Friday, November 3, 2017

 
Devotional for Friday, November 3, 2017
“What Season Are You In?”
 
 
 
Ecclesiastes 3:1 Amplified Bible
 
“There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and
a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—
 
 
There are so many beautiful colors this time of the year!   It is truly my favorite time but it seems to be such a short season.   For days I have been raking up beautiful leaves of all colors enjoying the sunshine and smells of Fall.  Some seasons I wish would be longer and some I wish would not end.   We all have our favorite things, times and seasons, but the reality is that  things change and seasons of life come and go.   
 
Today I am thinking about always walking in the timing of my Lord, and moving from one season of my life into another.    May we walk close beside Him drawing upon His wisdom for the moment we are in.   May we seek His voice in every matter that we face, and not be moved by the anxious voices within us when we are troubled. 
 
I encourage you this day to think about the season you are in.   Where has the Lord brought you from?  Where are you going as you walk with Him?    Today I ask you to ask yourself, “What season am I in?”    Let us know that we are not trying to hold on to a season in which the Lord has declared is over.   Let us move forward and rejoice in every season the Lord has prepared for us.   Rejoice in the Lord at all times.  Be at peace in those seasons in which He speaks for you to stand still.  Draw on His courage and strength in those seasons in which He speaks to go forward for He promises to give you all that you need.  God is good.


Thursday, November 2, 2017

 
Devotional for Thursday, November 2, 2017
“Look For Opportunities”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I just glanced at a greeting card that I have sitting on my desk.   I keep it there because the words on the front of the card minister to my heart.   Actually these words fit perfectly for today’s devotional.
 
 
Worship Him with every…
word of your mouth,
deed of your hand,
beat of your heart.
 
 
 
 
Today I exhort you to look for opportunities for your mouth…speak words of life, build someone up,  encourage, and pray.   Use your mouth to smile at someone that looks sad or lonely.     Seek opportunities to use your hands to work as unto the Lord, and do it with all of your heart.   May your heart beat for Him and may you praise Him with your every breath, and give thanks to Him for your being.   You are here to serve Him my friend.   Set your eyes on Him today, and live life looking for opportunities to bless your Lord and those around you.
 
 


Wednesday, November 1, 2017

 
 
 
 
 
Devotional for Wednesday, November 1, 2017
“When the Pressure Is On”
 
 
 
faith under pressure
by Dona Hake
 
 
 “Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.”
 
The Lord knows our weakness and He shares our sorrow.   What a friend we have in Jesus!  These are words taken from the Hymn written by Joseph M Scriven entitled “What a Friend We Have In Jesus.”    This song beautifully written serves to remind us that we should never be discouraged in the midst of walking through life’s valleys for our Faithful Friend has promised to walk through each and every valley we encounter.
 
 I encourage you to take your sorrow and weaknesses to Him, and ask Him for His comfort and divine wisdom in your time of need.     Many times through trials we come to realize the places within our souls that are really weak and we need to grow strong.  Let this not discourage our hearts but rather help us be determined to  grow in the midst of it all.  He has promised to instruct us in our way, and the Lord understands our frame.  He knows us inside and out, and He sees those things that need to be revealed by His Holy Spirit.  So do not run away from hardships but rather stand still, stand strong, and know the Lord your God is able to get you through anything.
 

James 1:2-5The Voice (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. 5 If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking.”

 
 I thank God today that I have  the best friend ever, and His Name is Jesus. He said He would share in all of my sorrows, and even though He knows every weakness of your’s and mine, He continues to stand and walk beside us. What a friend we have in Him!!  He will equip us for our journey, and cause us to cross the finish line victoriously!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Tuesday, October 31, 2017

 

 

Devotional for Tuesday, October 31, 2017
“Without God…”

without God I can do nothing

 

by Dona Hake
 
 
 As we grow in God’s grace we also will grow in the revelation that without Him we can do not one thing.   Today I want to share a simple thought and truth with you.   Without God we can do nothing, yet with Him we can do everything!   Of course that word ~everything~ must line up with His will.   The scripture that I am about to share is a favorite to many!
 
