Dona Hake, Author at The Abundant Life Center

“Captivated With God”

Posted on Nov 8, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Today I want to point you toward thinking about the rich goodness, and greatness of God. God is full of goodness and mercy, and He desires that all know Him to be a good God. The Psalmist exclaims in the scripture below that he is captivated with God’s majesty and glorious splendor! Let us read it…

Psalm 145:5-7 (The Voice)

“Your majesty and glorious splendor have captivated me;
I will meditate on Your wonders, sing songs of Your worth.
We confess—there is nothing greater than You, God, nothing mightier than Your awesome works.
I will tell of Your greatness as long as I have breath.
The news of Your rich goodness is no secret—
Your people love to recall it
and sing songs of joy to celebrate Your righteousness.”

I can remember one particular time that I took one of my sons to the movies to see “The Prince of Egypt”. My favorite part of that movie was when Moses parted the sea. The creators of the movie made it so visually awesome, and quite captivating. I can still remember glancing at my son and his little friend and both of them looked like their eyes were as big as saucers! They sat motionless and totally captivated as Moses and the people crossed through the parted sea.

Maybe you can remember a spectacular moment like that where your heart was captivated by something or someone. Now, let us think about how we need to be captivated with our God just because He is who He is. He is good. He is great and is adorned in glorious splendor. He loves us unconditionally, and He wants to pour out unlimited grace to us today. On and on I could go, but I encourage you to ponder all that He is to you and all that He has done for you in your life.

The more we stay captivated with Him the more we will recall the works He has done for us and share it with those around us. One last thought that should really bless you, and that is that God is captivated with you. His eyes are on you and He loves us so much. God was so captivated with you that He sent His only Son to die for you and redeem you from your sin. He loves you so much and just desires to pour forth all that He is that you live this life in abundance!

God, there is nothing greater than You! Your rich goodness is no secret, let us be mindful to proclaim it as we keep our hearts captivated with You and Your love.

“Seek To Be Transformed”

Posted on Nov 7, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Yesterday I heard a US Senator being interviewed on the news. The subject was on the mud slinging of the recent campaigns and truth that was being twisted. As this Senator was being interviewed the subject of people just needing to just be honest and real. The Senator exclaimed at one point, “Don’t fit in…just be you!!!” I just loved this because there is so much truth in this statement. God made us all very special and unique. We are called for a specific purpose, yet we can fall prey to what the world and others say we should be or what we should be doing.

Sometimes people can feel frustrated because they really do not know who they are or what their purpose it. As believers, our identity absolutely needs to be in the Lord Jesus Christ. May we ever be reminded that all that we are and all that we do is only by the grace of God in our lives. It is Him that has begun a wonderful work in us, and as we remain humble He will mold and make us vessels that are wonderfully used by Him.

God has a perfect will for each of us and He treasures when you seek to know it. I believe He loves when we seek Him in the little details as well as the big ones. I wonder if we could ever comprehend how much it delights God’s heart when we seek Him in all things that pertain to life and godliness.

It is a wonderful thing to have direction in our life but even more important we need to know that we are always renewing our minds to the Word and will of our Lord, therefore being transformed! Today I encourage you to seek to be transformed and renewed in your mind on a daily basis. The world has such a strong current that serves to pull and tug at our hearts. The devil loves nothing more than to see us being side tracked or walking on the proverbial fence. God desires that our lives are proving out what the His perfect will is for us. Let us make it a practice to renew our minds and be refreshed by the Word of God. It is then that we will walk in that which is good and acceptable unto Him.

Romans 12:2 (AMP) | In Context | Whole Chapter

“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”

“…and He Shall Strengthen Your Heart”

Posted on Nov 6, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Let us continue to give thanks to the Lord for the many things that He does for us. Have you ever been weary? I think we can all acknowledge that some time in our lives we have experienced being weary and have been tempted to lose heart in a matter. Our God is the faithful one that says, “I SHALL strengthen your heart!” What a beautiful promise to rejoice and be thankful for!

