Fighting Our Battles from Above - November 20, 2020

 Morning by Morning, November 20 - Fighting Our Battles from Above

 Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name -- the name every name -- and every lesser thing in the spiritual atmosphere around me must bow its knee and yield to the authority of Your name as Lord of all. ...

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:5-11 KJV).

Though "every knee should bow," they don't usually bow without a fight. And though "every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord," they usually say a lot of other mean and hurtful things first. 

So You call us to keep our eyes on You. You remind us to keep looking up, as You keep lifting up our spirits in You. "So if (we) have been raised with Christ, (we) seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (We) set (our) minds on things above, not on things that are on earth, for (we) have died, and (our) life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3). 

From the place of Your Presence, You empower us to fight the battles we face. From the intimacy of Your embrace and the security of Your love, You reveal to us the dimensions of Your Being we only see on the battlefield and we can only learn as we follow You as the Commander of the Army of the Lord through the battles we must fight (Joshua 5:14). 

So as I begin my day, let me be first to bow my knees and confess with my tongue that You are Lord, to glory of God my Father. Fill me with Your Spirit and empower me for the battles. Give me "wisdom from above" (James 3:17) and courage from within (Joshua 1:6). And give me the confidence to know that every battle I'll face and every battle I'll fight already belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be lifted up into the intimate embrace of the Presence of God, with your eyes on Jesus, to fight your battles from above and know every battle belongs to the Lord, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

  

Free to Be Like Jesus

Friends, I'm excited to be teaching the spiritual principles of living into our true identity from a place of healing and freedom in Jesus Christ from by book, Free to Be Like Jesus at two churches right now. Teaching in-person at The Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas and on-line at Olney Methodist Church in Illinois, where I'll join in person near the end of the course. Let me know if your church or community may be interested in this teaching in some setting where we always experience powerful encounters with the Lord through His Holy Spirit!

TommyHays@Messiah-Ministries.org

  

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Messiah-Ministries.org

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"Steadfast." - November 19, 2020

 Morning by Morning, November 19 - "Steadfast."

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your voice and sense Your leading, as I begin my day seeking to be centered in You -- grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. ... 

As I watch and wait, I hear in my heart, "Steadfast. Be steadfast. Do not back up. Do not back off. But be steadfast in Me and all I have put in your heart." ... 

Yes, Lord. ... 

All the challenging and changing circumstances that seem to pop up every day seem to pressure me to pull away from the path You've set before me. And it's true we must be adaptable, flexible, spontaneous and ready to respond to the unexpected. But at the same time, we must be grounded, steady, steadfast and true to who we are in You, and maybe even more importantly, who You are in us.

This Word of Your Scripture comes to mind as I ponder Your message to my spirit this morning: 

"Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58). 

When I'm steadfast and immovable in my trust in You, in my confidence in Your good heart and Your perfect plan for me and my life, I'm free to excel in "the work of the Lord" -- in the work You've called me to, on the path You've set before me. Then whatever I do, as I do it unto You, my labor will not be in vain. The moments of my days will matter. You will make a difference as You have Your way through my life. 

So give me the grace, by the power of Your Spirit at work within me, to hold the course, to run my race, to fight the good fight of the faith You've assigned to my life -- full of the opportunities and challenges You've hand-picked for me to overcome and come through to make me more like each day. "For this is the will of God, (my) sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). That I "be conformed to the image of (Your) Son" (Romans 8:9), as You are changing me into Your image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). That I be free to be like Jesus in all the ways You've chosen to express Your life, Your nature, and Your will through me. As You are, so am I to be in my world in the unique way You've created me, just as You've created every one of Your children (1 John 4:17). 

I can be "steadfast" in my heart toward You because You're so "steadfast" in Your heart towards me. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). 

I thank You for Your calling and Your grace to be steadfast in You this day. "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:12). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be steadfast, faithful and true, to who you are in Christ and who Christ is in you, to fulfill your destiny, secure and confident and steadfast in your identity, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

Free to Be Like Jesus

Friends, I'm excited to be teaching the spiritual principles of living into our true identity from a place of healing and freedom in Jesus Christ from by book, Free to Be Like Jesus at two churches right now. Teaching in-person at The Bridge Church in Fredericksburg, Texas and on-line at Olney Methodist Church in Illinois, where I'll join in person near the end of the course. Let me know if your church or community may be interested in this teaching in some setting where we always experience powerful encounters with the Lord through His Holy Spirit!

  

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!

Anyone can sign up for free on our Homepage:

Messiah-Ministries.org

The Word of the Lord Sent Forth to Set Right - November 18, 2020

 Morning by Morning, November 18 - The Word of the Lord Sent Forth to Set Right

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my face and open up my heart to seek You and listen for Your leading -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

 

As I listen and wait, I hear in my heart: “Might does not make right. Power does not make right. I say what is right and I set things right by what I say.” ...

