Freedom to Choose to "Be Strong and Courageous" - August 5, 2020

Morning by Morning, August 5 - Freedom to Choose to "Be Strong and Courageous"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your voice in my heart, as I seek Your face in the heavens. ... 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). 

You can command us to "be strong and courageous" because we have a choice. We have the freedom choose to be weak and cowardly or strong and courageous. You can command us to "not be frightened or dismayed" because we have a choice. We have the freedom to choose to be frightened or dismayed or to be bold and expectant of good things to come according to Your promises of the good things You have said. You never promise us that what we will face will be easy or comfortable or without challenges. But You do promise us You will be with us. Wherever we go, whatever we do, whoever we face, we will overcome and come through, with You by our side and with You in our hearts. 

Along the way, we will learn obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8); and we will learn our identity through discipline (Hebrews 12:7). We will learn You're always with us by Your ever-abiding Presence. "For God has said: 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence: 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6) So by the power of Your grace at work within us to choose well, may we take hold of Your Word: "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let (our) hearts take courage!" (Psalm 27:14). 

As You command, let us obey: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). As You encourage us, let us take courage in You: "I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).  Because You have overcome, because You come alongside us and abide within us, we can overcome in Your courage and strength wherever we go, whatever we do, whoever we face. 

So by the power of Your grace, I choose to be strong and courageous, neither frightened nor dismayed, in You today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you choose well to be strong and courageous, neither frightened nor dismayed, whatever you face, by the power and the presence of the Lord who is with us and abiding within you, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

          

PraySA --Prayer for Revival in San Antonio!  www.PraySA.org

I'm excited to be part of a group of prayer warriors in our community planning times of prayer for awakening and revival in our community and beyond, being led by Max Lucado in San Antonio.

Watch our Short Video Call to Prayer here:  

Pray SA - Park and Pray

Plans are coming together for a citywide prayer for revival gathering in the parking lot where the San Antonio Spurs play basketball and our city holds the San Antonio Rodeo at the Freeman Coliseum/AT&T Center. This will be a Solemn Assembly and Holy Convocation of heartfelt humility and repentance through citywide prayer for ourselves and our land on Sunday Nights, August 9th and 16th. Please keep us in prayer to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. If you would like to be involved and help spread the word, please send me a note: tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org

 

New Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

"The Ancient Paths, Where the Good Way Lies" - August 4, 2020

Morning by Morning, August 4 - "The Ancient Paths, Where the Good Way Lies"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart to lead me in Your ways and make me more like You today. ...

 

"Thus says the Lord:  Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16).

 

Truly we stand at the crossroads of our times. Truly the choices we are making now will determine our destinies -- personally and as a people, in our communities and in our nations.

 

Will we rush headlong on the path of self-destruction, divided and devoured from enemies without and within, blinded by rage and paralyzed in fear, hardened in bitterness and burning with vengeance? Or will we choose to "look" to the Lord our God in listening prayer, to "ask" for the ancient paths in humble trust, and to "walk" in the ways You set before us? Will we "find" rest for our souls or find out there's no rest for the wicked, no peace for the prideful and arrogant, and no place that is safe apart from obedience to Your will and trusting in Your ways?

 

Let us choose well. Let us choose this day whom we will serve. Let us choose what path we will take, with all of its consequences for our lives and our world.

 

So what are "the ancient paths, where the good way lies"? ...

 

As I wait and listen, it seems I hear You speaking in my heart: "The ancient paths are My eternal ways I have revealed to you in My Word and revealed to you in the ways of My Son who walked out My will as He walked on this earth for all to see My heart and know My ways and walk in them after Him." ...

 

Yes, Father. As I think on the life of the Son of God, the Word of God made Flesh to live and walk among us, I think of the good ways He revealed:  To love God and love one another. Respect. Honor. The fear of the Lord. Kindness. Compassion. Mercy. Encouragement. Empowerment. Speaking words of spirit and life, blessing and peace wisdom and truth. Confronting evil with good, hate with love. Overcoming darkness with light. Obedient to the Father while growing in wisdom and stature and favor with God and with man. Self-sacrificing. Secure in His identity and fulfilling His destiny in trusting surrender, obedient faith, and expectant hope. Standing up for the downtrodden, speaking up for voiceless, while reaching up to the Father in prayer to be filled up with the Holy Spirt in power to live out a life that honored You and revealed Your Father heart to us.

 

Yes, Father. These are "the ancient paths, where the good way lies." As we stand at the crossroads -- as I stand at my own crossroads that confront me in every decision I'll make throughout the moments of my day -- may You give us the humility and wisdom to look up to You and ask for Your ways, along with the courage and grace we need to faithfully walk in them. As we do, we will find rest for our souls. 

