Morning by Morning, September 17 -- "Captives" and "Prisoners" Set Free!

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. How I need You -- here in my heart, in my thoughts, and in every moment of my day.  ...

 

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me; He has sent Me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion -- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display His glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations" (Isaiah 61:1-4).

 

Lord Jesus, You fulfilled this prophetic Word of Your first coming as the Messiah of Israel and Savior of all -- the One who proclaims the coming of the kingdom of God and demonstrates it in the power of the Father's love and the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18-21).

You're the One who ministers healing and freedom, hope and life, and the fullness of the salvation of God in authority of Your name. All must yield to Your authority and Your name (Philippians 2:9-11). "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Your heart for healing and freedom from all that would hold us back from being all we're created to be has never changed and never will (Hebrews 13:8).

 

As Your Word and Your Spirit go forth in the earth and into our hearts, You are still proclaiming "liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1). Sometimes we are "captives" -- taken captive by no fault of our own and held in the bondage of slavery and captivity by the enemy of our souls who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10). He takes captive our thoughts, our hearts, our bodies, our relationships, our finances, our gifting, our calling, our identity, and our destiny. "(Our) adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV). And for those who are held captive from seeing You as You are and embracing Your mercy and grace through the sacrifice of Your love at the cross, "the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

 

Sometimes we are "prisoners" -- taken prisoner as those who have transgressed the law, been found guilty, suffering the sentence of the consequences of our choices, taking away in chains and held behind bars. Apart from the grace of God that comes through confession, repentance, and faith in You to forgive us and free us from what we have done, we will reap what we sow. "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for (we) will reap whatever (we) sow. If (we) sow to (our) own flesh, (we) will reap corruption from the flesh; but if (we) sow to the Spirit, (we) will reap eternal life from the Spirit" (Galatians 6:7-8).

 

But You are the God who releases the prisoners and sets the captives free! "If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). You are the God who forgives us and frees us in Your mercy and love, "who forgives all (our) iniquity, who heals all our diseases, who redeems (our) life from the pit, who crowns (us) with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies (us) with good as long as (we) live so that (our) youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Psalm 103:3-5). You bring us "out of darkness and gloom, and break (our) bonds asunder.... For (You) shatter the doors of bronze and cut in two the bars of iron.... (You) sent out (Your) word and healed (us), and delivered (us) from destruction!" (Psalm 107:10-20)

 

Whether we are "captives" or "prisoners," we have a Savior! We have One who comes into our hearts, into our circumstances, into our captivity and bondage to set us free! You break our chains and open the prison doors! You bring us up out of the pit and fill us up with Your Spirit to "display (Your) glory" as "oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord!" (Isaiah 61:3) And then You send us out to share the hope You've poured into us in the power of Your Spirit! (John 20:21-22)  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, I pray you are are filled with the Spirit of Christ to display the glory of God in the freedom you have in Him as an oak of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

   

Preaching in Pakistan. Friends, thank you so much for all your prayers and support for our evangelistic meetings in Pakistan through our Skype Internet Ministry. Each month, I am preaching in different villages around Lahore, Pakistan in the Punjab Region. Saturday night, Pastor Fazal reports that almost 300 souls were saved and over 60 people experience healing and freedom in the name of Jesus! Praise God! Please keep us in prayer for salvation, healing, deliverance, and revival in the mighty name of Jesus! God bless you!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, September 14 - "Pounded by the Storm"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is above every name and every moment of my day.  ...

 

"We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship's tackle overboard. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, 'Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss. I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.' 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).

 

I pray for all the people being "pounded by the storm" along the North and South Carolina coasts this morning in the face of the hurricane. I think of several summers where I spent time on Myrtle Beach, which is likely buried under waters of water about now. May they "keep up (their) courage" and "have faith in God" as You bring them through the storm. May You stir hearts with compassion and empower Your servants with wisdom to help the hurting, assure the fearful, and provide for all that is needed according to Your riches in glory and the mercy of Your grace.

 

Paul went through a storm he never chose to come and even warned against. But there he was in the midst of the aftermath nonetheless. And Your were right there with him through it all -- confirming Your word and leading by Your Spirit. Others were in a panic, but Paul was at peace "giving thanks to God in the presence of all" so that "all of them were encouraged" (v. 35-36).

