Posted on Aug 11, 2015 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
Proverbs 3:5-12 (MSG)
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil.”
We live in an age of information and it is readily at our finger tips. In many ways it is so wonderful, and time saving. We are blessed to be able to get information about almost anything. While this is good it can distract us, and keep us from fully trusting in the Lord. Sometimes we can be tempted to pick and choose what we think is the right thing to do according to head knowledge rather than the will of our Lord. Let us guard our hearts that as we seek anything in this life, that we are fully trusting in Him, and allowing Him to guide us in everything that we seek to understand.
Today we are focusing on living a life of trust for it is a must as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. As the scripture says we need to trust Him from the bottom of our hearts, and stop trying to figure everything out. Many times God has a totally different route He desires to take us and we need to be willing to walk in the direction He has chosen. Sometimes His paths that He is establishing for us are ones we may feel uncomfortable with. If so, let us trust Him as to how He has decided to walk beside us, and faithfully lead us.
Let us lean not on our own understanding.
I think there is a key word that God wants us to keep before us, and that is the word HUMILITY. As we stay humble, we will be thankful for the knowledge, gifts and talents He has blessed us with but we will keep them in their proper place. As we remain humble, we will always be looking to acknowledge His ways in everything that we do. He can indeed teach us to trust Him with all of our hearts, and He will make those places that have seem crooked and confusing completely straight. He will bring you the pure knowledge and understanding that you are needing in any particular situation.
Posted on Aug 10, 2015 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
I can remember a movie I saw a while ago, and there was a particular part that ministered courage to my heart. In this movie there was a young lady that had never ridden a horse before and she desired to do so. There was only one thing holding her back and that was fear. She shared her fear with the young man with her, and he assured her that he totally understood. He said he too at a young age shared that same fear but his Daddy helped him overcome it. He said, “My Daddy sat me on his lap and said courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway!” I just loved this because it was an inspiration of how to face fear with a true heart of courage.
Psalm 27:14
“… Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you!
Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you.”
Maybe you could testify of a time that fear has gripped your heart and rendered you unable to move forward. How terrible it is to be held back by a fear. Fear has the capability of robbing one’s dreams, but God desires to release you into your dreams. He understands our every fear and the things that intimidate us, yet He promises to help us overcome any fear that would hold us back. His Word says that the righteous will be bold as a lion!
Sometimes in life we just simply have to “saddle up and face our fears” believing that He will give us the courage and strength that we need for that moment and situation. His grace will always be sufficient and complete no matter what!
“There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].”
Posted on Aug 9, 2015 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
James 3:17 (The Voice)
“Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy,
and other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy.”
God’ wisdom will always rest and be centered on these fruits. Wisdom’s fruits are pure, peaceful, and gentle. His wisdom will ALWAYS be respectful and merciful. It will never be touched with hypocrisy for it is pure and real because it has been tested. God’s wisdom or ways do not change due to circumstance because it is not consistent with His character. God will never change so we can conclude that the fruits of His wisdom will remain constant and unchanging.
When we ask God for His wisdom He desires to bless us with His pure thoughts, and how He sees to do something. He desires to bless us with His good judgments. I encourage you today to seek wisdom before every task. Get God’s mind in all you put your hand to. As you ask God for His precious wisdom, believe by faith that it is going to flow into you, and flow forth from you as pure fresh living water. When people ask you for an opinion on something, stop and purpose to seek His wisdom before you speak. This is what people need, and this is what we need in our personal life…not our opinions, not our experiences, but rather the pure wisdom that comes from above.
Posted on Aug 8, 2015 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
Lamentations 3:22-23 (TLB)
“His compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; His loving-kindness begins afresh each day.”
As you begin your day, do you remember to thank Him for His mercies? Do you remind yourself that His mercies are specifically new just for you each morning? Oh that we would remind ourselves of how He rescued us from a life a destruction. I think at times, and wonder where I would be without Him for I know that He rescued me from a life of confusion, wrong choices, and deception. How about you?
Today I want you to meditate on this scripture from Lamentations, and really read it keeping in mind that you are on God’s mind continually, and He desires for you to understand how much He loves you, and His mercies are ever toward you. I would also like to share an interesting quote I found by John Bunyan.
“Since God has mercies to give, and He intends
to give them to us, those mercies are not broken
pieces or someone else’s leftovers….God has bags
that were never untied, never opened up, but set
aside through a thousand generations
for those who hope in His mercy.”
