Morning by Morning—Daily Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays

Thursday, January 07, 2021

Fighting Our Battles Only in the Ways of the Lord - January 7, 2021

Morning by Morning, January 7 - Fighting Our Battles Only in the Ways of the Lord

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Rule and reign as Sovereign Lord in my heart and in my land, for You are our King of kings and Lord of lords. ...

Lord, You look and see all that's going on in our land. We yearn for Your righteousness and justice. We pray for Your mercy and miracles. And as we do, give us faith and faithfulness to pray and act from our spirit and not our flesh, in the ways of Your Word and not the ways of our world. Give us boldness to storm the gates of hell, not the gates of private or public property (Matthew 16:18). Give us discipline to fight with the spiritual weapons of our warfare, not the carnal weapons of our world (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

The battle belongs to the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:15). So give us wisdom and discernment, courage and boldness, humility and faithfulness, to join the battle only in the ways of the Lord, looking to You alone as Lord, Redeemer, Commander, and Savior of all:

"To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

O my God, in You I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.

Do not let those who wait for You be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Make me to know Your ways, O Lord;
teach me Your paths.

Lead me in Your truth, and teach me,
for You are the God of my salvation;
for You I wait all day long....

Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble His way.

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep His covenant and His decrees.

For your name's sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.

Who are they that fear the Lord?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.

They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.

The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
and He makes His covenant known to them.

My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for He will pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.

Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me out of my distress.

Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.

O guard my life, and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in You.

May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for You.

Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all its troubles" (Psalm 25:1-25).

If we're willing to wait and listen for You, You will teach us and lead us in the right way -- the right way to fight, the right way to pray, to right way to hold fast in the faith for all that is right and true, righteous and just.

"Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'" (Isaiah 30:20-21).

There's a right way and a wrong way to do everything. Even when we seek to do the right thing, we can do it in the wrong way. Then even what was right becomes wrong. The ends do not justify the means. Both the ends of what we desire and the means of how we get there must be right. And You're the One who determines what is right -- both the right ends and the right means.

You're our Teacher and our Leader. Teach us Your ways that lead to life. Lead us in Your ways that are right and true and prevail:

"Those who are wise understand these things;
    those who are discerning know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right,
    and the upright walk in them,
    but transgressors stumble in them" (Hosea 14:9).

Encourage us and empower us to keep seeking You in wisdom, to keep discerning Your ways and only walking in them, as we hold fast to the faith You've put in our hearts to be a people and a nation under God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be empowered by the Spirit to join the battle of the Lord in the ways of the Lord, looking to the Lord alone as our Redeemer, Commander, and Savior of all, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I continue to join with you in prayer for our nation through these challenging times. God bless you, my friend!

God bless you as you pray for America

and the nations of our world today!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org

Wednesday, January 06, 2021

Holding Fast to Our Redemptive Calling and Purpose - January 6, 2020

Morning by Morning, January 6 - Holding Fast to Our Redemptive Calling and Purpose

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart, here at the foundation of my day, and every step along the way. ...

"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
    who formed you in the womb:
I am the Lord, who made all things,
    who alone stretched out the heavens,
    who by Myself spread out the earth;

who frustrates the omens of liars,
and makes fools of diviners;
who turns back the wise,
and makes their knowledge foolish;

who confirms the word of His servant,
    and fulfills the prediction of His messengers;
who says of Jerusalem, 'It shall be inhabited,'
    and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be rebuilt,
    and I will raise up their ruins';

who says to the deep, 'Be dry-
I will dry up your rivers';

who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd,
and he shall carry out all My purpose';
and who says of Jerusalem, 'It shall be rebuilt,'
and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid'" (Isaiah 44:24-28).

In the days when Your messenger, the prophet Isaiah, spoke these words, they were days full of trouble, with days full of trouble to come. Yet You reminded him and You reminded his nation to keep the faith, to keep looking up to the One who "made all things" and "formed (them) in the womb" for Your purposes in the world.

And You are the same yesterday and today and forever. You're still the Creator, the Redeemer, the One who sends "the word of (Your) servant" and "fulfills the prediction of (Your) messengers." You're still the One who "frustrates the omens of liars" and "makes fools of diviners," who "turns back the wise" and "makes their knowledge foolish."

You're still the One "who says to the deep, 'Be dry.' It's still Your heart as our Shepherd to dry up the swamp, to expose the deep, to reveal the darkness, to rebuild and raise up Your people and Your nations to "carry out all (Your) purpose" -- no matter what troubling times we're in or what troubling times we'll go through.

