone speaking" (Ezekiel 1:28).
 
You opened Ezekiel's eyes to see with the eyes of heaven. As he tried to describe it with human words of heavenly visions--living creatures and spinning wheels in gleaming amber, shining crystal, and radiant fire--the limitations of language keep us from fully grasping all he was experiencing. But his response to Your revelation was to fall on his face, embraced in glory of Your manifest Presence. And it was there--there in his heart humbled before You and there in the heavenly realm of the glory of God that he could hear Your voice and respond to Your word.
 
You said to him, "O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you" (v. 2:1). And when his body and spirit came to attention to listen and respond to Your voice, "a Spirit entered into (him)" and he was able to hear You speaking to him (v. 2:2). You gave him instruction, encouragement, and guidance for the days ahead and the mission before him (v. 2:3-5). And You even prepared him for what might seem like failure from an earthly perspective, but would be accounted to him as righteousness, obedience, and faith from Your heavenly perspective (v. 2:6-7). Regardless of how others responded to him and the words of spirit and life You would speak through him, "they (would) know that there has been a prophet among them"--they would know they had been in the presence of one who had been in the Presence of God (v. 2:5).
 
I thank You that I have the gift of coming into Your Presence every day--the gift of Your grace for every one of Your children (Hebrews 4:16). Whenever I draw near to You, You draw near to me (James 4:8). I'm one of Your sheep; and You know my name; and I can hear Your voice (John 10:3). I'm a child of God, filled and led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14). As I bow down to fall on my face in humility of heart before You, You lift me up to stand firm on my feet as You stand firm within me (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6).
 
I may not necessarily see with open visions into the heavenly realm of living creatures and spinning wheels in gleaming amber, shining crystal, and radiant fire, but I can look with the eyes of my heart and reach out in the yearning of my spirit to encounter my living God every day (Ephesians 1:17-19). According to hope and promise of Your Word, through "Christ Jesus our Lord ... (I) have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in Him" (Ephesians 3:11-12). In the mystery of faith and the power of the grace of God, I can "be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). 
 
By Your mercy and grace, You remove every barrier between us and purify my heart through the blood of Christ (Colossians 1:20; 1 John 1:9). You promised the blessing of Your Presence for those who seek You--"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.... Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:6-8). So every moment of every day I can embrace Your desire and heart for the spiritual intimacy of Your every-abiding Presence with me and within me, as You invite me, "Abide in Me as I abide in you" (John 15:4). Lord, let it be so. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




Friend, I pray you experience the Presence and the voice of God, as you passionately pursue Him with an ever-increasing spiritual hunger and thirst for Him, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friend!
  


Friends, I welcome you to join with me in a daily journey of passionate, pursuing prayer through my 365 Day Prayer Devotional, Morning by Morning, Second Edition, for a deeply intimate and personal journey of prayer each day.


 

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, January 04, 2018

Morning by Morning, January 4 - Open Heavens and Visions of God by the Hand of the Lord
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise, as I begin my day centered in You--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...
 
"In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.... the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was on him there" (Ezekiel 1:1-3).
 
Ezekiel lived under the Old Covenant, in troubled times, in a distant land. Yet You opened the heavens that he could see visions of God and Your hand "was on him there"--"there" in that place of his journey, "there" in that season of his life, "there" at a time when he and his people desperately needed the hope and encouragement and guidance of their God.
 
We live under a "New Covenant" (Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 9:15). It's a New Covenant, fulfilled and sealed by the blood of Christ for all who put their hope and trust in You (Luke 22:20). Your New Covenant with us is "a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises" (Hebrews 8:6). And under this New Covenant You put Your laws in our minds and write them on our hearts, as You lead us and empower us, abiding with us by Your Holy Spirit, to "know the Lord" in increasingly intimate and personal relationship (Hebrews 8:8-12 fulfilling Jeremiah 31:31-34).
 
