Thursday, April 23, 2026

Morning by Morning, April 23, 2026 — No Longer Slaves, but Sons and Daughters of God

 

Morning by Morning, April 23, 2026 — No Longer Slaves, but Sons and Daughters of God


Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear what You’re saying in my heart and follow the leading of Your Spirit—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...


“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.


“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:1-7).


I’m no longer a slave, but a son. A son of God, an heir of God, through the Spirit of the Son of God.


Abba, Father! Help me better understand my identity in You. Help me better live out my life, walk out my faith, as the son of God You’ve created me and called me to be in You.


It’s Your heart that every one of us “might receive the adoptions as sons”—sons and daughters, children of God, born again by the Spirit of God bringing spiritual life to our mortal bodies. And that’s just the beginning of our growing up to maturity, growing up into our spiritual maturity, as You’re “bringing many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10).


It’s Your glory, Your manifest Presence abiding in us, living in us, ever changing us, conforming us, transforming us “into (Your) image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Help me understand more deeply every day on my spiritual journey with You every day “what are the riches of the glory of this mystery ... which is Christ in (us), the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).


Our hope of glory is Your promise and purpose of forming Your nature in us by Your grace and the manifest Presence of Your glory by the Spirit of Your Son at work within us as Your sons and daughters of God. No longer slaves, but sons and daughters of God. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.


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



My friend, may you be growing in your understanding in your identity as a son or daughter of God by the Spirit of God's Son at work within you, 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

April 22-24 MorningStar Fellowship of Ministries Retreat at Fort Mill, SC. Thank you for your prayers for Rocio and me as we meet with our Fellowship during our annual retreat for encouragement, spiritual impartation, and continuing to build our ministry relationships through many years

May 2-20 Return Ministry to Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan for Crusades and Leader Conferences. Outreach to the Brick Kiln Compounds. Visiting the Messiah Ministries schools we sponsor.

Please let me know if you're led to help support this dimension of our ministry in Pakistan!

tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org

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

July 24-26 A Keynote Speaker at Aldersgate Renewal Ministries Regional Conference in Ollie, Iowa

September 24-27 Teaching a 4 Day Conference in the nation of Slovenia Also making plans for return ministry in Belgium with a stopover on our way.

August 30 Preaching at Lake Toxaway Chapel in Lake Toxaway, mountains of North Carolina

October 22-25 Teaching Free to Be Like Jesus seminar, Healing Service, and preaching Sunday services at St. James Methodist Church in Athens, Georgia

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://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

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

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Morning by Morning, April 21, 2026 — “And Be Thankful”

 

Morning by Morning, April 21, 2026 — “And Be Thankful”


Good morning, Lord Jesus. Looking to You, I begin my day centered in Christ with Christ centered in me (Colossians 3:4). ...


“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:14-15).


We’re called to “be thankful.”


I’m thankful that You empower me to “put on love” and thankful that You cause “the peace of God (to) rule in (my) heart.” I’m thankful that You treat me better than I deserve and love me more than I’ll ever know. I’m thankful that I’m saved and being sanctified into Your image by Your Spirit at work within me every day, that I’m never alone because You’re always with me, that You know everything about me and yet You love me and know me and call me by name.


Fill me with a spirit of thankfulness, an attitude of gratitude, a perspective of praise for who You are in me and who I am in You. Set me free from any spirit of negativity, criticism, judgment, self-righteousness, self-pity, and every form of self-centeredness and selfishness. Crucify those things from my flesh, putting those things to death so the fullness of Your life may be fully expressed in me and through me.


“For (I) died, and (my) life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is (my) life appears, then (I) will also appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:3-4). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.


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



My friend, may you be thankful, being set free from all that's not yet like in you, centered in Christ and Christ centered in you, 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

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. Outreach to the Brick Kiln Compounds. Visiting the Messiah Ministries schools we sponsor. Please let me know if you're led to help support this dimension of our ministry in Pakistan!

tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org

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

July 24-26 A Keynote Speaker at Aldersgate Renewal Ministries Regional Conference in Ollie, Iowa

September 24-27 Teaching a 4 Day Conference in the nation of Slovenia Also making plans for return ministry in Belgium with a stopover on our way.

August 30 Preaching at Lake Toxaway Chapel in Lake Toxaway, mountains of North Carolina

October 22-25 Teaching Free to Be Like Jesus seminar, Healing Service, and preaching Sunday services at St. James Methodist Church in Athens, Georgia

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://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

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, April 20, 2026 — “Set Your Mind on Things Above”

 

Morning by Morning, April 20, 2026 — “Set Your Mind on Things Above”


Good morning, Lord Jesus. In these first moments of my morning, I listen for Your leading (John 10:27). ...


