Morning by Morning—Daily Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Morning by Morning, January 21 - "What Do These Stones Mean to You?"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father, One with the Holy Spirit, and in the merciful, intimate Love of God, You desire to be One with me (John 17:20-25). I listen now, in these first moments of my morning, for the leading of Your Spirit. ...

"When the entire nation had finished crossing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua: 'Select twelve men from the people, one from each tribe, and command them, 'Take twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you camp tonight.' Then Joshua summoned the twelve men from the Israelites, whom he had appointed, one from each tribe. Joshua said to them, 'Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you talk up a stone on his shoulder, one for each of the tribe of the Israelites, so that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, 'What do these stones mean to you?' then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever'" (Joshua 4:1-7).

Twelve stones of identity for the twelve tribes who crossed over from the wilderness into the Promised Land. Twelve stones of remembrance to mark the presence and power and provision of God at this key moment in the life of the nation of Israel. Twelve stones of legacy to speak to the children and children's children throughout all the generations to come of this great inheritance and destiny in God, grounded and established in their identity as the people of God. All that they experienced on their journey of faith with You were "a shadow of things to come" for us on our own journey of faith with You in Christ (Colossians 2:17).

My Father God, I thank You for the stones of identity, the stones of remembrance, the stones of legacy You've set in place in my life. They remind me of Your goodness and mercy, Your grace and majesty, Your generosity and miracles -- all in the light Your greatness and my humanity. Not on the basis of my righteousness, but on the basis of Yours, not on the basis of anything I have done but by all that You have done, You have brought me out of my Egypt, through my wildernesses, and into my Promised Land. And You still are, every day of my journey.

You're still driving out my spiritual enemies from before me and You're still at work within me to establish Your Kingdom and form Your nature, here in me to make me more like You. This is the Promised Land -- be conformed to image of Christ (Romans 8:29), to know my place as part of the Body and Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-33), to be more and more like Christ in my world (1 John 4:17). You are faithful and You will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). You will be faithful to bring to completion the good work You have begun in me (Philippians 1:6).

Even this morning, Your Holy Spirit is bringing to mind such significant stones of remembrance of my journey with You. When You saved me, when You called me, so many of the times You encouraged, corrected me, healed me, delivered me, tried to sanctify me and teach me Your will and Your ways to mature me into Your nature. And whenever my children or anyone else looks at these stones in my life and asks, "What do these stones mean to you?" (Joshua 4:6), I can answer, "Everything. They are precious stones to me. These stones speak of the Lord my God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the Living God -- Who loves me, Who's for me, Who has never given up on me, and Who is at work within me to make me more like Him every day." In Jesus' name I pray Amen.

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

My friend, may you be ready to share the hope within you to anyone who asks about the mercy and grace of the God Who loves you, Who's for you, Who never gives up on you, and Who is at work within you to make you more like Him every day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

I'm excited to be teaching the Healing Academy at Aldersgate Renewal Ministries again this year, the first week of February -- February 3-7, 2020 in Goodlettsville, TN just north of Nashville. Register today and come join us! Please spread to word to anyone who may be interested in this week-long equipping and experience of healing prayer ministry:

I will be teaching based on my book Free to Be Like Jesus-Transforming Power of Inner Healing and Deliverance, which I'm so honored to be endorsed by Max Lucado, Randy Clark, and Andy Reese.

Order Free to Be Like Jesus!

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!

Monday, January 20, 2020

Morning by Morning, January 20 - The "Entire Nation" Crossed Over into the Promised Land

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin this day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...

"While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan" (Joshua 3:17).

The "entire nation" of Israel crossed over the Jordan into the Promised Land. Forty years earlier, only Joshua and Caleb were ready and willing to cross over (Numbers 14:1-4). Filled with a heart of courage and faith in the goodness and grace of God for the people of his nation, Joshua and Caleb had pleaded with the people in those days to trust God and enter into the Promised Land He had for them: "The land that we went through as spies is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only, do not rebel against the Lord" (Numbers 14:6-9). "But the whole congregation threatened to stone them" (Number 14:10).

That generation died in the wilderness. They never entered into their Promised Land. Rebellion and fear, doubt and unbelief, mistrust and lack of faith were the enemies of their souls that keep them from trusting You and crossing over in faith (Numbers 14:20-23).

But You saw leadership in Joshua and servanthood in Caleb; in these two You saw the spirit of faithfulness, courage, and strength that prepared them to enter into the Promised Land in Your time and in Your way forty years later -- after the season of the wilderness. You said to Moses in his prayer and travail for the people, "My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it" (Numbers 14:24-25).

