Thursday, June 27, 2019

Morning by Morning, June 27 - "Strong in Spirit"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, be King of my heart and Lord of my life, as I entrust all the moments of my day into Your care -- my Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit of the Living God.  ...
 
"'And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the forgiveness of their sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.' The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel" (Luke 1:76-80).
 
John the Baptist "grew and became strong in spirit." For him, there was not a magic moment, a breakthrough day, a powerful prayer meeting, or anointed impartation from the man of God in town that day or at the conference across the country he travelled to see. For him, he "grew." For him, he "became strong in spirit." It was a process.
 
No doubt, there were many powerful, spiritual encounters along the way --like the day he leaped for joy in his mother Elizabeth's womb when she was "filled with the Holy Spirit" (Luke 1:41). For John himself, "even before his birth he (was) filled with the Holy Spirit" (Luke 1:15). But those divine encounters and spiritual breakthroughs were all in the context of a long journey to grow up in maturity and become "strong in spirit" -- just like us, a life-long journey with breakthroughs along the way.
 
Thank You, Lord, for every divine encounter and every spiritual breakthrough along the way of my journey of faith in You. Thank You for every prayer meeting, every worship service, every healing, every deliverance, every anointing and impartation, and every place and moment I've encountered Your Presence. From even before I was conceived and through my birth and salvation and baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit and all the other encounters and blessings along the way, You have been at work in me, just as You are in every one of Your children. Like You said to Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you..." (Jeremiah 1:5). But I also thank You for the slow, steady journey where You've been growing me -- little by little, layer by layer, step by step, morning by morning -- to become "strong in spirit."
 
You kept John "in the wilderness until the day" when You finally said "It is time" (Luke 1:80). And looking back, I can even thank You now for every "wilderness" I've been through and even those that may yet come. It's all part of the journey. It's all part of being conformed into the image of the Son of God (Romans 8:29). It's all part of preparing the Bride and bring many sons to glory (Revelation 19:7; Hebrews 2:10). It's all part of growing up into maturity (Ephesians 4:12), to become "strong in spirit."
 
Lord, make me "strong in spirit." Keep growing me up in maturity. In honest humility I acknowledge I have far to go. But at the same time, I have confident hope, I have expectant faith, I have bubbly excitement to look and see what You will do! I know You can change everything in a moment. I've seen You do it many times. And lately I believe I've been hearing in my heart, "The moment is now." ...
 
Yes, Lord. I don't know what all "now" means to You. "With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day" (2 Peter 3:8). But I want to be ready. And I choose to be available. So make me prepared, as You keep growing me up to be "strong in spirit" and ready to serve -- secure in my identity to fulfill my destiny -- holding nothing back and leaving nothing on the table. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you keep growing in maturity, growing "strong in spirit" and ready to serve with all you have and all you are, secure in your identity to fulfill your destiny in Christ, 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, June 26, 2019

Morning by Morning, June 26 - Thirsty for Your Presence, Hungry for Your Word
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- I seek You and pursue You and worship You in every dimension of Your Being from every dimension of my being. ...
 
"Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to Me; listen, so that you may live!" (Isaiah 55:1-3)
 
I'm thirsty, Lord. I'm hungry, Lord. I'm thirsty for Your Presence; I'm hungry for Your Word. So I'm coming to You, I'm listening for You, I'm longing to live in You.
 
Why wouldn't I come? Why wouldn't I take and eat, receive and drink, taste and see that You are good? Why would I see the things "which do not satisfy?" Why would I spend my time, my effort, my money or anything else I have for the things that have no eternal value, no true meaning, and no lasting significance?
 
All I need is right here. All I need I can have right now. And it's "without money and without price." It's the free gift of God, ready and waiting for all who would receive, for all who hunger and thirst for You, for Your Presence, for Your Word, for deeper life in You.
 
Even as I ask the question "Why?" an answer comes to my heart. I believe I hear You speaking in my heart:  "My son, My free gift will cost you everything. I give you life in Me as you surrender your life completely to Me. Those who seek to save their lives will surely lose them and those who seek to lose their lives for Me will surely find them. As you decrease, I increase. As you yield to My will and My ways, I put My thoughts in your mind and My desires in your heart to make you more like Me each day. I am the One who puts the hunger and thirst in your heart so that You will earnestly yearn to pursue Me. As you are pursuing Me, you are embracing Me. As you are embracing Me, I am embracing you. And in My Presence, there is fullness of joy, fullness of peace, fullness of the life I long for you to live in Me. Then what you experience in Me, you gladly, lovingly desire to share with others the hope that is within you, that they too can come to My Living Waters and drink deeply of My Abiding Presence." ...
 
Yes, Lord. Your Word comes to mind:  "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). "Abide in Me, as I abide in you" (John 15:4). "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). "As the deer longs for flowing streams (of water), so my soul longs for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the Living God" (Psalm 42:1-2). "In Your Presence, there is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11).
 