You spoke to Isaiah and his nation Your Words of Spirit and Life, full of truth and hope, to get them through the times of trouble, without wavering in their faith in all they would go through, secure in their identity to fulfill their destiny. You reminded them that just as You were with them in the past, You would be with them now; and You would be with them until every word came to pass and every purpose was fulfilled, declaring:

"Remember these things, O Jacob,
and Israel, for you are My servant;
I formed you, you are My servant;
O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.

I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,
and your sins like mist;
return to Me, for I have redeemed you" (v. 21-22).

Even before they saw Your words and Your promises spoken through Your servants and messengers fulfilled, You encouraged them to look up and even sing out with all Your creation what You would do for Your glory in their nation and for their world, declaring:

"Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it;
    shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
    O forest, and every tree in it!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
    and will be glorified in Israel!" (v. 23)

Yes, Lord. Let it be so! Here in our hearts, here in our nation, here in our generation to fulfill our calling and destiny, secure in our identity! Let us hold fast and not give up hope! Let the redemptive calling and gifting of our land in our times be fulfilled -- that the Gospel of the Kingdom may go forth, with freedom and fervor, from the shores of this nation to the ends of the earth! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you hold fast to the redemptive calling and purposes of God for you and your nation, not wavering in your faith, until every word of Spirit and Life from the Lord comes to pass, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I continue to join with you in prayer for our nation through these challenging times. God bless you, my friend!

God bless you as you pray for America

and the nations of our world today!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org

Tuesday, January 05, 2021

Give Voice and Vote for Righteousness - January 5, 2021

Morning by Morning, January 5 - Give Voice and Vote for Righteousness

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart to guide my steps this day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

"Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!

For praise from the upright is beautiful....

For the word of the Lord is right,

And all His work is done in truth.

He loves righteousness and justice....

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

And the host of them by the breath of His mouth....

Let all the earth fear the Lord;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

For He spoke, and it was done;

He commanded, and it stood fast.

The Lord brings the counsel of nations to nothing;

He makes the plans of the people to no effect.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever,

The plans of His heart to all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

The people He has chosen as His own inheritance....

No king is saved by the multitude of an army;

A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for safety;

Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

Behold the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope in His mercy....

Our soul waits for the Lord;

He is our Help and our Shield!

For our heart shall rejoice in Him,

Because we have trusted in His holy name!

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us,

Just as we hope in You!" (Psalm 33:1-22)

Many of the citizens of our nation will speak their voice and cast their votes in the State of Georgia today. Many already have. And I join in the prayer of agreement that the voices of righteousness will be heard and the votes for righteousness will be counted.

I join in prayer and proclamation, with a decree of righteousness and justice over our land in the name of Jesus. Let life and liberty, freedom and justice in what is right and true according to Your Word be affirmed. Let principles grounded in Your Word and guided by submission to Your authority in the fear of the Lord be defended in the government of our nation. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!" (v. 12)

O Lord, our Father, look from heaven (v. 13) See the heart of a nation crying out to You, calling upon Your name, desperately depending upon You alone as our Salvation and Hope (v. 18) We don't put our trust or our hopes in horses or chariots, nor the plans of people or the counsel of nations -- we put our trust and our hope in You! (v. 16)

O Lord, send forth Your Word! Send forth Your Spirit! Send forth Your hosts of heaven! (v. 6) Speak, and it shall be done! Command, and it shall come to pass! (v. 9)

And now we trust that You are our Help and our Shield, because we have trusted in Your holy name (v. 20) This day, and every day throughout this continuing battle for the soul of this nation as a nation under God, "Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You!" (v. 22) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be guided by the Holy Spirit and authority of God's Word, in the fear of the Lord and trusting in the power of His name in your prayers and proclamations, in your attitude and actions in all things, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I continue to join with you in prayer for our nation through these challenging times. God bless you, my friend!

God bless you as you pray for America today!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org

Monday, January 04, 2021

"Male and Female" -- Nothing Less and Nothing Else. - January 4, 2021

Morning by Morning, January 4 - "Male and Female" -- Nothing Less and Nothing Else.

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and listen for Your voice, as I watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit. ...

"Then God said, 'Let Us make humankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.' So God created humankind in His image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them...." (Genesis 1:26-28).

You created us and You blessed us as "male and female" -- nothing less and nothing else.

