Sunday, October 29, 2017

Posted on Oct 29, 2017 in Devotions |

 
 

 

Devotional for Monday, October 30, 2017
 
“The Sound of Gentle Stillness”
 
Be still and KNOW that He is God Jan 2014
 
 

by Dona Hake

 

 1 Kings 19:11-12  (AMP)
 
” And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before
the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a
great and strong wind rent the mountains and
broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind;
and afterthe wind an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake;
And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord
was not in the fire; and after the fire
[a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.”
 
 

 

Elijah knew that the sound of a gentle whisper was God’s voice.  He understood that God did not just reveal Himself in the big and the powerful, but in the sound of stillness.   The Lord is often found in the gentle whisper in the quietness of a meek spirit.   It is there that He is able to whisper  the secrets of His perfect will and purposes for our life.

 

Today let us purpose in knowing that our hearts are quieted before Him.  I believe even in the midst of the demands of our lives that we can maintain our hearts and keep them at peace that we can hear His voice no matter what is going on around us.  Today let us listen for that sound of gentle stillness…a still, small voice of the Living God.

 

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

Ralph Waldo Emerson


Saturday, October 28, 2017

Posted on Oct 28, 2017 in Devotions |

 
 
 
Devotional for Saturday, October 28, 2017
“Cleansed By His Love”

 

 

purified

by Dona Hake

 

There is so much torment in feeling guilty.  It kind of feels like a prison because of how you feel inside.    Guilt can bring memories and thoughts of the wrong you may have done and this guilt seems to have a voice.   It is capable of haunting and reminding you of what you have been convinced is irreparable.  As believers we do not have to live with guilt any more for we  have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, we can partake of His wonderful forgiveness.  There is not one thing that our Lord is unable to repair and restore.   Nothing can separate us from His love and forgiveness!

 

Let us treasure within us how wonderful it is that the Lord will forgive us when we mess up for He has promised to always cleanse our hearts when we humble ourselves and seek forgiveness and restoration.   Oh the blessing of humbling  ourselves to Him admitting our wrongs and shortcomings for He is desires to bring us back to that place of feeling clean again.  Our Lord is all about restoration!    What a glorious gift we have to partake of as believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Let us look at David in the Psalms.   His plea to God was for restoration of his heart in a time in which he majorly messed up, and  his heart was heavy with guilt and anguish.

 

Psalm 51:7, 8, 10

“Remove my sin and make me pure.” 
    Wash me until I am whiter than snow!
Let me hear sounds of joy and happiness again.
    God, create a pure heart in me,
    and make my spirit strong again.”

 

Today let us treasure the power of forgiveness from the One who is able to cleanse.  I love how verse eight says “Let me hear sounds of joy and happiness again.”   This is what restoration  is about.  When we experience freedom from guilt we are able to experience the joy and happiness that was robbed by our sin and guilt.  Only God is able to create within us a pure heart, pick us back up, and cause us to continue on in His will.  Thank God for the power of forgiveness!  We are cleansed by the power of His love and blood!


Friday, October 27, 2017

Posted on Oct 27, 2017 in Devotions |

 
 
 
Devotional for Friday, October 27, 2017
“Let His Light Shine In You!”
 
Shining Light Verse from Matthew
 
by Dona Hake
 
His light and life are within us, and for that we should feel blessed and thank Him. What an awesome thought that we are His vessels that He has chosen to show forth His life, light and love. As the song goes…
 
”Hide it under a bushel, NO!…I’m gonna let it shine!”
 
Oh how blessed we are in knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ desires to shine through us in word and in deed. There are those that do not know Him, and they need to see hope, and light at the end of their tunnel. We are God’s light for those without hope to see! Do not dim nor hide this glorious light within you but rather permit Him to shine through you in a great way!
 
 
 

  Matthew 5:14-16  ( Amplified 

 

 “You are the light of the world. A city set

on a hill cannot be hidden.

Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a

peck measure, but on a lampstand, and

it gives light to all in the house.

Let your light so shine before men that they
may see your moral excellence and
your praiseworthy, noble, and good
deeds and recognize and honor and
praise and glorify your
Father Who is in heaven.”
 
 
 
 God is calling  us as believers to shine and bloom where we are planted.Remember my friends, our Lord uses us all differently according to the grace He has put in us.   He is going to use each one of us differently and uniquely.   We should never compare how God chooses to use us to how He works through others.   We are not here to compete with one another but rather be a witness for Him.     Today I encourage you to shine for Him through every word and deed you do.   As He continues to mold and make us into His image He will be faithful to show Himself through us that others may see how awesome He is, and honor and glorify His Holy Name!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Posted on Oct 25, 2017 in Devotions |

 
 
Devotional for Wednesday, October 25, 2017
“It’s All He Asks”
 
 
 
he loves you he knows you
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
Psalm 34:17 (NASB)
“The righteous cry, and the Lord hears
 
And delivers them out of all their troubles.”
 
