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Friday, March 9, 2018

Posted on Mar 9, 2018 in Devotions |

Devotional for Friday, March 9, 2018

“In My Hidden Part of My Heart”

by Dona Hake

God desires to place within us His perfect desires. May it be a sobering thought that we are responsible to make good, godly deposits into our hearts. If we are fellowshipping with God, and hearing and reading His Word, those words are deep within us if we have received them with meekness. Yet there may be things in our innermost being that need to be gone. There may be things deep within us that we have permitted to remain, and it is time for us to clean house. As we seek Him daily for wisdom over our hearts, He is able to give us the exact wisdom, and grace to deal with ridding of anything that would be a hindrance to our walk with Him. Praise God that He is able to reveal to us the very things we cannot see in our own hearts.

In this life each of us walk through various trials, and how we react to them determines the condition of our hearts. For example, lacking to forgive someone can leave our hearts sore, angry, and it is the perfect breeding ground for bitterness. Then there may be times wrong desires proceed from the heart that is not seeking to be full of the living God. Our carnal desires will always deceive us.

My friend, a perfect heart is God‘s perfect will in you. Cherish the desire for a perfect heart, pursue it with all that you have, and long to please Him with it. Let God work in your heart, praise Him, and treasure every breath and moment you live, for it is a precious gift that you are to bless Him with.

Today I desire to cause you to ponder that the Lord desires that we seek Him and His perfect truth deep in our inner man. As we do this He promises to make us to know His wisdom that we can discern our desires that would lead us away from His perfect will. I encourage you to seek that His desires would become yours. It is then that you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that your heart is desiring truth in the deepest parts of your being.

“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,

And in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom.”

Psalm 51:6. Amplified Version

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Posted on Mar 8, 2018 in Devotions |

Devotional for Thursday, March 8, 2018

“Time…Don’t Waste It.”

How we spend our time will change with the different seasons of our life. But there is one thing for sure, and there is one principal that applies to every moment of this life, and that is we are not to waste it. The Lord desires that we wake up each day with purpose before us as we follow Him, and how He is directing our paths.

Seek in everything that you do to glorify the Lord. Whether you are on the job, or you are in your home, spending time with friends, no matter what… Always seek to glorify Him. It is as we do this we are keeping an awareness that every moment of our life is accounted for, and our Lord is included in it.

Time is part of God‘s provision for us, and we must seek to use it wisely. Let us also make sure that we are seeking time to fellowship with Him. Many times people think they do not have time to spend with the Lord because their lives are so busy, but many times it’s those moments in which there is no demand that we can stop and just speak with Him and draw upon His strength. I leave you with this quote from one of my favorite devotionals by François de Fenelon…

“Those who know the Lord well cannot resist turning to him in every available moment.“

I encourage you this day to seek those available moments that you can turn to Him perhaps to tell Him you love Him, share the questions of your heart, or simply praise Him.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Posted on Mar 7, 2018 in Devotions |

Devotional for Wednesday, March 7, 2018

“The Whispers of Our Lord”

by Dona Hake

I recall a time feeling overwhelmed, and I looked up to the Lord, and asked Him for help for I had a very busy day ahead of me. My mind seemed to be filled with thoughts of wondering how I was going to be able to accomplish all that needed to be done. In the midst of my anxious thoughts I heard a whisper from deep within me that seemed to quiet me, and bring fresh perspective to my day. The Lord was softly speaking to me these few words that quieted my soul, “Sometimes it is not as big as it looks.“ Sometimes we just need to stop ourselves in the midst of the hurry of the day, and seek His help for that is truly where peace comes from. It only takes a few sweet words from our Lord to calm our storms within us and bring the clarity that we are seeking.

I have heard it said “Worry casts a big shadow on small things.“ While we may not be worrying about things that need to be done, we can still feel overwhelmed, and anxious thoughts will be able to multiply and scatter through our souls. Anxious thoughts can keep us unable to focus and think clearly. If we permit this to happen our peace will be robbed.