 

Lord, turn our storms into opportunities to display "the peace of God which surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). Let our hearts be steady and secure, built on the rock of faith that cannot be shaken and overcome by the storms we endure (Matthew 7:24-25). You are our "Refuge and Shelter from the storm and rain" (Isaiah 4:6). Empower us to be Your heart and hands to minister Your peace and provision to those in panic or pain, to those suffering great loss and in need of hope and help and healing. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray you are steady and secure on the rock of your faith in the One who is your Refuge and Shelter through every storm, ready to to pray and help as the Spirit of God leads you in His mercy and love, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

  

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, September 13 - "Out of the Abundance of the Heart"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit and make me more like You today.  ... 

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is know by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:43-45).  

My words reveal what's in my heart. Out of the abundance of my heart my mouth speaks. So create in me in clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). Fill my heart with Your Word so my words reflect Yours. Conform my spirit to Your Spirit so my nature becomes more like Your nature (Romans 8:29). 

Let my words reveal the life and love, the peace and joy, the encouragement and hope I have in You and that You've poured into me. Let my words encourage and comfort, edify and build up, exhort and inspire, because I see with Your eyes and speak from Your heart, as I abide in You and You abide in me (1 Corinthians 14:3; John 15:4). 

When You hear my words that reveal my heart, what do You hear and see in me, Lord?  ... 

It seems I hear You saying, "A heart that seeks Me, that pursues Me, that hungers and thirsts for more of Me. A heart that's willing to be conformed to Me and allowing Me to make your heart more like Mine."  ... 

Lord, I pray that's true, that this is Your voice and not my wishful thinking or vain imaginations. If I can keep choosing, by the power of Your grace, to keep pursuing this path with all my heart, all the things in me that need to change and be conformed to Your image will yield to You along the journey of my life in You. "For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases (You)" (Philippians 2:13). And I want to be filled with the desire and the power to please You in all that I am and all that I do -- with the words I speak and with the treasure of God flowing out of the heart that I in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, I pray you know the good treasure of God He has formed in your heart as you pursue Him and His heart, allowing your words and your ways to reveal His heart in you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

  

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, September 12 - "Forevermore" Giving "Forever More"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your heart and live into it today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ... 

"You show me the path of life. In Your presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11). 

With You in my heart and my heart in You, there are pleasures "forevermore." There is fullness of joy, fullness of peace, fullness of the abundance of life, just as You said, "I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). In You, there is "forevermore" and in You, there is "forever more." 

I ask for more. More of You, more of Your Spirit, more of Your joy, more of Your peace, more of Your love, more of Your power, more of the fullness and abundance of Your life in me. "How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him" (Luke 11:13). All of Your "more" is all by the extravagant gift of Your grace. And You are the God who always "gives all the more grace" (James 4:6). Your gifts are always "a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over" (Luke 6:38). 

So give me a holy hunger for more -- an unquenchable thirst and insatiable desire for more of all You desire for me. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). Your kingdom is within me; and of Your kingdom, there shall be "no end" (Luke 17:21 and 1:33). 

Let me settle for nothing less than the "forever more" of all You have for me. "As it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor human heart conceived, what God has prepare for those who love Him!" (1 Corinthians 2:9). "Forevermore," You're always giving "forever more!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray you forevermore experience your heavenly Father's forever more in all He desires and has prepared for you in 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

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, September 11 - "When the Towers Fall"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I need You here in my heart and my thoughts every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...

 

"Truly, O people of Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' Then you will defile your silver-covered idols and your gold-plated images. You will scatter them like filthy rags; you will say to them, 'Away with you.' He will give rain for see with which you sow the ground, and grain the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. On that day your cattle will graze in broad pastures; and the oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat silage, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. On every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water -- on a day of great slaughter, when the towers fall. Moreover the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, on the day when the Lord binds up the injuries of His people, and heals the wounds inflicted by His blow" (Isaiah 30:19-26).

 

On this day of 9-11, forever written into our hearts as a nation and sealed with the scars upon our land, may we humble ourselves to seek Your face and pray. In the mysteries of good and evil, of divine protection and divine judgment, of the consequences of both humility and pride, of obedience and rebellion, of hope and despair, may we turn to the One who's heart toward us is to bind up our injuries and heal our wounds. May we listen for the One who longs to speak to us, saying, "This is the way; walk in it. This is My hand to restore and redeem you; embrace it. This is My desire to honor you as you honor Me; trust it. This is My invitation to lift you up as you humble yourself in My sight; receive it."

