Morning by Morning, December 13 - Generations of God's Glory

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me hear Your voice as I seek Your face and listen for Your leading.  ...

 

"An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of David, the son of Abraham.... Abraham was the father of Isaac.... And David was the father of Solomon.... and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations" (Matthew 1:1-17).

 

In all, there were forty-two generations from Abraham to Jesus. There were forty-two generations from Your promise to Abraham that "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" to the fulfillment of that promise through Jesus the Messiah (Genesis 12:3). There were forty-two generations until it could be said, "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great Light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned" (Matthew 4:16 fulfilling Isaiah 9:2).

 

And how many generations have there been since the dawning of Your great Light? It's been many years ­- over two thousand - and many generations since Your first coming. How many more before Your second coming? ...  We don't know (Matthew 25:13). But we do proclaim by faith, "Christ has died; Christ has risen; Christ will come again!" We eagerly long for the fulfillment of the promise of Your Word, "Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him" (Hebrews 9:28 NLT).

 

And every day of every generation between Your first coming and Your second, we welcome Your great Light within us. We welcome the great Light of our promised Messiah to shine in us and shine through us to change the world around us in our generation. Every generation is to be generation of God's glory.

 

You are "the Light of the world" (John 8:12). And in Christ - through Christ in us, the coming of Jesus the Messiah in our hearts and lives - we are to be "the light of the world" in our generation (Matthew 5:14). "Christ in (us), the hope of glory" - The light of Your glory shining through us as the body of Christ, filled with the Spirit of Christ, here in our hearts and here in our world (Colossians 1:27; Romans 8:9). 

 

Come, Lord Jesus. One day soon You'll come again, shining with light of Your glory "on the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 24:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:16). Come let the light of Your glory shine through me today (Philippians 2:15). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

May you shine with light of God's glory through your life in Christ today, in Jesus' name. 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 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, December 12 - "Do Not Be Afraid"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. O Lord, my God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- You are welcome into my heart and into my day.  ...

 

"Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with Child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:  'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us'" (Matthew 1:18-23).

 

As I read this story with the eyes of Your Spirit this morning, I see something different in this familiar passage of Scripture. I've always thought of Joseph as being shocked and angry at Mary, extremely disappointed in the revelation of her pregnancy, supposing her to have been unfaithful. But when You spoke to him through the angel in his dream, You didn't tell him "Do not be angry" or "Do not be disappointed." Instead, You said "Do not be afraid." 

 

That touches me in a new way. It moves me to see Joseph in a different way than I've seen him before. I've seen him as compassionate and forgiving and righteous, because he didn't want to expose Mary to disgrace. But now I also see that he was feeling afraid to take her as his wife, which means he must have been desiring to still take her as his wife -- despite all he knew and all he suspected -- but he was afraid. No doubt he was also angry and hurt and disappointed, but of all those mixed emotions, You spoke directly to his fear above all else.

 

What was he afraid of? ...  He was probably afraid of what people would think, afraid of how he would be judged, maybe even ridiculed and mocked. He was probably afraid of what people would say -- "How could you just forgive her? Have you no respect for yourself? What kind of message does that send to our kids and our community if you allow her to have no consequences for her actions? You're just as bad as she is, just as deserving of our judgment and disgust."

 

But You spoke to his heart. Your perfect love filled his heart and cast out his fear. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). Faith in You and Your word to him overcame all his fear of whatever would be said and whatever he would face. He knew in his heart You would be with him (Matthew 1:23). So when he woke from his sleep, he did just as You said, so that love and faith won his heart and saved the day to prepare the way of the Lord to come (Matthew 1:24).

 

Like Joseph, set me free from the fear of what people think. Fill me with Your love and faith to embrace my calling and fulfill my destiny, no matter how anybody else may judge my choices to follow You and what I believe You've spoken into my heart. "The fear of others lays a snare, but one who trusts in the Lord is secure" (Proverbs 29:25). Deliver me from every insecurity, so that I may awake and arise each day to walk in faith, trusting in You and secure in Your word to me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

May you awaken and arise to walk in faith, free from every insecurity and fear, trusting in the Lord and His word to you every day, in Jesus' name. 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 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, December 9 - "Greetings, Favored One!"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in my Savior, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.  ...

 

"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.... Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you will name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end'" (Luke 1:26-33).

 

My Father God, You favored Mary to be the mother of Jesus. You conceived the earthly life of the Son of God in her womb. And there will never be another woman throughout all eternity who will ever be favored by God in that way again. She alone bears that honor.

 

But just as You sent Gabriel to speak to Mary's heart, You send Your Holy Spirit to speak to each of ours -- "Greetings, favored one!" As the children of God we are each favored by God. Through the coming of our Savior who now lives in our hearts, "God has looked favorably on His people" (Luke 7:16).

 

We will not give birth to Jesus the Messiah, but each of us are greeted by God as Your favored ones to give birth to all You have conceived within us. "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). And "like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, (we are to) serve one another with whatever gift each of (us) has received ... so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:10-11).

 

Come, Holy Spirit. Give me grace to give birth to all You have conceived in me that God may be gloried through my life each day. Just like Mary, remind me each day I'm also a favored one of God, destined to find favor in Your sight by Your grace, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

May you know you are a favored one of God, created and called to live your life for His glory by the power of His grace, in Jesus' name. 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 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, December 8 - The Sign of God

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart, in my thoughts, and in every moment of my day.  ...

 

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14 NKJV).