Psalm 94:19 says “When my anxious thoughts multiply

within me, Your comforts delight me.”

While that scripture is so comforting, we must realize that our will is involved and, we must first and foremost desire the peace and comfort of the Lord above trying to work things out in our own ability. There are times that we must make a quality decision that we are not going to permit anxious thoughts or worries to become louder than the precious sweet whispers of our Lord. Our Lord desires to lead us beside still waters, and cause us to lay down in His green pastures. Oh how He desires to restore our souls in the midst of those times where we feel burdened with cares. I leave you with a favorite quote of mine from Ralph Waldo Emerson…

“Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of God.“

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Posted on Mar 6, 2018 in Devotions |

Devotional for Tuesday, March 6, 2018

“God’s Perfect Patience At Work In You”

by Dona Hake

James 1:3-4 Amplified Bible (AMP)
3 “Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.”

When we step out in faith, we all know that there are times of waiting. Sometimes within that time of waiting great patience must be exercised for us to continue to stand. James writes here that patience has a good end result. God‘s patience developed in us will always makes us mature and complete.

We probably do not realize how many times we are called upon to be patient even in the smallest things in our life. Those long lines in the grocery store, the slow driver on the road that is keeping us from getting to an appointment on time… Many times it is in the little things that our patience fails because we overlook asking God for help. Only the patience that comes from above that is developed within our soul is the patience that will help us forbear the smallest or toughest situations. I love the scripture from Proverbs 19.

Proverbs 19:11 Easy to Read version “Experience makes you more patient, and you are most patient when you ignore insults.“

I find this scripture interesting for many times we can feel we need to be quick to speak and react to insults rather than patiently endure and just forgive. I especially like this translation because I think the more we go on in life, we walk through such hurtful experiences, and we need to seek our Lord to understand life and its trials in a deeper way. In any trying situation no matter how big or small, if we allow the Lord to teach us, we will walk away with more wisdom. Here is another translation that brings us another side of understanding His patience and forgiveness.

Proverbs 19:11 The Message version

“Smart people know how to hold their tongue; there grandeur is to forgive and forget.“

Today I want to encourage you to ask your loving Heavenly Father to help you grow in patience, and then take opportunity to extend forgiveness even in those times that seem difficult. Extending God’s forgiveness is part of walking in God’s patience. I promise you that as you walk in patience, longsuffering, and forgiveness your soul will be kept at peace.

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Posted on Mar 3, 2018 in Devotions |

Devotional for Saturday, March 3, 2018

“God Is Able to Bring Our Focus”

by Dona Hake

Jesus said that each day will have its evils to deal with, and we are not to worry about our tomorrows. His Word says that the joy of the Lord is our strength, therefore there is always strength to live each day of our life, in the moment with Him. There is so much power in the simplicity of this truth. Praise God He has our future in His hands, and He will give us every bit of strength and vision we need to walk into our future.

I have been reflecting on how each one of our lives is like a tapestry. Each of us has been blessed uniquely with a life in Him. Carefully His tender hands formed us in the womb, and with that forming He designed a blueprint for our life. That perfect blue print is called His perfect will for our life.

Many times things may not go the way we thought they would in our minds. Behind every tapestry there are knots and hanging strings interwoven among the patterns of intricate beauty. A tapestry is a good analogy of our lives in progress. When we look behind it all there may seem to be times that things look random and chaotic, all we may see are the knots, imperfections, and the strings that do not seem to fit. So it is with our life, only God knows all that has gone on within us to make us the person we are today. Rejoice in who He has made you to be, and remember He is not finished with you yet!

While there will always be pain and hardship in this life we can most assuredly glean wisdom from every experience in the future. Every bump in the road can either be a stumbling block for a steppingstone. When your journey to your destination seems a bit foggy or it is not the road you planned to travel, just know that God is able to bring all of our tomorrow’s in into focus as we keep Him in the center of everything.

