The Abundant Life Center

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

I can remember reading from a book of Watchman Nee, and he made a statement that I will never forget.  He shared how everyone of us have within our souls caverns that have never seen His Light.  He called them virgin caverns for they have not yet been opened to God’s light.  It is a wonderful thing to know that God will continue to work within us as long as we live and as long as we permit Him to.

 

 

 

Today I also want to look at the places within our souls that we may have neglected or just do not want God touching.   Did you ever have something that you may be dealing with and you just do not want to talk about it.  Sometimes this may be because you are hoping it will go away or you just do not feel comfortable about it.   At some time or other we can probably admit we have all dealt with this.   

 

 

 

I want to encourage you today with the fact that God knows everything about you inside and out.  He knows all of your fears, your hurt, and all the things that you may be trying to keep under control in your own ability.   I read a most interesting prayer by St. Augustine, and I would like to share it with you today.  In fact it was my inspiration for this devotional.

 

 

 

 

 

 

God commands us to DILIGENTLY guard our hearts and minds, and we well know that  He understands the nature of man, and that is that there will always be temptation to back burner or neglect things within our souls that really need attention.  I thought of a little analogy to bring this truth home to you.  I bet everyone of you have a place in your home whether it be a “junk” drawer or a place in the attic where things just land when you do not know what to do with them.  I have a little basket on top of my microwave that is my “whatever” basket.  Just tiny things that I do not want to throw away, and that is where they live.  Let us remind ourselves that even the littlest of things are very important to God, and He desires that you deal with each and every one with His help.

 

 

 

In light of that thought let us be diligent to bring every thought, problem, habit, ect… to Him and make a decision to not neglect our soul.  Today I encourage you to invite God’s light beams of truth to shine on your soul that He is able to show you His wonderful way to deal with every matter.  According to Ephesians 1:18, may He flood the eyes of our heart with light that we can know and understand the hope to which we were called!

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 Proverbs 11:3 ERV says,, “Good people are guided by their honesty.” Above any people on this earth I believe that the believer of the Lord Jesus Christ needs to exhibit integrity. There is so much deception and crookedness in this world that people are afraid to trust anyone anymore. How sad it is if a believer is tempted to slip into a path that pulls their heart from honesty, integrity, and excellence.   Our hearts and souls should be tugged at the mere thought of  not doing what the Word of God says. Yet, if one feels that they can  pick and choose the way in which they walk, God is surely displeased.

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

It is important that we recognize that we live in a day where the Creator of Heaven and Earth is being doubted and discredited. There are those that are trying to convince us that God does not exist, and they are trying to explain away the wondrous things He created with His hands.    Sometimes the more we think we know, we  can be tempted  to reason away His ability to work on our behalf, and we need to constantly remind ourselves that our God is awesome and able to do above and beyond all that we dare ask, dream or hope for.

 

 

Today I want you to reflect upon those times that God’s hand came and touched your life in a miraculous way, and you just knew that it was Him.   I can remember times in which He touched my life when man said my situation was impossible yet He lovingly  intervened and showed Himself strong on my behalf.

 

 

 

Today I pray that your heart be refreshed with knowing that there is NOTHING to difficult for Him.  Impossibilities in the face of God’s ability and power are no match.   Remember He is able to do above and beyond ALL you dare ask or think.  Allow Him to show Himself strong and able on your behalf!  

 

 

 

 

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 

He lovingly steers us away from worn, hard paths yet how many times do we
return to them. 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.

He is calling us to get out of the “ruts” in our lives.

 

 

 

 

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 hand deals only in truth and right things. His path
does not make provision for us to walk in our own ability but rather draw upon  His.

 

 

 

 

God’s Word, His voice, counsel, wisdom, and the leading of His Holy Spirit is our compass in

this life.   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.   May our paths be

 paths that echoes  His loving Name, and may they be

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 

 

 As the psalmist prayed here you can see he plainly realized that he had lost something,and he wanted it back. He was walking in the blessing of feeling right, he was a persevering person with a spirit that was steadfast. When we mess up and do not ask the Lord to help us, things are not the same. The longer we put it off the more we will become callous to our spirit trying to let us know that something is not right within us.

