Monday, April 17, 2017

Morning by Morning, April 17 - Forever "Amazed" at the Victory of the Cross and the Power of the Resurrection
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I'm ready for my journey with You today  -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...
 
"But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he aw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home amazed at what had happened" (Luke 24:12).
 
Lord, let the wonder of Your resurrection continue to amaze me. Let me never take it for granted and let it never become routine. You conquered the grave! (Matthew 28:6) You defeated hell! (1 Peter 3:18-20) You have triumphed over the hordes of hell and the hosts of evil "to destroy the works of the devil!" (1 John 3:8). You have "rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of (God's) beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins!" (Colossians 1:10) Through the victory of Your cross and the power of Your resurrection "Death has been swallowed up in victory!" (1 Corinthians 15:54)
 
And now the same power that raised You from the dead lives in us (Romans 8:11). "When (we) were buried with (You) in baptism, (we) were also raised with (You) through faith in the power of God, who raised (You) from the dead. And when we were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of (our) flesh, God made (us) alive together with (You), when He forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. (You) disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:12-15).
 
I stand amazed in Your presence. And may I be forever amazed at the power of Your glory and the eternal impact of Your resurrection. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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



I pray you will be forever amazed at the victory of the cross and the power of the resurrection and forever changed by it's eternal impact on your life and through your life into your world 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
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Sunday, April 16, 2017

Morning by Morning, April 16 - Christ Alive and Arise in Me!
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I celebrate You're resurrection and mine!  ...
 
"Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guard shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said!'" (Matthew 28:1-6 NKJV)
 
The tomb is empty and my heart is full.
You are risen and so is my soul.
You are alive and so am I.
You live forever and so will I.
Christ, our Lord, has risen today.
Christ, my Lord, arise in me every day!
 
Just as You said, "I Am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die" (John 11:25-26). Christ alive! Christ arise! Christ, my Lord, come alive and arise in me every day! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


I pray Christ will come alive and arise in you today and 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
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Friday, April 14, 2017

Morning by Morning, April 14 - "Good" Friday -- Through Rejection to Rejoicing
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Crucified, dead, and buried, raised from the dead and forever reigning at the right hand of my Father, You are the Lamb of God who took away my sins and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who defeated my spiritual foes. You are the "the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8) Come into my heart and every moment of my day.  ...
 
"As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and the scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.... and after flogging Jesus, (Pilate) handed Him over to be crucified.... Then the soldiers led Him into the courtyard of the palace.... And they clothed Him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on Him.... They struck His head with a reed, spat upon Him, and knelt down in homage to Him. After mocking Him, they stripped Him of the purple cloak and put His own cloths on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.... It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified Him.... Those who passed by derided Him, shaking their heads and saying, 'Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!' In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking Him among themselves and saying, 'He saved others; He cannot save Himself.' Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.' Those who were crucified with Him also taunted Him. When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?'... Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed His last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that in this way He breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was God's Son!'" (Mark 15:1-39)
 
This is the day we call "Good Friday" -- "Good" because the Good Shepherd of our souls laid down Your life for Your sheep, "Good" because every prophetic act of the slaying of the Passover lamb since the days of Moses until that day was fulfilled in the Passover Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, "Good" because the One who knew no sin became sin for us, "Good" because "in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself," and "Good" because You humbled Yourself in the likeness of human flesh and blood to be willingly crucified for us that "through (You) God was pleased to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of (Your) cross" (John 10:11; Philippians 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:20).
 
As I read through this passage of Your Word this year, I'm especially struck by the depths of utter rejection You suffered for me -- from the religious and self-righteous, from the soldiers and sinners, from the powerful and prideful, even from what felt like Your Father in that moment that we can't begin to understand, when You took upon Yourself all my sins and all the sins of the world on our behalf, as the sinless, suffering servant of God and eternal Son of God.
 
In that moment of deepest rejection, You eternally fulfilled the prophecies and promises of God for our salvation:  "He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.... By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.... He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:3-12 NKJV).
 
