Morning by Morning, January 2 - New Year Word for My Spiritual Journey in Jesus Good morning, Lord Jesus. I begin my day, as I begin this new year, looking up to You, opening up to You, listening up for You. ... I’ve been taking some time to pray for a sense of direction and vision in this coming year. I shared it with friends who came to worship and pray into the new year at our home New Year’s Eve. It’s the story in Acts Chapter 16 of Paul and Silas worshipping and praising, even while they were in jail for the sake of Christ, when their doors were opened, their chains were broken, and they broke through into the freedom of their destiny, while the foundations of all that was holding them back crumbled beneath them (Acts 16:16-40). Praise God! As I spoke out the Words of Scripture with my friends, almost every sentence jumped out and came alive! It was hard to keep from preaching! And in fact, we all agreed that I would probably be preaching many sermons out of this Passage in this coming year. It speaks of spiritual warfare, persecution for the faith and courage in the faith, standing up and speaking out for what is true even in the face of the pressures of people and culture around us and evening threatening us. It speaks of the boldness of our witness when the world is watching how we respond to our challenges, how we engage our battles, and even how we treat our enemies. It speaks of salvation, healing, deliverance, and revival. And most of all, it speaks of keeping our eyes on You in worship and prayer and praise through it all, no matter what! So without preaching a sermon again this morning in my morning prayer with You, I’ll just take the time to declare Your Word back to You and into the spiritual realm of my life today and this new year, Word for Word as Your Holy Spirit has written it in Acts Chapter 16, beginning at Verse 16: “16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’ 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. “20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, ‘These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.’ 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. “25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’ 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ “31 So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. 35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, ‘Let those men go.’ “36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, ‘The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.’ “37 But Paul said to them, ‘They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.’’ “38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed” (Acts 16:16-40). Yes, Lord. May You give me the courage and grace to live my life and my witness like that through it all, no matter what, this year and every year, this day and throughout the moments of every day--morning by morning, step by step, on my journey into spiritual maturity in You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today. In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be filled with hope in the "Good" to come, risking to hope as you're heart is prepared with hope, in Jesus' name. Happy New Year! God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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