I remember chatting with a precious woman that was sharing how an individual she knew was going through a very hard time. This person asked her, “Where is God in all of this?” This woman exclaimed to her, “He’s right there beside your friend, wanting to help her!” I find it so sad and it  upsets me when I hear people say such a thing our loving Heavenly Father.   Why is it that one exclaims “Where is God?” when it is all going down bad, and yet when all is good they do not ever give it a thought to acknowledge God and His abundant blessings He has poured into their lives. It really makes no sense at all.
 
On June 14, 2017, in Alexandria, Virginia, Republican member of Congress and House Majority  Steve Scalise of Louisiana was shot while practicing for the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity, scheduled for the following day.  What a tragedy this was.   One morning just a few weeks ago Fox News was interviewing the Congressman, and he shared that as soon as he was down after he was shot the first thing he did was pray.   As he laid there, and an immediate calm came over him.   He exclaimed, “Never underestimate the power of prayer!   I am an example that miracles still happen!”  I was so blessed by how Congressman Scalise shared his faith in a living God that is there in the worst of times.   He believed and the Lord has been working miraculously in his recovery of all of the injuries he received from the shooting.
 
I encourage you today to just believe whether things are good or bad.   In the midst of anything thing our Lord’s love for us remains the same.      Remember His eyes are always on us, and He is faithful to hear the cries of our heart when we call upon Him in faith.

   


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Posted on Oct 24, 2017 in Devotions |

 
 
 
 
Devotional for Tuesday, October 24, 2017
“Don’t Provide An Opportunity”
 
devil-seeks
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
1 Peter 5:8 (Amplified)
” Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”
 
 
 

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Posted on Oct 23, 2017 in Devotions |

 
 

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Posted on Oct 21, 2017 in Devotions |

 
 
 
Devotional for Saturday, October 21, 2017
“God Is Great”
 
 
god is great and greatly to be praised
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 48:1    “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.” 
 
Psalm 71:19    “Thy righteousness also, O God,
is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!”
 
Psalm 89:7    “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly
of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.”
 

Psalm 95:3 ”    For the Lord is a great God,

and a great King above all gods.”

Psalm 135:5    “For I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.

 

 
 
 
 
These are wonderful scriptures about our Lord and how He truly is a great God!  According to Ephesians 3:20 God is able to do above and beyond all that we dare ask or think. May we be reminded on a daily basis as we walk with our Lord that He is great and greatly to be praised!   He is well able to exceed our highest expectations as we release our faith in Him.  Why?  Because He IS the God of Heaven and Earth, and His love for us is so deep.  It is beyond our comprehension….this is how awesome our Lord is.   There is none other like Him!  May we continue to build our faith according to the Word of God that we may know in our hearts that any mountain in our lives, or those things that are sent to bring us down are can to be conquered by the power of God alone!     He alone is able for He IS great!
 
 
I encourage you  as you start your day to look around you, and be reminded that all that you see  was created by the hand of the Almighty and loving God. Just this thought alone can renew our minds, and build our faith in the truth that God is great and greatly to be praised.  There is not one  thing that is too hard for Him to accomplish for you. He is able, and He is willing to do that for you!
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, October 20, 2017

Posted on Oct 20, 2017 in Devotions |

 
 
Devotional for Friday, October 20, 2017
“When Our Paths Echo His Name”
 
 
walking where truth echoes his name
 
 
 
by Dona Hake
 
Psalm 85:13 BRG version
Righteousness shall go before him; and
shall set us in the way of his steps.”
 
Today I want us to reflect upon the beauty of staying by our Lord’s side clinging to Him and His ways. He lovingly desires that we permit Him to set us in the way of His steps. I love knowing that as I abide in Him, He is going to continually restore my soul and lead me into His paths where His truth speaks of Him. I love knowing that as I walk closely to Him that my life will speak and echo of His righteousness and His truth.
 
Psalm 23:3 (VOICE)
“He makes me whole again,
steering me off worn, hard paths
to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.”
 
Now let us look at being steered from those worn, hard paths that has caused us to maybe live in ruts. Last evening I was listening as someone was sharing on social media the truth about how our past influences and way of thinking are so ingrained in us. It affects our thoughts and our behavior deeper that what we will ever know….unless we seek to know. I loved what she said, “If you want to clean up your act, you need to clean up your actions!” Wow! Simple yet profound isn’t it? What actions, what thoughts, what behavior am I doing that I assume is good and normal that is not good and it needs cleaned up? Now is the time to look to the Lord to help us to examine our hearts and if need be we should clean up our act that we can live and walk more effectively for Him as we purpose to do His will.
 
Let us look now at how He lovingly steers us away from worn, hard paths . Those worn, hard paths could be habits and patterns in our lives that have ultimately gotten us in trouble. Those worn paths are those that have developed because of doing the same thing over and over again. God is calling us to allow Him to step in and guide us on the paths of His desire for us. Paths that echo His wonderful Name!
 