 

Lord, let it be so in me and in the hearts of Your people who are called by Your name in every tongue and tribe and nation of our world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you find rest for your soul as you look up and ask for the ancients paths, where the good way lies to walk in the ways of the Lord today, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

         

PraySA --Prayer for Revival in San Antonio!  www.PraySA.org

I'm excited to be part of a group of prayer warriors in our community planning times of prayer for awakening and revival in our community and beyond, being led by Max Lucado in San Antonio.

Watch our Short Video Call to Prayer here:  

Pray SA - Park and Pray

Plans are coming together for a citywide prayer for revival gathering in the parking lot where the San Antonio Spurs play basketball and our city holds the San Antonio Rodeo at the Freeman Coliseum/AT&T Center. This will be a Solemn Assembly and Holy Convocation of heartfelt humility and repentance through citywide prayer for ourselves and our land on Sunday Nights, August 9th and 16th. Please keep us in prayer to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. If you would like to be involved and help spread the word, please send me a note: tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org

 

New Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

"Dwell Together in Unity" - August 3, 2020

Morning by Morning, August 3 - "Dwell Together in Unity"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of who I am and all I do, as I seek to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...

 

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.

It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing-
Life forevermore" (Psalm 133:1-3).

 

Unity is the opposite of division. Love is the opposite of hate.

 

We overcome the spiritual influences and attacks seeking to overtake and overthrow our communities and relationships, our hearts and minds, by walking in the opposite spirit. "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). "Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it" (John 1:5).

 

Holy Spirit of the Living God, anoint our hearts and our land with Your spirit of unity. Heal us of our divided hearts. Deliver us from our double-mindedness.

 

No matter what prejudice or pride remains in our hearts, no matter what wounds or hurts remain to be healed, You can lift our eyes to the One who is our Healer and Deliverer. You can open our hearts to the One who is Savior of all.

 

Lord Jesus, You said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to Myself" (John 12:32).

 

Be lifted up in our hearts, in our communities, in our land. Be lifted up that brethren of every tongue and tribe and nation may be one, united in You, that it may be good and pleasant among all who are called by Your name. Then our hearts in unity with Your heart will make an impact in our land and will displace the principalities and powers seeking to divide us and conquer us, seeking to kill and steal and destroy us (John 10:10).

 

"For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:27-28). "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all" (Ephesians 4:5-6).

 

Father God, when we turn to Jesus, one and undivided in our hearts toward You and one another by the moving of Your Holy Spirit within us, then You may command Your Father blessing upon us -- "Life forevermore!" Death and division will be displaced and You alone will rule and reign over our hearts and over our land. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you and your community be blessed with our Father's blessing of "Life forevermore!" with the anointing of the Holy Spirit flowing down upon you to empower you and the Body of Christ around to you to walk in the opposite spirit of division and death, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

       

PraySA --Prayer for Revival in San Antonio!  www.PraySA.org

I'm excited to be part of a group of prayer warriors in our community planning times of prayer for awakening and revival in our community and beyond, being led by Max Lucado in San Antonio.

Watch our Short Video Call to Prayer here:  

Pray SA - Park and Pray

Plans are coming together for a citywide prayer for revival gathering in the parking lot where the San Antonio Spurs play basketball and our city holds the San Antonio Rodeo at the Freeman Coliseum/AT&T Center. This will be a Solemn Assembly and Holy Convocation of heartfelt humility and repentance through citywide prayer for ourselves and our land on Sunday Nights, August 9th and 16th. Please keep us in prayer to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. If you would like to be involved and help spread the word, please send me a note: tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org

 

New Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Returning to the Good Shepherd and Righteous King - July 29, 2020

Morning by Morning, July 29 - Returning to the Good Shepherd and Righteous King

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear what's on Your heart -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd My people:  It is you who have scattered My flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:1-4).

 

Shepherds who do not fear anyone but the Lord. Shepherds who gather instead of scatter. Shepherds who speak up for what is right instead of sitting back in silent endurance of all that is wrong. Shepherds who attend to the flock instead of their own agendas -- seeking Your kingdom instead of theirs, making disciples of the Good Shepherd instead of followers of themselves. 

 

Lord, forgive us. Whether we've been the false shepherds or followed the false shepherds. Whether we've made idols of ourselves or bowed down before the idols others have made. We all should have been following You, with no other gods before You.

 

Yet, You always call us to return and repent, to call on Your name, to humble ourselves in prayer, to seek You alone as our Salvation and Good Shepherd of our souls. You always remind us to remember Your kindness that leads to repentance, that we may once again receive Your mercy, as You heal our hearts and restore our land.

 

In repentance and prayer, You gather Your remnant who remember Your name. You bring us back to Your fold and under Your care. And there, in the forgiveness of Your mercy, You redeem us and restore us, You revive us and refresh us, so that once again we can be fruitful and multiply. 

