Morning by Morning—Daily Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Morning by Morning, January 21 - Leaning In to Listen and Live

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I entrust my life and this day to You. ...

"Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in rich food. Incline your, and come to Me; listen, so that you may live" (Isaiah 55:1-3).

I'm thirsty, Lord. Make me thirstier still. I'm leaning in to listen and live into the fullness of Your guidance and Your purpose for my life today and every day. Only You truly know what will truly satisfy my longings and fulfill my desires.

As I listen, let me hear. As I lean in more closely, let me hear more specifically. Lead me by Your Spirit. "And when (I) turn to the right or when (I) turn to the left, (my) ears shall hear (Your) word behind (me), saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'" (Isaiah 30:21). What could be more satisfying and fulfilling than that depth of relationship with You throughout the daily journey of my life? Lord, let it be so. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray you will hear the voice of God and sense the leading of His Spirit to live into the fullness of all He has for you. May God satisfy your longings and fulfill your desires, all in His time and all in His way. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

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Monday, January 20, 2014

Morning by Morning, January 20 - Transfiguration and Transformation

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open up Your heavens as I open up my heart in the morning communion of contemplative prayer, here in the intimacy of Your Presence. ...

"... Jesus took with Him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became dazzling white.... a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, 'This is My Son, My Chosen; listen to Him!' When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent... " (Luke 9:28-36).

Lord, draw me up into the high place of prayer. Open up the heavenly dimension of Your spiritual realm and surround me in the cloud of Your Presence. Be high and lifted up, until I see You alone as You truly are and hear only Your voice. Put to silence everything else and everything less that would distract me from listening.

Let Your words wash over me. Let Your Presence envelop me. Let Your Spirit possess me. ...

As You are transfigured before me, let my heart be transformed within me. In both the fear of the Lord in humility before Your and also the intimacy of the Lord surrounding me in prayer, let me be "transformed by the renewing of (my mind), so that (I) may discern what is the will of God -- what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (for me)" (Romans 12:2). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, may you be transformed in the Presence of God as Jesus is exalted and transfigured before you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

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Friday, January 17, 2014

Morning by Morning, January 17 - The Name of Jesus

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is the name above every name. I declare Your name over every moment of my day and every dimension of my life. ...

"And by faith in His name, His name itself has made this man strong, who you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him perfect health in the presence of you all" (Acts 3:16).

Jesus, Your name declares Your nature -- Jesus, the salvation of God. You forgive us from our sins, heal us from our hurts, and free us from our chains to fill us with Your Spirit, that we might personally know the fullness of the unfailing love of God. At sound of Your name, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).

Increase my faith in Your name, in Your nature, in Your heart to see everything that would be any hindrance to the fullness of Your salvation in my life. Help me want all that You want for me. Help me not hold out and not hold back, but give You all I have and all I am. And like Your first disciples who were consumed with Your Spirit, let my days be filled "proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 8:12). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, may the power of the name of Jesus be made manifest in every dimension of your life. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

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Thursday, January 16, 2014

Morning by Morning, January 16 - Words from the Mouth of God

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me beside Your still waters and along Your paths of righteousness. You are my Good Shepherd; help me hear Your voice and follow Your ways. ...

"(Jesus) answered them, 'It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:3).

I live by the words that come from the mouth of God. Your words are my life. "The words (You) have spoken to (me) are spirit and life" (John 6:63). So what could be more important than growing in the intimacy of our relationship so that I can know Your voice and hear Your words?

Lord, guard my time to sit and listen and learn to know Your voice. Guard my heart to be sensitive to Your Spirit so that I don't follow the voice of another (John 10:5). I thank You for every word that comes from the Word of God, and I also thank You for "every word that comes from the mouth of God." Both are essential for the vibrant, intimate, and intensely personal relationship You desire for me. So I commit my spirit to this ever-increasing depth of relationship with You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, may the Holy Spirit set apart and guard your intimate time with God to know and hear His voice with a growing sensitivity each day. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

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Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Morning by Morning, January 14 - Favor to Walk with God

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Father and Friend, my Savior and Lord, my God and King, my Counselor and Advocate, my All in All. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I worship You and welcome You into every moment of my day. ...

"The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.... But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.... Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:5-9).

