Morning by Morning, February 18, 2026 — “Watch and See What He Will Say”

 

Morning by Morning, February 18, 2026 — “Watch and See What He Will Say” Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up, here in my heart and in the moments of my day. ... As I seek the leading of Your Spirit, the ancient words of the prophet Habakkuk come to mind: “I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it’” (Habakkuk 2:1-2). In these first moments of my morning, I’m watching to see what You will say to me. I’m listening for Your leading, seeking to be sensitive to Your Spirit, drawing near to You as You draw near to me, surrendering my thoughts to Your thoughts, my desires to Your desires, with You being at the center my focus. Some call this contemplative prayer or centering prayer. Your Word calls it “waiting” on the Lord (Palm 37:7; Lamentations 3:26). Before running out into my day with all I think I need to do, I first come to You in my just to be with You. You quiet my spirit, You open the eyes of my heart, You speak in Your still, small voice, You hold me close, and center my soul in a spiritual intimacy with You—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. Then I’m ready for my day. Like Habakkuk said, I can “write down the vision” and “run” with it. Like Isaiah said: “Those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Before I run into my day, I watch and wait before You. And far from wasting time, I’m honoring You with my time. I’m letting You know You’re first in my life, You’re the priority of my day, You’re the Source of anything good that I will be and anything good that I do. And while I’m watching and waiting, You’re already moving mightily on my behalf: “For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him” (Isaiah 64:4). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be drawn into the deep Presence of the Lord every morning as you watch to see what He will say to you, starting your day centered in Him, in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day! Click Here to Listen to Today's Prayer: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375760 Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries 502 North Milam Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org My Books on Inner Healing, Spiritual Freedom and Spiritual Intimacy with God are Available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays “Setting hearts free to be all you were created to be —Free to Be Like Jesus— secure in your identity, growing in maturity, fulfilling your destiny" https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Please Keep us in Prayer for These Messiah Ministries Events Every Tuesday Night: Teaching my annual 9 Month Discipleship and Equipping Course Free to Be Like Jesus! at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. 6:00PM Central Time. Zoom Link to join us at 6PM CST: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81392201741?pwd=H8iHgLeWaxF01SZ30BYIPsYZmY9Dud.1 Based on My Books: Free to Be Like Jesus and First the Spirit https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays   February 20-22 Free to Be Like Jesus Seminar, Healing Service, and Sunday Morning at Hondo Methodist Church, Global Methodist Church, in Hondo, Texas. All are Welcome at no cost. office@hondo.church February 25-March 1 Setting Hearts Free Revival Meeting at Goshen First Church, Global Methodist Church, in Goshen, Indiana. Bilingual Services in English and Spanish, with Rocio Hays interpreting. March 12-16 Personal Counseling for Mens Ministry retreat with Selah Ministries, Gentry Ranch, Mason, TX April 22-24 MorningStar Fellowship of Ministries Retreat at Fort Mill, SC May 4-25 Return Ministry to Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan for Crusades and Leader Conferences May 23 Officiate the Wedding of Judith and Tom in Fredericksburg, Texas May 30-June 7 Teaching with Dr. Dave Gentry at Selah Ministries Mens' Boot Camp at Cloudcroft, NM June 14. Preaching both Services at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. My past sermons available in the Sermon Archives: https://www.bridgefbg.com/messages September Travel Ministry preaching in the nation of Slovenia Personal Ministry Appointments Spiritual Direction Sessions and Personal Prayer Ministry Sessions of Inner Healing & Spiritual Freedom by Appointment in Person and Online through Zoom. tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org  Sessions are without set cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries. https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Free On-line Video Series: Setting Hearts Free!  My Core Teaching and Ministry https://messiah-ministries.org/resources

https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays Some of My Books are Now in Other Languages (Spanish, French, Urdu) For Spanish: https://www.facebook.com/tommyhaysenespanol

Morning by Morning, February 18, 2026 — “Ash Wednesday”—Beginning a Season of Repentance and Preparation, Surrender with Expectation