 

None shall be missing. That which was lost will be found and that which was blind shall see again -- all by the power of Your grace at work within us.

 

As You went on to declare Your prophetic words of promise and hope for the days to come, You continue to declare into our hearts today:  "The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as King as deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which He will be called:  'The Lord is our righteousness'" (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

 

All Your Prophecies of all Your Words are ultimately fulfilled in the One who is our Righteousness, in the One who is our Good Shepherd, our Righteous Branch, our soon and coming King. This is the only One who can "execute justice and righteousness in the land" as He rules and reigns, as He shepherds and leads.

 

Come, Lord Jesus. Good Shepherd and Righteous King. One day You'll come again from the heavens. But this day, would You come again in our hearts and come again in our land. Come again to rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, as we turn to You and call on Your name, in repentance and prayer, with expectant hope and obedient faith. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be filled with expectant hope in obedience faith, as you turn to the One who is our Good Shepherd and Righteous King, that He may revive and restore our hearts and our land, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

     

PraySA --Prayer for Revival in San Antonio!  www.PraySA.org

I'm excited to be part of a group of prayer warriors in our community planning times of prayer for awakening and revival in our community and beyond, being led by Max Lucado in San Antonio.

Watch our Short Video Call to Prayer here:  

Pray SA

Plans are coming together for a citywide prayer for revival gathering in the parking lot where the San Antonio Spurs play basketball and our city holds the San Antonio Rodeo at the Freeman Coliseum/AT&T Center. This will be a Solemn Assembly and Holy Convocation of heartfelt humility and repentance through citywide prayer for ourselves and our land on Sunday Nights, August 9th and 16th. Please keep us in prayer to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. If you would like to be involved and help spread the word, please send me a note: tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org

 

New Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Choosing to "Set" My Heart and Mind on Christ - July 28, 2020

Morning by Morning, July 28 - Choosing to "Set" My Heart and Mind on Christ

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart.... 

 

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.... And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:1-17).

 

Your Word commands us "set your hearts on things above ... set your minds on things above." To "set" our hearts and minds requires a conscious choice, a deliberate action on our part. 

 

To "set" our hearts and minds "on things above" also requires us to consciously choose the object and target of our heart's desires and our mind's thoughts. What does that mean? What does that look like? How would my life be different if I were to obey Your command of Your Word to "set" my heart and my mind "on things above"? ...

 

As wait and listen, from Your Spirit to my spirit, Your words come to my heart. ...

 

"To look to Me is to prioritize Me. To set your heart on Me, to set your mind on Me, is to trust in Me, to yield to Me, to allow Me to put My desires in your heart and My thoughts in your mind. I AM the Thing Above. My thoughts and My desires are the things above. Choose this perspective. Embrace this priority. Your part is to willingly make this choice. My part is to enable your desire to want this and your power to do this. This is the power of My grace for you. As you do, you will be dead to the tyranny of this world, with it's worldly perspectives and priorities, so that your life will be hidden with Christ in God. You'll be lifted up and alive in Christ, as Christ is lifted up and alive in you. This is the life of Christ in you, the hope of glory. This is how I empower you to do all you do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, full of thanksgiving, full of joy, full of My presence, My love, and My power being fully expressed through your life." ...

 

Yes, Lord. Your written Word comes to mind to confirm this spoken word I hear in my heart: "God has chosen to make know among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God..." (Galatians 2:20-21). "For it is God who works in (me) to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose" (Philippians 2:13).

 

So by the power of Your grace at work within me, I willingly, consciously and deliberately choose to look up to You, to set my heart and my mind on You and on the things above, on the things of Your will and Your Kingdom, rather than merely my will and the kingdoms of this world. Put Your desires in my heart and Your thoughts in my mind, so that Your perspective and priorities become my perspective and my priorities. I can't do any of this apart from You, but by the power of Your grace at work within me, I can do all these things through Christ who strengthens and empowers me (Philippians 4:13), through Christ who abides right here, right now within me (John 15:4); through 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, may you be strengthened and empowered to set your heart and mind on Christ, so that your life is hidden with God in Christ and all you do, you do in the name and in the nature of the Lord Jesus, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

    

PraySA --Prayer for Revival in San Antonio!  www.PraySA.org

I'm excited to be part of a group of prayer warriors in our community planning times of prayer for awakening and revival in our community and beyond, being led by Max Lucado in San Antonio.

Plans are coming together for a citywide prayer for revival gathering in the parking lot where the San Antonio Spurs play basketball and our city holds the San Antonio Rodeo at the Freeman Coliseum/AT&T Center. This will be a Solemn Assembly and Holy Convocation of heartfelt humility and repentance through citywide prayer for ourselves and our land on Sunday Nights, August 9th and 16th. Please keep us in prayer to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. If you would like to be involved and help spread the word, please send me a note: tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org

 

 

New Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!