It's our fallen nature that would deny that or distort that. Just as it's our fallen nature that would rebel against Your Word and Your will as the authority of our lives.

But the power of Your grace redeems us and restores us from our fallen nature to Your truth and Your will, as we yield to Your authority in our lives -- all by the power of the blood of Jesus that sets us free and sets things right:

"You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once live among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:1-7).

So no matter what the new House Rules of the House of Representatives of Congress may say, no matter what the new demands of "the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient" may say, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). As for me and my house, we will keep standing up and speaking out for what is right and true, as defined by Your Word and Your will as the authority of our lives.

And by the power of Your grace, we do not give up this fight for the soul of our nation. We do not shrink back or shut up or bury our head in the sand. We look to the One who is the head of His church, to the One who holds "all authority in heaven and earth" (Matthew 28:18). We keep "looking to Jesus" and we "consider Him who endured such hostility against Himself from sinners, so that (we) may not grow weary or lose heart" (Hebrews 12:1-3).

I hear in my heart, "Do not grow weary. Do not lose heart. Look to Me and not the world. Trust in Me and no other. I have called you and cause you to shine as My light in the midst of this darkness, as My people who are called by My name." ...

Yes, Lord. Your written Word comes immediately to mind to confirm the spoken word I believe I hear in my heart: "That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world" (Philippians 2:15).

Lord, give us that power, that courage, to keep standing up and speaking out, as Your light in our world. No surrender. No retreat. No shrinking back. No hiding away. All by the power of Your grace, by Your blood and the authority of Your name. 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 keep standing up and speaking out for what is right and true, looking to Jesus and embraced by our Father, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I continue to join with you in prayer for our nation through these challenging times. God bless you, my friend!

God bless You and Prepare You to Advance in His Power and His Favor into This New Year!

Friends, please consider becoming a monthly partner with us in ministry as we begin this New Year together!

Messiah-Ministries.org/PartnerWithUs!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays

Messiah Ministries

17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407

San Antonio, Texas 78257

Messiah-Ministries.org

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:

Messiah-Ministries.org

Friday, January 01, 2021

New Year with the Faithful One Who "Will Make a Way in the Wilderness" - January 1, 2020

Morning by Morning, January 1 - New Year with the Faithful One Who "Will Make a Way in the Wilderness"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. The first thing this morning of this first day of the year, I put You first in my heart and first of all. ...

"I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 43:19).

Everyone's ready for Your "new thing," Lord. Everyone's ready for it to "spring forth."

Many moments of the past year seemed like "wilderness" and "desert" as we endured challenges we didn't expect and disappointments we didn't foresee. But at the same time, You were right there with us through it all, redeeming it all and reminding us all that You are faithful to bring us through every "wilderness" and "desert" on our journey to become more like You each day.

Just as You promised, all You've been faithful to do in the days behind, You'll be faithful to continue to do in the days ahead:

"But now thus says the Lord,
    He who created you, O Jacob,
    He who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are Mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.

Because you are precious in My sight,
and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
nations in exchange for your life.

Do not fear, for I AM with you! ..." (Isaiah 43:1-5)

So as I look to You first in these first moments of this New Year, I am excited and expectant to look and see all You have for me, all You are within me, and all I will become in You. Whatever "wilderness" we go through or "desert" we cross, whatever "waters" or "rivers" or "fires" that may be ahead on this journey, You'll be with me (v. 5). You'll be honoring me and loving me, walking right alongside me (v. 4). You'll be redeeming it all for me because You've called me by name and I am Yours (v. 1).

This is our inheritance in You as sons and daughters of God -- "everyone who is called by (Your) name, whom (You) created for (Your) glory, whom (You) formed and made" (v. 7). This New Year, as we go forward in faith and overcome in grace, You're making us more like You, teaching us to rely completely upon You as Lord and Savior of all, displaying Your glory through us as Your witnesses in our world:

"You are My witnesses, says the Lord,
    and My servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe Me
    and understand that I AM He.
Before Me no god was formed,
    nor shall there be any after Me.

I, I AM the Lord,
and besides Me there is no Savior" (v. 10-11)

Mighty Savior, Everlasting God, come display Your glory through our lives this New Year! You'll be with us! You'll be at work within us to make us more like You! All as You're rising and shining through us as Your witness in our world! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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

My friend, may you be filled with expectant faith for this New Year, trusting in the Faithful One who will be with you and at work within you to display His glory through your life, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I continue to join with you in prayer for our nation through these challenging times. God bless you, my friend!