 

A virgin who bears a Child, a God who humbles Himself in the likeness of human flesh and blood to walk among us, and a world of people forgiven for a world of sins throughout all generations by nothing they ever did and nothing they could ever do -- these are miraculous signs of Your inconceivable mercy and love.

 

And every day You forgive me and free me, every day You speak to my heart and lead me in Your ways, every day You are at work within me to make me more like You -- these are days You display Your glory with signs in the heavens and signs on the earth that prove to me You are Immanuel -- God with me.

 

Open my eyes to see these signs and wonders of my wonderful God -- my "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (v. 9:6). And let me never doubt for a day that You are with me, that You are for me, and that You love me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

May you see the sign of God who displays His glory through your life -- forgiven and free through His sacrifice of love for you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

  

Friends, Thank You for your prayers for us as I was honored to share the message last night at the First Wednesday Worship and Prayer Service at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. We had a wonderful evening in the deep presence of the Lord! Thank you for helping me fulfill my calling to minister the healing love of God, through all your prayers and encouragement. I pray the same for you and your calling. God bless!

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 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, December 8 - The Sign of God

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart, in my thoughts, and in every moment of my day.  ...

 

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14 NKJV).

 

A virgin who bears a Child, a God who humbles Himself in the likeness of human flesh and blood to walk among us, and a world of people forgiven for a world of sins throughout all generations by nothing they ever did and nothing they could ever do -- these are miraculous signs of Your inconceivable mercy and love.

 

And every day You forgive me and free me, every day You speak to my heart and lead me in Your ways, every day You are at work within me to make me more like You -- these are days You display Your glory with signs in the heavens and signs on the earth that prove to me You are Immanuel -- God with me.

 

Open my eyes to see these signs and wonders of my wonderful God -- my "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (v. 9:6). And let me never doubt for a day that You are with me, that You are for me, and that You love me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

May you see the sign of God who displays His glory through your life -- forgiven and free through His sacrifice of love for you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

  

Friends, Thank You for your prayers for us as I was honored to share the message last night at the First Wednesday Worship and Prayer Service at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. We had a wonderful evening in the deep presence of the Lord! Thank you for helping me fulfill my calling to minister the healing love of God, through all your prayers and encouragement. I pray the same for you and your calling. God bless!

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 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, December 7 - Jesus Messiah, the Great Light

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my heart and listen for Your leading -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the living God.  ...

 

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them light has shined.... They rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest" (Isaiah 9:2).

 

About seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, Your Holy Spirit lifted the heart and opened the spiritual eyes of the prophet Isaiah to see the light of the glory of God breaking into our world through the coming Messiah. 

 

With hope in his heart for his nation and all the world, Isaiah prophesied of this coming One:  "For a Child has been born for us, a Son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!" (v. 9:6)

 

Like all of his people who lived in his day, Isaiah could see the darkness of the chaos and confusion, the opposition and oppression of his broken and fallen world all around him every day. He knew very well "the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor" (v. 9:3). But at the same time, You stirred in his heart to cry out for the coming of the One who would heal their brokenness and break their bondage (v. 61:1-4). With assurance of faith, he boldly proclaimed of his Messiah, "His authority shall grow continually, and there will be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!" (v. 9:7)

 

Yes, Lord. You will do this. You have done this. You have broken into our darkness and brought us into the glory of Your marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). All is fulfilled in You -- in Jesus the Christ, our Messiah of God -- as You confirmed through one of Your first disciples, that in "Galilee of the Gentiles -- the people who sat in darkness have seen a great Light, and for those who sat in the region and the shadow of death Light has dawned!" (Matthew 4:15-16)

 

You are our "Wonderful Counselor" who freely gives us Your wisdom and guidance for every choice we must make. You are our "Mighty God" who is mighty to save in whatever we need to be free from all that would hold us back from being all You created us to be. You are our "Everlasting Father" whose arms are always open wide to embrace us and love us, to protect us and provide for us, to correct us and encourage us, as the children of God You remind us we are. And You are our "Prince of Peace" who keeps us in perfect peace, no matter what comes against us or goes on around us, as we keep our hearts and minds fixed on You and the everlasting strength only You can provide (Isaiah 26:3-4).

 

With Your Word and Your Spirit in our hearts, with a heart like Isaiah, we can boldly proclaim Your eternal truth in our lives and our generation:  "Arise, shine; for your Light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For darkness shall cover the face of the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.... Lift up your eyes and look around.... Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice!" (Isaiah 60:1-5)  

 

Jesus Messiah, come let the light of Your glory shine through me today (Matthew 5:14). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

May the light of the glory of God arise and shine upon you today, with the great Light of Jesus our Messiah shining through you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

  

Friends, I'm excited to be sharing the message Tonight at the First Wednesday Worship and Prayer Service at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge campus in San Antonio at 7pm. www.oakhillschurch

Please come join us if you can and keep us in prayer. Our Rapha God Ministries prayer team will be joining the Oak Hills Church prayer team to offer personal prayer ministry for all who come. All are welcome! 

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 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, December 5 - More Like You

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship and adore You. I choose to live this day for You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  ...

I hear Your Spirit writing a new song of surrender and praise in my spirit this morning.  ...

I worship and adore You

I long to live for You

Give me Your heart today

I welcome and embrace You

I look up and praise You

More of Your heart today

Make me more like You

In all I say and do

O give me Your heart today

Yes, Lord. Make me more like You today -- more and more every day. Just as Your Word promises You long to do in me and every one of Your children:  “For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory” (Romans 8:29-30 NLT). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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

May you be more like the Jesus today, by the power of His grace and love at work within you to give you more and more of His heart every day, in Jesus' name. 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 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!