 

 

Philippians 4:13 (CEB)

” I can endure all these things through

the 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.”    Our President recently said something to the affect that we should face every impossibility as an opportunity.   I loved those words so much!   The devil would love for us to be quitters especially when he sees the great exploits that our Lord desires for us to do.    If we give up because of what we see we also give up the opportunity to release our faith in the God of the impossible.   Now let us look at this scripture along with these meditations.

 

 

 

 

John 10:10 (AMP)

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill

and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy

life, and have it in abundance

(to the full, till it overflows).”
 
 

 

In this life we all face the thief, and he is the devil himself,   He diligently seeks to steal and rob from us.  He will try to kill our dreams, weaken our faith, and more than anything try to convince us that “we cannot” be overcomers.   He seems to sometimes have the mysterious ability to make the smallest of things look gigantic, yet we serve the one that can bring all problems down to size if only we keep our eyes on Him.
 
 

 

Let us look to One that came that we might win in this life.  Let us look to Jesus, the One that has given us all the sufficient strength, wisdom, and everything that we need.  It is Him that desires that we enjoy life and live it to the full till it overflows and spills out to those around us!



Sunday, October 29, 2017

 
 

 

Devotional for Monday, October 30, 2017
 
“The Sound of Gentle Stillness”
 
Be still and KNOW that He is God Jan 2014
 
 

by Dona Hake

 

 1 Kings 19:11-12  (AMP)
 
” And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before
the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a
great and strong wind rent the mountains and
broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind;
and afterthe wind an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake;
And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord
was not in the fire; and after the fire
[a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.”
 
 

 

Elijah knew that the sound of a gentle whisper was God’s voice.  He understood that God did not just reveal Himself in the big and the powerful, but in the sound of stillness.   The Lord is often found in the gentle whisper in the quietness of a meek spirit.   It is there that He is able to whisper  the secrets of His perfect will and purposes for our life.

 

Today let us purpose in knowing that our hearts are quieted before Him.  I believe even in the midst of the demands of our lives that we can maintain our hearts and keep them at peace that we can hear His voice no matter what is going on around us.  Today let us listen for that sound of gentle stillness…a still, small voice of the Living God.

 

“Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper  of God.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson



Saturday, October 28, 2017

 
 
 
Devotional for Saturday, October 28, 2017
“Cleansed By His Love”

 

 

purified

by Dona Hake

 

There is so much torment in feeling guilty.  It kind of feels like a prison because of how you feel inside.    Guilt can bring memories and thoughts of the wrong you may have done and this guilt seems to have a voice.   It is capable of haunting and reminding you of what you have been convinced is irreparable.  As believers we do not have to live with guilt any more for we  have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, we can partake of His wonderful forgiveness.  There is not one thing that our Lord is unable to repair and restore.   Nothing can separate us from His love and forgiveness!

 

Let us treasure within us how wonderful it is that the Lord will forgive us when we mess up for He has promised to always cleanse our hearts when we humble ourselves and seek forgiveness and restoration.   Oh the blessing of humbling  ourselves to Him admitting our wrongs and shortcomings for He is desires to bring us back to that place of feeling clean again.  Our Lord is all about restoration!    What a glorious gift we have to partake of as believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Let us look at David in the Psalms.   His plea to God was for restoration of his heart in a time in which he majorly messed up, and  his heart was heavy with guilt and anguish.

 

Psalm 51:7, 8, 10

“Remove my sin and make me pure.” 
    Wash me until I am whiter than snow!
Let me hear sounds of joy and happiness again.
    God, create a pure heart in me,
    and make my spirit strong again.”

 

Today let us treasure the power of forgiveness from the One who is able to cleanse.  I love how verse eight says “Let me hear sounds of joy and happiness again.”   This is what restoration  is about.  When we experience freedom from guilt we are able to experience the joy and happiness that was robbed by our sin and guilt.  Only God is able to create within us a pure heart, pick us back up, and cause us to continue on in His will.  Thank God for the power of forgiveness!  We are cleansed by the power of His love and blood!



