Devotions Archives - Page 114 of 176 - The Abundant Life Center

“The Work of Worry”

Posted on Jul 17, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Today I want to share about the path of faith that God desires that we keep our feet upon. I am presently absorbed in a favorite devotional book entitled “The Seeking Heart” by Francois de Fennelon. I love his writings for they touch and convict me heart. Here is part of his devotional I was reading that prompted this devotional.

“Don’t worry about the future–worry quenches the work of

grace within you. When God gives you comfort, enjoy it.

Look to Him continually. Enjoy His provision day by day as the Israelites

received their manna. Do not try to store anything.”

His exhortation is to live in the present moment and provision of our Lord. Let us not try to store up the grace and provision of today for tomorrow or weeks ahead. May we understand that worry is what water is to a fire. If enough water is thrown on to a fire, it will go out. The Lord desires that we seek His face everyday, and He desires to provide us with the fresh bread of all that He is! He desires that our heart is ablaze for Him as we serve Him wholeheartedly in faith.

May we remember that the faith, comfort, peace, etc… we may have walked in yesterday are completely inadequate for the moment you are now in. Let us live in the present moment with our Lord as we live and move and have our being in Him!

“The Power of Forgiveness”

Posted on Jul 16, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

I just read the most heartbreaking story of someone losing their father to medical error. My heart was breaking for this person. They stated the anger in their hurt, and honestly I understand. Yet, I know and understand that the greater truth we possess as believers is that we MUST forgive. When someone hurts or offends us, we can let it go or hold on to it. It is only by the power of God’s love at work within us that we can give someone our forgiveness by releasing them of the offense or hurt they have caused us.

One day the subject of forgiveness came up between the Lord and His disciples and Peter popped a question. I guess in Peter’s mind maybe he was willing to give even more than a second chance but a seventh chance. I am sure Peter was taken back by the Jesus’ answer to his question.

Matthew 18:21-22
The Voice
Peter:” Lord, when someone has sinned against me, how many times ought I
forgive him? Once? Twice? As many as seven times?”
Jesus: “You must forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven.”

Many times we are just like Peter. We want to feel as if we are so full of love, but you see our love has limitations. We all have our limits. God’s love has NO limitations. Today I encourage you to draw upon the love of the God in the midst of your day. Know that God desires you to draw upon His heart that you can freely forgive as many times as you have to. Continue to draw on and grow in God’s love that you may be able to freely give that which He has freely given you.