Under Your New Covenant with us, with Your Spirit abiding within us every moment of every day, Your hand is always upon us, Your heavens are always open over us, and You're always opening the eyes of our hearts to see visions of God (Romans 8:9). Every moment, we have the opportunity to live into the answer and fulfillment of the prayers of the Apostle Paul for all who believe, as he passionately prayed "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give (us) a spirit of wisdom and revelation as (we) come to know Him, so that, with the eyes of (our) heart enlightened, (we) may know what is the hope to which He has called (us), what are the riches of His glorious inheritance among (us) the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power for us who believe, according to the working of His great power" (Ephesians 1:17-19).
 
Like Ezekiel--but even more so, since we are under a better covenant with even better promises--let Your hand be upon us, let Your heavens be open over us, and let us see visions of God that we may see what You're doing, hear what You're saying, and walk in the ways that lead to life in You each day. We are a people living in troubled times, in a distant land far from our citizenship in heaven, who desperately need Your hope, Your encouragement, and Your guidance each day. And You're our loving and ever-present God, so willing to do just that, as we press in and press on with our spiritual journey to know You more personally and intimately each day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




Friend, I pray you powerfully experience the Lord's open heavens over you with His Holy Spirit within you, giving you His encouragement, hope, and guidance each day on your journey with Him, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friend!
  


Friends, I welcome you to join with me in a daily journey of prayer with me through my 365 Day Prayer Devotional, Morning by Morning, Second Edition, for a deeply intimate and personal journey of prayer each day.


 

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, January 03, 2018

Morning by Morning, January 3 - The New Covenant for a Happy New Year!
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. Be King and Lord of my life and every moment of my day.  ...
 
"The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt--a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord:  I will put My law in within them, and I will write it on their hears; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
 
As we begin this New Year, I'm thinking of how You began a New Covenant with me. This New Covenant is not about the "dos" and the "don'ts" of the laws and the rules trying to be good enough to be loved and accepted by You. No, it's about recognizing and admitting that I can't do all that I wish I could do that would make me and my life better; and I can't not do all that I wish I could not do that would make me and my life better. It's about turning to You in deep humility and desperate dependence to recognize and admit that apart from You, I can do nothing (John 15:5). Even our most "righteous deeds" are "nothing but filthy rags" apart from You and Your grace at work within us (Isaiah 64:6 NLT).
 
Under this New Covenant, I never have to be apart from You, for Your Spirit is within me--writing Your law on my heart and empowering me to walk in Your ways by Your Spirit. By the power of Your grace, "(I'm) not in in the flesh; (I'm) in the Spirit; since the Spirit of God dwells in (me)" (Romans 8:9). And in the Spirit, You've set me free to live a "New Covenant" in Christ (Hebrews 9:15). I don't have to try harder to try to live up to the "dos" and the "don'ts" of some standard or goal I can never attain in my own power by my own will. Instead, I'm free! I'm free to "rest" in the work of the One who abides in me to will what is right and to do what is right (Hebrews 4:1-11). "For God is working in (me)," as I'm resting in Him, "giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).
 
So as I enter this New Year, embracing the grace of Your New Covenant--resting from my own labors and wisdom to live each day trusting in Your power and guidance--I'm excited to see all You have for me; and I'm excited to give all I have and all I am to You! "That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.' ... And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so that we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us!" (1 Corinthians 2:9-12)  So by the power of the grace of God, I freely, gratefully embrace the New Covenant and the Happy New Year You have for me and all who love You! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




Friend, I pray you will live in the freedom and grace of God's New Covenant for you in Christ, will all His abundant blessing and favor for you the year, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you and Happy New Year, my friend!
  
   

Friends, please come join us for our Evening of Worship for the New Year, where I will be joining others to lead in prayers for the New Year at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge Campus in San Antonio, tonight at 7PM in the West Sanctuary. All are welcome! God bless you and Happy New Year!


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, December 19, 2017

Morning by Morning, December 19 - In "the Fullness of Time" and "For Such a Time as This"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. O come, O come, Emmanuel -- God with us -- God with me, here in my heart and in every moment of my day.  ...
 