I can still remember when I shared with some preschoolers a simple little object lesson about forgiveness. It was precious watching their innocent little faces and their eyes light up as they took hold of the truth. I was teaching them the importance of knowing their hearts were clean. I mixed up a big old batch of mud. I took them all outside and we sat down around the bowl of mud. I squished my hands into the mud (may I add the little boys were loving how gross it was!) and rubbed it up and down my arms and my hands were caked with mud. I emphasized to them how bad it felt not to be clean, and I just wanted it off of me.

I shared with them that the mud was symbolic of our mistakes, our sins, etc. I had a pitcher of fresh, clean water beside me. As I poured the pure, clean water over me, the mud totally cleansed my arms and hands, and into the ground the mud was absorbed. “Where is the mud?” I asked them, and the point was made beautifully. It could not be seen anymore and it was gone! These kind of visual analogies are so powerful, not just for children but adults as well.
 

 

 

Psalm 51:2-3 Amplified
“Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin!

 

For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me.”

 

 

 

 

There are two key words here that the writer wrote and these are our keys to living with a clean heart and those words are CONSCIOUS  and ACKNOWLEDGE.     It is plain and simple, as we stay conscious of the condition of our hearts and we acknowledge it before God, He will always help us, and work within us and renew us again.   Let us be quick to humble and repent when we are out of align with His perfect will.  We serve a merciful and loving God. Think about anything that has hindered your steadfastness and strength in Him and ask Him to cleanse it so your heart pure and totally restored.   This is truly freedom!

 

by Dona Hake

 

I can remember being at a store last fall and a young lady rang up my order and she asked me how I was and I replied, “I’m so blessed!” She answered, “That is great!!” She proceeded to share with me how she went hiking for the first time ever that morning. She went on to say that she just moved here and had never been exposed to anything but a hot climate all of her life. Her eyes lit up and she said, “I am so anxious for fall. I have never seen a leaf change and I have never seen snow!  Oh my…I cannot wait to see it snow!!!”

 

 

 

This young woman was so precious as she shared this with me. Her eyes just danced with anticipation, joy and excitement. As I walked away I began to think about her childlikeness and how it was so refreshing. As I walked away I felt lighthearted and refreshed as I reflected on our conversation, and how sweet she was. The whole thing encouraged my heart to be reflecting upon the importance of keeping a heart of  childlikeness  no matter how old I am.  When I think of children I think of innocence, energy, trust, and their honesty.    Children are always looking forward to something.

 

 

 

 

Why is it the more we “grow up” that we sometimes find ourselves losing the heart of a child?   I believe the more we try to carry our own burdens the less our hearts enjoy the simple things in life.   Jesus wants our hearts to be free from the burdens and cares of this life.  He asks that we lay our burden on Him because His burden is light.   He well understands the stress that cares and worry bring to the heart of man.  Not only do they rob our joy but it robs us from living a life of enjoying all the good things He has surrounded us with.   I believe the reason Jesus exhorted in Luke 18:16 that none of the children be hindered is because he loved all the attributes that children brought into His presence! In order to live in faith we have to keep it simple.

 

 

 

I know I share this often but it really does minister to my own heart. Keep it simple! Purpose to simplify your life. Don’t complicate and overbook your life that you have no time to just enjoy the free and fun  gifts that are out there for you. God desires that we grow in our trust, stay energetic for Him, forgive, love and always be  looking forward to what He is going to do in our lives! 

 

 

 

Psalm 116:6 (TLB)
“The Lord protects the simple and the childlike…”

 

by Dona Hake

 

I can remember the terrible fear I once had, and that was the fear of flying. I can also remember like it was yesterday when I had the opportunity to travel to Wales in 1997. Oh how I desired to travel along with my husband and other members in my church, and experience this wonderful opportunity.

 

I can still remember standing with Brother Arthur Burt and him looking me straight in the eye saying “If it be the will of God, you will come to my home in Wales and visit.” The excuses began to roll around in my mind why I should not go but what it boiled down to was I feared flying. I can remember going home and telling my husband I just needed to be alone to pray and I got in the car, grabbed a cup of coffee and sat in Hardee’s parking lot asking the Lord what to do. With tears rolling down my face. I came to realize and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord was wanting me to go, therefore I had to face my fear head on. Once I said yes, I can honestly say the fear just seemed to dissipate like a heavy fog that left, and all was clear. It was amazing that from that moment on every time I would even hear a plane in the air, my heart would get so excited just anticipating this new experience I was going to do!