Let us meditate upon His mercies that are there for us now, and will be yours to find and hope for every day you live on this earth!
Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever:
with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
Posted on Aug 7, 2015 in Devotions |
God has provided for us His place of refuge. He knows exactly what we need to feel secure from the things of this life. He desires that we dwell there, and that we remain. In other words, we cannot allow things to pull us out from that place that He has provided for us.Let us purpose to remain in the place of His peace, love, joy, protection, and all the wonderful things He has provided.
There will be things around us from day to day that will tempt us to walk out from His shelter. Many times people may choose anxiety over peace or bitterness over love, etc. This is only a few of the many choices we can make that can rob us from the hiding place and shelter He has provided. Remember, His shelter is our refuge. Next time you are tempted to get upset, instead of dwelling on the one who upset you or the circumstance, choose rather to run to Him for help, and refuge from the problem.
Psalm 91:1 (GW)
“Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High
will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.”
In our home, my husband and I have lived by a rule since the day we married. We will do whatever it takes to maintain peace in our home. We value the peace in our home and in our hearts. We never leave each other with things unresolved, and we purpose to continue doing this. This is also a truth we imparted to our sons. No one went to bed until we knew there was peace in our hearts. No matter how long it took, we talked until it is resolved.
”When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath
(your exasperation, your fury or indignation)
last until the sun goes down.”
Ephesians 4:26
You see, God well knows our human nature, and that there will be times that we will heed to anger, but the warning here is to deal with it and resolve it. Do not go to sleep with anger in your heart for when you awaken it will be there, and you will surely carry it with you throughout a new day. This is not God’s plan for you! God wants us to live in a place of peace in our hearts as well as in our homes, and those around us.
Today I just want to encourage you to value the wonderful blessing of Him providing a place for you to dwell. Do not allow the negative things of this life to pull you from that place of love, peace, and protection that He has so abundantly blessed you with. For every problem we have, He has a solution. All we need to do is remain in His presence, look to Him, and He will be your helper, and all that you need to keep you there.
Posted on Aug 6, 2015 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
Today I want to share with each and every one of you that God has given you something, and He wants you to pass it on. Each of us are blessed in different ways and He desires to flow through us to those around us. I have heard people over the years exclaim that for some reason or another that they feel they have nothing to give. Sometimes people limit themselves to giving because they think of it being only monetarily. There is more to giving than just the giving of money. God can use us in so many ways to touch lives in extra special ways everyday. There are those that need your listening ear or a word of encouragement or wisdom. In those times that the Lord lays an individual on your heart, I encourage you to stop and pray, for your obedience could make a difference in their life in that moment in time.
I am going to share two quotes with you that are the words of Mother Teresa. I admire the life of this loving, gracious and humble woman of God. Read and take heed.
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”
Mother Teresa
“God doesn’t look at how much we do,
but with how much love we do it.”
Mother Teresa
As we are obedient to the voice of the Lord to give what we have, He will surely bless it. Along with obedience in our giving let us do it with a heart of love. The scripture I am want to share with you now is from Luke 6:38 (ERV)
“Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”
Now I want to emphasize that your giving should never be for the sake of what you get back. When God gives back to you, it is solely for the purpose of your hands being filled to the full that you can continue to give out, and be a blessing to those in need. I encourage you today to open your hands to those around and obediently give that which the Lord has so graciously blessed you with!
Posted on Aug 5, 2015 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
Philippians 4:13 (CEB)
” I can endure all these things throughthe power of the one who gives me strength.”
What a blessing it is to know that we have all that we need for anything that we face. Let us look at this verse and as you read it emphasize the first two words, “I can.” Many times when we are faced with adversity or we are feeling weak, the first words that we may be tempted to entertain in our minds are “I can’t do this.” Today I want to encourage you to seek daily to find your strength in God.
In preparing for this particular devotional my original focus on scripture was John 10:10:
John 10:10 (AMP) “The thief comes only in order to steal and killand destroy. I came that they may have and enjoylife, and have it in abundance
(to the full, till it overflows).”
In this life we have an enemy, and it is the devil. He seeks to rob and destroy from us. He will try to convince us that we cannot stand strong in the midst of a storm. He will try to kill our dreams, weaken our faith, and more than anything try to convince us that “we can’t” be an overcomer. He seems to sometimes have the mysterious ability to make the smallest of things look bigger than what they really are, yet we serve the one that can bring all problems down to size if only we keep our eyes on Him. Praise God that we can stand as overcomers for Jesus made it possible that in Him we can overcome!