The blood of Jesus has the power to change the thoughts and hearts of men. And only the blood of Jesus can make wicked men righteous and blameless before God. "You know that (we) were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from (our) ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish" (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Through the blood of Jesus that cleanses our souls from sin, we each have the honor to walk with God. We have the blessing to be called "children of God" (John 1:12). We have the outrageous fulfillment of Your promise to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). And we have the astounding truth of Your earth-shattering, divine decree that in Christ, we become the righteousness of God -- all by the power of the blood of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Noah found favor and walked with God, blameless in Your sight. And now through Christ, we have "a better covenant" with ever "better promises" (Hebrews 8:6). We have favor because You have chosen in the sovereignty of Your mercy and grace to favor us with forgiveness so we can walk with You in relationship.

Lord, let me never take for granted the blessings and promises I have in You through the power of the blood of Jesus. Every day, cleanses me in Your blood and fill me with Your Spirit. Let me walk with You throughout the moments of my day, being forgiven of my sin and freed from the wicked nature that would consume me apart the ever-abiding Presence of Your holy nature within me by Your Spirit (Colossians 1:19-23). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray you would walk in favor with God today and every day. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

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Monday, January 13, 2014

Morning by Morning, January 13 - Boundary Lines in Pleasant Places

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Word of God made Flesh. Be King and Lord of my day. By Your Presence and power and grace, let Your Word be made flesh through my life yielded to Your Life today. ...

"The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; You hold my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.... Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices.... You show me the path of life. In Your Presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:5-11).

Lord, I choose to trust You to know what's best for me. I trust You to set my boundaries, to order my steps, to put Your desires in my heart and Your thoughts in my mind. I trust You to arrange the divine appointments and hold alignments that will bring the fullness of Your joy into my life by Your Presence and guidance.

Let the pleasures of God be the pleasures I seek. Let me experience and embrace the pleasant places that only obedience to Your boundaries can bring. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray for the fullness of joy in the Presence of God, as you trust Him to set your boundaries in pleasant places. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

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Friday, January 10, 2014

Morning by Morning, January 10 - "The Unfolding"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Fill me with Your Spirit and make me more like You today. ...

"The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.... Keep my steps steady according to Your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me.... Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is the truth.... The sum of Your word is truth; and every one of Your righteous ordinances endures forever" (Psalm 119:130-160).

Unfold Your Word to me. Open up the Word of God and give me deeper understanding of Your truth. Through the progressive revelation of Your Word, help me learn more of You and Your truth and Your ways every day.

Even more, give me a love for Your Word and a longing for Your ways. Give me with a deep desire for the honest and simple pursuit of a life fully entrusted and yielded to You. When "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path," I know I will walk more confidently through every challenge along the journey of my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, may You see the unfolding of God's words and plans in your life, as He empowers You to trust and walk in His ways. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

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Thursday, January 09, 2014

Morning by Morning, January 9 - Come to Me

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father, One with the Holy Spirit. And You invite me to be one with You in the communion of prayer and the complete surrender of my life into the fullness of Your Life. Here I am, Lord. ... Make me one with You, one with Your Body of Christ, one in ministry to all the world, until I feast with You at Your heavenly banquet in final victory. ...

I hear Your Spirit sing to my spirit:

Come to Me

Be one in Me

In the communion of prayer

I'll take You there

That wherever I Am you will be

Yes, Lord. I do come to You. I do surrender to You in trusting faith, embracing Your Life to be expressed through my life today. As You invited Your first followers to come and trust and believe, so You continue to invited me and to all who would be drawn to You: "Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and anyone who comes to Me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of the Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given Me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of My Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day... Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me" (John 6:37-45).

Thank You for loving me and singing over me. Thank You for inviting me into the fullness of life I can only live in communion with You --Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 17:21-23). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray you would drawn by the Holy Spirit into a deeper place of surrender and communion with God this year, that you may live the fullness of the life He has for you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

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Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Morning by Morning, January 8 - Treasure in My Heart

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my face, open up my heart, and speak out Your name to begin my day in the Presence of God. ...

"How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to Your word. With my whole heart I seek You; do not let me stray from Your commandments. I treasure Your word in my heart, to that I may not sin against You" (Psalm 119:9-11).

Lord, let Your word be treasure in my heart. Let Your word be the guiding principle of my life. Give me a deep desire to read Your word, hear Your word, honor Your word, obey Your word.

As I grow in knowing You, I grow in knowing Your word. As I grow in knowing Your word, I grow in knowing You. You are the Word of God -- the Word made Flesh (John 1:1-14). And You are my Treasure. So I seek You, my Treasure, the Word of God, and hold You in my heart.

