Friday, July 26, 2019

Morning by Morning, July 26 - The Battle is Shifting!
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek You with all my heart -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- and wait expectantly for Your leading. ...
 
"Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in battle. So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted..." (1 Samuel 14:22-23 NKJV).
 
We're in a war ever day. Every believer is in battle. But our true enemies are not human flesh and blood, even though human flesh and blood in their weaknesses and sinfulness may be used by our enemies. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).
 
And in this war, as we fight every battle in the strength of the Lord and the power of the Spirit, we're not to run and hide in the mountains of fear or passivity or appeasement. We're to charge "hard after them in battle." We're to "take up the whole armor of God" and withstand them, as we enforce the victory of the cross in the mighty name of Jesus" (Ephesians 6:13). We're to run to the sound of the battle! (Nehemiah 4:20) "And the God of peace will crush Satan under (our) feet!" (Romans 16:20)
 
The battle is shifting! Our enemies are on the run! There's still a war to be waged and battles to fight, but the victory is won! Through the Sacrifice of Your Blood at the victory of Your cross, You forever defeated the enemy of our souls, "having disarmed principalities and powers, (You) made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it!" (Colossians 2:15)
 
As we agree with Your victory and come into alignment with Your truth, Your truth is marching on! Glory, glory, hallelujah! The Battle Hymn of the Republic is the Battle Hymn of Heaven!
 
Every time we humble ourselves to be desperately dependent on You alone, the battle shifts. Every time we repent of our sins and receive the grace of Your mercy and love, the battle shifts. Every time we embrace the truth and come out of agreement with the lies, the battle shifts. Every time we let go of the past and press on toward the goal of the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ, the battle shifts. Every time we enter Your gates with thanksgiving and come into Your courts with praise, the battle shifts. Every time we come boldly before Your throne of grace, forgiven of our sins and filled with Your Spirit, the battle shifts. Every time we go into the secret place and shut the door to hear what You're saying and see what You're doing so we can go out to obey Your word in the power of Your love, the battle shifts. And every time we pray and proclaim from the place of victory in Christ for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, the battle shifts. These are the mighty "weapons of our warfare!" (2 Corinthians 10:4)
 
As I'm praying right now, the battle is shifting! In my spirit I'm running to the battle to look and see what You have done! 
 
"For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall.... He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and make my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation.... I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. I have wounded them, so that they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me with strength for the battle!" (Psalm 18:29-39)
 
The battle is shifting and this war is won! This is the victory I have in Jesus! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My Friend, may you live into the fullness of the victory you have in Jesus, with every battle shifting for you today, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
   
Sculpture of The Coming King at the Cross at Kerrville, Texas


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, July 25, 2019

Morning by Morning, July 25 - "Expecting to Receive" - The Power of Expectant Faith
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with my Father, One with the Holy Spirit. Be One within me as I entrust my heart and my day to You (John 17:23). ...
 
"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o'clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, 'Look at us.' And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them" (Acts 3:1-5).
 
The lame man at the temple gate was "expecting to receive." And there's something about that spirit of expectation that Your Spirit is highlighting in my spirit today. ...
 
He asked them for alms, like I'm sure he asked people for alms every day. But along with his asking he was also expecting. Expecting what? Expecting that his asking would be answered.
 
What made this difference this time? What made the difference with these men he was asking of?
 
When he asked of Peter and John, they "looked intently at him" and invited him to "look" back at them. And that's when expectation arose in the lame man's heart.
 
Peter and John were filled with Your Spirit (Acts 2:4). And when their attention was drawn to the lame man, that was You drawing their attention to him. When they looked at him, that was You looking at him through their eyes. When they were speaking to him, that was You speaking to him through their words. As Peter would later say, under the inspiration of Your Spirit, "Serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God ... so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever" (1 Peter 4:10-11).
 
Thank You, Lord, that You hear me ask for what I need. But not only do You hear, You also respond. You look at me. You see me. You see my every need. And You invite me to look to You. And what I hear You emphasizing in my spirit this morning is that I am to look to You expectantly -- "expecting to receive."
 
Many ask in prayer, but do they expect to receive? Many times I ask in prayer, but do I expect to receive? ...
 
Lord, take away any disappoint from the past. Take away anything that try to steal my hope or dampen my expectations or cripple my faith like a lame man full of doubt, unbelief, and mistrust to just settle for something far less than all You desire for me.
 
Come, Holy Spirit. Fill me afresh with expectant faith -- faith that's "expecting to receive" all the goodness of God my good God has for me in the abundant life You will for me according to Your Word to (John 10:10). Deliver me from disappoint and doubt, as I submit my heart and my faith to You to be infused with fresh faith, with expectant faith, to look and see that You are good and You hear and You respond (James 4:7).
 
That lame man received so much more than he was asking for that day! You did "exceedingly abundantly" more than he could ever ask or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20) And I believe You're inviting me to expect more, "exceedingly abundantly" more, with a heart full of expectant faith. 
 
Lord, fill my heart afresh with expectant faith today! Like that lame man You healed in the mighty name of Jesus (Acts 3:6-7), I'll go "walking and leaping and praising God" to shout Your praise everywhere I go! (Acts 3:9) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My Friend, may you be delivered from disappointment and doubt and filled afresh with expectant faith today, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
   


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

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Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Morning by Morning, July 24  - At Perfect Peace in the "Prince of Peace"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is above every name. So as I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice, I yield to Your authority to rule and reign in my heart and every moment of my day. ...
 
