Dona Hake, Author at The Abundant Life Center

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Posted on Feb 28, 2017 in Devotions |

Devotional for Tuesday, February 28, 2017

“Praise Him For His Mighty Acts!”

by Dona Hake

Psalm 150:2 KJV

“Praise him for his mighty acts: praise

him according to his excellent greatness.”

Today let us meditate upon our Lord’s excellent greatness for He has done great things in our lives. He desires to perfect all that concerns us so let us ever be reminded of what a caring and loving Heavenly Father we have. When doubts and fears try to make us shrink back in our faith, let us call to mind that with man it may seem impossible but with God ALL things are possible. The Hand that created and called into existence the Heaven and Earth waits for you to turn to Him in your time of trouble. The hands that measured the oceans in the palm of His hand are able to touch any situation you face that seems too hard for you. He has promised to strengthen you and pour out His grace upon you this day. He desires to do mighty acts in your life according to His excellent greatness!

Psalm 77:12

“I will meditate also upon all Your

works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds.”

I encourage you to reflect on the times that He has done a mighty work in your life. His Name is called mighty and there is nothing too big for Him. “Now to Him who is ABLE to do above and beyond all you dare ask or think…exceeding your highest hopes and dreams.” Ephesians 3:20

Monday, February 27, 2017

Posted on Feb 27, 2017 in Devotions |

Devotional for Monday, February 27, 2017

“Those That Seek Will Find”

by Dona Hake

Psalm 105:4 (AMP)

Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength [His power, His might];

Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually.

As we ponder the scripture from Psalm 105:4 we see the Psalmist understands how vital it is that seek and deeply long for His strength, His power, and might. Oh how precious it is in the sight of our Lord that we seek His face and desire to be in His presence. It is as we do this that we will receive the riches of all that the Lord desires for us. May we never tire of hearing His Word over and over for His Word is fresh and new. Every time we hear His Word it can be fresh living Bread that our hearts need to thrive and be strengthened. Even if we have read a scripture many times over, there is always freshness and newness of life which can minister to our soul…if we allow it to. The abundance within our Lord’s Word is amazing, and we can be strengthened by all that we seek in Him.

Today I encourage you to crave Him and His strength. Just a little thought to add to this meditation upon His Word. Think about how you have a favorite food and sometimes you may have a craving for that favorite thing you enjoy eating. I have that happen to me at times with certain TV commercials advertising for my favorite restaurant. There are times after seeing one of those commercials that I think I just have to have that food because the visual stirred a craving in my taste buds. May we crave our Lord’s presence and His Word. The more we seek Him the more we will find ourselves needing to seek Him more. The more you experience HIS strength and HIS ability, the more you will crave to turn your face to Him and receive all that He is! Remember that all that He is, and all that He does is brand new everyday. He desires to teach you continually and answer all the questions of your heart. Crave Him, step into His presence, and prepare yourself to learn and receive His portion for you today. God is good!

Jeremiah 33:3 (CJB)

“Call out to me,
and I will answer you —
I will tell you great things,
hidden things of which you are unaware.”

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Posted on Feb 25, 2017 in Devotions |

Devotional for Sunday, February 26, 2017

“Endurance In the Journey”

by Dona Hake

James 1:2-4 (The 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.”

God is calling us to run with endurance in our journey here on earth. Embracing hardships and difficulties usually do not come easy nor do we look forward to them, yet God has empowered us to endure such things by His grace and strength. The average person enjoys somewhat a comfort zone, yet our Lord told us that in this life there would be trials and opposition. It seems like human nature just wants to live in a place where there is no conflict but we well know that on this earth that is not going to happen. I find it troubling when Christians exhibit anger towards God when they feel their prayers have not been answered. The truth is, we live in a fallen world but we serve a risen Savior that is well able to bring victory in every thing we face!

Jesus tells us in the Word that we will have trials and troubles and he tells us how to handle them.

John 16:33 (AMP) ” I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus mentions that in the midst of tribulation, trials, distress and frustration that we are to be of good cheer or as James said it, “Count it all joy…”

May we continue to grow in our faith as we live everyday for Him. May we keep our eyes toward Him when all is well, and may we ever keep our gaze on Him when we have hardships. God has promised that He would equip us in this journey, and He desires that we travel this journey with great endurance. May we rest in that promise no matter what. God is good all the time, all the time…God is Good!