Like Caleb and his descendants, give us "a different spirit" than those who hold back and turn away from the challenges before them and never enter into all Your promises and provision and purpose. And in this day, may our "entire nation" enter in! May no one be left behind! May there be a mighty revival and great awaking such as we have never seen -- even since the days of the First Awakening, the Second Awakening, the Great Awakening, the Welsh Revival, the Azusa Street Revival, and so many more of the birth-pangs and foretastes of what is yet to come! You said there would be a great "harvest" at "the end of the age" and we are travailing in passionate prayer for that great "harvest" in our days! (Matthew 13:39) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be filled with a different spirit than those who hold back and turn away from all the promises of God, as you are filled with the Holy Spirit of the Living God to cross over into all the Lord has for you in this season ahead, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you in prayer for our "entire nation" to come alive in Christ with great revival and awakening in our days! God bless you, my friend!

I will be teaching based on my book Free to Be Like Jesus-Transforming Power of Inner Healing and Deliverance, which I'm excited by have endorsed by Max Lucado, Randy Clark, and Andy Reese.

Order Free to Be Like Jesus!

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!

Friday, January 17, 2020

Morning by Morning, January 17 - "Rest" in order to Cross Over into the Promises of God

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I'm waiting and listening for Your leading, as I offer these first moments of my morning to You as a living sacrifice of prayer and praise -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

"When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap" (Joshua 3:13).

I've read this passage of Your Scripture many times, but this morning Your Spirit is drawing my attention to the word "rest." It's when the feet of the priests came to "rest" in the waters of the Jordan that the miracle happened, that the flowing flood waters of the Jordan River were cut off to stand in a single heap. When they stood in "rest," You stood in power and You caused what separated them from the Promised Land You had for them to stand back.

You could have said in Your Word this happened as the priests' feet "touched the waters" or "stepped into the waters," but instead, Your Word speaks of "rest." The miracle of Your power as You prepared the way for them to cross over happened when they rested their feet in the waters. What are You speaking to me about "rest," Lord? ...

I believe I hear You speaking to my heart: "My son, you must rest in Me if you are to move forward and cross over into all I have for you. You can't do this in your power, your wisdom, your striving, your trying to make something happen, your trying to hurry up My timing out of hastiness or impatience. You must rest in Me. You must trust in Me. You must believe that I have positioned you where and when I have chosen to place you for My purposes in My time. The Promised Land I have for you is for you, but at the same time, it is for so much more, for so many more. The same is true for each of My children in the places and times I have chosen for them to accomplish My purposes for them and within them, and at the same time, for so much more and for so many more. So rest in Me, trust in Me. As you stand in faith, you will see Me stand in power." ...

Yes, Lord. As I seek to discern what I believe to be Your word, as I test everything to hold fast to what is true, as You've commanded me to do with everything I believe I see and hear from You or from You through another (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 14:29), some key Scriptures come to mind: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). "But with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, if not to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it.... For we who believed enter that rest.... So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God's rest also cease from their labors as God did from His. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such obedience as theirs" (Hebrews 3:17-4:11).

Rest. Trust. Faith. Obedience. Coming through the wilderness and crossing over to enter into our Promised Land. Your Word of "rest" is coming alive in my spirit this morning! "Indeed, the word of God is living and active!" -- coming alive in my spirit and activating me to respond in trusting surrender and expectant faith (Hebrews 4:12).

Yes, Lord. I choose to "come to (You)" and to "rest" in You. Keep teaching me what this means and empowering me to do it, by the power of Your grace at work within me. I'm coming to know that "rest" is important and profound and significant. I'm coming to know that "rest" is a key part of "the deep things of God" You are teaching me (1 Corinthians 2:10). And I'm coming to know that "rest" is a passage way, even a rite of passage, to enter into the promises of God, the fullness of my inheritance and all You have for me -- for me and for so much more, for so many more.

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits (who rests, who trusts, who follows only as You lead) for Him" (Isaiah 64:4 NKJV). As we stand in You, You stand in Your power for us. As we rest in You, You move mightily for us. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, may you come to Jesus and rest in Him, only with His burned and His yoke upon you, so can cross over into all the promises of God for you and all He desires to do through you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

I will be teaching based on my book Free to Be Like Jesus-Transforming Power of Inner Healing and Deliverance, which I'm excited by have endorsed by Max Lucado, Randy Clark, and Andy Reese.

Order Free to Be Like Jesus!

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!

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Morning by Morning, January 16 - Overflowing at "The Time of Harvest"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me deeper -- to dig deeper, grow deeper, continue deeper -- deep to Deep, spirit to Spirit, heart to Heart -- on my journey into deeper intimacy with You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

"Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest" (Joshua 3:15).