As I watch and wait, this Word comes to mind:


“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).


What I “set” my mind to is where I place the priority of my focus.


To “set” my mind “on things above” is not to ignore “things on the earth.” But it is to acknowledge the “things on the earth” that I go through, that go on around me in my world on this earth, do not have the priority, do not define my identity or my destiny, and do not have the last word in my life.


To “set” my mind “on things above” reminds me of who I am and where I am seated with You in the heavenly places, as Your Word declares:


“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.


“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:1-7).


By the power and gift of Your grace, You’ve “made (me) sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (v. 6). When I consciously, deliberately choose to remember this Truth and embrace Your perspective of my heavenly place in You, I “set (my) mind on things above.”


In that high place above in You, embracing Your high place in me—“Christ in (me), the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27)—I “let the peace of God rule in (my) heart” (v. 15).


In that high place in You, that high place with You, in the heavenly places above, I can receive and embrace “the exceeding greatness of (Your) power toward us who believe, according to the working of (Your) mighty power” where I am seated with You and seated in You “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:15-23).


Lord, give me this perspective. Empower me to live into this perspective this day and every day, as I set my mind on things above, answering Your invitation to “Abide in (You), and (You) in me” (John 15:4). Empower me to grow in my understanding of all that You mean by Your Word that I have been “made alive together with Christ ... and raised up together ... to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-7). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.


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



My friend, may you be empowered to set your mind on things above, where you are seated together with Christ, in Christ, abiding in Him as He abides in you, in the heavenly places, 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

April 18 Training the Prayer Ministry Team on Generational Blessings and Curses at Foundation Church in Belton, Texas / Thank you for your prayers! A powerful time!

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. Outreach to the Brick Kiln Compounds. Visiting the Messiah Ministries schools we sponsor. Please let me know if you're led to help support this dimension of our ministry in Pakistan!

tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org

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

July 24-26 A Keynote Speaker at Aldersgate Renewal Ministries Regional Conference in Ollie, Iowa

September 24-27 Teaching a 4 Day Conference in the nation of Slovenia Also making plans for return ministry in Belgium with a stopover on our way.

August 30 Preaching at Lake Toxaway Chapel in Lake Toxaway, mountains of North Carolina

October 22-25 Teaching Free to Be Like Jesus seminar, Healing Service, and preaching Sunday services at St. James Methodist Church in Athens, Georgia

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://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

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

Friday, April 17, 2026

Morning by Morning, April 17, 2026 — “Hold Fast ... Without Wavering”

 

Morning by Morning, April 17, 2026 — “Hold Fast ... Without Wavering


Good morning, Lord Jesus. Give me Your heart and lead me in Your ways in all things and all times all by the power of Your grace which is always sufficient for me. ...


“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23).


In every circumstance, through every battle, come what may, may I “hold fast to the confession of (my) hope without wavering.” May I be one who does not “draw back” but presses on in perseverance of faith by the power of Your grace at work in me (v. 39). “For (I) have need of endurance, so that after (I) have done the will of God, (I) may receive the promise” (v. 36).


As Your Word both encourages and warns:


“For yet a little while,

And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

Now the just shall live by faith;

But if anyone draws back,

My soul has no pleasure in him” (v. 37-38).


As the old song declares, “I have decided to follow (You). No turning back. No turning back.”


So with a heart of persevering faith, trusting in You, holding fast in You, may I receive and embrace all the promises of God for all who believe, for all who trust You and obey You by Your grace at work within us. “For He who promised is faithful” (v. 23). May I be found faithful in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.


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



My friend, may you hold fast, without wavering, persevering in your faith looking to Jesus by the power of God's grace working in you, come what may, 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

April 17 Early Morning Evangelism Outreach at Fredericksburg High School with our team from Bridge Church

April 18 Training the Prayer Ministry Team on Generational Blessings and Curses at Foundation Methodist Church in Belton, Texas

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 Please let me know if you're led to help support this dimension of our ministry in Pakistan!

tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org

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

July 24-26 A Keynote Speaker at Aldersgate Renewal Ministries Regional Conference in Ollie, Iowa

September 24-27 Teaching a 4 Day Conference in the nation of Slovenia Also making plans for return ministry in Belgium with a stopover on our way.

October 22-25 Teaching Free to Be Like Jesus seminar, Healing Servivce, and preaching Sunday services at St. James Methodist Church in Athens, Georgia

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://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

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