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27 NKJV).
 
Thank You for Your peace that endures. Thank You for Your peace that steadies my heart and calms my fears, that hushes the winds and stills the waters, that doesn't flee away in the face of whatever comes. Your peace endures through it all. You are my "Prince of Peace" -- just as You are my "Wonderful Counselor," my "Mighty God," and my "Everlasting Father" (Isaiah 9:6).
 
So by the power of Your grace always at work within me, my heart will not be troubled, neither will I be afraid. "You will keep (me) in perfect peace (as my) mind is stayed on You, because (I) trust in You" (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV). "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You" (Psalm 56:3).
 
How do I keep my mind stayed on You, Lord? ...
 
It seems I hear You speaking in my heart with the words that are coming to my mind:  "Deliberately choose to look up to me with the eyes of Your heart. Seek My face with your spirit. When you seek Me with all your heart, you will find me. And you will find that I have hold of you, that I see you, that I know all about you and every need you have. Choose to trust in Me. Decide to rest in Me. Be still and know that I am God and I am good and I am at work as you wait for Me. I go before you to make a way where there seems to be no way. I fight for you in ways you do not see. And I am working out things around you and within you that you do not know. But trust in Me. And I will put My peace in you. To trust in My peace that I give you is not detached or delusional, it's not sticking your head in the sand or denying the reality of the very real battles and storms you face. No, My peace is the fruit that naturally grows forth from the heart of one who has deliberately decided to trust in Me no matter what. This is My peace I give to you. This is My peace I bring forth from you."  ...
 
Yes, Lord. Thank You for Your peace and for "the fruit of the Spirit" of "peace" that You're cultivating in me through every battle and storm I face (Galatians 5:22). By the power of Your grace, I deliberately decide to trust in You  -- trusting You to keep me in Your perfect peace as I keep my heart and mind stayed on You, no matter what. Prince of Peace, let Your perfect peace rise up within me to steady my heart as I trust you to go before me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My Friend, may you be at perfect peace in the Prince of Peace who sees you and knows you and is at work on your behalf in every need you have as you deliberately decide to trust 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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Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Morning by Morning, July 23 - Finish the Fire
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Hope, and in You no harm will have its way and no hindrance will have the last say. ...
 
"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'" (Isaiah 30:20-21).
 
Through adversity and affliction, through changes and challenges, through the Refiner's Fire of everything I've faced, everything I'm facing, and everything I have yet to face, You are with me. You are for me. And if God be for me, who can stand against me? (Romans 8:31)
 
You won't waste a moment of my suffering. You won't let any opportunity to teach me Your faithfulness and Your forever worthiness of my worship and trust pass me by. Though I go "through the waters," You'll be with me; though I go "through the rivers," You'll be with me; though I go "through the fires," You'll be with me -- with me and with "everyone who is called by (Your) name, whom (You) created for (Your) glory" (Isaiah 43:1-7). None of that will have the last word. None of that will have the last say. For Your word over me is good; and the One who watches over Your word for me to perform it is God (Jeremiah 1:12).
 
So Lord, give me grace to finish the fire. Give me grace to learn from my Teacher every lesson through every season of adversity and affliction, of changes and challenges. Like a weapon forged in the fire, You're forging my faith, sharpening my discernment, and preparing me for Your purposes to come (Ephesians 2:10).
 
By the power of Your grace, I will not lose hope and I will not hold back and I will not be held up. By the power of Your grace, I will finish the fire. "In this (I) rejoice, even if now for a little while (I) have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of (my) faith -- being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire -- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed!" (1 Peter 1:6-7) 
 
Be revealed in me, Lord Jesus -- "Christ in (me), the hope of glory!" (Colossians 1:27) Make me more like You each day (Romans 8:29). As I finish the fire, let Your Fire finish everything in me that's not yet like You (1 John 4:17) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My Friend, may you you finish the fire and come out smelling like rose, secure in confident faith and trust in the One who brought you through it all, and looking more like Jesus 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

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Monday, July 22, 2019

Morning by Morning, July 22 - "He Restores My Soul"
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good Shepherd of my soul. As I seek You in the morning, here in the embrace of Your Presence, I entrust my heart and my day to You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
 
"He restores my soul" (Psalm 23:3).
 
As I journal these words from Your Word to pray back to You, I hear Your Spirit writing a new song in my heart:
 
You're the God of restoration. 
You're the God of healing peace. 
You're the God of freedom and breakthrough. 
You're the God who's restoring me.
 
Come restore my soul.
Come and make me whole.
You let me know
How You love me so!
 
So here's my heart.
Here's my mind.
Here's my soul.
Here's my strength.
 
All I am
For all You are.
Come hear my heart.
Come heal my soul.
You are my God.
You're All I need.
Restore my soul
And make me whole!
 
You're the God of restoration.
You're the God of healing peace.
You're the God of freedom and breakthrough.
You're the God who's restoring me.
 
Yes, Lord. You restore my soul. You heal me and free me and make me whole. You align me and refine me. You embrace me and empower me. You set things right within me and set my feet on Your path before me. You take me by the hand and lead me by the heart into the fullness of all I am and all I'm created to be in You. "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life" (Psalm 23:6). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My Friend, may you you know deep down in your soul God loves you so! May the God of restoration restore your soul and make you whole in every dimension of your life, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
   

Preaching in Pakistan. Friends, the rains were too heavy in the village there for me to preach on Saturday, so we will reschedule. Thank you for your prayers for them and for our Internet Ministry! God bless you!

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

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