Morning by Morning, February 18, 2026 — “Ash Wednesday”—Beginning a Season of Repentance and Preparation, Surrender with Expectation Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and in every moment of my day. ... This day marks the day many Christians around the world call “Ash Wednesday.” On the spiritual calendar, these are days of preparation, beginning a season of forty days between Ash Wednesday and Resurrection Sunday, not counting the Sabbath days, in a traditional spiritual journey of the Body of Christ since the beginning days of Your Church. The heart and theme of these days is repentance and preparation, surrender with expectation. As I wait on You this morning, this Word comes to mind: “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight’” (Matthew 3:1-3). As the Holy Spirit led You into the wilderness for forty days between Your baptism in the Holy Spirit and the beginning of Your ministry in the power of the Spirit, so Your Spirit leads us into seasons of purging, purification, and preparation (Matthew 3:13 through 4:17; Luke 4:1-21). These are days to be emptied of ourselves and filled with You. These are days of preparing the way of the Lord in “spirit and soul and body,” that we may “be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” as Your Spirit sanctifies and fills our hearts to the degree that we sanctify and set apart our lives to Your will (1 Thessalonians 5:23). “The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” ready to take hold of our hearts to the degree that we offer our hearts to You, “from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18). In these days of fasting and prayer and preparation, let it be more than ritual or tradition. Let it be a deeper surrender of our hearts to Your heart—rending our hearts and not our garments—making room for more of You and less of us, more of Your will and less of our will (Joel 2:13). Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in a deeper way, to a deeper degree, than ever before in our own hearts and in the heart of the Body of Christ. During this season of repentance and preparation, of deeper surrender and greater expectation, may Your Holy Spirit prepare the way of the Lord in us. Your kingdom is at hand because Your kingdom is in our hearts. Your kingdom comes and Your will is done in every heart prepared for You and surrendered to You (Luke 17:21). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be filled with deeper surrender and greater expectation during this season of repentance and preparation, in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day! Click Here to Listen to Today's Prayer: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375760 Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries 502 North Milam Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org My Books on Inner Healing, Spiritual Freedom and Spiritual Intimacy with God are Available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays “Setting hearts free to be all you were created to be —Free to Be Like Jesus— secure in your identity, growing in maturity, fulfilling your destiny" https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Please Keep us in Prayer for These Messiah Ministries Events Every Tuesday Night: Teaching my annual 9 Month Discipleship and Equipping Course Free to Be Like Jesus! at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. 6:00PM Central Time. Zoom Link to join us at 6PM CST: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81392201741?pwd=H8iHgLeWaxF01SZ30BYIPsYZmY9Dud.1 Based on My Books: Free to Be Like Jesus and First the Spirit https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays   February 20-22 Free to Be Like Jesus Seminar, Healing Service, and Sunday Morning at Hondo Methodist Church, Global Methodist Church, in Hondo, Texas. All are Welcome at no cost. office@hondo.church February 25-March 1 Setting Hearts Free Revival Meeting at Goshen First Church, Global Methodist Church, in Goshen, Indiana. Bilingual Services in English and Spanish, with Rocio Hays interpreting. March 12-16 Personal Counseling for Mens Ministry retreat with Selah Ministries, Gentry Ranch, Mason, TX April 22-24 MorningStar Fellowship of Ministries Retreat at Fort Mill, SC May 4-25 Return Ministry to Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan for Crusades and Leader Conferences May 23 Officiate the Wedding of Judith and Tom in Fredericksburg, Texas May 30-June 7 Teaching with Dr. Dave Gentry at Selah Ministries Mens' Boot Camp at Cloudcroft, NM June 14. Preaching both Services at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. My past sermons available in the Sermon Archives: https://www.bridgefbg.com/messages September Travel Ministry preaching in the nation of Slovenia Personal Ministry Appointments Spiritual Direction Sessions and Personal Prayer Ministry Sessions of Inner Healing & Spiritual Freedom by Appointment in Person and Online through Zoom. tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org  Sessions are without set cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries. https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Free On-line Video Series: Setting Hearts Free!  My Core Teaching and Ministry https://messiah-ministries.org/resources

https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays Some of My Books are Now in Other Languages (Spanish, French, Urdu) For Spanish: https://www.facebook.com/tommyhaysenespanol