Psalm 27:14(KJV)

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage,

and he shall

strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Let us ponder the three words “AND HE SHALL”. The scripture does not say “wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and it is likely he will strengthen your heart.” Nor did it say “wait on the the Lord: be of good courage and perhaps he will strengthen your heart.” NO! it says, “He shall.” If He said He shall, then He will! Today let us meditate of having hearts that are determined to wait and be of good courage because the faithful One has promised to strengthen us.

“Speak Of His Wonderful Works”

Posted on Nov 5, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

I am continuing to focus of having a heart of thanks and proclamation of God’s goodness in our lives. Today let us look at announcing His wonderful and powerful deeds.

It seems like only yesterday that I burned my left hand and was diagnosed with third degree burns. It was pain like I have ever experienced. Both my Granddaughters were with me, and my oldest sat with me on the sofa immediately after it happened. I was about half out of it because of the pain, it hurt so badly, I could not hold back my tears. I was so stunned, and disoriented from that pain that I just did not even know what to do as far as caring for it. A soft Quietly my Granddaughter said, “Grandma, I want to go to the Doctor with you. Can I?”

My husband came home and prayed for me immediately. I had decided to go to a Patient Care because I wanted to know how to care for the burn properly. The attending physician was shocked to see how bad it was and proceeded to immediately get my ring off because my circulation was being cut off. She had told me that it would take at least three weeks for the burn to heal, and she prescribed a heavy duty pain killer just so I could sleep. She carefully bandaged it and sent me home.

I will try to make this somewhat long story short. My progress was absolutely phenomenal. The first night’s sleep was without any pain, and I used NO pain medication at all. I was using my hand almost immediately with no pain or hindrance from the burn. I just could not believe it. Within a five day period, the blisters came off, and there was absolutely no scaring at all.

I can remember my Granddaughter’s face when she saw how Tuesday of that week, my hands were with pure white blisters and on Thursday the blisters were gone and my hand was totally normal. Her little jaw dropped and she inquired how it happened. She could not understand how the blisters were gone and my hand looked normal again. I said, “Honey, Jesus healed Grandma’s hand!”

“Each generation will announce
to the next
your wonderful
and powerful deeds.
I will keep thinking about
your marvelous glory
and your mighty miracles.”

Psalm 145: 4-5

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my Granddaughter will never forget sitting with me as I cried in pain when my hand was burned. She still tells me how she remembers how I screamed in pain when it happened. I also know that she will never forget seeing my hand totally whole and healed! Let us proclaim to our children and our children’s children the wonderful works of the Lord. Give thanks to the loving, living God! Our testimonies will surely point people to look to Jesus Christ.

“No One Can Comprehend His Magnificence”

Posted on Nov 4, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Throughout the month of November I intend to focus on giving thanks to our God. Today’s devotional is from Psalm 145:1-3.

Psalm 145:1-3

“I will lift my praise above everything to You, my God and King!
    I will continually bless Your name forever and always.
My praise will never cease—
    I will praise You every day;
    I will lift up Your name forever.
The Eternal is great and deserves endless praise;
    His greatness knows no limit, recognizes no boundary.
    No one can measure or comprehend His magnificence.”

It is so easy to take things and people for granted, and we must be mindful that we live with hearts that are full of thanks especially to our loving God and the loved ones and friends in our life. Today I am encouraging you to think about how wonderful and good the Lord has been to you. Day in and day out He faithfully meets us as we open our eyes each morning. He is always there for us throughout our day. Even when we fall and mess up, again He is faithful. As the psalmist writes in verse three, God is much greater than anyone can understand!

Have you ever tried to figure out the word “eternity.” I have, and it never ceases to leave me speechless and in awe. This is just one of the many wondrous things about God that are far above and beyond our comprehension. Have you pondered how great His love is toward you today? Is it not the most wonderful thing to know that He loved you enough to send His Son to die for you? Have you stopped and thanked Him today for His forgiveness and paused to try to figure out the depth of His compassion that forgiveness brings to you? I marvel as I think about how He not only forgives us but He totally washes us clean and restores our souls.

Let us think about more of His divine attributes…His grace and mercy recognizes no boundaries and they are new each morning as we face new challenges. No, we will never be able to totally comprehend His greatness, but we can always continue to offer thanks and worship to Him for all that He is to us! Give thanks to the Lord for there is no measure of His magnificence!