Friday, October 27, 2017

 
 
 
Devotional for Friday, October 27, 2017
“Let His Light Shine In You!”
 
Shining Light Verse from Matthew
 
by Dona Hake
 
His light and life are within us, and for that we should feel blessed and thank Him. What an awesome thought that we are His vessels that He has chosen to show forth His life, light and love. As the song goes…
 
”Hide it under a bushel, NO!…I’m gonna let it shine!”
 
Oh how blessed we are in knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ desires to shine through us in word and in deed. There are those that do not know Him, and they need to see hope, and light at the end of their tunnel. We are God’s light for those without hope to see! Do not dim nor hide this glorious light within you but rather permit Him to shine through you in a great way!
 
 
 

  Matthew 5:14-16  ( Amplified 

 

 “You are the light of the world. A city set

on a hill cannot be hidden.

Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a

peck measure, but on a lampstand, and

it gives light to all in the house.

Let your light so shine before men that they
may see your moral excellence and
your praiseworthy, noble, and good
deeds and recognize and honor and
praise and glorify your
Father Who is in heaven.”
 
 
 
 God is calling  us as believers to shine and bloom where we are planted.Remember my friends, our Lord uses us all differently according to the grace He has put in us.   He is going to use each one of us differently and uniquely.   We should never compare how God chooses to use us to how He works through others.   We are not here to compete with one another but rather be a witness for Him.     Today I encourage you to shine for Him through every word and deed you do.   As He continues to mold and make us into His image He will be faithful to show Himself through us that others may see how awesome He is, and honor and glorify His Holy Name!


Wednesday, October 25, 2017

 
 
Devotional for Wednesday, October 25, 2017
“It’s All He Asks”
 
 
 
he loves you he knows you
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
Psalm 34:17 (NASB)
“The righteous cry, and the Lord hears
 
And delivers them out of all their troubles.”
 
I remember chatting with a precious woman that was sharing how an individual she knew was going through a very hard time. This person asked her, “Where is God in all of this?” This woman exclaimed to her, “He’s right there beside your friend, wanting to help her!” I find it so sad and it  upsets me when I hear people say such a thing our loving Heavenly Father.   Why is it that one exclaims “Where is God?” when it is all going down bad, and yet when all is good they do not ever give it a thought to acknowledge God and His abundant blessings He has poured into their lives. It really makes no sense at all.
 
On June 14, 2017, in Alexandria, Virginia, Republican member of Congress and House Majority  Steve Scalise of Louisiana was shot while practicing for the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity, scheduled for the following day.  What a tragedy this was.   One morning just a few weeks ago Fox News was interviewing the Congressman, and he shared that as soon as he was down after he was shot the first thing he did was pray.   As he laid there, and an immediate calm came over him.   He exclaimed, “Never underestimate the power of prayer!   I am an example that miracles still happen!”  I was so blessed by how Congressman Scalise shared his faith in a living God that is there in the worst of times.   He believed and the Lord has been working miraculously in his recovery of all of the injuries he received from the shooting.
 
I encourage you today to just believe whether things are good or bad.   In the midst of anything thing our Lord’s love for us remains the same.      Remember His eyes are always on us, and He is faithful to hear the cries of our heart when we call upon Him in faith.

   



Tuesday, October 24, 2017

 
 
 
 
Devotional for Tuesday, October 24, 2017
“Don’t Provide An Opportunity
 
devil-seeks
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
1 Peter 5:8 (Amplified)
” Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”
 
 
 


Sunday, October 22, 2017

 
 



6 Responses to “Devotional”

  1. Lisa Viands says:

    This is a good way of teaching the kids to forgive each other(Matt. 5:7). I like the power of this gentle scripture and lesson… Thanks!!

  2. Selena Neely says:

    Ralph &I are really enjoying your devotional together.

  3. Selena Neely says:

    Oh, what a wonderful reminder! I want to break the magnifing glass of worry and trust God for each step I take.

  4. Dona Hake says:

    It is interesting Selena how the more we worry the bigger and more magnified things get in our minds. Oh how important it is to trust our God for the smallest of things! Thank you for sharing!