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Posted on Feb 25, 2017 in Devotions |

Devotional for Saturday, February 25, 2017

“He Lavished Us With His Love”

by Dona Hake

Romans 5:6-8 (PHILLIPS)

” And we can see that it was while we were powerless to help ourselves

that Christ died for sinful men. In human experience it is a rare thing

for one man to give his life for another, even if the latter be a good man,

though there have been a few who have had the courage to do it.

Yet the proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we

were sinners that Christ died for us.”

Today I would like for us to meditate on the awesomeness of our Lord’s love. Let us ponder that while we were yet in sin, He loved us. While we may have cursed His Name, He loved us. While we thought we had no need of a God to take control of our lives, He loved us. Before we committed our lives to Him, He loved us! This scripture so beautifully says, “and we can see that IT WAS WHILE WE WERE POWERLESS TO HELP OURSELVES that Christ died for sinful men…” You see, He knew we were powerless and that we needed Him but some of us may have thought we could deal with life without Him. I can remember coming up with one reason after another why I had no need for Him, and I can remember the night I surrendered it all, and now I can not imagine a moment without Him. I want you to praise God now for the people that you know or may not know that were praying for you before you came to know the living and loving God. I thank God many times again and again for the faithful prayers of those that took hold and prayed for me while I was so stubborn and resisting God.

After living for Him for forty four years I can honestly say I cannot imagine life without Him. I encourage you to think about His great love for you. God’s love for you is so precious and deep, and He wants to lavish you with it every moment you live! The greatness of His love can be compared to none. It is so amazing and so great! God is good, let us give thanks for the love He has lavished upon us!

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Posted on Feb 24, 2017 in Uncategorized |

by Dona Hake

It seems our world is growing colder all the time and I am not talking temperature either. I find it so sad at times the insensitivity in the words and actions of people. Words can hurt and bruise deeply and actions many times convey unspoken words and attitudes. It does not matter, if they do not proceed from a heart of love, it will never be right. Jesus had something important to say about this. I have heard these words of His spoken many times over…”Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.” I love the Message’s translation because it sums it up simply.

Matthew 7:12 (MSG)

“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior:

Ask yourself what you want people to do for you,

then grab the initiative and do it for them.”

I love how this says to “grab the initiative and do it for them.” To grab something means to

to seize suddenly or quickly. If we are snagged be the negative emotions or hurt feelings we will not take initiative to do the right thing.

With the help of God’s love, He can show us the needs of people around us. Many times we just need to step out of our own little self created world and open our eyes to the needs of others around us. I think it would be a good habit to ponder our words before we speak them and think about our actions. Think to yourself, “Is this how I would want to be spoken to or is this how I would want someone to act in my presence.”

Personally I think this is one of the greatest prayers ever to pray for yourself. Also, it you have someone in your life that has mistreated you or hurting you with words, these are powerful words to pray for them in order that their eyes would be open to their behavior. I believe these words spoken by Jesus are those of power and they are meant for us to live by!

Friday, February 24, 2017

Posted on Feb 24, 2017 in Devotions |

Devotional for Friday, February 24, 2017

“The Power of God’s Forgiveness”

by Dona Hake

Today let us meditate upon the power of God’s loving forgiveness. Yesterday I shared a little with you how important it is to not only take hold of God’s forgiveness but to also learn there may be times that we need to forgive ourselves when we miss the mark. The devil would love to try to hang guilt over our heads when we miss God’s best. He would love to deceive us into thinking that God is not pleased with us. Oh how precious it is to know that each day we awaken to His fresh new mercies and His faithfulness. As we continue to keep ourselves humble before Him, He will continue to cause us to grow in our walk with Him that we would reflect His glory. Praise God for we are the forgiven and we are the victorious! How awesome is it to know that all sin is cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.

So we have meditated on receiving His forgiveness, forgiving ourselves, and let us always be live in readiness to forgive others when our heart is hurt or offended. The giving of forgiveness is releasing a person of the wrong that they have done and believing God for His restoration. The giving of forgiveness is giving someone a second chance. I love those two words ~ second chance ~ . They are powerful words whether we are on the receiving or on the giving end. It is only by the power of God’s love at work within us that we can give someone a second chance by forgiving and releasing them of the offense 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 it’s limitations. We all have our limits but 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 as you draw upon the love from above that you can freely forgive as many times as you have to.

“Love is a fruit in season AT ALL TIMES, and
within the reach of EVERY HAND.”