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So that you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir of God through Christ!" (Galatians 4:4-7)
 
When the Holy Spirit entered the womb of the virgin Mary "the fullness of time had come." God sent His Son in the likeness of human flesh and blood to be both our example of a life in obedience to the Father and led by the Holy Spirit, as well as our atoning sacrifice for all that would divide us from the intimacy and joy and peace of a personal, living, eternal relationship with God (Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:20; John 3:16).
 
In "the fullness of time," You fulfilled the purposes of Your first coming and returned to heaven (Acts 1:9-11). And "the fullness of time" will yet come again when You return to this earth in the fullness of Your glory (Malachi 4:5-6; Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 19:11-16). Your timing is always perfect and Your purposes are always fulfilled -- all in Your time, all in Your way (Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:44). "For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay" (Habakkuk 2:3).
 
Likewise, the days in which we live are also in "the fullness of time." The choices we make and all the choices our governments make as the nations of the earth all fit into Your plans and all affect our lives, our calling, and our destiny for "the fullness of time." In our generation, as in every generation, we can say with Queen Esther that we are alive in our time, strategically positioned and divinely aligned "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14).
 
In this season of our year, where Christian people celebrate the birth of Christ and Jewish people celebrate the miracle of the temple and the festival of lights, we all look forward to the coming of the Messiah (for the Christian, His second coming and for the Jew, His first coming) who will be the Light of the world and restore all things in peace as the One "named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
 
Though I know there is so much more to the historic and spiritually strategic choices being made by governments and nations in these days, I find myself praying fervently for the peace of Jerusalem and for the peace of our world. "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 122:6-9).
 
I'm convinced we are yet to see and fully understand the prophetic and spiritual significance of the recent governmental declaration of our nation to affirm the capital of Israel as the city of Jerusalem. I'm one who believes there are yet many specific, significant prophecies yet to be fulfilled concerning this ancient city, so near to Your heart and at the center of our world (for example, Zechariah 1:14, 17; 2:12; 12:3; 14:1-21; Daniel 8:13-14 and 12:11; Matthew 24:14, among many others). And I'm one who believes that one day You will come again and set Your feet on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem to restore peace on earth and goodwill to all humanity. "Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as when He fights on a day of battle. On that day His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies before Jerusalem on the east.... And the Lord will become King over all the earth; on that day the Lord will be one and His name one!" (Zechariah 14:3-9)
 
Come, Lord Jesus -- Prince of Peace and King over all the earth (Revelation 22:12)! "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'" (Revelation 22:17) Move in our hearts and teach us to pray by the leading of Your Spirit in agreement with the will of our Father and the purposes of God (Luke 11:1; Romans 8:26-27). As we leave this past year and enter into the new, may we be increasing excited and expectant to see what You will do in our lives and our world in our generation (1 Corinthians 2:9; Jeremiah 33:3). The best is yet to come (Haggai 2:9; John 2:10)! And I believe You've allowed us the honor to be alive and called to Your purposes in "the fullness of time" and "for such a time as this!" Lord, let it be so. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




My friend, I pray you will be led by the Holy Spirit to pray according to the will and purposes of God in your life and our world -- here in the fullness of time and for such a time as this, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of 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, December 18, 2017

Morning by Morning, December 18 - Treasure and Ponder God's Word in Our Hearts
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're my Lord and my Savior, and I welcome You into every moment of my day.  ...
 
"Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors!' When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.' So they went and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in a manger. When they saw this, they made know what had been told them about this Child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them" (Luke 2:13-20).
 
Mary "treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart."...
 
Do we treasure all these words, Lord? Do we take time to ponder them in our hearts? Or do we think we know the stories so well and have heard them so long that we gloss over them or treat them like fairy tales or the simple lines of children's Christmas plays?
 
But these words are treasure. These "Christmas stories" are the Word of God -- "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until It divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). As You've said of Your Word, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My Word be that goes from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, but It shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent It" (Isaiah 55:10-11).
 
