Dona Hake, Author at The Abundant Life Center

5.3.16

Posted on May 3, 2016 in Devotions |

Devotional for Tuesday, May 5, 2016

“Is Your Spiritual Battery Charged?”

by Dona Hake

I can once remember someone calling me and requesting a photo shoot with me. They did not have a scheduled appointment, but I agreed to do it for them for my day was free. I threw my camera over my shoulder, grabbed my bag of lenses and out the door I went. As I was driving down the road it dawned on me that I better check my camera’s battery. Sure enough when I check it’s level, it was blinking low and that would not have gotten me through my photo shoot. I also realized that I forgot to pack a back up. I turned around and went back home, and grabbed one of my back up batteries. Thank God for back up! Normally with client shoots I have all batteries full and extra of everything. My point in this story is that I was caught off guard, and not totally prepared. I thought I was but in all reality I was not being as thorough as I should have been before I left my home.

There is an analogy to this little story. Life can bring us situations that just catch us off guard, and we have no time to prepare for them. I had noticed for a while that my battery was blinking low but I just ignored it and the thought was….I’ll charge it later. Well, “later” did not happen and had I not realized it I would not have been able to get the shots this individual wanted me to get. You see, my lithium battery is well capable of shooting for hours on end IF it is fully charged. There was not a thing wrong with the battery. The thing that went wrong was that I failed to be attentive to it’s warning, and do what needed to be done. I failed to maintain such a small but most vital part of my camera. I have a wonderful camera with beautiful lenses yet without the battery power within, they are not capable of working to their potential.

We too are like ”spiritual batteries” that need charged and watched over. We need our time with God and the infusion of His strength and guidance each day. We cannot try to thrive on what was yesterday’s faith , and victories. We cannot fool ourselves and think we are going to get away with ignoring the warning signals that come with being weary and worn down. We must keep ourselves full that we can do all that He has for us to do. I leave you with this scripture that is a wonderful one to reflect upon. I encourage you to draw upon that power, and all that He has so graciously given you to live your day! Be diligent to watch over that you are full and serving Him in the power of His strength!

2 Peter 1:3 The Voice
“His divine power has given us everything we need to experience life and to reflect God’s true nature through the knowledge of the One who called us by His glory and virtue.”

5.2.16

Posted on May 2, 2016 in Devotions |

Devotional for Monday, May 2, 2016

“What Does Patience Mean To You?

by Dona Hake

Did you ever notice how it seems we are required to be patient at the most inopportune times? Of course there are days that things just seem to flow perfectly, and it seems like nothing is standing in the way of your well planned day. But what about those days where the opportunity to remain cool, calm, collected and patient is a bit more than what you can take. Let us look at what patience is…

*the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

*an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay:

*quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence:

How do you define patience? For me I like to keep things simple for I remember things better that way. I quickly learned over the past six years of having little Granddaughters that ten minutes can seem like an eternity. Over and over I would share with them. “Be patient!” But their response would be, “But Grandma, it is so hard some times!” So I began to go over and over with them that being patient simply means :

Wait with a happy heart!

I remember a few years ago this conversation with my oldest Granddaughter and it still makes me chuckle when I think about it. We were hitting a lot of traffic and it seemed like forever till we were reaching the donut shop. I began to say, “Remember! we need to be patient!…and what does patience mean?” My granddaughter said, “I know, I know, it’s waiting with a happy heart but sometimes I don’t do patience!” I have to be honest with you that when she said that I almost cracked up laughing. I love how children are just so bluntly honest at times. I just had to chuckle and I replied, “You know what? Some days I don’t do patience either.”

Let’s all be honest with ourselves… we all have those days that we do not do patience real well, and it ends up causing us to be annoyed, upset, etc… In the book of James he wrote and exhorted us in the importance of allowing patience to have it’s perfect work. I used to wonder how James could write and tell us to “Count it all joy when you fall into various tests and trials…”

James 1:2-4 The Voice

“Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing. “

This scripture reminds me to thank God that our faith can blossom even under the pressures that may seem unpleasant. He will be faithful to teach us true patience that we can cross the finish line! So today I encourage you to be patient in all things or may I say “Wait with a happy heart!”