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP)

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you,

says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and

peace and not for evil, to give you hope

in your final outcome.

Devotional for Friday, March 2, 2018

Posted on Mar 2, 2018 in Devotions |

Devotional for Friday, March 2, 2014

“His Unfailing Love”

by Dona Hake

As a little girl I can remember my Grandma having a wall plaque with three powerful words written on it… “Jesus never fails.” Those three words intrigued me, and I would wonder how Jesus could be so perfect, and how impossible it seemed that there was Someone that would never fail me. His unfailing love just seemed too hard for me to comprehend. Just the thought of someone never messing up, and always being there for me just seemed too great and unreachable.

“… But the Lords unfailing love surrounds

the one who trusts in Him.” Psalm 32:10b. NIV

Oh the wonderful day that arrived when I came to trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! It was then that His unfailing love was revealed to my heart. As we purpose to trust Him with all of our heart He promises to surround us with His love that has no end. Amazing isn’t it? Just to try to fathom that His love is incapable of failing . Today may I encourage you to meditate upon the truth that His love knows only faithfulness? His love has no beginning and it has no end, and it never fails!

When you feel like no one understands or you feel like you are standing alone, know this… If you put your trust in Jesus, He promises to never leave or forsake you.May Jesus who never fails be your comfort today.

Psalm 119:76 (The Voice)

“Now let your unfailing love be my comfort… “

The God of perfect love desires to come alongside of you, and encompass you with all that He has promised to be. Today let us tell of His unfailing love!

Psalm 89: 2. (The Voice)

“I will tell how Your unfailing love will always stand strong;

and how Your faithfulness is established in the heavens above.”

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Posted on Mar 1, 2018 in Devotions |

Devotional for Thursday, March 1, 2018

“Being a Doer of God’s Word”

by Dona Hake

James 1:22-25 (Amplified)

“But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;

For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and

promptly forgets what he was like.

But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).”

There may have been a time that you have heard the Word of God, and your heart seemed encouraged, enlightened, and lifted up. I love when I see His light on my heart that I have never seen. It is at that moment that we either receive or reject the life changing Word into our hearts. If we do not act on the challenge of God’s Word, we will be tempted to back burner the living Word, and thus go unchanged in that area of our life. It is the same as seeing yourself in a mirror. Just think…you look, your hair is a mess, and instead of fixing it you walk away with an I see it but I could care less attitude.

We need to heed to what James is speaking here. Hearing the Word without obedience following will never change us. May we never betray and deceive ourselves by our own reasoning. If we excuse ourselves from acting on God’s Word we are being unfaithful in guarding our hearts. Action on God’s Word by faith in Him must follow!

As we look into the glorious mirror of the living Word of God, and it reveals what we need let us ask God to help us receive the wisdom, understanding and direction to deal with our own hearts. He who has shown this great light of His Word will be faithful to accomplish the change we need and we will be blessed as we obey Him by being a doer of His Word.

Devotional for Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Posted on Feb 28, 2018 in Devotions |

Devotional for Wednesday, February 28, 2018

“Walking Through”

by Dona Hake

Psalm 23:4 (DARBY)

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”

Today we will be meditating upon these truths…We are walking through whatever we face, and as we walk with Him, we walk through all things victoriously! Whether we speak to mountains, and bring them down or walk through valleys that would tempt our hearts to fear. We are going through and we do not need to fear for He promises to straighten the crooked paths, enlighten our hearts, and comfort us in our travels.

My friends, we are indeed walking through for are all of us are on unique assignments as we journey through life on this earth. We must determine in our hearts that no matter if the path is easy or hard, we are walking through hand in hand with our Lord.

When we look at the scripture in Psalms 23 the Psalmist addresses walking through the valley of the shadow of death. He emphasizes that he would fear no evil for he knew the Lord was with him. Along with the presence of the Lord, he also knew the comfort of the shepherd’s rod and staff. Being a shepherd himself, he well understood the uses of these two tools.