Morning by Morning, February 17, 2026 — “Favor and Fulfillment”

 

Morning by Morning, February 17, 2026 — “Favor and Fulfillment” Good morning, Lord Jesus. You said Your sheep hear Your voice and follow You (John 10:27). I’m waiting and listening for Your leading, as I seek to do first thing every morning... As I wait, what I believe I hear in my heart is “Favor and fulfillment.” ... And this Scripture comes to mind: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11). My walk is far from “blameless.” But my heart is to seek to be holy—to be as fully surrendered to You as I can be, to be as fully committed to You as I can be. Not in my goodness but Your grace. Not in my power but by the power of the One who is abiding in me, working in me, making me more like You every day through Your correction and conviction and constant Presence. You’re the One who gives me that desire and You’re the One who gives me that power (Philippians 2:13). And with this attitude of heart You’re establishing in me, You favor me with Your mercy and grace, as You fulfill me with every good thing. “Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again” (Proverbs 24:16). It’s Your favor and fulfillment that keeps me getting back up whenever I stumble or fall. It’s Your mercy and grace that keeps cleansing me from all unrighteousness, as I keep turning to You in repentance and faith through the power of Your blood and mercy of Your love (1 John 1:9). Thank You for Your ever-forgiving Promise of Your ever-abiding favor and fulfillment: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,    His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;    great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,    ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,    to the soul that seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:22-24). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you experience the favor and fulfillment of the Lord our God, seeking Him and allowing Him to make you more like Him each day, in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day! Click Here to Listen to Today's Prayer: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375760 Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries 502 North Milam Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org My Books on Inner Healing, Spiritual Freedom and Spiritual Intimacy with God are Available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays “Setting hearts free to be all you were created to be —Free to Be Like Jesus— secure in your identity, growing in maturity, fulfilling your destiny" https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Please Keep us in Prayer for These Messiah Ministries Events Every Tuesday Night: Teaching my annual 9 Month Discipleship and Equipping Course Free to Be Like Jesus! at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. 6:00PM Central Time. Zoom Link to join us at 6PM CST: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81392201741?pwd=H8iHgLeWaxF01SZ30BYIPsYZmY9Dud.1 Based on My Books: Free to Be Like Jesus and First the Spirit https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays   February 20-22 Free to Be Like Jesus Seminar, Healing Service, and Sunday Morning at Hondo Methodist Church, Global Methodist Church, in Hondo, Texas. All are Welcome at no cost. office@hondo.church February 25-March 1 Setting Hearts Free Revival Meeting at Goshen First Church, Global Methodist Church, in Goshen, Indiana. Bilingual Services in English and Spanish, with Rocio Hays interpreting. March 12-16 Personal Counseling for Mens Ministry retreat with Selah Ministries, Gentry Ranch, Mason, TX April 22-24 MorningStar Fellowship of Ministries Retreat at Fort Mill, SC May 4-25 Return Ministry to Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan for Crusades and Leader Conferences May 23 Officiate the Wedding of Judith and Tom in Fredericksburg, Texas May 30-June 7 Teaching with Dr. Dave Gentry at Selah Ministries Mens' Boot Camp at Cloudcroft, NM June 14. Preaching both Services at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. My past sermons available in the Sermon Archives: https://www.bridgefbg.com/messages September Travel Ministry preaching in the nation of Slovenia Personal Ministry Appointments Spiritual Direction Sessions and Personal Prayer Ministry Sessions of Inner Healing & Spiritual Freedom by Appointment in Person and Online through Zoom. tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org  Sessions are without set cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries. https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Free On-line Video Series: Setting Hearts Free!  My Core Teaching and Ministry https://messiah-ministries.org/resources

https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays Some of My Books are Now in Other Languages (Spanish, French, Urdu) For Spanish: https://www.facebook.com/tommyhaysenespanol

Morning by Morning, February 16, 2026 — “Go In and Possess the Land”