 

Yes, Lord. Speak Your word. Send forth Your word. Set things right by the power of Your word. As the Word of God says:

 

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
    and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth;
    it shall not return to Me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

 

And let our words agree with Your words. For one way You’ve created us in Your image is by the power of the words we speak. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). And what great power You release through our words when our words agree with Yours -- not doubting in our hearts, not wavering in our submission to Your will, and not resisting the leading of Your Spirit. As Your Word teaches us, “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:22-24).

 

So Lord, let our hearts be as one with Your heart and our minds as one with Your mind. “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

 

As we humble our hearts to pray, as we press in to seek Your face and pursue Your will, put Your thoughts in our minds and Your desires in our hearts, so it will be Your words in our mouths to agree with your will and Your word in our world. And nothing can stop the word of the Lord. It will not return empty. It will accomplish the thing for which Your send it. No man’s might. No man’s power. But all by the might and power of Your Spirit to say what is right as You set things right. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you agree with the will and the word of the Lord, going forth by His Spirit to set things right in our world, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. I join with you with expectant faith and prayer for our nation and for our witness in the midst of these days! God bless you, my friend!

    

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Messiah-Ministries.org

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"Pray for the Light!" - November 17, 2020

 Morning by Morning, November 17 - "Pray for the Light!"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look to You first and listen for You first, to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...

 

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light -- for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!" (Ephesians 5:6-14)

 

I hear in my heart this morning, "Pray for the light." ...

 

Yes, Lord.... I pray for the light. Let Your light shine. Bring all things out of darkness and into Your light. Expose the "works of darkness" -- wherever "darkness" has been at work in me or my life, in my community or my nation, in the Body of Christ and throughout our world. Expose them.

 

As I pray for You to "expose them," what comes to my heart is this: "I said in My Word for you to expose them." ...

 

Yes, Lord.... As I look again at verse 11, Your Word commands us to be active and not passive, to be actively engaged and not sitting idly by, to advance and not retreat: "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them" (Ephesians 5:11).

 

How do I "expose them?" ...

 

Once again I hear You saying in my heart, "Pray for the light." ...

 

Yes, Lord. I pray for the light. I pray all that is hidden be uncovered, all that is secret be revealed, all that is darkness be exposed.

 

I pray for the light and I proclaim the Truth of Your Word that You are the Light. Just as You said, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). And as we welcome You in our hearts, as we embrace Your light of life in our lives, our prayers and thoughts, our words and actions are filled with Your light to shine forth into our lives and our world. Just as You said of all who allow Your light to shine in our hearts, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill that cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14). As You said, "When you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light" (John 12:36).

 

Come, Holy Spirit. Spirit of Light, Spirit of Life, Spirit of the One who is the Light and empowers us to let the Light of God shine in us, arise in us! Awaken us from our slumber of sleep. Deliver us from passivity and capitulation to the pressures of the world seeking to silence our voice and even our prayers in this hour! Let us rise from the dead and come to life in our prayers to believe and to proclaim that all that is in darkness will be exposed!

 

It's the nature of fallen man to love darkness rather than light (John 3:19). But You come into our world in the Light of Your Glory to overcome all darkness; and that darkness cannot overcome Your Light (John 1:5).

 

So by the power of Your grace, we will no longer take part in any of the works of darkness. Nor will we tolerate or condone any of the works of darkness on our watch of prayer or in our spheres of responsibility and authority in the power of the name of Jesus!

 

I respond to Your call and I actively engage in prayer, as I proclaim in the Spirit to all who are called by Your name, "Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!" (Ephesians 5:14) I join with you as you join with me to "Pray for the light!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be empowered by the Holy Spirit to pray for the Light, as you arise and shine and let the Light of the glory of God shine through you to expose the works of darkness in all your spheres of responsibility and authority, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. I join with you with expectant faith and prayer for our nation and for our witness in the midst of these days! God bless you, my friend!

   

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!

"Truth in Love" -- Both Truth and Love - November 16, 2020

Morning by Morning, November 16 - "Truth in Love" -- Both Truth and Love

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your voice and follow Your leading -- now and throughout the moments of my day (John 10:3). ...

 

"We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into Him who is the Head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love" (Ephesians 4:14-16).

 

Speaking the truth in love -- not just truth, not just love, but the "truth in love." There's no true love apart from truth. And all that's really true will be grounded in love, for "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is Love" (1 John 4:8).

 

But Your true love is not the world's love. It's not some kind of watered-down love, dumbed-down to the lowest common denominator kind of love, or sit back and shut up and take it as it's being shoved down our throats kind of love. It's not some kind of stick your head in the sand, go along to get along without rocking the boat or risking offending someone by standing firm in what you believe to be right and true according to Your Word and our conviction of conscience kind of love. It's love that's grounded in truth. For just as much as You are Love, You are also Truth -- "the Way and the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6). And Your Spirit is "the Spirit of Truth" (John 16:13). For You are also "Light" and "in (You) there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5).

