Thursday, November 12, 2020

Hope that Does Not Disappoint - November 12, 2020

 Morning by Morning, November 12 - Hope that Does Not Disappoint

 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- and welcome You in every Dimension of Your Being into every dimension of my being -- spirit, soul, and body. ...
 
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).
 
My hope is not any man or any event. My hope is in You. And as I hope in You, You fill me with all joy and peace despite what's going on with any man or any event. As I hope in You, You keep filling me with the power and the presence of Your Holy Spirit. Then Your Spirit shows me what I'm to be believing for, what I'm to be hoping for, what I'm to be persisting in prayer for. But it all begins when I put You first, above all else, above every man and every event, above every outcome and breakthrough I'm hoping for and believing for. 
 
Your Word says it this way: "Seek first the first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). It's important to seek these things we believe You put on our hearts, by the moving of Your Spirit and grounded in Your Word -- to persist in prayer, to make our requests known, to seek revelation of Your will and then pray Your will on earth as it is in heaven, as best as we can and all by Your grace, just as far as Your grace will go. But it's most important of all to seek You first, before seeking any of these things.
 
When we do, when we seek You first, when we look first to the God of hope even before praying and believing for all we're hoping for, You fill us with the joy and peace that does not disappoint us. "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5). And then even more hope abounds in us  -- rising up within us, pouring out through us, releasing new life and fresh faith to all that it touches by the power of Your Spirit to press on and pray through until we see our hopes come true. For "faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not (yet) seen" (Hebrews 11:1). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be filled with all joy and peace as you look to the God of hope, seeking Him first above all else, that your hope and faith may abound in Him, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
 
   

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

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Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Honoring Those Who Answered their Call to Duty on This Veteran's Day - November 11, 2020

 Morning by Morning, November 11 - Honoring Those Who Answered their Call to Duty on This Veteran's Day

 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and listen for Your voice, to begin my day grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. ...
 
I'm mindful that today is Veteran's Day in America. And I'm thankful for the soldiers and all who have served our nation and fought for our freedom and the freedom of others in the nations of this world at the call of duty.
 
I'm reminded that being a warrior is also a dimension and expression of Your nature. "The Lord is a Warrior; the Lord is His name" (Exodus 15:3).
 
"The Lord will go forth like a warrior,
He will arouse His zeal like a man of war.
He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry.
He will prevail against His enemies" (Isaiah 42:12).
 
With the heart of David, whom You called and secured in his identity as both a worshipper and a warrior, I worship You as my Warrior and I thank You for the warriors on the battlefields of this world who have fought to save me from my enemies, just as I thank You for the warriors on the battlefields of the spirit who have fought and continue to fight in the authority of Your name and power of Your blood to save me from spiritual enemies:
 
"Then David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And he said:
 
'The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer;
The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;
My Shield and the Horn of my salvation,
My Stronghold and my Refuge;
My Savior, You save me from violence.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies" (2 Samuel 22:1-4).
 
Thank You for the men and women of God who answered the call in their time, for on this side of heaven, until Your return and restoration of all things in our broken and fallen world, "there is a time for war" (Ecclesiastes 3:8). So there is a need for the warriors who would hear their call. And there is a need to honor those who have answered that call.
 
On this Veteran's Day, I thank You and I honor them. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be filled with thanksgiving to God as you honor those who have fought for you and all of us on the battlefields of this world and the battlefields of the spirit, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
 
  
 
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

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

"Like Warriors in Battle" - November 10, 2020

 Morning by Morning, November 10 - "Like Warriors in Battle"

 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my spirit with Your Spirit and my mouth with Your words, as I seek to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...
 
"Together they shall be like warriors in battle,
    trampling the foe in the mud of the streets;
they shall fight, for the Lord is with them,
    and they shall put to shame the riders on horses" 
(Zechariah 10:5).
 
Through these days, many voices of appeasement to the forces of darkness are being lifted in the name of civility and the call to capitulate in surrender without a fight for what is right. The voices of intimidation to silence the voices of Your people grow stronger each day. But in the spiritual realm, where the true battles are fought and won, there will be no surrender and no retreat. Only the response of the faithful who continue to take up the weapons of our warfare and continue to run to the battle for the soul of our nation.
 
Come and lead us through this battle, Lord. You're our General, the Commander of the Army of the Lord. In worship, we hear Your battle plans. In prayer, we discern Your path to victory. In authority, we execute Your orders and obey Your command -- without flinching, without faltering, without fail -- doing just as You say for as long as You say. This is how we fight our battles! And this battle belongs to the Lord! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you persist in worship and prayer and your authority in the name of our God in obedience to His command until the battle is won, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
 
 

"I said before that the most sublime picture in American history is of George Washington on his knees in the snow at Valley Forge. That image personifies a people who know that it's not enough to depend on our own courage and goodness. We must also seek help from God our father and preserver."  
-- President Ronald Reagan, 1982

 
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

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Monday, November 09, 2020

Darkness Prevails Only Until Final Judgment is Handed Down - November 9, 2020

 Morning by Morning, November 9 - Darkness Prevails Only Until Final Judgment is Handed Down

 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart, as I listen for Your leading. ...
 
"As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me.... As I looked, this horn made war with the holy ones and was prevailing over them, until the Ancient One came; then judgment was given for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time arrived when the holy ones gained possession of the kingdom" (Daniel 7:15-22).
 
Like Daniel, our spirits can be troubled by what we see. In the spiritual wars taking place in the heavenly realms around us, there are times when it seems the darkness is prevailing over the light. Yet there is only One who decrees His Final Judgment. There is only One who will determine who will gain possession of the kingdom.
 