The Apostle Paul spoke of when he was his weakest was when he truly experienced God’s strength. As we look to live in His strength we can know that no matter how things are going in the natural, He is with us, and He will show Himself strong on our behalf. Lord, we thank you today that You
have made us more than conquerors. Remind us to keep our eyes on You, and help us by Your
Spirit and Your wonderful grace that flows so freely toward us. We thank you that when
we are weak it is then that we can experience your total strength. Thank you Lord that this is done in
Jesus Name!
Posted on Aug 4, 2015 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
I can remember like it was yesterday when I was taking my little Granddaughter to breakfast, and it was bitterly cold and windy. As we were walking from the car to the restaurant I found myself walking a bit faster than usual forgetting the little feet beside me were running to keep up with me. I looked down and found her watching my feet, and trying her best to keep up her pace with mine. I realized I needed to slow down for her, but what stood out to me was that she was trying her best to walk like Grandma, and keep up! After all she knew she was heading for her favorite breakfast restaurant!
Do you observe the pace that the Lord is desiring to walk? Do you ponder His steps, and strive to follow them exactly? Many times we wished the Lord might be moving us along a bit faster, and you are not enjoying the pace that He is taking you in a particular area of your life. Sometimes things can seem to be moving slowly, and then out of nowhere business picks up, and the Lord moving in ways you thought were not possible. The secret was being patient with His pace and His timing. The most important thing is that we are diligently observing the footsteps of the Lord, as He has promised to walk beside us. May we also remember that His pace is the perfect pace!
Psalm 37:23 (AMP)
“The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way
[and He busies Himself with his every step].”
The Lord is very interested in the paths that we walk on. I love how the Amplified version say that He busies Himself with my every step! It is important that we know He is delighting in the path that we are walking. All too often we can get into our own ways and ability, and stray from the path He desires. Today I encourage you to look often at the path or ways you are choosing for God desires to walk with you, and guide you with His wisdom according to His will and plan for your life.
Psalm 84:5
“Happy are those who are strong in the Lord,
who want above all else to follow your steps.”
Posted on Aug 3, 2015 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
I have heard it said that 67% of people hate change. I kind of feel that holds true. I really can not say where I stand on this thought because some days I like to see things a bit unpredictable yet there are other days I hate the kind of changes that can come in this life. I am sure you too could agree.
One thing is for sure, and that is our Lord Jesus never changes. He remains the same. His Word does not change nor weaken in the midst of our storms. He said He will never leave us, and He will never forsake us. I am so thankful that Jesus never changes. My heart is so grateful that His love never changes for me. No matter how bad I mess up, He still loves me. I am glad that He never changes where He is at. He is always by my side. I am so glad that I can count on
that. His ear is always towards me when I pray. I am glad that He did not change on this matter because it would be upsetting to know that He decided not to listen to my heart today. On and on I could go but it’s just that simple… Jesus never changes.
The world may change and we all well know that it is. There may be things that are changing around you and it is beyond your control but take comfort in this scripture…
Hebrews 13:8 (VOICE)
“Jesus the Anointed One is always the same: yesterday, today, and forever.”
Posted on Aug 2, 2015 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
I want to bring to your heart a reminder of God’s wonderful mercies in your life. No matter how busy your day is, and no matter how good or bad it seems to be going, I encourage you to ponder this…
Lamentations 3:22-23
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
“The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted,
his compassion is not spent;
They are renewed each morning—
great is your faithfulness!”
Oh let us rejoice and thank the Lord that His acts of mercy are NEVER exhausted. His compassion never runs out for no matter how much you draw upon it today, tomorrow is a new day, and His mercy and compassion are fresh and new for you! As we look to Him at the start of our day we can stand believing for bountiful blessings flowing from His hand into our life. We can know that everything we will need to sustain us is there, and all we have to do is ask Him for it. I love knowing that I serve a God that is FULL of mercy and He promises that it never runs out nor can it be exhausted! As you meditate upon this, I encourage you to set your gaze upon Him and allow your spirit to receive all that He has for you today. We can look to Him in prayer and believe that His fullness will be upon us as we trust in Him. I will leave this scripture and blessing for you as you go about your day!
Psalm 90:17
“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
and direct thou the work of our hands upon us…”
