Thursday, January 25, 2018

Posted on Jan 25, 2018 in Devotions |

 
 
 
 
Devotional for Thursday, January 25, 2018
“Blessing Others As You Desire To Be Blessed”
 
 
 

do onto others

by Dona Hake
 
 
 Matthew 7:12 (MSG)
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior:
Ask yourself what you want people to do for you,
then grab the initiative and do it for them.”
 
 
I love this translation…in a nutshell it is challenging  us to examine our heart and ask ourselves the question,  What do we desire that people do for us, and then grab the initiative and do it for them.  It seems that the message from our Lord was to bless others as we desire to be blessed!   May this remind us to stop and take initiative to do the right thing, and treat people the same way that we desire to be treated. Oh that our hearts would rise above our hurts and self-centered focus,, and just be obedient and do good even to those that do not deserve it.
 
Many times we just need to stay aware of what our Lord is seeing, for too many times we miss the hurts and needs around us because we are too consumed by our own needs.   Let’s  make this scripture a prayer over our lives.    In everything, in every circumstance, do to others as we would have them do to us.   I believe these words spoken by Jesus are those of power and they are meant keep our hearts challenged in the love walk and live by this godly principle.

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Posted on Jan 24, 2018 in Devotions |

 
 
 
Devotional for Wednesday, January 24, 2018
“By the Light of His Face”
 
 
 
 
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
Psalm 89:15 The Voice translation
“How happy are those who have learned how to praise You;
those who journey through life by the light of Your face.”
 
 
I love this scripture….May we learn to praise our God, and how happy we will be as we journey through this life by the light of our Lord’s face! Let’s rejoice that the light of His glorious face will illuminate our path. Some days the journey is smooth and some days the journey is just full of unexpected things , yet unexpected things can be times of opportunity for Him to do the unexpected and perform the impossible on our behalf.
 
The important thing about the journey is knowing that He has promised to be right there beside us, and He will never leave us. I know I share this truth with You often but it is important that we live and breathe this wonderful truth. May knowing that He is always with us burn deep in our souls. Take time throughout your day and look up for the glorious light of His face is upon you. Let not one thing in this life come between your walk with Him.
 
 
 
“The closer you walk with God,
the less anything can get
between you and Him.”
 
Lord we praise You this day that our path is gloriously illuminated by the light of Your face! We thank You that You give us joy in the journey and You lead and guide us into every truth. We declare this day that we will walk in expectancy of good things that You desire to do for us today! In Jesus Name, amen.

 

 

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Posted on Jan 23, 2018 in Devotions |

 
 
 
 
Devotional for Tuesday, January 23, 2018
“Jesus- the Restorer of My Soul”

 

Restorer

by Dona Hake

 
 
 
 
Today let us meditate on the truth that Jesus IS the Restorer of our soul. Even in the doing of His will our souls can grow weary. This is why we are cautioned in Galatians 6:9 “Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in…”
 
Today I want to encourage your heart that reaping time is coming, so let us walk as those that believe that our Lord is able to restore and refresh our soul as we serve Him and wait upon Him as He performs His will in our life. Praise the living God that He is able to keep us fresh, strong and built up by the power of His restoration. In Psalm 23 David wrote, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures and He leads me beside the still waters…” I love the words “He makes…” because sometimes that is exactly how it is. Because in those times that we push ourselves, our Lord may need to give us that gentle tug in our hearts,and gently lead us to lay down in His green pastures beside the still waters of His loving Spirit that will truly minister rest to our souls.
In order for us to regenerate our physical bodies one of the most important things is proper rest . And so it is in our soul…we must seek His loving restoration that we be strong and healthy in spirit. I encourage you today to be mindful of your soul’s need for your Lord’s refreshment and restoration.
 
Psalm 23:3 (AMP)
“He refreshes and restores my life (my self)”
 
 

Monday, January 22, 2018

Posted on Jan 22, 2018 in Devotions |

 
 
 
 
 
Devotional for Monday, January 22, 2018
 
“…and the Sin Which So  Easily and
Cleverly Entangles Us…”
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
 
Today I will pick up with where I left off on our last devotional.   I shared this quote: 
 
 
“Ships do not sink because of the water around them;
ships sink because of the water that gets in them.
Do not let what is happening around you
get inside you and weigh you down.”
 