 

So part of growing up into Christ who is our Head is growing up "to maturity" of discerning what is "the truth in love" in every encounter we face, every crisis we go through, every challenge to our faith and opportunity to grow in Christ-likeness, "to the measure of the full stature of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). None of us can do that apart from You and Your Spirit abiding in us. We can't love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who persecute us unless You empower us with both the confidence of Your truth and the courage of Your love. We can't "expose" the darkness if we're ignoring or condoning the darkness (Ephesians 5:11). We desperately need You to form a right spirit in us, for "Apart from (You), we can do nothing" (John 15:5).

 

And we do praise You that we are not apart from You. We praise You that You are "with (us) always, to the end of the age" and every moment of this age of these tense and challenging days we're living through (Matthew 28:20). All will be revealed in truth -- all in Your time and all in Your way. "For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light" (Luke 8:17). 

 

So as we long for Your truth to be revealed, may Your love be revealed in us -- Your true love. "By this all people will know that (we) are (Your) disciples" (John 13:35). As best as we can and all by Your grace, may we walk in the Light of Truth, speaking the Truth in Love, in both the confidence of Your Truth and the power of Your Love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be empowered by the Holy Spirit, deeply abiding in Christ, to walk in  both the Light of Truth and the courage of Love, speaking the Truth in Love, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. I join with you with expectant faith and prayer for our nation and for our witness in the midst of these days! 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

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Our "Twenty-One Days" to Breakthrough for Righteousness - November 13, 2020

 Morning by Morning, November 13 - Our "Twenty-One Days" to Breakthrough for Righteousness

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Rule and reign in my heart, in my thoughts, in my will, in my desires, in every area of my life and every moment of my day, O King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). ...

 

"Righteousness is on Your side, O Lord...." (Daniel 9:7).

 

Daniel declared Your truth from Your Word when he humbled himself to fast and pray for his nation. Righteousness is on Your side; and we are called to be on the side of righteousness. For "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).

 

Daniel was fasting and praying but not yet seeing the answer to his prayers being made manifest in his nation, even though he was so strongly moved in his heart to pray and stand firm in the word that he heard. He "had been mourning for three weeks" (Daniel 10:2). And when the angel of the Lord came to him to encourage him, he said, "My strength left me, and my complexion grew deathly pale, and I retrained no strength. Then I heard the sound of his words...." (Daniel 10:8-9).

 

How we need to hear the sound of Your words, Lord. How we need to be encouraged and strengthened to continue to fast and to pray and stand on the side of righteousness, despite what we see at the moment.

 

From the very first day Daniel began to repent and pray as he stood in the gap by falling on his knees, in intercession by the moving of Your Spirit according to the Word of God, You sent Your answer and You sent Your angel to reveal Your mercy, to forgive and free Your people, and to heal their land (Daniel 9:23 and 10:12). But for "twenty-one days" there was a raging spiritual battle taking place in the unseen realm of the heavenlies over the land for the heart and soul of the nation (Daniel 10:13-14).

 

After twenty-one days, a breakthrough came. After twenty-one days, an answer came. The angel of the Lord touched him and strengthened him and affirmed him that he was "greatly beloved," as he encouraged him, "Stand on your feet!" (Daniel 10:11)  As Daniel was still "trembling" in his body, the angel of the Lord was strengthening his spirit, exhorting him, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words" (Daniel 10:12).

 

O Lord, hear our words. O Lord, hear our prayer! For these "twenty-one days" -- whatever that speaks of in our hearts, in our land, in our days -- let us not grow weary or give up, but persist and persevere. Let us continue to pray with a heart of humility and stand on the side of righteousness.

 

Daniel had become "speechless" with his "face toward the ground," but the angel of the Lord "touched (his) lips, and (he) opened (his) mouth to speak" (Daniel 10:15-16). Then the angel of the Lord continued to strengthen and encourage the man of God, speaking to his spirit, "Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe! Be strong and courageous!" (v. 18-19) "Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" (NKJV). Then the angel revealed to him, "I've come to tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth" (v. 21).

 

O Lord, strengthen us! O Lord, continue to give us Your words to speak and Your prayers to pray and Your truth to proclaim from Your Book of Truth! Though the spiritual battles rage during our "twenty-one days" between our prayers and Your answer, empower us to persist in prayer until the breakthrough comes. May we yet be a people and a nation who stand on the side of righteousness, as we humbly bow in prayer with our eyes firmly fixed on the Righteous One! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you persevere and persist in prayer, humbly and faithfully looking to the Righteous One who is strengthening you and encouraging you to keep standing on the side of righteousness, in your heart and for your nation, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. I join with you with expectant faith that breakthrough is coming! God bless you, my friend!

 

"The teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole civil and social life that it would be literally-and I do not mean figuratively, I mean literally-impossible for us to figure to ourselves what that life would be if these teachings were removed. We would lose almost all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals-all the standards toward which we, with more or less resolution, strive to raise ourselves...." 

                            --President Teddy Roosevelt

 

"The Bible is the rock on which our Republic rests." 

                            --President Andrew Jackson

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!