Maybe you have walked the path of a habitual worrier. Maybe your worn, hard path has been one of constantly walking in fear and anxiety over your future. Regardless of what it is we can make the choice to walk on the path that is guided by His hand. His path is full of freedom, humility, love, strength, grace, and peace. Remember…on this path His goodness and mercy is following you everyday!
 
His hand deals only in truth and right things. His path does not make provision for us to walk in our own ability but rather to draw upon His. Let us look to His way, His paths, and we can live a life that is blessed because when we walk hand in hand with Him, that path echoes His Name! God bless you!
 

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Posted on Oct 19, 2017 in Devotions |

 
 
 
 
Devotional for Thursday, October 19, 2017
“Because This Kind of Change Is Good”
 
 
 
reflection in water 2
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
Proverbs 27:19 (ERV)
“Just as you can see your
own face reflected in water,
so your heart reflects the
kind of person you are.”
 
 
This portion of scripture stirs my heart  to think about the true spiritual condition of my heart. If I were to stand over a crystal clear pond and look in, my reflection would answer back at me or in other words I see myself. I would see myself for exactly what I am because the reflection does not lie. When you stand in front of a mirror you can not stand there and say, “this is not me!”  Our reflections are speaking to us, and telling us exactly what we look like. So it is when we look into God’s Word, He will reveal to us our need for Him and all that He wants us to be.    If we permit Him, He will show us the kind of person we are,  the condition of our heart, and give us true vision for change that He desires for us.

 

 

James 1:22-25
Amplified Bible 

“”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 will be those times in which we hear the Word and if conviction strikes at our heart  we need to give heed, and be an active doer as this scripture tells us to do. This tugging at our heart is the Holy Spirit speaking to us to make changes, and this kind of change really is a good thing. This scripture is clear that we need to give heed to the Word we hear and read, and the living water of the Word will truly reveal to us the condition of our heart if we permit it to. The Lord is loving, and He will help us to make the adjustments we need to be molded into His image. Let us look carefully at ourselves in light of God’s Word and allow Him to work in us.
 
Lord, we ask You this day to show us the true condition of our hearts.   Help us to be reminded of the importance of remaining humble before You that You may have free reign in our hearts.   Help us to be doers and not just hearers of Your Word.  We thank You that You are able to do a wonderful and transforming work within us.   Help us also to be patient and persevering as we walk through times of change that You are desiring to work within us.   In Jesus Name we ask, amen!
 

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Posted on Oct 17, 2017 in Devotions |

 
 
Devotional for Wednesday, October 18, 2017
“But First…”
 
 
seek first his kingdom
 
 
by Dona Hake
 
Matthew 6:33
Easy-to-Read Version
“What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you
to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.”
 
 
In this portion of scripture Jesus is teaching that our priority as a believer is to seek His kingdom first and His righteousness and all else will be taken care of. He was teaching that heavenly things are more important than anything else. Oh how this world can occupy our hearts and minds and cause us to lose sight of the most important things.
 
Prior to Jesus sharing this He spoke about worrying about being clothed. He spoke of the lilies of the field, and how they grow without care and they thrive on their own. How much more will He take care of us?…yet we worry.    Remember Jesus understands our weaknesses and our human nature, but He  commands us to cast our care, and wants us to do the most important thing, and that is to  seek Him first. Let us read some scriptures from the writings of Luke.
 
 
Luke 10:38-42
Easy-to-Read Version
“While Jesus and his followers were traveling, he went into a town, and a
woman named Martha let him stay at her house. She had a sister named
Mary. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach. But her
sister Martha was busy doing all the work that had to be done. Martha went
in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the
work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and
upset about too many things.”
 
 
This story tells us that our Lord desires that we seek Him first setting aside anything that would distract our love and worship toward Him. Mary understood this well, but poor Martha in all her good intentions did not understand.  She thought for sure that Jesus needed to rebuke Mary for not thinking about helping her .  Martha’s cares proceeded from placing her serving above her worship of Jesus. I do not believe Martha was wrong for wanting to serve but it was her wrong attitude that caused her to misplace her priorities.     Her focus was so much on what needed to be done, and then anxiety began to rule her heart and rob her of her peace.   “Lord, don’t you care?…” she spoke in frustration.   Of course she knew her Lord cared about her but her worries and cares were causing her to react improperly and cast wrong judgments .    Martha’s sister Mary understood that she needed to cease from her work, and  sit at the feet of the Lord for it was the time to do so.   Martha problem was her struggle with laying the work aside and sitting quietly and listening to  her Lord.
 

May we learn from this story of Mary and Martha. Let us seize the opportunities in which the Lord is desiring us to stop and hear what He has to say.   May we make it a priority to sit quietly before Him that we may receive from His hand of provision.  Remember in your walk with Him that there is ONLY ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT and that is to seek Him first!


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