 

Yes, Lord. We need You. Apart from You, we can do nothing (John 15:5). And by Your mercy and grace, we are not apart from You. You never leave us, nor forsake us; even when You discipline us, You always love us and long to restore us (Hebrews 13:5). "So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6).

 

Even "when the towers fall," You are our security and strength, our resilience and redeemer, because our hope, our faith, and our trust is in You alone. "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for You are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy" (Psalm 61:2-3). "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10). O Lord our God, You are our Strong Tower that shall never fall. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, I join with you in prayer for our nation and all the nations of the earth in response to the promise of God's Word:  "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgiven their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14), in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend!

 

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, September 11 - "When the Towers Fall"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I need You here in my heart and my thoughts every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...

 

"Truly, O people of Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' Then you will defile your silver-covered idols and your gold-plated images. You will scatter them like filthy rags; you will say to them, 'Away with you.' He will give rain for see with which you sow the ground, and grain the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. On that day your cattle will graze in broad pastures; and the oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat silage, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. On every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water -- on a day of great slaughter, when the towers fall. Moreover the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, on the day when the Lord binds up the injuries of His people, and heals the wounds inflicted by His blow" (Isaiah 30:19-26).

 

On this day of 9-11, forever written into our hearts as a nation and sealed with the scars upon our land, may we humble ourselves to seek Your face and pray. In the mysteries of good and evil, of divine protection and divine judgment, of the consequences of both humility and pride, of obedience and rebellion, of hope and despair, may we turn to the One who's heart toward us is to bind up our injuries and heal our wounds. May we listen for the One who longs to speak to us, saying, "This is the way; walk in it. This is My hand to restore and redeem you; embrace it. This is My desire to honor you as you honor Me; trust it. This is My invitation to lift you up as you humble yourself in My sight; receive it."

 

Yes, Lord. We need You. Apart from You, we can do nothing (John 15:5). And by Your mercy and grace, we are not apart from You. You never leave us, nor forsake us; even when You discipline us, You always love us and long to restore us (Hebrews 13:5). "So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6).

 

Even "when the towers fall," You are our security and strength, our resilience and redeemer, because our hope, our faith, and our trust is in You alone. "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for You are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy" (Psalm 61:2-3). "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10). O Lord our God, You are our Strong Tower that shall never fall. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, I join with you in prayer for our nation and all the nations of the earth in response to the promise of God's Word:  "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgiven their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14), in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend!

 

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, September 7 - Righteousness and Justice in the High Court of our Land

Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, come rule and reign in my heart and my life this day.  ... 

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You" (Psalm 89:11). 

As the eyes of our nation and the prayers of our hearts are on the confirmation hearings of the next Supreme Court Justice, I'm reminded that justice is very important You, as is righteousness. Righteousness and justice are the very foundation of Your throne; and we are to pray that it be so on earth -- here in us and here in our nation -- as it is in heaven. 

Those who sit in judgment from the bench of the highest court in our land have the power to uphold the righteousness and justice written into our laws on the foundation of our constitution. You call these men and women into their place of authority to walk in integrity and to rule righteously with the heart and wisdom of "the One who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:23). "Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling" (Psalm 2:10-11 NKJV).  

And we are to pray for them -- that the ones You have chosen will be confirmed and the ones who are confirmed will walk in Your ways. "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercession, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1-4). 

While our senators we elected to represent our voices have their part to vote, we have our part to humble ourselves, to seek Your face, and to pray (2 Chronicles 7:14). This is how we "stand in the gap before (You) on behalf of the land" through intercession and prayer -- standing in the gap between heaven and earth, between righteousness and unrighteousness, between justice and injustice, as we stand in You and allow You to stand through us (Ezekiel 22:30; 1 Corinthians 12:27 and 16:13 NKJV). 

We have a voice. Let our voices be heard as we vote and as we pray, not idly standing by, but standing in the gap. You call us to be active, not passive, to be engaged and not detached, to "seek the peace of the city" where we have been positioned according to Your will and Your purposes "and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace (we) will have peace" (Jeremiah 29:7 NKJV). 