5.1.16

Posted on May 1, 2016 in Devotions |

Devotional for Sunday, May 1, 2016

“The Abundance of the Heart Has a Voice”

by Dona Hake

The Lord desires that we diligently care for our hearts, minds and tongues. It is up to us what we deposit into our hearts and minds. If you are a person that takes it seriously to guard your heart then you well understand the battle that it can be. Daily we are bombarded with things that serve to pull us away. Thoughts can seemingly come out of nowhere and if your heart is not rock solid with His Word, you will not know how to properly discern right from wrong. We find out quickly that all that is in our heart indeed will come out in words whether they be good or bad. For out of the abundance of our heart, our mouth will speak.

Today I want to exhort you in the importance of filling your heart and mind with thoughts of who you are in Christ. As we tend to our hearts and fill it with powerful scriptures of our position in Christ we will stand strong in time of temptation and struggle that this life can bring. I want to exhort you and ask you, how do you see yourself? You know that how you think and meditate about who you are is how you will eventually speak. One may speak words such as , “I can’t do this!” “I’m a failure!” “I give up!” If someone speaks such words it is merely a reflection of the meditations of their heart. It is a reflection of the fact that they do not know who they are in Christ.

So how do you speak about yourself? Is it negative or is it positive. When we understand who we are in Christ, we will view ourselves in light of His Word. We will view our strengths as a gift from Him and our weaknesses need to be viewed as those things that God is still graciously working on within us. He has perfect timing, and His ways are just as perfect. He promises to perfect that which concerns us as we bring all things to Him in prayer.

Sometimes when we make mistakes we can be tempted to not forgive ourselves, and we keep thinking about our mistake. As we meditate upon negative thoughts about ourselves that negative will grow bigger and bigger in our mind. The strength of any negative will be an arrow that the devil will use against us. One of the devil’s main tools will be our own tongues. You may begin to speak things about yourself and put yourself down. Eventually the more you hear those words from your own mouth, you will begin to believe them. Let us purpose to speak truth over every area of our life. Those words of truth are life giving and strengthening to our soul.

Proverbs 4:24(ERV)

“Don’t bend the truth or say things

that you know are not right.

We well know it is wrong to lie but let it be established that we never permit the devil to lie to us about who we are for we are being changed by the power of God. Let us stand bold and strong as to who we are in Christ! As we stay full of His Word and remind ourselves of who God says we are, we will not fall prey to lies and discouraging thoughts. I encourage you today to guard your heart with ALL diligence for from it truly flows the issues of this life.

4.30.16

Posted on Apr 30, 2016 in Devotions |

Devotional for Saturday, April 30, 2016

“My Focus Is Fixed”

by Dona Hake

Yesterday I shared with you about the loving decrees of our Lord. We looked at the scripture in Psalm 42:8 (CEB) “By day the Lord commands His faithful love; by night His song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.” This scripture reminds us that His love is so faithful and He desires to have His hand in all that we do. From the rising of the sun till it’s going down He desires that we give Him continual praise. There are enemies to our soul that threaten our focus and we need to recognize them. The devil knows if we can be easily distracted that our focus will be broken. We can busy ourselves with seemingly good things that are not the will of God, therefore causing our focus to be out of sorts. We must determine to have crisp and clear focus as we set out to do God’s will. May we seek Him with our whole heart in all that we put our hands to, and may we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that all we do is that which He is desiring of us.

Proverbs 4:25 (VOICE)
“Keep your head up, your eyes straight ahead,
and your focus fixed on what is in front of you.”

Many times when people talk about focus especially in the realm of the spiritual we tend to think of moving toward spiritual goals. As I was pondering this I began to reflect on the importance of doing what you need to do to go forward when everything around you is a blur. There are those times where you can be walking through such turmoil that you do not know which way to turn or what to do next. I have had times in my life where focus seemed impossible and I had to just be still before Him to hear His voice that I may see clearly again.

I began to think about the art of photography and the use of different lenses when I shoot. I can remember a time during a session with a client, and I was encountering different lighting problems which required me to switch up my lens to a different one. I kept asking my client to be patient as I was making the proper adjustments. In order for me to get desired results I had to be totally accurate with what lens I was using to get the highest quality shot. It was not until I felt that everything was perfect that I was satisfied. So it is in this life that there will be times in which we need to be willing to do what it takes to achieve our desired results. We need to know that we are seeing as clearly as possible so we can go forward with clarity of vision.