So let Your Word be Treasure in my heart. Let me never take It for granted or treat It with less than the honor and awe It deserves. Let these stories of Your birth and Your hope and Your life bring comfort and peace and joy every time I read them and ponder them and share them. "My child, be attentive to My words; incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh" (Proverbs 4:20-22). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




My Friend, I pray all the stories of the birth of Christ come alive and active in your heart, as you treasure them and ponder them and share them, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of 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, December 15, 2017

Morning by Morning, December 15 - "Good News of Great Joy!"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your light shine in my heart and through my life today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...
 
"In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see -- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord!'" (Luke 2:8-11)
 
"Good news of great joy for all the people!" -- that's Your heart and Your purpose for this season we call Christmas. God with us -- "Emmanuel" -- bringing salvation and hope, light from our darkness, good news of great joy for all!
 
So while we can be honest and real about any darkness that surrounds us or even any darkness that remains within us, let us not get stuck in discouragement or disappointment or despair. While we can acknowledge any loneliness or anxiety, confusion or fear, You invite us all to lift up our heads and open up our hearts to welcome You in as our Savior, our Messiah, our Lord. 
 
Like the shepherds in the field, we can respond to the word of the Lord and the hope of heaven to say, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us!" (v. 15) Let this thing that has taken place become a living encounter today and every day with the One who's come take His place in our hearts. Truly this is the good news of great joy You have for us all! In Jesus' name pray. Amen.

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




May Friend, I pray you are filled with the great joy that comes from hearing and embracing of the good news of God's heart for you and His longing to fill you with His Presence -- Emmanuel, God with us -- in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friend!
   
  
Friends, please keep us in prayer today as our Board of Directors of Rapha God Ministries meets to pray and to plan and then our ministry volunteers and prayer warriors celebrate Christmas together! God bless you and Merry Christmas!

 
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, December 14, 2017

Morning by Morning, December 14 - Positioned for God's Purposes in the Right Place at the Right Time
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. O come, O come, Emmanuel. Come into my heart and every moment of my day, O Lord, my God who is always with me.  ...
 
"Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a Child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver the Child. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn" (Luke 1:4-7).
 
Joseph and Mary had to get up and go to a different place than where they had been in order to be in the right place at the right time for the purposes and plans of God for their lives. They lived in Nazareth, but their Child, the Messiah, was prophesied and destined by the Word of God to born in in Bethlehem. "But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.... He shall be great to the ends of the earth; and He shall be the One of peace" (Micah 5:2-5).
 
And just as it was a different place than they would have expected, it was also at a different time. They planned to be married, but Mary was to be pregnant with her Child before the marriage and bear this Child as a virgin, as prophesied and destined by the Word of God. "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look the virgin is with Child and shall bear a Son, and shall name Him Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14).
 
And though there were so many prophetic words and dreams, angelic visitations and supernatural encounters surrounding this historic, divine event, it was not an angel or a prophetic word that moved Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be in the right place at the right time to fulfill their destiny. Rather, it was the command of a pagan ruler by a secular governmental decree that strategically positioned them for their divine purpose. "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered" (Luke 2:1).
 
Though You are the God of the supernatural, Your means are often naturally supernatural -- using natural events, circumstances, and relationships to position us in the right place at the right time to fulfill Your purposes for our lives. And though You are sovereign and You see everything that will happen and You know every choice we will ever make, You also allow us the freedom to make our choices that position us for Your purposes (John 7:17; Galatians 5:13; Joshua 24:15; Deuteronomy 30:15). 
 
Joseph had to make his choices (Matthew 1:24). Mary had to make her choices (Luke 1:38). And they had to make their choices together, which positioned them in the right place at the right time (Luke 2:5). Your hand was at work in it all; and at the same time, so was the freedom of will of the ones You had chosen to accomplish Your will.
 
Lord, give me grace to sense the leading of Your Spirit in line with the purposes of Your will for my life. Like Joseph and Mary, I want to be strategically positioned for Your divine purposes through me. Let me be found faithful, in the right place at the right time, secure in my identity and fulfilling my destiny. "For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Ephesians 2:10). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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




Friend, I pray you sense the leading of the Holy Spirit, strategically and divinely positioning you in the right place at the right time to fulfill God's purposes for your life, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of 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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