The rod of the shepherd symbolizes something very beautiful for us. One of the uses for a shepherd’s rod was to examine and count the sheep. Many times when we walk through difficult things we may come to grips with the reality of what is really important. It may seem that our eyes are open and seeing what we did not see before, and God is able to touch our heart, and examine it in a way He was not able before. It is at that time we are experiencing the gentle hand of our Lord tenderly helping our souls to take courage and heal. Or we may feel his gentle tug by His Spirit as He begins to deal with a particular area of our life. As we permit Him to deal with our heart, He can speak, instruct, and many times discipline us in that which we may need help or change.

Psalm 139:23–24 Amplified Version “Search me thoroughly, oh God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.“

The staff is symbolic of His loving and watchful care over our life. He is so concerned about us, and He sees our every need. The staff is used to guide sheep that they would stay on the right path. We know that God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As we permit Him to lead us with His rod and staff we will walk through the valleys as well as walk on the mountain tops with Him. Praise God for our loving Shepherd!

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Posted on Feb 26, 2018 in Uncategorized |

by Dona Hake

I love when someone shares what the Lord has done for them. Testimonies bring hope and refreshment to our hearts. Today while I was traveling I got to hear such an awesome testimony. I call it one of those “Divine Appointment” testimonies.

This woman had shared how she lived in Florida and she received a phone call on her cell phone from Pennsylvania. She did not recognize the number but she felt to answer it. The man on the other end was obviously confused and he said he was trying to reach a family member. He apologized and hung up and she felt prompted to call the police in the area in which the call came from. She felt a bit awkward but explained to them that she really felt something was wrong with this gentleman. The police arrived at this gentleman’s house and he indeed was in need of help. After a week in the hospital they diagnosed him with a life threatening blood infection.

Needless to say the family of this man were ever so thankful and this young woman’s simple act of kindness and going the extra mile very likely saved this man’s life. The testimony just really touched my heart. Everyday we need to be sensitive to opportunities that seem small yet they may be big to someone in need. Sometimes you never really know how that one word you spoke in due season could have sparked hope to a person’s soul. Let us be sensitive to the times that we are presented with opportunities to give a listening ear to a lonely person or just take the time to pray for someone because you felt prompted. These things are all part of ministering the love of God and just possibly setting someone up for a beautiful testimony of the Lord’s great work in their life!

~~~~~♥~~~~~

Devotion for Sunday, February 25, 2018

Posted on Feb 26, 2018 in Devotions |

Devotional for Sunday, February 26, 2018

“A Grace Greater Than We Can Imagine”

by Dona Hake

2 Corinthians 9:8 (HCSB)

“And God is able to make every grace overflow

to you, so that in every way, always having

everything you need, you may excel in every good work.”

I love this…God’s overflowing grace coming our direction. What an awesome God we serve. I love meditating on the fact that God is desiring to shower us with His all sufficient grace as we set out to do His will. God yearns for us to reach and take hold of His all sufficient strength which comes through His amazing grace.

I desire to share with you three key words as we meditate upon this simple truth of His overflowing grace that gives us all we need to do His good work and will for our life. Those words are…

Desire
Draw
Demonstrate

We must DESIRE to be living examples of excellence in all we put our hands to. It is then that we will DRAW upon His grace that He promises to shower upon us as we believe Him for it. As our hands are filled with that overflowing grace we will DEMONSTRATE that He is the God that is more than enough, and we will indeed excel in every good work! My friends, this is all about us living and being that light sitting on a hill for all to see! God desires that His grace is demonstrated in His people prospering in all they set their hands to. Today I encourage you to abide in that place of always acknowledging your need for His wonderful grace!

“Your worst days are never so bad

that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace.

And your best days are never so good

that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.”

Jerry Bridges