I have observed at times where people in the midst of “blurred vision” run away to keep themselves distracted from the problem they are in. When one does this they will soon find themselves tossed to and fro by any negative encounters in life. Retreating from a problem will never solve it, we must learn to stand still, and see the salvation of our Lord. We need to be a people that keep our feet planted and our eyes fixed and be willing to do whatever it takes to get the victory. God desires that we be not moved no matter what is going on around us.

Psalm 112:7 (VOICE)
” They will not be afraid when the news is bad
because they have resolved to trust in the Eternal.”

4.29.16

Posted on Apr 29, 2016 in Devotions |

Devotional for Friday, April 29, 2016

“The Decrees of His Loyal Love”

by Dona Hake

Psalm 42:8 (CEB)
“By day the Lord commands His faithful love;
by night His song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.”

This scripture reminds me that from the time I awaken till I lay my head down to sleep that I should simply praise His Name. These words remind me of my Lord’s faithful love and His watchful eye. There are many things in this life to distract us from keeping our eyes on Him, these are the things that can tend to distort our focus, and keep us from seeing clearly the things which really matters to Him. The Lord desires that there is an offering of praise proceeding from our hearts no matter what is going on around us.

Psalm 113:3 (CEV)
” From dawn until sunset
the name of the Lord
deserves to be praised.”

Our God promises a faithful love to us each and every day. From the moment our feet hit the floor, He is there. As we go about the demands of our day, He is there. As our day comes to a close, He is still there. His loyal love remains and at the end of the day, no matter what it looks like, He promises to bring us a song to our hearts. No matter what happens today or what you have to face tomorrow…NOTHING can keep you from offering praise to the Living God!

“I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. ” Romans 8:39 (The Message)

4.28.16

Posted on Apr 28, 2016 in Devotions |

Devotional for Thursday, April 28, 2016

“What Are You Wearing Today?”

by Dona Hake

One of the very first things we do in the morning is dressing ourselves for the day and it’s occasion. I am one of those planners so there are many evenings before I go to bed I lay my clothes out for the next day so my morning goes a little smoother. I believe the Lord desires that we are thinking about “clothing” ourselves in the many good things He desires. So I ask, what are you wearing in spirit today? Are you purposing to clothe yourself as one of His chosen?

Colossians 3:12 (CJB)

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people,holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves

with feelings of compassion and with kindness,

humility, gentleness and patience.”

As we make a conscious effort to clothe ourselves in the fruits of who He is, we will truly be blessed. Face it, it is so easy to be nice to those that are treating us right, but difficult people can cause us to really get off track with our love walk. Before long we may be adorning ourselves with the clothing of this world, and this is not pleasing to our Lord. God’s way is always the higher way and as we react out of His love our clothing will be those that He desires. Let us purpose to remain clothed in His Spirit, and we will be blessed and we will be a blessing to those around us!

Proverbs 11:17 (TLB)

“Your own soul is nourished when you are kind;

it is destroyed when you are cruel.”

4.27.16

Posted on Apr 27, 2016 in Devotions |

Devotional for Wednesday, April 27, 2016

“No More Striving”

by Dona Hake

The evil of this world continues to gain momentum and we must remain strong that we can rise above it’s pulling and tugging at our hearts. It is only by the power of God that any of us can remain strong for He has promised to give us ALL things that we need that pertain to this life and living godly. When God says ALL He means ALL. Not just a high percentage but ALL, and that means He will cause us to lack in no good thing as we ask Him.

2 Peter 1:3-4 (PHILLIPS)

“He has by his own action given us everything that is necessary for living the truly good life, in allowing us to know the one who has called us to him, through his own glorious goodness. It is through him that God’s greatest and most precious promises have become available to us men, making it possible for you to escape the inevitable disintegration that lust produces in the world and to share in God’s essential nature.”

We no longer need to strive to live a life pleasing unto to Him but rather draw upon Him as we come to know Him more intimately. It is as this becomes so real to us that the scripture in Philippians 4:13 will explode with power within us!