You bore all rejection, so that I would be forever accepted. You were willing to feel forsaken, so that I would be forever embraced. You were willing to bear all my sins and all that would ever separate me from the love of God, so that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, (would) be able to separate (me) from the love of God in Christ Jesus (my) Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). 
 
Your rejection was my redemption. And in my redemption, I rejoice in You. Though it pains me to read and remember all You endured for me, it also brings me great joy to know You took great joy in offering Your life for me upon that cross:  "for the sake of the joy that was set before (You), (You) endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and (have) taken (Your) seat at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). That's the only reason why we can call this day "Good." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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



I pray you are filled with rejoicing as You remember and embrace all God has done for you through the willing rejection of Jesus our Lord as the Passover Lamb of God, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 
 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Morning by Morning, April 12 - The Choice of Judas and the Sovereignty of God
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the hand and lead me by the heart on my journey with You today.  ...
 
"After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, 'Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.' ... Jesus answered, 'It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.' So when He had dipped the piece of bread, He gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, 'Do quickly what you are going to do.' ... So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night" (John 13:21-30).
 
Judas made a choice. And in his choice to betray You, he opened the door of his soul for Satan to come in. No doubt there were many choices along the path that led him to this ultimate, fateful choice that "prepared the way of the lord" of darkness to have a place of authority and power in his soul (John 12:6). 
 
In the spiritual principle of freedom that a true relationship of love requires, Your Word sets before each of us the choice of "life or death, blessings or curses," boldly declaring, "Now, choose life! Then you and your children may live. To choose life is to love the Lord your God, obey Him, stay close to Him. He is your life... (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). "For freedom Christ has set us free.... Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.... those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.... If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:1-25).
 
So in the choice of Judas, we see the great tension of two great truths that are equally true at the same time:  the freedom of our will and the sovereignty of God's wisdom and authority. Both are true. Judas had the freedom to make his choice; and it's his choice that allowed Satan to accomplish the desires of his evil plan, even if it was a foolish plan that played out into the eternal plans of God. "We speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians 2:7-8).
 
You made Your choice; Satan made his choice; and Judas made his. As You said on Your journey to the cross, "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have the power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father" (John 10:17-18). You expressed the freedom of Your choice in the Garden, determining, "Not My will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
 
Father God, You see every choice we will ever make. You're the God who sees the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end (Isaiah 46:10). "In Your book were written all the days that were formed for (us), when none of them as yet existed" (Psalm 139:16). And at the same time, You've given us the freedom to make our choices, knowing so many of those choices will have such drastic, dramatic effect for us and even for all humanity -- just like when You allowed Adam and Even to make their choices in the freedom of their will in response to the leading of Satan, even knowing how much Your heart would break and Your creation would suffer (Genesis 3:1-7). But even their choices have always been part of Your plan, just like the choices of Satan and Judas and Jesus have always been a part of Your plan -- a plan for our salvation and redemption that allows both our freedom and Your sovereignty, "destined before the foundation of the world, but revealed at the end of the ages for (our) sake" (1 Peter 1:20).
 
Come, Holy Spirit. In honor of the choice that Jesus made to lay down His life for me, despite the choice Judas made to betray the Lord of glory, let me choose each day to entrust my life to God my Father through Jesus Christ my Lord. In the sovereignty of God, You've given me the freedom to choose. "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).
 
"In (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according the riches of His grace that He lavished on us.... In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things according to His counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:7-14). By the grace of God and in the sovereignty of God, I choose to live my life this day for the praise of Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


I pray you will choice well how you live your life each day, in honor the choice Jesus made for you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 
 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Morning by Morning, April 11 - Our Passover Lamb -- Greatly Powerful, Deeply Humble
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I speak out Your name, my spirit comes to attention in the deep communion of prayer with You, my God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  ....
 
"Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray Him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off His outer robe, and tied a towel around Himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, 'Lord, are you going to wash my feet?' Jesus answered, 'You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.' Peter said to Him, 'You will never wash my feet.' Jesus answered, 'Unless I wash you, you have no share with Me.' Simon Peter said to Him, 'Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!' Jesus said to him, 'One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.' For He knew who was to betray Him; for this reason He said, 'Not all of you are clean'" (John 13:1-11).
 