“Love is a fruit in season at all times, and
within the reach of every hand.”
Mother Teresa

~~~~~♥~~~~~

“With God…ALL Things Are Possible”

Posted on Jul 15, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

I have shared with you before that I am part of a photography group in which a daily prompt is assigned. Today’s prompt is ON MY MIND. I felt to share my image I photographed and submitted. The following is what I have shared with the image…

day 15
~ on my mind ~

“I am quite sure that those seeing me laying on the ground of the driveway to my church were wondering what was on my mind as I was photographing this thriving little flower. When I shared…”Bloom where you are planted!” they understood a bit better what I was seeing and what was on my mind. You see, I have been observing these beautiful little marigolds that are blooming in concrete with no tending other than the sun and rain from the hand of the Lord.

Sometimes things like this just speak to my heart and mind for they are analogies of the life in which we live. These flowers make me think of those that make a decision to stand strong, persevere and bloom…even though the odds are against them. I am reminded as well of times when things should not have worked out for me but the Lord took an impossible circumstance and turned into into an opportunity of possibility. So this is what is on my mind!”

Mark 10:27
“…With men it is impossible; but not with God: for all things are possible with God.”

Today I encourage you to bloom where you are planted. Stand strong whether the storms of life are trying to bring you down, and discourage your heart. May we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the hand of our Lord is upon us, and it is He that is well able to turn impossibilities into possibilities!

“When Peace Acts As An Umpire”

Posted on Jul 14, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

I would venture to say that maybe you have already had a good breakfast to get your day started, and it is because you know how important it is. There are certain things you purpose to eat and do to keep and maintain a healthy body. Like never before we see such a pursuit among people to stay healthy, look younger, and living stress free, etc… Goals toward good health are important to have because it causes you to discipline yourself and the end result is rewarding.

I bet if I asked a handful of people if they would love to have peace ruling in their heart, and in their minds, they would absolutely exclaim, “Yes!” I love when I feel like my heart is full of His peace no matter what is going on around me. I have yet to meet anyone that says they would do any thing to keep turmoil, stress, and anxiety in their minds and bodies. God did not design us to live in worry, stress, and fears, therefore it is not good for us to allow these things to dwell within us. Doctors will tell you the harmful physical effects that fear and worry has on our body and emotional well being. I just recently heard a doctor explaining how stress releases toxic hormones into our system. How dangerous it is to permit worry and anxiety to become a way of life. Let us look at what God’s Word has to say about peace…

Colossians 3:15-Amplified version

“And let the peace soul harmony which comes from Christ

rule act as umpire continually in your hearts deciding

and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds,

in that peaceful state to which as members of Christ’s

one body you were also called to live…”

In this scripture Paul spoke of Christ’s peace being like an umpire or referee in our hearts. His peace will settle all unrest and arguments that go on in our minds. Our hearts and minds are the center of all conflict because this is where our feelings and desires clash, our hopes and fears meet , jealousy battles with love, etc… Ask Him to help you listen to that umpire of your heart. He will instruct you in a way that peace will rule and reign no matter what. It is God’s peace that surpasses all understanding. Jesus indeed gives us peace that the world cannot give. Blessings to you this day!

“Jesus- Our Understanding”

Posted on Jul 13, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Proverbs 8:14 (ESV)
“I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.”

Consoling isn’t it…Jesus IS our understanding. We all face times in which we may not understand something that is going on in our life or we are looking to understand His Word in greater depth. When we seek to know more, and we ask Him to help us understand, He is faithful to help us. As we search His Word He will help us understand it and apply it to our lives. In those times where things may seem to appear cloudy and difficult…know that He is well able to unfold to you what you need to know. He is able to bring to you the clarity that you need.

1 Corinthians 2:16 (AMP)

” For who has known or understood the mind
(the counsels and purposes)
of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge?

But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah)

and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.”

Praise Him today that as we draw upon His understanding we are walking in deeper realms of understanding as we hold the thoughts, feelings and purposes of His heart!

“His Word Is Sharp”

Posted on Jul 12, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

I can remember around this time last year when my German Shepherd thought it would be grand fun to chase down a skunk. It was the end of a very long day for me and I was exhausted. I enjoy walking around my yard on hot summer evenings because I find it peaceful except for the evening I am about to share with you. Aasha was walking about the yard, and out of no where she tore off full speed, and I just knew it was bad news. She dove head first into some bushes on our property, and I heard her do a weird sound, and I just knew something bad happened. I was holding my breath hoping she did not catch a rabbit. She ran toward me and sure enough she smelled like a skunk. I mean she SMELLED like a skunk. My eyes were burning just to be near her.

My husband and I moved quickly and I created a solution to remove the odor. It took days for our house to be free from this odor, and Aasha smelled badly especially around her face for awhile. It was a constant reminder of the whole ordeal. The odor was so bad in our house we could not even get a good night’s sleep the first night. The next morning I had certain things I needed to accomplish and due to the lack of sleep it really hindered me.

We all will face those days in which there are demands on our “plate” and it seems as if the strength or inspiration that we need is not there. In the midst of my being tired and lacking focus, God was faithful to minister to me in a fresh way. I began to read this scripture from Psalm 37:7

“Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him…”

Did you ever read a scripture over and over and all of a sudden you read it with God’s fresh breath and touch upon it, because it is shining on your present situation, and bringing you the strength that you need. This caused me to meditate on how God meets us each day with the “daily bread” that we need. I realized that in my being tired and a bit weary that I needed to stop and just lean against Him and receive His strength. He is our Shepherd and even in the midst of exhaustion and need, WE SHALL NOT WANT! I began to ponder the scripture from Hebrews 4:12 (ERV)

“God’s word is alive and working. It is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts all the way into us. It cuts deep to the place where the soul and the spirit are joined. God’s word cuts to the center of our joints and our bones. It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.”

Today I encourage you to allow Him to meet you with the “fresh bread” of His Word as you read it. His Word is fresh and alive! Whatever it is that you need He is well able to minister to you. His Word is able to cut deep into our souls and help us judge our thoughts and feelings. Praise God today for