Morning by Morning, February 16, 2026 — “Go In and Possess the Land” Good morning, Lord Jesus. Looking to You, help me begin every day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ... As I wait, this Word comes to mind: “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:1-2). Just as You set the land of Canaan before the Israelites in their physical journey, You set the life of the Spirit in the Kingdom of God before us in Christ on our spiritual journey. Their physical journey is to teach us and train us as examples through their experiences to learn who You are and Whose we are on our spiritual journey, as Your Word says: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). Their admonition and ours is to hold fast to the word of God, as we are led by the Spirit of God—not adding to it, nor taking away from it. But holding fast to Your truth and guidance as the authority for our lives, trusting You in obedience and faith. If we do, we shall possess the land of our inheritance. If we do, we will live in the abundance of Your blessings and favor, in our generation and our generations to come. By these examples and the principles they teach, by the power of Your grace at work within us to obey Your word as we’re led by Your Spirit, You continue to set before us—both personally and as a people—the choices of blessing or curse, life or death, in Your calling to us of obedience and faith: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess” (Deuteronomy 28:11-16). Apart from You, we can’t do any of that (John 15:5). And I praise You that we never have to be apart from You, as You abide in us and we abide in You (John 14:4). Your Spirit moves in our hearts that encourages us to desire what pleases You and empowers us to do what pleases You, that we may live in the Spirit and possess the Kingdom of God You’ve set before us while You advance it within us (Philippians 2:13; Romans 14:17; Luke 17:21). Lord, let it be so in me and in every son and daughter of God who’s called by Your name, seeking to obey Your word at the leading of Your Spirit. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be empowered to desire what pleases God and empowered to do what pleases Him, as He blesses you to go in and possess your inheritance in His Kingdom, obeying His word and led by His Spirit, in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day! Click Here to Listen to Today's Prayer: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375760 Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries 502 North Milam Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org My Books on Inner Healing, Spiritual Freedom and Spiritual Intimacy with God are Available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays “Setting hearts free to be all you were created to be —Free to Be Like Jesus— secure in your identity, growing in maturity, fulfilling your destiny" https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Please Keep us in Prayer for These Messiah Ministries Events Every Tuesday Night: (Starting up our 2nd Semester on Tuesday January 13 at 6pm) Teaching my annual 9 Month Discipleship and Equipping Course Free to Be Like Jesus! at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. 6:00PM Central Time. Zoom Link to join us at 6PM CST: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81392201741?pwd=H8iHgLeWaxF01SZ30BYIPsYZmY9Dud.1 Based on My Books: Free to Be Like Jesus and First the Spirit https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays  February 11-14 Prayer Ministry Team at Annual Awakening Gathering of MidTexas Conference of the Global Methodist Church at Frisco, Texas / North Dallas. Theme: "1,000 Generations"  February 20-22 Free to Be Like Jesus Seminar, Healing Service, and Sunday Morning at Hondo Methodist Church, Global Methodist Church, in Hondo, Texas. All are Welcome at no cost. office@hondo.church February 25-March 1 Setting Hearts Free Revival Meeting at Goshen First Church, Global Methodist Church, in Goshen, Indiana. Bilingual Services in English and Spanish, with Rocio Hays interpreting. March 12-16 Personal Counseling for Mens Ministry retreat with Selah Ministries, Gentry Ranch, Mason, TX April 22-24 MorningStar Fellowship of Ministries Retreat at Fort Mill, SC May 4-25 Return Ministry to Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan for Crusades and Leader Conferences May 23 Officiate the Wedding of Judith and Tom in Fredericksburg, Texas May 30-June 7 Teaching with Dr. Dave Gentry at Selah Ministries Mens' Boot Camp at Cloudcroft, NM June 14. Preaching both Services at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. My past sermons available in the Sermon Archives: https://www.bridgefbg.com/messages Personal Ministry Appointments Spiritual Direction Sessions and Personal Prayer Ministry Sessions of Inner Healing & Spiritual Freedom by Appointment in Person and Online through Zoom. tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org  Sessions are without set cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries. https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Free On-line Video Series: Setting Hearts Free!  My Core Teaching and Ministry https://messiah-ministries.org/resources

https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays Some of My Books are Now in Other Languages (Spanish, French, Urdu) For Spanish: https://www.facebook.com/tommyhaysenespanol