Come, Holy Spirit. Give us the grace of persevering faith. Let us not grow weary in our prayers or overwhelmed by what we see. Guard our minds from doubt and our hearts from unbelief. Empower us to persist until the time of Your judgment to come.
 
You showed Daniel the seasons of time when what was wrong seemed to prevail. But You always showed him an appointed time to come when You would set things right:

"As I watched,
thrones were set in place,
    and an Ancient One took His throne,
His clothing was white as snow,
    and the hair of His head like pure wool;
His throne was fiery flames,
    and its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
    and flowed out from His presence.
A thousand thousands served Him,
    and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending Him.
The court sat in judgment,
    and the books were opened" (Daniel 7:9-10).
 
You are the One who sits in judgment. There is no other. You alone issue Your decree of Final Judgment from the throne of Your court.
 
"As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like 'the Son of Man' (NKJV),
    coming with the clouds of heaven.
And He came to the Ancient One
    and was presented before Him.
To Him was given dominion
    and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
    should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
    that shall not pass away,
and His kingship is one
    that shall never be destroyed!" (Daniel 7:13-14).
 
So no matter what we see, no matter what seems to be prevailing at the time, we know You still sit on Your throne and You still have the last word to make the final decree from Your court. Darkness prevails only until Your Final Judgment is handed down. Your judgments are always right and true. And ultimately, Your judgments will always prevail. For Your dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away; and Your kingship is an eternal kingship that shall never be destroyed! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you persist in persevering faith, no matter what seems to be prevailing at the time, until we receive the Final Judgment of the Ancient One who always has the last word, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!



 
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

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Friday, November 06, 2020

"Stand Firm" in Faith - November 6, 2020

 Morning by Morning, November 6 - "Stand Firm" in Faith

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Be King of my heart and Lord of my life. Come rule and reign in all that is within me and all that is around me. ... 

"Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again" (Exodus 14:13). 

Standing firm in faith keeps us from falling into fear. Remembering Your word keeps us from wavering at the words of the world. Our faith is in You. Our trust is in You. Our hope is in You. You are the One who will accomplish Your word. You're watching over Your word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). And Your word never returns empty, but always accomplishes that which You purpose and always succeeds in the thing for which You sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

So by the power of Your grace, we stand firm in Your word, trusting by faith, that You are at work to bring about Your will. No matter what army of the opposite is charging forward to drive our hopes into the sea, no matter how mighty their horses and chariots or their determination for the destruction of our dreams grounded in Your word and confirmed by Your Spirit, we will stand firm in You. We will look and see the salvation of the Lord and the deliverance at hand that only You can do. Some may trust in horses; some may trust in chariots; but we will trust in the name of our God and the power of Your word (Psalm 20:7). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

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

My friend, may you stand firm in the faith, trusting in the One who is always faithful to watch over and perform His word, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!


 
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

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Thursday, November 05, 2020

This Battle's Not Over - November 5, 2020

 Morning by Morning, November 5 - This Battle's Not Over

 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your heart -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- to pray and proclaim Your will, here on earth as it already is in heaven, here in every sphere of influence of responsibility and authority You've entrusted to me as a child of God and disciple of Christ. ...
 
"God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
    though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
    God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
    He utters His voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord;
    see what desolations He has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
    He burns the shields with fire.
'Be still, and know that I am God!
    I am exalted among the nations,
    I am exalted in the earth.'
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our refuge! Selah" (Psalm 46:1-11)
 
Though the nations be in an uproar, through the kingdoms of this world totter with tumult, You utter Your voice, You speak forth Your word, and the mountains tremble and shake, as the earth and all that would rise against You melts away like wax. Mighty God! Our Refuge! Our Strength! Our Very Present Help in time of trouble!
 
On the one hand, You're speaking to me and all Your children, "Be still and know that I am God." And at the same time, You're speaking to the nations and kingdoms of this world that would seek to oppose Your will and Your word, "Be still and know that I am God!" They must cease and desist. They must bow before Your name and submit to Your will. All that is in darkness will be exposed. What is hidden in secret will be shouted from the mountaintops.
 
So by the power of Your grace, stirred up in my human spirit by the burning Fire of Your Holy Spirit in faith to never surrender and never retreat before the enemies of the cross and the righteousness of God, I agree in my prayers and words of proclamation to the kingdoms of this world opposing the Kingdom of my God: "You will be still and You will submit and You will know that the Lord alone is God! He makes your wars cease. He breaks your bows. He shatters your spears. He burns your shields with fire. He alone will be exalted among the nations! He alone will be exalted in the earth! In Jesus' mighty name!" (v. 9)
 
This battle is not over. This spiritual war for the soul of a nation is not finished. "God is in the midst of (this nation); it shall not be moved! God will help it when the morning dawns!" (v. 5).
 
So before that day dawns, when all is exposed by the light and set right, "there is a river whose streams make glad the (people) of God, the holy habitation of the Most High" (v. 4). Your River of Life flows in our hearts, with both the faith to trust in You and the peace to know You hear our prayers and are moving in Your power. So "we will not fear" (v. 2). "The Lord of hosts is with us! The God of Jacob is our Refuge!" (v. 11) And all the world will "Come and behold the works of the Lord!" (v. 8) 
 
I believe it. And I'm not backing off or standing down until I see it or until You tell me otherwise. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you be still and know that the Lord alone is God; and may you boldly and faithfully proclaim that truth to all that's hidden and opposing the will of God in your world, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you in fasting and prayer for the elections and and for all we are facing in our world. God bless you, my friend!

 
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

Please share this word to encourage a friend!