 We looked at  Hebrews 12:1.   We looked at weights being the “water” that gets inside our boats.  Today we will look at  sin that is left go can also be the “water” that will sink us.
 
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud
of witnesses who by faith have testified
to the truth
of God’s absolute faithfulness,
stripping off every
unnecessary weight and
the sin which so  easily and  cleverly entangles us,
 let us run with endurance and
active persistence the race that is set before us,”  
 
One time I saw the most touching video of a deer that was tangled up in netting in the woods, and it laid helplessly. It frantically and fearfully was trying to escape the trap it was in. There were some men that wanted to help it, and as they approached it, the deer began to panic. They spoke softly to it, and it soon seemed to understand that they were trying to help. They carefully cut away that which was entangling it and the deer went free. It was precious to see the deer set free from all the entanglements that would of surely caused it harm or death in due time.
We must be careful to be diligent and watchful over our souls that there is not a sin that is cleverly trying to put us in a position in which the enemy can entangle us and consume us. As we watch over our hearts and minds through prayer and fellowship with our Lord, He will help us to discern those clever attempts that the evil one tries to deceive us with. Let us run with endurance and active persistence that race that is set before us in Jesus Name!
 
 

Saturday,, January 20, 2018

Posted on Jan 20, 2018 in Devotions |

 
 
 
Devotional for Monday, January 20, 2018
“ This Is Why Ships Sink”
 
 
 
 
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
 
“Ships do not sink because of the water around them;
ships sink because of
the water that gets in them.
Do not let what is happening around
you get inside you and weigh
you down.”
 
This is a very powerful quote with a wonderful message that should challenge our hearts. Let us look at the following scripture in light of this awesome quote….
 
Hebrews 12:1 Amplified Version
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness, stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us,”
 
The first words I want to look at today is the words stripping off every unnecessary weight. As I read this quote it reminded me of the fact that many times we are the ones responsible for sinking our own ships. How is that? you might wonder…I think about times when we pick up cares that we have no business trying to carry. It is amazing how we can just convince ourselves that picking up care and worrying about something is going to solve a problem. The Lord tells us in His Word to cast all of our care upon Him, for He is the one caring about us!
 
He does not want us to be burdened down with anything here in this journey on earth. He desires we run the race of our life with light hearts and minds that are free from care. He does not want us to try to solve problems in our inability but rather that we let that to Him. It is as we cast our care that we are really stripping off the unnecessary weight that tries to slow us down and burden us.
 
Today I want to challenge your heart to think about things you may be thinking about that have become a burden, and unnecessary weight and care in your mind. I encourage you to make a decision to just stop carrying it in your own ability, make a quality decision to give it to the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer.

Friday, January 19, 2018

Posted on Jan 19, 2018 in Devotions |

 
 
 
 
Devotional for Friday, January 19, 2018
“Before You Speak…”
 
 
by Dona Hake
 
As I was meditating upon this sound wisdom of what I should do before I speak the words “bottled up” came to my spirit. You know…those times that you to repress, try to control, or restrain something within you. These are usually things that are bugging us, and we are not dealing with them rightly.
Let us meditate upon what rich wisdom this is to think first before we speak unspoken thoughts. Sadly, there are times that we permit thoughts within our minds to remain, and remain unchallenged. It is then that these thoughts that are “bottled up” within us will cause us problems. If not dealt with according to our Lord’s instruction we will end up hurting or offending someone with our words. Let us think about what Jesus said about it…
 
 
 
 
“…For out of the fullness (the overflow,
the superabundance) of the heart
the mouth speaks. “
 
Matthew 12:34(Amplified Classic Edition)
 
 
Whether they are good thoughts or bad thoughts, the more they are accumulated within us, they will grow in strength. Let this be our prayer today that we may keep check over our unspoken thoughts and spoken words that they would be pleasing before our Lord…
 
 
“May my spoken words and unspoken
thoughts be pleasing even to you,
O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.”
 