In preparation for the Passover, You washed the feet of Your little lambs. They didn't yet fully understand that You were to be the Passover Lamb -- "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). And they didn't yet fully understand how You could be so great and powerful -- "the Father had given all things into (Your) hands ... (You) had come from God and (were) going to God"-- yet at the same time, You were also so humble and loving, so intimate and personal (John 13:3). They thought You were cleaning their feet, but You came to cleanse their souls (John 13:10). And "(You) loved them to the end" (John 13:1).
 
Just as You would lay down Your life for them, they would soon be filled with Your Spirit as they would choose to completely lay down their lives for You and for one another (Acts 1:8). "We know love by this, that (You) laid down (Your) life for us -- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.... All who obey (Your) commandments abide in (You), and (You) abide in them. And by this we know that (You) abide in us, by the Spirit that (You) have given us" (1 John 3:16-24).
 
Just as You humbled Yourself to wash their feet, they would learn by Your example to humble themselves to wash one another's feet (John 13:14). You were helping them understand how to live a life in Your Spirit -- secure and confident in their identity, purpose, and power, yet at same time walking out their calling and destiny in humility, obedience, and love. "Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them" (John 13:16-17).
 
Lamb of God, cleanse me in Your blood. Fill me with Your Spirit. Teach me Your ways and empower me to walk in them -- secure and confident in my identity, purpose, and power, yet at the same time walking out my calling and destiny in humility, obedience, and love. Apart from You, I can do nothing, but as I abide in You and allow Your Spirit to abide in me, my life will bear much fruit that honors Your name and Your sacrifice for me (John 15:5). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

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



I pray you will be walk out your calling an destiny knowing You are greatly powerful in Christ, with the same Spirit who raised Jesus from dead living in you, but also deeply humble to walk in His ways of humility, obedience, and love, in Jesus' name (Romans 8:11). Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 
 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Friday, April 07, 2017

Morning by Morning, April 7 - Heart-Cry Lament Over Jerusalem
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Light of the world, light up my heart and my path before me today.  ... 
 
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, 'Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord'" (Matthew 23:37-39).
 
Your heart sees our hearts. And Your heart breaks for every way we refuse to fully entrust our hearts to You.
 
You're a good Father, longing to bless us with Your favor and provision, Your guidance and grace, and a confident sense of our true identity as children of God (v. 23:9). You're like the mother hen that longs to gather her babies under her wings in the unity and community of faith and love, in the intimacy and security of Your embrace (v. 23:27). You're our Savior, our Messiah, our Teacher and Guide, who longs for us to see You are You are and follow You will all our hearts, trusting You to be all we need and all we desire (v. 23:10).
 
But just like Jerusalem, we don't always fully trust You with all our hearts, despite Your heart for us. One day, we welcome You into our hearts and lives with open arms and high praises (v. 21:9). But the next, we find ourselves turning away from You to go back to depending upon ourselves and insisting on our own ways, instead of fully trusting in You and Your ways (v. 27:22).
 
So You lament over us, but You never stop loving us. Your heart breaks for us when we turn away, but You never stop reaching out to us to draw us back into Your embrace. "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).
 
So as best as I can, all by Your grace, from the depth of my heart, I cry out "Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!" Let me see You as You truly are! Then I can see myself as I truly am. Come again, this day and every day, into my heart as Savior and Lord -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the Living God.
 
And at the same time, I pray for the day when all of Jerusalem, and all she represents, will do the same. "Thus says the Lord:  I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain" (Zechariah 8:3). "Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your King comes to you; triumphant and victorious is He, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.... He shall command peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.... On that day the Lord their God will save them for they are the flock of His people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on His land" (Zechariah 9:9-16).  "And I will pour out a spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that, when they look on the One whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn (Zechariah 12:10).  "On that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.... They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are My people'; and they will say, 'The Lord is our God'" (Zechariah 13:1-9). "And the Lord will become King over all the earth; on that day the Lord will be one and His name one.... Jerusalem shall abide in security"  (Zechariah 14:9-11). "Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Psalm 118:26; Matthew 21:9). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


I pray you receive our Savior's embrace and all His grace into your heart this day and every day, crying out to Him, "Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord," in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. And please join with me in the agreement of prayer for Jerusalem and all the people of God (Psalm 122:6; Romans 11:26). God bless you, my friend!