Philippians 4:13 (AMP)

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

To God be the glory!!!!

4.26.16

Posted on Apr 26, 2016 in Devotions |

Devotional for Tuesday, April 26, 2016

“The Loving Work of the Lord’s Hand”

by Dona Hake

Psalm 63:8 (VOICE)

” My soul clings to You;

Your right hand reaches down and holds me up.”

Today I want to encourage your heart to look to the Lord and the work of His mighty hand. May we look up expectantly and believe that He is going to reach down and hold us up, and do a great work in us! How wonderful is His hand that leads us and guides us throughout our day.

There are days that I feel His loving hand give me the push I need and it’s called courage. Sometimes I feel Him tugging at my heart because I am about to miss something that is important mainly because I am preoccupied with something else. I believe this is His wise discernment and wisdom upon my life. Sometimes I feel His loving hand holding me back and keeping me from taking a step forward in the wrong direction. This is the loving hand of the One that desires to lead, guide and protect me in my path. I have learned to appreciate Him as He has prompted me to be silent when I was about to speak words that could have caused me trouble or hurt someone. His loving and caring hand in our life is so sweet. It is the work of the Holy Spirit and we need to desire it. As our soul clings to Him, He will work within us in beautiful ways that are beyond our understanding.

I hope you too are looking for His loving hand at work in your life! Live in the expectancy of it and He will always meet you where you are and uphold you as you cling to Him.

4.25.16

Posted on Apr 25, 2016 in Devotions |

Devotional for Monday, April 25, 2016

“The Lord’s Provision For Us”

by Dona Hake

Matthew 6:11 (CEB)

“Give us the bread we need for today.”

We all understand that we need to eat and drink to keep ourselves healthy. Proper nutrition is vital in order to feel good and have the energy we need to get us through each day. It is equally important that we are staying aware of our spirit being fed and nourished by the Word of our Lord. May we be diligent over the nutrition and strength of our spirit man. We all are dealing with different things and different demands, therefore we need to be diligent to read His Word and meditate upon it daily in order that our spirit, soul and mind are thriving on the Bread of Life.

God’s Word is our sustenance, and as we ask for Him to give us our daily bread we will certainly receive from Him. His bread is our means of sustaining life and nourishment. I encourage you today to seek Him for that which you need. Is it a specific answer or need for direction? Is there emptiness in your heart and pain? Anything you need God is well able to give to you and He will give you nothing less than what you need to be sustained this day.

Matthew 7:7-10(ERV)

“Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them.

“Do any of you have a son? If he asked for bread, would you give him a rock? Or if he asked for a fish, would you give him a snake? Of course not!”

4.24.16

Posted on Apr 24, 2016 in Devotions, Uncategorized |

Devotional for Sunday, April 24, 2016

“Are You On Track With God?”

by Dona Hake

“I feel like I’m on track!” Have you ever said that? I love the feeling that I know I am doing the right thing and all is flowing smoothly. Nothing bothers me more than feeling like I am wasting time or I do not have purpose in what I am doing. God desires to lead and guide us each and everyday of our lives. He also desires that we seek Him first, and that we purpose that His Spirit is leading us.

Galatians 5:16 CEV

“If you are guided by the Spirit, you won’t obey your selfish desires.”

Many times we can fall to the weakness of following our own way or our own selfish desires. We can also be guilty of knowing the Lord’s direction but trying to make things happen in our own ability. As we trust Him for answers and direction He will always be faithful to direct us and keep us on track.

Have you ever heard the saying spoken when someone is needing to make a decision…”Maybe you just need to sleep on it.” I have had times where I have received answers to a particular need or leading in what I needed to do during the night. The Lord has a beautiful and tender way of quietly speaking in the quietness of the night.

Psalm 16:7 (ERV)
“I praise the Lord because he taught me well.
Even at night he put his instructions deep inside my mind.”

So today I ask you, are you on the right track for your day? It is a good thing to know that the Lord our God is leading us i as we purpose to do His will!n the way that we should go! I praise God that He so tenderly desires to come along side of us in this life that we can know we are going the right direction as we purpose to do His will!