“You Are God’s Light”
by Dona Hake
I would like to share this quote with you because I love it and it
is so true…
is so true…
”To reach a great height a person needs
to have great depth.”
Anonymous
I think it is important that we as believers have a hope within us that we will continue to grow deeper and deeper in Him. Refuse to stand still and be stagnant. We must desire to walk in the deep waters of the Holy Spirit and grow by them. May we see the roots of our spiritual life growing consistently, and deeply.
The evil of this world is moving at a swift pace and we need to continue to prepare ourselves to be used by Him to give God’s Word where ever our assignment is. As we hear God’s Word today I pray that you will receive all that you are expecting from Him. Remember we must walk into His green pastures with expectation in our hearts. Rest in the peace and fellowship of fellow believers, and hear His Word with gladness and a receptivity.
If you are weary, expect to be refreshed. If you are dealing with a difficult circumstance, expect the Lord to speak through your Pastor. The Lord Jesus desires that we continue to go deeper and deeper in our knowledge of Him that we would be fruitful in every good work. As we grow in Him we will have an abundance within us that is spilling over to a lost and dying world. The world needs what we
have and we must be ready to share it with them.
have and we must be ready to share it with them.
Matthew 5:15 Common English Bible
“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of
a lamp stand, and it shines on all who are in the house.”
“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of
a lamp stand, and it shines on all who are in the house.”
As you enter your job this week expect your light to shine on ALL that are around you. Expect opportunities to share, to listen, and just do whatever He asks you to do! I am going to wrap this devotional up with the following scripture as a prayer just for you!
Ephesians 3:17-19 Easy-to-Read Version
“I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray
that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. And I
pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to
understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how
high, and how deep that love is. Christ’s love is greater than
anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that
love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.”
“New Every Morning”
by Dona Hake
This morning while having my coffee I heard a gentleman on the news sharing his take on a particular court case, and since he was an attorney, everyone was interested in his opinion. They were all talking about a Federal judge being misled in a case by the one attorney that was appointed to the case. He said, “This is really bad, I mean I would rather anger God than a Federal judge. You know God is forgiving, a Federal judge is NOT!!!” Honestly, it made me chuckle!
I began to think how any human’s mercy has boundaries and an end but thank God the Lord’s mercies and forgiveness have no limits. After David had sinned with Bathsheba, and sought to repent before the Lord, this was his prayer…
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions.”
Psalm 51:1 (Amplified)
I encourage you today to meditate upon the Lord’s mercies and His lovingkindness that is ever coming in your direction. This is probably the very first thing I speak to Him each morning because I know I can not live without His mercy toward me, and I am so thankful for His forgiveness. May we never take for granted the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for us that we may be free from our sin. If you need your heart cleaned up, do not hesitate to humble yourself, but rather seek Him and ask Him to wash you clean through His shed blood, and have your soul restored unto Him.
“He Makes Me Whole”
by Dona Hake
Psalm 23:3 (VOICE)
“He makes me whole again,
steering me off worn, hard paths
to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.”
“He makes me whole again,
steering me off worn, hard paths
to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.”
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. These worn paths are those that have
developed because we seem to keep doing the same thing over and over again.
return to them. Those worn, hard paths could be habits and patterns in our lives
that have ultimately gotten us in trouble. These worn paths are those that have
developed because we seem to keep 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.
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.
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.
Have you ever been in a place where there is some sort of fragrance. It
may be flowers or it may be someone’s perfume. Someone carried that fragrance into
the room whether they were holding or carrying it. The fragrance was echoing a smell!
I personally love the smell of vanilla, and I can immediately recognize it when that
smell is in the air. Vanilla is a comforting and soothing smell. Think about people that walk in
much anxiety, worry or fear. Think about those that are constantly thinking and speaking negative things. They too are bringing something into a room, and it is not conducive to a peaceful and joyful atmosphere. Now, think about how this Psalm is saying that as we are steered
away from those worn, hard paths what our lives will begin to echo truth and righteousness.