Mother Theresa

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Posted on Feb 23, 2017 in Devotions |

Devotional for Thursday, February 23, 2017

“The Peace That Stands Guard”

by Dona Hake

Over the past few days my devotionals have been leading you in the direction of asking the Lord if the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart are acceptable to Him. I believe that the Lord desires that we keep this question and challenge in the forefront of our hearts as we serve Him. The meditation of our heart and the words that we speak are so vitally important to our spiritual walk. The devil knows that if he can get us off course in this area that we will surely weaken.

Now permit me to share my heart with you. I have seen in my Christian walk at times where I will feel guilty when I mess up whether it be the words I speak or thoughts that I think that are not pleasing to my Lord. I praise God for His wonderful forgiveness but I have had to learn that being able to forgive myself is so important when I mess up. I desire in the depths of my heart to be so pleasing to the Lord yet I have come to understand that the Lord understands me greater than I do and when I fail him and ask forgiveness He is faithful to restore my soul. God desires that our life be free from care and worry, and He desires that we be full of His peace. Let us look at Philippians as we meditate upon asking God for what we need, and not worrying about unresolved things,weaknesses or failures that are in our life.

Philippians 4:6-7 easy to read version

Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have.

And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.

Today I want you to meditate upon the fact that you as a believer belong to Christ Jesus. I would like to share with you some meditations from my notebook in which I write things either from sermons or things that the Lord speaks directly to my heart. Each day when I pray I refer to these special writings for they remind me of what the Lord has spoken to me, and I value looking back on them for they bring my soul strength. Here are a few of my special things I love reading back over and praying…

“Keep my mind quiet that I may practice peaceful thinking.

and fill me with strength and quiet energy.”

These are two very special things that I include in my prayer time almost every day. You see, as we ask God to keep our minds quiet, we will indeed practicing peaceful thinking, I believe this has helped me in the meditations of my heart and my words being acceptable to Him. I love asking God for His strength for He has promised that I can do all things through his strength. Thinking about quiet energy just touches my heart every time I read those words.

I encourage you to also keep a record of things that God speaks to your heart in a very special way. It is as we pray those things over and over that they go deep into our soul and minister to our hearts according to our walk with Him and His will for us.

Lord we ask you this day that you help us to guard the meditations of our hearts and the thoughts that we think. We thank You that You are able to keep our minds quiet that we may practice peaceful thinking. We thank You for that peace that stands guard over our hearts! In Jesus Name, Amen.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Posted on Feb 21, 2017 in Devotions |

Devotional for Wednesday, February 22, 2017

“May Our Words and Meditation Be Acceptable”

by Dona Hake

Yesterday we looked back on an unfortunate incident in West Virginia. Their drinking water that was once pure was tainted with a harmful “something” that gave off a smell of licorice. Just because something looks good or smells good does not mean it is not harmful. To protect the health of over 300,00 people they had told them not to drink, bathe or cook with the water. One chemical zapped the pureness of their water, and their once safe water had now been poisoned and rendered many to be without the water that they had once trusted.

So it is with the things in this world that serve to pull us away from the truth that our Lord desires for us to live by. It is those little thoughts or words that we do not see as harmful that could potentially weaken our souls, and eventually weaken our faith. I shared with you yesterday that our hearts need to be guarded diligently for from our hearts flow the issues of this life. Our Lord desires that we be so discerning over our souls. Today let us look at two areas in which we need to be seeking the Lord so very diligently. Those two areas are our thoughts and our words.

What a delightful question it would be to the ears of the Lord as we pray to Him and ask…“Lord, are my thoughts and words acceptable to you?” I believe that this question would serve to keep us aware of the true condition of our hearts and the thoughts that proceed from our minds which eventually become words. Many times we are quick to think things or form opinions based on our first impression or past experiences. Let us seek God for His fresh wisdom and direction in all that we do. May we seek that our meditations and words are acceptable in His sight.

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 us better than anyone else. He understands how we think and react in all that we face. Let us rejoice in His unfailing love for us, and may we look to His grace to keep us in His perfect will. He knows every hurt and pain that is still in the healing process within us. He is well able to help us hold our tongue and alter our thought process. It is only God that can help us to be rock solid in every area of our life because He is the Rock! May we look to Him today as our Helper that we may think thoughts and speak words that are pleasing to Him.