Psalm 19:14
 
 
 
 

Devotional for Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Posted on Jan 17, 2018 in Devotions |

 
 
 
Devotional for Wednesday, January 17, 2018
“The Blessing of the Lord”
 
 
 
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
 
Psalm 139:1-5  The Living Bible 
O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away You know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment You know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it. You both precede and follow me and place Your hand of blessing on my head.

 

How awesome is this… Our Lord charts our  path.   He knows exactly when our hearts are weary and we need to follow His command and stop and rest.   Today as you go about your day I encourage you to be mindful of His plans for you as He works through your life. Be mindful and obedient to stop and rest as He instructs you to do that He may refresh and renew your strength.

 

Many times we can get so focused on the work that we forget that our spirit needs refreshed and our body needs rest. He desires to continually empower us with His strength and wisdom that we would not get weary in doing His will. Praise the living God today and be mindful that He goes before us and follows us, and His hand of blessing is upon our heads!   


Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Posted on Jan 16, 2018 in Devotions |

 
 
Devotional for Tuesday, January 16, 2018
“Let Us Be Real”
 
 
 
 
 
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
1 John 3:18-19 (ERV)
“My children, our love should not be only words and talk. 

 No, our love must be real.

We must show our love by the things we do.

That’s how we know we belong to the way of truth.”

 
 
 
Yesterday I shared about keeping the words that we speak. A faithful man or woman will see to it that they follow through with their promises no matter how big or small. I want to cause you to ponder the words ~our love must be real~. What does it mean to be real with our love toward people as we walk with Jesus. God’s love is always real, it is genuine, not counterfeit or artificial. His love is pure…ALWAYS. I challenge your heart today to walk in the love of your God, His real love. This challenge calls you away from trying to love people, and walk in love in your own ability.
 
As I experienced seeing God’s real love in action it changed my thinking as a young believer. My heart was broken of stubbornness when I accepted Him yet I struggled as I observed many Christians walking in hypocrisy. I know I had friends praying diligently for me, therefore the Lord brought special laborers to step into my crooked path to help me. He brought a special Christian couple into my life for me to observe, and see how they served the Lord. They lived in truth and they kept their word. If they said they would pray… they meant it. If they said they would be there for me…they were there. Their real love that only came from drawing on God’s love began to touch my heart and draw me closer to Him.
 
It is important that we know we are being honest with God, honest with ourselves, and therefore we will be in a position to show God’s real love. As we grow in His love we will walk away from selfishness, the very thing that inhibits us from giving our all for Him. God’s love positions us to be totally real and honest with those around us. The more we come to know God, His love and His ways, we will walk as the Lord walked. This world is looking for those that are walking in the God kind of love. My friend, there are many in this dark world that are truly searching for real love. Let us position ourselves on that hill, and be that light that cannot be hidden. Let us not hide our light under the bushel of our fears and apprehensions. God desires that we not just talk the talk, but rather walk the talk.

January 15, 2018

Posted on Jan 15, 2018 in Devotions |


Saturday, January 13, 2018

Posted on Jan 13, 2018 in Devotions |

 
 
 
Devotional for Saturday, January 13, 2018
“He Illumines Our Dark Times”
 
 
 
 
 
 
by Dona Hake
 

 “the Lord my God
illumines my darkness.”
Psalm 18:28

 Today let us consider those times in which we are blindsided by life’s unannounced difficult circumstances that render us helpless, and our hearts are tempted to fear.    There are those times that we are going about our business and out of no where we are hit with having to make a difficult decision.   It may be so difficult that our mind and heart are in total confusion.   You cannot see in front of you nor can you see what is behind you.   If things seem unclear and in the midst of it all you are struggling to hear and see what to do, know this our Lord is our light.    Today let us proclaim, “The Lord WILL be a light in our darkness!”
 
God’s Word tells us in Psalm 119:105  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”   “The psalmist also proclaims in Psalm 119:112 “I have resolved to obey your laws forever, at every step.” I believe this kind of resolve in our heart will always cause us to hold fast to God no matter what we see or cannot see. This is the man that will not be moved by circumstance but in faith in God alone. We can be assured that our faith will be met by a God of total light because in Him is NO darkness at all.
 
 Lord, we thank you for Your light and divine direction in those times in which we need to see  which way to go. Thank you Lord for being our Great Compass as You guide us with Your light.  In Jesus Name! Amen.

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