People around you will begin to notice that your life, your words, decisions, etc…are a reflection
of a very good thing, and they will be drawn to you, and desire that same truth that
your heart embraces.
Today I want to encourage your heart to first of all look at your “spiritual feet” and
ask Him if you are on the right path or maybe you have been traveling on your own
paths with has caused you to feel worn and weary. He desires to make you whole
each and everyday, and as He does, your life will echo the fact that He is walking
along side of you and you are beholding His paths and direction in your life!
~~~~~~ ♥ ~~~~~~
“The Heart of the Diligent”
by Dona Hake
The diligent hand proceeds from the heart that desires to live productively in everything they put their hand to. We can all relate to that feeling of purposing to be diligent even when we are tired or do not feel like doing something. It is so wonderful though to experience the fruit of accomplishment after we have done what we know we should be doing.
Many times people want to blame others because things are not going well or as planned, and it is simply a lack of their own diligence and foresight. In Ecclesiastes it speaks of everything having a time and a season. I believe we need to know exactly what “season” we are in and do things in their proper time.
A farmer or a person that loves to do vegetable gardening totally understands the importance of diligence to maintain a healthy and thriving garden. After of summer of diligently weeding and tending a garden or crop, the harvest is going to come. Once it comes you may desire to freeze or can. Whatever the choice of preserving it, it must be done, and there is no time to waste. It is such a blessing to pull a vegetable out of your freezer or a canned veggie or fruit in the cold of winter. Oh the joy of enjoying the fruit of your diligent, hard working hands!
I have a little hour glass and as the sand flows through it, there is a measure of time that passes. This little hour glass reminds me that once that sand flows through it that a particular “time” has passed and I can not get it back. Many times people fail to realize the time they are living and they are missing
opportunities because they are doing something else. The time goes and so has the opportunity. Just as harvest comes and it calls for our diligence in a specific time there are also other things in life that require our diligence in order that we sow, reap, and enjoy blessings.
opportunities because they are doing something else. The time goes and so has the opportunity. Just as harvest comes and it calls for our diligence in a specific time there are also other things in life that require our diligence in order that we sow, reap, and enjoy blessings.
I encourage you today to desire the heart and hands of the diligent and be blessed. Guard you time and spend it wisely. Diligence is a good thing and it leads to abundant blessing!
Proverbs 21:5 Amplified Bible
“The thoughts of the [steadily] diligent
tend only to plenteousness…”
“The thoughts of the [steadily] diligent
tend only to plenteousness…”
“Nothing Is Too Difficult For Him”
by Dona Hake
Today I want to share with you about your perspective of God as you live your life. How do you see Him? Is He in your daily routines? I love to think of Him as my loving Father that is watching over me carefully and He also desires that I have my eye on Him. Sometimes we just need to step back and remind ourselves that no matter what we face in this life, God is greater and His power within is more than enough to carry us through the demands of our day or any difficulties.
Jeremiah 32:17 (VOICE) “Eternal Lord, with Your outstretched arm and Your enormous power You created the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too difficult for You.”
It is important that we recognize that we live in a day where our wonderful Living God is being discredited. People 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. Much of people trying to discredit God is because they do not want to live their lives accountable to anyone let alone God. If they can convince themselves that God does not exist, they can live by their own standards and decide what is right and wrong for themselves.
We must not permit these evil mindsets to discourage our hearts because He is ready to do wonderful things through us like never before! We live in a time where God is ready to move us forward into a great harvest and we cannot be moved by what seems to look impossible. Sometimes I think it is actually better when it seems impossible to accomplish something He commands because it forces us to totally depend upon Him and not rely on our own ability.
If the devil can render you ineffective by keeping you preoccupied with your own inabilities or personal problems, you will find it hard to be used by Him to reach people. We have all encountered difficult situations, difficult people, difficult decisions, etc…, let us be mindful that nothing is too difficult for Him. I encourage you to take whatever concerns you to Him.