Let Your Word change my heart. Let Your ways become my ways and Your desires become my desires. Let me be like the man who found treasure hidden in a field, who went and sold all he had to buy that field and have his treasure (Matthew 13:44). I have found You and the treasure of Your Word and Your Presence abiding in me. Let me treasure it and treasure You more than anything else in all my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray the Word of God will be Treasure in your heart. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

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Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Morning by Morning, January 7 - "Created in Christ"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You in spirit and truth -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...

"For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Ephesians 2:10).

Show me who I am and what I am to do. Let me know my identity and fulfill my destiny. By Your good grace, prepare me and empower me to live out Your good works as my way of life. I'm created in Christ, now living each day by the Spirit of Christ living through me (Romans 8:9). Come live through me today, as I grow up to become all I was created to be. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray you will know your identity and fulfill your destiny -- created in Christ for the good works of God through your life. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

Share this word to encourage a friend!

Monday, January 06, 2014

Morning by Morning, January 6 - Born Anew to Live for You

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- I love You, Lord, with all my spirit, soul, and body. Be Lord of this day, Lord of my life, Lord of all. ...

"You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).

As I begin this new year, awaken me each new day with Your name on my lips and Your Spirit in my heart. Let the living and enduring word of God arise in my spirit and send me forth into the destiny of my day.

Remind me that I'm born anew to live for You. Let the seeds of life You've planted in my soul grow and mature into the full harvest of all You've planned through my life each day. ...

I am born

Born anew

Every day

To live my life for You

So let Your Word come forth

Let Your Spirit rise up

Let Your Name be glorified

Through my life today

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

Tommy, may you filled afresh with God's Spirit, sent forth in His Word to fulfill His plans for Your destiny in Christ each day of this new year. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Friends, I've been away with family and friends for the past couple of weeks. I pray you are off to a great start for this new year with expectant faith for all God has in store for you. Thank you so much for joining with me in this journey of prayer for another year. Thank you so much for all your prayers, encouragement, and support for me and our ministry! God bless you! Join with me in believing that best is yet to come!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

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Friday, December 20, 2013

Morning by Morning, December 20 - Pondering the Promises, Shouting Our Praises

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my focus and my foundation, as I begin my day seeking Your face and listening for Your voice. ...

"So (the shepherds) went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made know what had been told them about this Child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them" (Luke 2:16-20).

The angels told the shepherds that Mary's Baby Child was the Messiah, the One who was born to be Savior and Lord of all (v. 2:10-11). And then the shepherds told Mary. The shepherds were shouting their praises, while Mary was pondering the promises.

In this Christmas season where we prepare our hearts with expectant faith to celebrate the birth of Christ, I thank You for the times of praise and joy. Like the shepherds, we are moved with Your good news of great joy, as we are glorifying and praising God for all we hear and see of Your great love for us. But at the same time, we are also moved, like Mary, to take time to ponder these things in our hearts, to let the deeper meaning of all You have done and all that this means settle deeply into our hearts.

Through the birth of Christ, God came near. You not only created us, You are with us. You not only watch over and care for us from Heaven, You abide with us and within us here on earth in our hearts. You not only forgive us of our sins, You also fill us with Your Spirit. You not only see us as servants, You love us as sons and daughters of God. And none of that would ever be possible if You had not come to this earth to be born as a Child who would die for our sins so we could live with You, now and forever (John 3:16). As we ponder that truth in our hearts, we can't help but shout our praises, glorifying and praising God.

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

My Friend, in this Christmas season, I pray you'll ponder the promises of all God has done for us through Jesus Christ and shout His praises, glorifying and praising God with all your heart. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Friends, I'll be away with family for the next couple of weeks. I wish you a Merry Christmas and pray all the joy of Jesus Christ will fill your heart! Thank you so much for joining with me in this journey of prayer for another year. I hope you'll continue to the journey with me next year! Thank you so much for all your prayers, encouragement, and support for me and our ministry! God bless you!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

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

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Thursday, December 19, 2013

Morning by Morning, December 19 - "A Sign for You"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your good news of great joy fill my spirit and awaken my heart with a passion for You today. ...

"'This will be a sign for you: you will find a Child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.'... When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.' So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in the manger" (Luke 2:12).

Lord, open my eyes to the signs of Your Presence around me. Let me be stirred with haste to follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit. Let the passionate pursuit of my life be to seek You and find You. Your Word promises us all, "When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart. I will let you find Me, says the Lord ..." (Jeremiah 29:13-14). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My Friend, I pray the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of your heart to see the signs and seek the Presence of Jesus all around you today. May you seek the Lord with all your heart and find Him faithful to His Word and His love for you every day. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

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

Share this word to encourage a friend!