You never said harvest time would be easy time. You never said the time of revival and awakening would be clean and tidy. Instead, You said things like: "Count it all joy when you fall in to various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who give to all liberally and without reproach" (James 1:2-5). "In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your 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). "In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). "A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also" (John 15:20). "If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you" (John 15:18). "Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man" (Luke 6:22). "We must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).

So "the time of harvest" can feel like a rushing river that "overflows all its banks." But that's why we need to hold on to You even tighter, to dig into Your Word and embrace Your Presence even deeper. We're desperately dependent upon You -- for wisdom, understanding, guidance, identity, destiny, healing, freedom, protection, provision, salvation, sanctification, transformation, anointing, authority, and power. You're the Source of all we need (Matthew 6:25-34).

So when we feel overwhelmed by the floods -- even the flood of the harvest or the flood of persecution and resistance pushing back against our obedience and faithfulness -- You encourage us that You are with us. We have nothing to fear. You speak to us in the depths of our being -- Deep to deep, Spirit to spirit, Heart to heart -- "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I AM the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.... You are precious in My sight, and honored, and I love you.... Do not fear, for I AM with you" (Isaiah 43:1-5).

So when I look around and see the floods and everything that comes with it, trying to weary me or worry me or overwhelm me, I can choose to look up to You and rejoice -- for "the time of harvest" is at hand! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you look up to the Lord in the midst of all you're going through that may be trying to weary you, worry you, or overwhelm you, knowing He is with you to turn it all around for you and for His Kingdom at hand in this time of harvest, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

I will be teaching based on my book Free to Be Like Jesus-Transforming Power of Inner Healing and Deliverance, which I'm excited by have endorsed by Max Lucado, Randy Clark, and Andy Reese.

Order Free to Be Like Jesus!

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!

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Morning by Morning, January 15 - Crossing Over as Carriers of the Presence of God

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me on the path You've chosen for me today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

"When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan" (Joshua 3:14-17).

Before the day of crossing over the Jordan came, the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord had received a prophetic word. Though Joshua, You had prophesied, "When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap" (Joshua 3:13). This was to be sign to everyone that the Living God was among them on their journey (Joshua 3:10).

And on the day of crossing over, when "the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water" Your prophetic word was fulfilled. The waters stood back and the priests walked out into the middle of the Jordan to stand firm on dry ground.

Without Your word, the priests would have never stepped out into the waters of the Jordan. But inspired by Your word, they stepped out in faith. Even though they carried with them the most precious cargo on the face of the earth -- the ark of the covenant of the Lord -- they obeyed Your word and stepped out in faith to find Your word was true. You were among them; You were with them; You were teaching them to trust You and obey You with expectant faith that Your word would come to pass. And it did.

All that happened to them speaks to us (1 Corinthians 10:11). The ark of the Lord they carried speaks to us of the Presence of the Lord we carry. The Holy Spirit of the Living God is among us. Your Holy Spirit abides within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). We are carriers of Your Presence -- the most precious Cargo on the face of the earth.

Even when the waters before us flood and overflow, even when we stand on the edge of the impossible and begin to step out into the places where we can only faith can stand, You call us to remember Your written Word and every prophetic word You have spoken into our hearts. You call us to trust You with expectant faith to step out in committed obedience to find Your word will come to pass, to find You are among us and even within us by Your Spirit, just as You promised (Matthew 28:20).

These are the days of the harvest! And at the same time, the waters overflow at the time of the harvest. The wild and dangerous and unpredictable waters can come rushing down before us like a flood that stands between us and our destiny in You. But You call us to cross over anyway. You encourage us by Your Word and inspire us in faith. You empower us to trust You and obey You to step out in confidence and boldness to go where You lead us because You are with us.

As You said to Your first disciples who followed You, You continue to speak to every disciple who will choose to come and follow You: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you.... On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.... Those who love Me will keep My word, and My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them" (John 14:15-23).

As I come the edge of my Promised Land in You and all You have for me in this next season of my journey of faith, by the power of Your grace I choose to step out in expectant faith. I choose to cross over with great expectancy and enthusiasm, with excitement and confidence in the blessed assurance Your word will come to pass. I'm a carrier of Your Presence, filled with Your Spirit, and excited to see what You will do! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you cross over into all the Lord has for you, as a carrier of the Presence of God, with great expectancy and enthusiasm, with excitement and confidence in the blessed assurance of every word and promise the Lord has spoken into your heart for the season ahead, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

I will be teaching based on my book Free to Be Like Jesus-Transforming Power of Inner Healing and Deliverance, which I'm excited by have endorsed by Max Lucado, Randy Clark, and Andy Reese.

Order Free to Be Like Jesus!

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!