 
 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Thursday, April 06, 2017

Morning by Morning, April 6 - Taking Up the Cross
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in Your steps.  ...
 
"(Jesus) called the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, 'If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.' And He said to them, 'Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power'" (Mark 8:34-9:1).
 
You called Your first disciples to "take up their cross" even before You took up Yours. And now that You've taken up Yours, You call every disciple who chooses to follow You to do the same.
 
Lord Jesus, give me the courage to take up my cross and follow You. Give me the grace to willingly, obediently, and joyfully choose to lose my life for Your sake and for the sake of Your gospel. May I do my part in my generation to see Your kingdom come with power -- here in my heart and here in my world -- today and every day until You come again in the glory of the Father with the holy angels.
 
Let these words be true of me as they were of Your disciple Paul:  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is not longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:19-20). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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



I pray you will find great joy and fulfillment in your journey with Jesus, taking up your cross, losing your life for His sake, and following Him into all He has for you and the glory of His name in your heart and your world, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Wednesday, April 05, 2017

Worship and Healing Prayer Service Tonight in San Antonio


 
Come join us Tonight if you can in San Antonio or join us by prayer if you can't for the First Wednesday Worship & Healing Prayer Service at 7pm at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge Campus on I-10 in San Antonio, Texas, in the  South Room Sanctuary. 
All are welcome! Please spread the word.

I'm excited to be sharing a message of hope and healing through prayer. Our Rapha God Ministries Prayer Team will be joining the Oak Hills Prayer Team to offer personal prayer ministry following the worship and message.
 
May the name of Jesus be high and lifted up as we encounter the healing love of God in spirit, soul, and body. May you also experience the Lord's power and presence in your church and community. Thank you for your prayers!
 
God bless you,
  
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Bldg 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

 
South Room Sanctuary of Oak Hills Church, Crownridge Campus
19595 IH 10 West
San Antonio, TX 78257
Morning by Morning, April 5 - The Zeal of the Spirit
 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my heart, Holy Spirit of God, as I begin my day centered and grounded in You and Your Word -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  ...
 
"The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple He found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, He drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling doves, 'Take these things out of here! Stop making My Father's house a marketplace!' His disciples remembered that it was written, 'Zeal for Your house will consume me'" (John 2:13-17).
 
The zeal of the Spirit is at war with the entrenchments and compromises of the flesh. Compromise is the enemy of purity. And the places where we make room for the ways of the world in the place that belongs to You alone are the battlefields of our souls. Even the apostle Paul acknowledged this battlefield of the soul, saying "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.... I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members" (Romans 7:15-23). But he admitted his struggle and his need to turn to You in humility and repentance, crying out, "Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25)
 
Come, Lord Jesus! Come into every place of compromise in my heart. Let the zeal of the Lord consume me. Take the whip of Your Word in the power of Your Spirit to reveal and remove everything in my heart that I've allowed or exalted in Your place. And replace it with Your truth, Your Presence, and Your peace. Set things right within my soul.
 
Your Word commands, "In your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord" (1 Peter 3:15). Let my heart be set apart for You. By the power of Your grace, I choose to sanctify You as Lord in my heart -- in every area of my soul. Restore me to righteousness, as You continue to drive everything out of me that's not yet like You (Romans 8:29). Bring me to the place where I can truly say, I "love the Lord (my) God with all (my) heart, and with all (my) soul, and with all (my) mind, and with all (my) strength" (Mark 11:30). My Father God, rekindle the flame and let the zeal for Your house -- the temple of my heart -- consume me again. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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



I pray zeal of the Spirit will consume you with a fresh passion for God's purity in your heart, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 


Please keep us in prayer for the First Wednesday Service of Worship and Prayer for Healing at Oak Hills Church, Crownridge Campus in San Antonio tonight, April 5 at 7pm. I'm excited to be sharing a message of hope and healing. Come join us! All are welcome!



Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Please share this word to encourage a friend!