“Jesus Never Changes”

Posted on Nov 3, 2014 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.

Sometimes people change. If it is for the good, that is wonderful but what about
when people change and it is not so good. There may be people that you felt
you knew them so well and now they have changed and your friendship no
longer seems to be the same. When things change in this life and it brings
pain to us it can make you feel unsettled and insecure.

I am so thankful that Jesus never changes. 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.

I hope this stirs you to think about the concrete fact that He is faithful and there
is no changing. The world may change and we all well know that it is. There
may be things that are changing and it is beyond your control to make it the way
it was. But take comfort in the fact that the God of the Universe NEVER
changes…it’s that simple.

Hebrews 13:8 (VOICE)

“Jesus the Anointed One is always the same: yesterday, today, and forever.”

“His Lovingkindness Is Toward Us”

Posted on Nov 2, 2014 in Uncategorized |

by Dona Hake

I know it to be true that if you go to bed with much on your mind that this is how you wake up. The Lord does not want us to greet our day with the thoughts of yesterday nor the worries about our tomorrows. I love how the Psalmist asks the Lord to cause Him to hear of his Lord’s lovingkindness first thing in the morning.

Psalm 143:8 (AMP)

“Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,

for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.

Cause me to know the way wherein

I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.”

The Psalmist shares in Chapter 42 verse 8 that the Lord commands His lovingkindess toward us in the daytime and at night His song shall be with us! Let us trust to experience His lovingkindness as we awaken and hear His song at the end of the day. Let us remember to lean on Him not only for His strength and wisdom but for the balance He can bring to our lives. Thank Him as He unfolds His plan for your day. Lift up your soul to Him and allow Him to touch you because He loves you so much!

“His Lovingkindness Is Toward Us”

Posted on Nov 2, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Psalm 143:8 (AMP)

“Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,

for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.

Cause me to know the way wherein

I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.”

“Hold Fast To Good”

Posted on Nov 1, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

“Lord, are my thoughts and words acceptable to you?” This would probably be a very good question and prayer that should cross our minds often. I believe if we kept our heart’s challenged with this question that we would be kept from some situations that could easily be avoided. Many times we are quick to think things or form opinions based on our first impression. Maybe you are thinking things and speaking things based on what you have seen in the past. As a result of not asking the Lord for how you are to respond in word and in thought, you could get yourself in a difficult situation or offend someone.

Psalm 19:14 (AMP)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my

[firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.”

It is only God that knows you all too well. He understands how you tend to think and react. He knows every hurt and pain that is still in the healing process within you. He is well able to help you hold your tongue and alter your thought process. It is He that can help us to be rock solid in every area of our life because He is the Rock! Look to Him as often as you need to be your Helper today that you may think thoughts and speak words that are pleasing to Him. Let us do as it is written in I Corinthians and speak words taught to us by the Spirit of the living God. As we do this, we can be assured that we are speaking God’s truth and not our opinions or our own wisdom.

1 Corinthians 2:13 (ERV)

“… we don’t use words taught to us by human wisdom.

We use words taught to us by the Spirit.”

“Sowing Seeds of Strength In Others”

Posted on Oct 31, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Have you ever encountered someone going through a very big problem and you feel at loss for words? Undoubtedly, I am sure you have. Sometimes we can desire so badly to say the right thing and we end up saying something and wished we would have kept our mouth shut. It is times like these that we need to be careful listeners and allow the troubled person to share their heart. As you hear with your heart, God is always faithful to fill your mouth with His words of consolation and wisdom.

The scripture that I want to share with you today is one that is very dear to my heart. It is

2 Corinthians 1:3 and it is from the Message translation.

“All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.”

I want you to now think about the times that you have been on the side of the deep valley of trouble. That place where there seemed to be no answers and hope. As you set your face toward the Lord you experienced His sweet comfort, and He gently and lovingly led you to the mountaintop. I know for myself that those particular times are bittersweet memories.

I encourage you today that if you have experienced that powerful comfort that can only come from the hand of God, to be ready to share it with the one in need. Think about it…you may be the one that God desires to bring alongside of someone who is going through hard times that you can be there for that person just as He was for you!