Yes, Lord. Make me thirstier still, hungrier still -- thirsty and hungry for the only thing, the only One, who will ever satisfy the yearning of my soul. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you grow thirstier still for the Presence of the Lord and hungrier still for the Word of God, finding only He can truly satisfy the yearning of your soul, 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, June 25, 2019

Morning by Morning, June 25 - "The Beauty of Holiness" in the Battles
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I'm excited to join in the journey of faith and prayer with You today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
 
"Jehoshaphat stood and said, 'Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem:  Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.' And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:  'Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever!'" (2 Chronicles 20:20-21 NKJV)
 
My Father God, I praise "the beauty of holiness" as I believe in You and trust in You to protect me and even prosper me. There is beauty in Your holiness. You are holy and pure. You are certain and sure. You are untainted, undefiled, uncompromised, unwavering. You are utterly dependable, steadfast, and unshakable. And Your mercy endures forever!
 
You are holy. And in the unfathomable grace of Your mercy and love, You are here in me and You are holy in me. You are holy in me because the Holy One lives in me. Your "Spirit of Holiness" abides in me (Romans 1:4) just as the "Spirit of Christ" abides in me (Romans 8:9). The Spirit of the Living God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- lives in me (Romans 8:11). In Christ, my body is Your temple and my heart is Your home (1 Corinthians 6:19).
 
You've created me and called me to be holy, "for it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness is "Christ in (me), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Holiness is what You've made me, who You've made me, through what You've done and who You are -- not what I've done or haven't done. And that's an amazingly beautiful thing -- far beyond my comprehension, but forever true none-the-less! "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
 
So when I praise You and the beauty of holiness, I stand firm in the confidence of who I am in You and who You are in me. You ambush and defeat all my spiritual enemies to give me victory in my battles as I worship You and praise You (2 Chronicles 20:22). You make me more like You -- even in "the beauty of (Your) holiness" -- as I look up to You and behold You and the beautiful glory of Your manifest Presence:  "We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord!" (2 Corinthians 3:18)
 
A lifetime's not enough to plumb the depths of this revelation of truth of "the beauty of holiness," of "Christ in (me), the hope of glory," of becoming "the righteousness of God" in Christ, of being "holy, as (You are) holy." So I thank You and praise You that I have all eternity to learn and to live into the fullness of all You've eternally created me to be and become. "For this is the will of God, (my) sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3), to "be conformed to the image of (Your) Son" (Romans 8:29). "As (Christ) is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).
 
In the meantime and all the while, You'll be fighting my battles and giving me the victory as I keep believing and trusting in You, worshipping You "in spirit and truth" (2 Chronicles 20:22; John 4:24). And that's such a beautiful thing to You -- "the beauty of holiness." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, may you believe and trust in the Lord our God through every battle, as you behold Him and His glory, being conformed into His image from glory to glory in the beauty of holiness, 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, June 24, 2019

Morning by Moring, June 24 - "He Set Himself to Seek the Lord"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Here I am, Lord -- setting apart my heart and my time to set my face and my spirit toward You alone in these first moments of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
 
"After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle....  Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 20:1-4).
 
My enemies are not armies of nations; they are not human flesh and blood. They are the spiritual forces of darkness who come to steal and kill and destroy the love and peace and joy of my inheritance and possession in You (Ephesians 6:12; John 10:10). And the weapons of my warfare are not carnal in nature; they are not weapons of bullets or swords or surface-to-air missiles. They are weapons of spiritual power that bring down spiritual strongholds and break through the gates of hell to see the Kingdom of God established and advancing here in my heart, my mind, my soul, and my strength -- here in every dimension of my inheritance and possession in You (2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Matthew 16:18).
 
Jehoshaphat's faced his armies and I must face mine. Jehoshaphat fought his battles and I must face mine. He turned fear into faith when he "set himself to seek the Lord." He turned to the One who could fight his battles and overcome insurmountable odds against all hope when he humbled himself to admit he had no answers apart from You, he had no power apart from You, he could have no victory apart from You. In fact, the heart of humility is to come to the place of attitude in our heart that says, "Apart from (You), (I) can do nothing" (John 15:5) -- that says "I willingly choose to be desperately dependent upon You alone."
 
Then You give us divine strategies for the battle at hand (2 Chronicles 20:20-21). Then You remind us that You're the One who's fighting our battles as we "take (our) position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on (our) behalf." And in the power of Your grace, we will "not fear or be dismayed (for) the Lord will be with (us)" (2 Chronicles 20:17). 
 
Humility draws down the power of Heaven! As we "humble (ourselves) in the sight of the Lord, (You) will lift us up!" (James 4:10 NKJV). We can fight from our knees because You've already fought and won with Your nails (Colossians 2:14-15).
 