Oh Father God, I thank you this day that You ARE my firm impenetrable Rock and Redeemer! You are able to keep me in all of my ways, and I praise You that today You help me keep a guard over my mouth and over the meditations of my heart. I pray that they be acceptable in Your sight, in Jesus Name, amen.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Posted on Feb 21, 2017 in Devotions |

Devotional for Tuesday, February 21 2017

“Protect the Life Flow of Your Heart”

by Dona Hake

Today we will meditate upon the importance of guarding our hearts for from our hearts flow the issues of this life. May we be diligent and value all that God has given us to watch over. I will share a story with you that happened several years ago, and this story serves to remind us how harmful things can seep into our hearts even when they do not seem harmful to us by their appearance. Remember this…the devil will come as an angel of light, and his goal is to trick us, and weaken the strength of our faith and our walk with the Lord.

It was a mysterious thing that happened several years ago in West Virginia. They began to experience a puzzling thing in their water supply. There was a chemical that seeped into their water supply and threatened to sicken hundreds of thousands of people. Officials found out about the spill when people started calling in complaints about a strong licorice-type smell in the air. Who would think such a sweet smell could be a potential danger and health hazard?

I found it interesting that this potentially harmful chemical seeping into the water had a sweet smell of licorice. Some said it smelled like cough syrup, and the smell puzzled them. To protect the health of over 300,00 people they had told them not to drink, bathe or cook with the water. Interesting how one chemical literally zapped the pureness of their water. Their once safe water had now been poisoned and rendered many people to be without the water that they had once trusted.

There is an analogy to this story and we can learn from it. God’s Word speaks to us through Proverbs 4:23 and warns us as well to be careful and be vigilant to watch over our hearts. This scripture warns us to guard the purity of our heart and all that flows from it. Our heart is as a wellspring from where all issues flow. A wellspring is a source or supply of anything, especially when considered inexhaustible. Many times our hearts are endangered by poisonous things from this world, and we need to stand guard over our hearts that we be not affected by them.

Proverbs 4:23 (AMP)

“Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance

and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.”

Let us be careful to never leave down our guard over our hearts. There are so many “sweet smelling” temptations in this world that could taint and poison our hearts in which the life of God desires to flow. Oh that we will take it seriously to guard our hearts with all vigilance for this is where life begins and flows from.

Lord, we thank you this day that You come and show us how to guard our hearts with all diligence. May we be discerning over all that we see, read, and hear. Show us the way in which we should walk for we lift our hearts and souls to you in Jesus Name! amen.

Friday, February 15, 2017

Posted on Feb 17, 2017 in Devotions |

Devotional for Friday, February 17, 2017

“Tenderly He Touches Our Hearts”

by Dona Hake

Yesterday I shared with you about God’s Word being as a mirror to us. When we open the Word of God or we sit and hear our Pastor share God’s Word with us we can be deeply touched and fed if we permit ourselves to be. God desires that we look into His Word expecting us to desire change in our hearts and our minds. Many times that which we see when we look into God’s mirror may not be pleasing but as we purpose to keep our hearts humble our God will mold us and make us into the change that He desires for us. Today I want you to meditate upon the times that God has touched your heart in a special way. Many times He will expose things that we have been ignoring that could be very harmful to our spiritual growth and walk with Him. Nevertheless God will gently tug at our hearts to continue to speak to us.

Today I will share a time in which I had the tiniest splinter in my finger. It was so tiny I could not see it, yet it was tender to the touch. I was handling some wicker baskets in my kitchen and I am sure that is where this little splinter came from. I could not see it with my eyes so I decided to go down to my office where I have this awesome big magnifying glass. Sure enough there was a splinter that I would never been able to see without that magnification. The thought of taking a sterile needle and digging it out made me cringe, yet to leave it there would just cause an even more painful problem. I promptly removed that splinter and even though it was painful, I was so glad it was out.

This reminds me of how many times the Word of God will expose things within us that are ever so tiny. Sometimes there may be things in our hearts that we think are okay to leave alone. He well understands that our problems start as a seed and if let go it will gain momentum and cause us painful consequences. We can choose to leave these little things alone and bear painful consequences or allow Him to deal with them. Sometimes the dealings of getting our hearts right isn’t always the most comfortable, but when it is taken care of, the healing will surely begin.

Hebrews 4: 12 – 13 (PHILLIPS)

” For the Word that God speaks is alive and active;

it cuts more keenly than any two-edged sword:

it strikes through to the place where soul and spirit meet,

to the innermost intimacies of a man’s being: it exposes

the very thoughts and motives of a man’s heart.

No creature has any cover from the sight of God;

everything lies naked and exposed before the

eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

I am so thankful that His Word is able to cut right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of our heart. No one knows us better than the God that has made us! He loves us so much and desires to lovingly deal with our hearts that we may continue to go forward and grow in Him.