His living Word that is able to accomplish great and wonderful things in our life!

“When We See Through the Eyes of Truth”

Posted on Jul 11, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Have you ever formed an opinion based on what you see, and then to find out that your opinion was not correct at all? May I say that this can get us into a lot of trouble? We must be very careful to never form opinions apart from the truth of what God has to say about it. It is so alarming to me in this day and age how many standards and rules are based on how people “feel” about things. Let us understand that all to often our eyes and our feelings can deceive us. We can think we are perceiving things properly but truth is we are seeing things from the wrong perspective or improper thinking. There are many things that can cloud our eyes from seeing things how God sees them.

Here is an example of seeing things incorrectly. We have heard it said that worry casts a big shadow on small things. Really when you think about it worry has the ability to paint a picture about your situation that could be an exaggeration of what is really going on. Worry has the ability to magnify things and distort the truth. When we face a problem, and we allow the light of His Word to shine on it, we will always be able to embrace an attitude of victory and not worry. We will most importantly be able to lay hold of the truth and wisdom that God desires for us to walk in.

God desires that we see everything in proper perspective and the only way that will happen is if we see things through His eyes. I guarantee you that as we ask Him to help us see, our perspective on everything will be correct. Today I encourage you to ask Him to fill your eyes with light…His light.

Psalm 119:18 (VOICE)
“Let me see clearly so that I may take in
the amazing things coming from Your law.”

Matthew 6:22-23
(TLB)
“If your eye is pure, there will be sunshine in your soul.”

“God Looks At My Heart”

Posted on Jul 10, 2015 in Devotions |

god looks on heart

Psalm 139:1-6

“Lord, you have examined me.
You know me.
You know when I sit down and when I stand up.
Even from far away, you comprehend my plans.
You study my traveling and resting.
You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways.
There isn’t a word on my tongue, Lord,
that you don’t already know completely.
You surround me—front and back.
You put your hand on me.
That kind of knowledge is too much for me;
it’s so high above me that I can’t fathom it.”

Let us ponder how awesome it is that the Lord knows each of us inside and out. Oh I love how the Psalmist says, “You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways.” He knows exactly what makes us tick. He understands our emotions and our fears. He knows every thought that runs through our minds and before we speak a word, He already knows what it is going to be.

This strikes me as so amazing and it makes me even more aware of how much I need to reverence Him in every aspect of my life. You see, He not only looks at our heart, but He sees what is there that is good and those things that should not be occupying our hearts. He sees things no one else sees. Let us also embrace this thought when we are being tempted to be critical of others. Many times people may be walking through something that you do not know of. It is a good rule to be praying for people rather than trying to figure them out. God knows and sees their hearts as well, and He is well able to deal with them. Let us keep our eyes on Him and our own hearts.

“God does not see as humans see.

Humans look at outward appearances,

but the Lord looks into the heart.”

2 Samuel 16:7

As we walk closely beside Him and stay in close fellowship we can be sure that He will speak to us about things that we did not even know are going on inside of us. Awesome thought isn’t it? The God that so lovingly created you understands it all. In those times that you feel you are not being understood, know this…the God of Heaven and Earth understands you.

“Be Still and Wait Patiently”

Posted on Jul 8, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

I love the many birds that surround and visit our property, but the one that somewhat fascinates me is the little Cat bird. My little granddaughter has such a love for cats, and when I told her that I have Cat birds she immediately asked, “Can I pet one Grandma???” Wow, that was a hard one to explain especially when she heard the Cat bird making sounds like a cat!

I can remember a spring morning about a year ago having my morning coffee, and I heard a hard bang on my deck window and as I walked over to see, I was holding my breath that I was not going to find a dead bird. I dreaded going to glance out the window because I hate seeing my birds suffer or lose their life. I was surprised to find one of the little Cat birds sitting on the deck looking around quite dumbfounded. You could tell she did not know what hit her, and I felt so sorry for her. She saw me and glanced my way, and I just stood and observed her. She just stayed quiet, and little by little she looked around trying to get her bearings back. She sat there observing other birds coming and going and did not move. Finally, she lifted up her wings and flew away. Whewwwww! I took a deep sigh of relief!

This little incident blessed me with a little analogy to share with you today. Sometimes we too can think we are perceiving that we are going the right way to find ourselves running into “windows” or dead ends. Things like this can blindside us especially if we feel we are on the right path, yet it happens. Sometimes our wrong perception of things could get us into trouble. Maybe we are not paying as close attention to things as we should and we end up being stopped suddenly without warning. We can learn from this because there will be times when we are taken off guard in life or hit hard with circumstances beyond our control.

A little observation I made of my little recovering “feathered friend” was how she sat so quietly and was cautious not to move until she knew she could. She just kept still, observed quietly what was going on, and waited till the right moment. She knew exactly the right time to try and fly again. It was almost like she instinctively knew when it was safe to take flight again. Let us learn as well in those situations that cause us confusion or when we feel we lack wisdom in a situation . Let us be still, patiently wait, and when we get our strength and direction back, He will cause us to soar again by His strength and He will keep us strong.

“Look Up, Lift Up and Remember”

Posted on Jul 8, 2015 in Devotions |

look up

by Dona Hake

We all need to be reminded of things…I know I do. Sometimes I can simply overlook things if they are not written down. But what about the things that are blessings, and we sometimes take them fore granted? Sometimes even the most important things can be forgotten. We get too busy, our minds are full, and we just forget, or we do not value things as we should. Today I want to remind you to keep looking up and lifting up. There are things that the Lord desires that we continually lift up to Him. This is something you have to do, and no one else can do it for you. I want to share several scriptures to cause your eyes and soul to be lifted up to Him.Psalm 143:8

“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.”

Psalm 63:4
“So will I bless You while I live; I WILL LIFT UP MY HANDS in Your name…”

Psalm 121:1-3
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES to the hills —From whence shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

Psalm 123:1
“I LIFT UP MY EYES…”

I want you to take note that in all of these scriptures “I Will” proceeds the lifting up of our inner self, our hands, and our eyes. You see, it is an act of our will to look up and lift up. He promises that as we make a decision to look away from all that is trying to hold us back and hold us down that He WILL lift us up!!