With our voice, with our prayers, and with our actions as Your people who are called by Your name, our obedience and faithfulness to Your commands remain:  "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8 NKJV). Lord, let it be so in our hearts and in our land. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray you are stirred to stand in the gap on your knees and in your heart for our land as the Holy Spirit leads you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, September 6 - "Mighty in Battle!"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my thoughts and desires, of all I say and do, and of every moment of my day. ...

"Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory!" (Psalm 24:7-10)

I lift up my head to You in worship. I open up the gates of my heart to You in praise. I welcome You in, King of glory.

Strong and mighty One, come fill my spirit with Your Spirit. "You, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head" (Psalm 3:3). You are mighty in battle and majestic in Your glory. You've already defeated any enemy I will face today and You've already given me the victory through the deliverance of Your cross. "Deliverance belongs to the Lord; may Your blessing be on Your people!" (Psalm 3:8)

As the song says, "This is how I fight my battles!" I worship You! I praise You! I trust in You and Your victory for me! That's how Your Word is manifested in my life when You say, "The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet!" (Romans 16:20) My enemy is under my feet because I'm standing in You and You are standing in me -- "Christ in (me), the hope of glory!" (Colossians 1:27) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray you see the glory of the One who is mighty in battle defeating your enemies before you today, as you welcome the King of glory into your heart and every moment of your day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!



Personal Prayer Ministry Training.
Please keep us in prayer this week for our Rapha God Ministries' Personal Prayer Ministry Training through our School of Ministry in San Antonio, being hosted at Oak Hills Church. DVDs are available from our past School of Ministry -- Level 1 and Level 2 -- if you can't join us, with an introduction and prayer of blessing by Max Lucado.

Our Level 1 Training and School of Ministry is based on the principles in my book Free to Be Like Jesus -- Transforming Power of Inner Healing & Deliverance

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
www.Messiah-Ministries.org

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
www.RaphaGodMinistries.com

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 23 - "Stand Firm for Christ"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and the moments of my day.  ...

 

"It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us" (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NLT).

 

Holy Spirit, enable me and empower me to stand firm for Christ today. Deliver me from my duplicity; awaken me from my wavering; call me out of my complacency. Set me ablaze with a fiery passion to proclaim the name of Jesus and live into this day in the nature of Jesus. "We (are to) live like Jesus here in this world" (1 John 4:17 NLT).

 

"The Spirit who lives in (us) is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.... We belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception" (1 John 4:4-6 NLT). So by the power of Your grace at work within me, the spirit of this world will not intimidate me or silence me or keep me from standing firm for Christ. 

 

By Your Spirit, I will stand and I will speak and I will shine with the light of Your glory in my heart -- not in my power, but Yours; not in my goodness, but Yours. "For God, who said, 'Let there be light in the darkness,' has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts" (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT). As You keep shining, I will keep standing -- standing firm for Christ. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, I pray you stand firm for Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, letting the light of the glory of God revealed in the face of Jesus Christ shine through you today, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, August 22 - "Real Life"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are welcome here in my heart and every moment of my day.  ...

 

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory" (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT). 

 

"Real life" is in You. "Real life" is when I allow You to be my life -- when I'm abiding in You and allowing You to abide in me, when I'm trusting You to know what's best, when I'm following You into the fullness of my destiny in You, secure in my identity in You (John 15:4). "Real life" is when I wholeheartedly embrace the One who is "the way, the truth, and the life" -- holding nothing back from You and fully taking hold of You (John 14:6).

 

So as I begin my day, I can set my sights on the things above or the things below. I can choose to see with the eyes of heaven or the eyes of earth, with Your perspective or the world's perspective. I can seek You first and Your kingdom and Your righteousness or I can seek to just go with the flow of the ways of the world around me or the ways of my flesh that are not yet crucified with Christ within me (Matthew 6:33; Galatians 2:20).

 

I choose You. I choose my "new life with Christ." I choose Your perspective, to live into my day with Your vision and Your heart, to walk in Your ways and Your will, as best as I can and all by Your grace. I choose "real life" in You. And in the amazing mystery of faith and grace, You choose to live Your life through me. "This is the secret:  Christ lives in (me). This gives (me) assurance of sharing His glory" (Colossians 1:27 NLT). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

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

My friend, I pray you are keeping it real, choosing your real life in Christ and allowing Christ to live His life through you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!