The Abundant Life Center

by Dona Hake

Ecclesiastes 7:10  (NIV)

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”

For it is not wise to ask such questions.

 Sometimes in the midst of how evil seems to be on such a rapid pace I will hear people refer to the “good ole days”.   We can all reach into our past of sweet memories and enjoy them but we need to be careful to remember that things are continually changing around us. No matter how hard we try it would be impossible for us to go back to  our past.   Yes, we will always have fond and sweet memories of our life, and God has blessed us with such a life.   Yet our God desires that we keep moving forward with His plan burning within our hearts.  That God given  plan within our hearts will be the vision before our eyes.  

“…but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—

to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. ”

Philippians 3:13 The Message

Proverbs 3:5-6   Easy-to-Read Version

Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge.

 With every step you take, think about what he wants,

 by Dona Hake

Think about times in your life that without the help of others you would not have made it through a particular hardship.    I can remember different times in my life in which I truly felt the prayers of the saints lifting me up.   They just felt to pray and they had no idea what I was walking through.   Simple obedience to the Father’s voice brought strength to me when I needed it.

Never underestimate the times that you have felt prompted to pray for someone and you had no idea of what they were walking through.  Simple obedience in such a matter could mean a major victory in an individual’s life. God desires to use us to be a strength to those around us.  I find this scripture interesting as well as applicable to the thought I am bringing to you today.

Proverbs 20:12

“It was the Lord who gave us eyes for seeing and ears for hearing.”

He wants to use our eyes to show us what He is seeing and He wants to use our ears to hear the hearts of people around us.  Let us ask the Lord to help us to see and hear the cry of people around us.  I have had times where I might see a complete stranger and I see pain in their eyes and I walk away and just whisper a prayer for them.  I more than likely will never see nor speak to them ever again yet I believe the Lord uses us to possibly change situations through such simple prayers.   Also, do not be fooled by those that seem so strong and happy on the outside because they may be falling apart on the inside.  Again, see people’s hearts with God’s eyes and you will not miss such divine opportunities to be used by God .

Keep your ears and eyes open to those around you.  Never take the position that you have to know all the facts before you can pray.  If you see or hear pain…just pray.  No fancy words…just pray.  God wants to use you and I to reach down and strengthen those that need our help.  There is power in simple obedience.  

“Living In the Joy of the Moment”

by Dona Hake

 As I have mentioned before, many times words spoken that I have heard in sermons or the reading of His Word have touched the depths of my heart, and I love passing them on to you.    I have found that there are words that are worthy to be written down and pondered over and over so they may soak deep into my spirit.    Today I am returning to some words that are strong and solid and good for my soul to meditate upon.    I can remember my husband sharing these words in one of his sermons… “If you live in the past, you’ll have no current joy.”  I think one of the saddest things is seeing people live in the pain of their  past yet they have so much to be thankful for in the present moment.    If we live in the past, even when there are good things going on around us, we may be hindered from even noticing them.   The past has the ability to rob us of the good things that are in our life RIGHT NOW!   We need to stop and purposely think of each and every good thing that God has blessed us with.  If we allow our mind to dwell on the memories of the past we will miss the joy of the moment.

Philippians 3:13 (TLB)

“No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing

all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…”

I want to encourage you today that if you are tempted to look over your shoulder into your past to STOP!  Stop and look at who you are today and how far God has brought you.  Stop and think about every blessing you possess whether it be spiritual blessings, family, friends or material things.  

Let us not allow the wonderful joys in our present be robbed from us because we feel we are unable to go forward.  Know this, God can heal us from the pain and scars of our past.  He can give us hope for a future, and He can bring joy unspeakable into our heart and peace that passes all understanding that will permeate our mind.  Enjoy the current joys that are around you and allow God to give you the strength to continue to move forward!

by Dona Hake

I think the following scripture could probably be looked at as one of those difficult “pills” to take and apply to our lives.  I Corinthians 13 referred as the love chapter states all that God’s love would have us to do.

1 Corinthians 13:5

“… it takes no account of the evil done to it it

pays no attention to a suffered wrong.”

Our human natures can tempt us to have little running “accounts” in the back of our minds of things done wrong to us, hurtful words, etc.  The longer the list gets the harder it is to feel at ease with that person that did a hurtful thing to you.    Doing the “God thing” or right thing can be that hard pill to swallow.  God well understands that this type of habitual “account keeping” will destroy even the most precious and dear relationships.  He commands us to forgive and let it go.    Again this is one of those “big pink pills” that are hard to swallow.  Believe me, we need to take this chapter and meditate upon it and let it grow big within us.  It is nourishment to our spiritual being and it will cause us to be better people.  God wants us to live free from all bondage so let us release the wrongs and stay focused on loving others as He loves us!  Let us live to forgive.

Devotional for Sunday, March 26, 2017

“…But An Encouraging Word”

Proverbs 12:25 (AMP)

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,

but an encouraging word makes it glad.”

The Voice translation of Proverbs 12:25…

“The weight of worry drags us down,

    but a good word lightens our day.”

Today as you encounter people, study before you speak.  Think about how your words can lift them up and possibly change the way they are thinking about themselves.  Kind thoughts and kind words cost not one penny yet the hearer may be  receiving a wealth of encouragement that their money could never buy.

Proverbs 18:21 (Good News Translation)

“What you say can preserve life or destroy it.”

by Dona Hake

John 15:5   The Voice 

“I am the vine, and you are the branches.

If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear great fruit.

Without Me, you will accomplish nothing.”

What a beautiful  scripture to keep fresh in our hearts.  Without Him we can do nothing, and yet with Him ALL things are possible!  All means all, and that little word with three letters contains big possibilities.  Whether we are trying to do things for Him or the things that involve our daily accomplishments, it would do us good to know that we are pulling ALL of our strength and wisdom from His resources.

I can remember once putting some fresh batteries into a flashlight.  I checked and checked to make sure all the batteries were in the right position and secure.  It made no sense to me that there was no power.   I was absolutely positive that I had them in correctly.  My husband opened it and examined it and sure enough one of the three batteries was in the wrong direction.  Sometimes that is how it is for us.  We can seem to have all that we need, yet one thing is out of place and there will be no power.  When we are connected to God, He assures us that all things are possible as we stay hooked up to His divine ways and purposes!   As we continue to abide in Him, we will bear much fruit.  God bless you.

Devotional for Tuesday, March 21, 2017

by Dona Hake

I have seen  individuals walk through great adversity, and touches my heart when I see them choose to  exhibit characteristics of extreme compassion, and they have a beauty in character…their soul is at rest.    They chose not to quit or be bitter but instead they made a decision to stand back up in their weariness, and they took hold of God’s courage.   What a blessing it is to see such victory, and such testimonies as these can bring courage to our hearts.    These are believers that  endured because they chose to look at Christ, and not their circumstance.   They looked at Christ instead of what the world’s answers were.  They looked at Christ instead of their own ability.   The Lord has shown us in His scriptures that we need to hold fast, and continue to look to Him  that we may have enduring strength.

Trials can cause us to be stronger people if we permit them to.   As we press in and keep our eyes on Him and seek His wisdom we will see that our patience is being worked and perfected by Him.   Many times in this life things do not go the way we plan  but we must  take courage and try again.   Keep looking to Jesus, permit our soul to take rest, and He will renew our strength.

Proverbs 24:16

“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…”

Hebrews 10:36

“Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”

Let us live a life of pressing into God that we can walk and run in His enduring strength. Continue to do His  will, step out in new paths that He shows you, and patiently endure that you may receive the blessing of what you are hoping for!  Today I encourage your heart to keep looking to Christ, and live in His rest.