As we set ourselves to seek You, as we humble ourselves to be desperately dependent upon You, all Heaven breaks loose! Angel armies go forth! You go before us and ambush our enemies, as we worship You and praise You and thank You in faith even before we see the victory over our enemies in the battles we face made manifest before our eyes! (2 Chronicles 20:22)
 
Thank You, God, for these stories of faith that stir up my spirit. Thank You for these ancient Words that are ever true that give me courage and hope to press on and press through as I press in to You. Keep teaching me how to "set (myself) to seek (You)" first (2 Chronicles 20:3). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

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

My friend, may you see the victory of the Lord made manifest in the battles you face as you set yourself to seek Him first, 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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Friday, June 21, 2019

Morning by Morning, June 21 - Steadfast and Strong Word of God
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I entrust my life and this day into Your hands. ...
 
"My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body" (Proverbs 4:20-22 NLT).
 
Your ancient words are ever true. They are spirit and life (John 6:33). Let them penetrate deep into my heart like roots growing down deep into my soul. They are steadfast and strong. They give me strength and stability to weather the storms and hold fast to what is true in the power of Your grace.
 
And in the same way, Your right-now words as just as true. They are alive and active, sharper than a two-edged sword, cutting to the heart of every matter and exposing the truth in everything I need to know (Hebrews 4:12). They go forth into my spirit, bringing life and healing, wisdom and courage, strength and stability, so that I don't waiver in the winds, but stand firm in Your word.
 
As You promised long ago: "The rain and the snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with My word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it" (Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT). So as I receive Your word and allow it to penetrate deep into my heart, "(I) will live in joy and peace" no matter what I face (Isaiah 55:12).
 
As I wait and listen for Your word for me this morning, I believe I hear in my heart:  "Trust in Me, My son. I know the troubles of your heart and the worries of your mind. But I am here. I'm not going anywhere. You will weather this storm, just as you always have, in the power of My grace. I AM the Answer to your prayers." ...
 
Yes, Lord. Thank You, for Your word. It's ever true. It gives me strength to hear it. And You give me faith to believe it. I trust in You. And I know You'll bring me through. You always have and You always will. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 


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

My friend, may you live in peace and joy, weathering every storm you face, rooted and grounded, steadfast and strong in the words of God that penetrate powerfully into your heart, 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, June 20, 2019

Morning by Morning, June 20 - "Fullness of Joy" on the "Path of Life"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look to You and call on Your name and listen for Your leading -- 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)
 
The "path of life" You've chosen for me is to abide in Your Presence every step of my journey. If I'm in Your Presence, I'm on the right path -- the "path of life." For You are "the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6).
 
No matter what steps I take, no matter where this path leads, You'll be with me and I'll be with You. If I take a wrong step, You'll correct me. If I get ahead, You'll slow me down. If I get behind, You'll spur me on. "When (I) turn to the right or when (I) turn to the left, (my) ears shall hear a word behind (me), saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'" (Isaiah 30:21).
 
Then even along the high cliffs or the dark valleys or the rocky roads or the desert sands of my path, I'll still have "fullness of joy" -- the joy of Your Presence to lead me along and get me through, every step of the way. This is the blessing and inheritance of those who choose to walk with You. Give me wisdom and grace to keep walking with You morning by morning, moment by moment, step by step. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


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

My friend, may you be filled with the fullness of joy ever step of the way on your path of life, seeking and embracing the Presence of the Lord, 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, June 18, 2019

Morning by Morning, June 18 - "In the Morning" Times of Deep Communion in Prayer
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I surrender to Your Spirit. I yield to Your will. I wait for Your leading -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
 
"Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing. Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray. O Lord, in the morning You hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to You, and watch... I, through the abundance of Your steadfast love, will enter Your house, I will bow down toward Your holy temple in awe of You. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness ... make Your way straight before me.... Let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, so that those who love Your name may exult in you. For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover them with favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:1-12).
 
These morning times are the best times of my day. You alone are my focus. You alone have my full attention; and You give me the grace to know I have Yours. You're my King and my God, my Lord and Savior, and my Best Friend. You fill me afresh with Your Spirit and draw me near to abide deeply in Your Presence.
 
As I listen, You lead. As I surrender, You speak. As I yield to Your will, You prepare the way before me. As I come under Your covering, You spread Your protection over me and set up Your favor and blessing as a shield about me. It's all through the abundance of Your steadfast love and Your tender mercies. And as I enter in to Your house, as I embrace You in my spirit and You enter in to my heart, You set things right to begin my day centered and grounded in You alone.
 
That's how I can "ever sing for sing" no matter what my day may hold. That's how I can stay calm, hold my peace, face every foe, and know in my heart You've got my back and You'll get me through. And that's how I can trust that no matter what happens today and tonight, at morning's light we'll be right back here together again, as You get me centered and grounded in You again for all the next day may hold. You always have and You always will -- morning by morning, moment by moment, on my daily journey of this life in the deep communion of prayer with You. 
 
"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). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be centered and grounded in the Lord our God, morning by morning, moment by moment, on your journey of prayer in deep communion with 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

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

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