 

I can still remember sitting in the airplane right before take off and I can honestly say I had no fear in my heart. As the plane slowly made it’s way down the runway it seemed like forever till it lifted into the air. If you have ever flown you know what I am talking about. It slowly proceeded to the main runway after this turn and that turn but finally it made it’s way on the main runway. It was so exciting knowing that moment you know the plane is at the place where it is going down the final runway and little by little the speed increases and you experience that lift. Oh my gosh, I think that is the most awesome thing! But the most thrilling thing was being above the clouds and seeing the beauty of the sun on the clouds. It is the closest thing on earth to knowing what it is like to soar like an eagle.

 

 

In life we will all experience those times in which we have to face fears but when we say “yes!” to God’s help, we will experience His hand lifting us up to a place of where we are soaring above the clouds and storms of this life. He will cause us to rise up high above fears and our inabilities in Jesus Name!! God desires to take us places that we have never been before, and as we trust Him and put ourselves in His care He will show Himself able to make us soar.

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 

 

Today I am desiring to see the beauty  in  God’s wisdom that proceeds only from His heart.  His wisdom is pure and untainted.   God wants to bestow upon us His pure wisdom as we humbly desire and ask for it.    You know we really do need it for every area of our life. 

 

 

 

 

When we ask God for His wisdom He desires to bless us with  pure thoughts and good judgement.  His wisdom is full of mercy, peace, and gentleness.  His ways and answers are not harsh or hypocritical.

 

 

 

There will be times in this life that people may come to you with questions that are simply difficult to give answers to.  As believers we can feel that we always have to have answers for people’s problems, and sometimes we can find ourselves at loss for words.    I have found in my life for it to be very freeing to my heart and mind to admit when  I do not know the answer to a particular question or problem.   In saying that I do not know the answer, I can say I KNOW the One who does have every answer I need,  and He is faithful to answer the prayer of a righteous man or woman.

 

 

 

As you ask God for His precious wisdom for those difficult situations, believe by faith that it is going to flow into you and flow forth from you as pure fresh living water. This is what we need and this is what people around us need…not our opinions, not our experiences, but rather the pure, life giving wisdom that comes only from above. 

 

by Dona Hake

 

Yesterday I shared about seeing others through God’s eyes.    Today I want to focus on seeing our lives in light of God’s eyesight into our lives and our daily issues that we face.  May we acknowledge that He sees our life from a perspective that is above and beyond our comprehension. This is why we are called to trust Him in all matters big and small. So today let us look at the word trust.

TRUST: (defined) reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

 

Sometimes the easiest thing to do is turn to your own thoughts and understanding in matters we face. How easy it is to just Google into your phone or computer a problem, and site after site offers knowledge and explanation for us to read.  I think this is a wonderful tool but let us be reminded not to lean on our own understanding for God’s ways and thoughts are above anything that earthly knowledge can bring to  us.   Sometimes leaning on our own understanding or another’s knowledge can become like a crutch or a comfy place.   This mentality will quickly weaken our trust in God.

 

 

 

Many times we can overlook the fact that God may be seeing our situation in an entirely different way and it would do us good to throw everything into reverse, be quiet and consult with Him. I think the most common mistake we can make is only taking difficult matters to Him because we think the easy ones we can figure out on our own.  Can we consider taking EVERYTHING  to God, and make a habit of it?

God has blessed us with intelligence, creativity and know how but let us always be mindful to lean upon Him even in the smallest of matters that He is able to guide our paths. Now let us ask ourselves.  “Do I trust His integrity, His strength, His ability,His surety, and everything else that He says that He is?”    It would probably do us all good to remind ourselves of who we believe Him to be that we can grow in our trust in Him, and rely upon His ways and not our own.   So today I encourage you to lean on Him and not your own understanding.  God is faithful and worthy to be trusted!

 

by Dona Hake