His Words says in Psalm 138:8 (KJV) “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me,,,” Let us trust Him with our day and our lives. Remind yourself that there is NOTHING to hard for Him and He is well able to perfect ANYTHING in your life that is concerning to you. Look to the God of all creation, the one who spoke words that created everything around knowing that nothing is too difficult for Him as you place your life in His hands!
“Get Wisdom”
by Dona Hake
As a mother I can remember many times encouraging my sons to love and to seek God’s wisdom. Wisdom is a precious thing, and here in Proverbs, Solomon was sharing how his father shared with him to seek wisdom and become wise. This encouragement may have prompted Solomon to ask God for a discerning heart above everything else.
Proverbs 4:5-6
“Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.”
“Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.”
Oh how important it is that when we hear the Word of God, and we know that wisdom has come to us that we do not forget it. When one forgets wisdom they have ceased or failed to remember it or unable to recall it when they needed it most. I think one of the biggest area where we can all relate to forgetting wisdom is failing to remember it in our speech and conversations. Did you ever say something, and then think “oh my…I knew better than to say that!” It is times like this that we need to acknowledge that we have failed to permit wisdom to have control of of words, and seek the Lord’s forgiveness.
I find it all so very sad though when people just forsake wisdom. Somewhere along their way they just seem to give up and quit on wisdom and some leave it entirely. I love how this scripture so beautifully speaks of wisdom when one embraces her. Solomon tells how his father said that it would protect him, and as he loved wisdom, she would watch over him. Oh that we would hold wisdom to be priceless and precious in our walk with the Lord.
Today I encourage you to seek the wisdom of the Lord in every area of your life. When you know you have it, hold fast to it and do not turn away from it. Know that as you remain faithful to God and His precious wisdom that it will keep you protected and it will watch over the affairs of your life.
“In His Presence”
by Dona Hake
Psalm 16:11 (CJB)
“You make me know the path of life;
in your presence is unbounded joy,
in your right hand eternal delight.”
“You make me know the path of life;
in your presence is unbounded joy,
in your right hand eternal delight.”
The other evening I stopped by the flower shop to pick up some unique stems of flowers for a photography project I was working on. As the clerk was wrapping them she asked me how long it would be till I would get home with them. She said, “These cannot be out of water any longer than thirty minutes.” Although I felt I would make it home on time, I asked her to do a water wrap on them just in case I hit bad traffic.
Many times everyday experiences make me think a lot about spiritual truths. Jesus taught in parables a lot because it brought spiritual truths alive through the earthly stories He would share. I began to think about how I valued these flowers and how pretty they were. I also realized that because they were so different that they required special care. It caused me to think about the importance of being mindful that I cannot afford to be out of God’s presence, not even thirty minutes. The life He has given me is so special, and it must be guarded as well. Because He loves me so much, and created me so uniquely for a purpose, I need to value and heed to the truth that He desires that I remain in His presence that my spirit remained nourished by Him.
As I ponder staying in God’s presence I am also thinking about how Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us. You see it is our choice that we must make to value staying in His presence, and doing whatever it takes to make that a lifestyle. I love how this translation is written. God presence is unbounded joy! Think about it, joy that has no limits, borders, or bounds. It is unrestrained, and uncontrolled. Let us also remember the scripture that says the joy of the Lord is our strength.
I encourage you today to think about staying in the presence of your Lord. Think about how He desires that you remain there. Even in the midst of our jobs and daily responsibilities, God desires that we acknowledge His presence, and He wants us to bask in it! The same way that my flowers needed to be drawing on the life giving qualities of the water, we too need to stay in His presence that we draw upon His life continually.
“Trust the Lord Completely”
by Dona Hake
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ERV)
“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.”
Sometimes the easiest thing to do is rely on our own thoughts and understanding in matters we face. Many times we can overlook the fact that God is 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. After all, God’s perspective is the ONLY perspective we should want.
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. Oh how sweet it is when we recognize that Jesus is walking along side of us, and desires to be a part of even the smallest of things in our life. He desires that we totally trust in Him for everything, yet we are hindered by our own ability and understanding at times.
There are different ways that we can lean to our own understanding. You may have a very strong opinion about something and that is okay but then again our opinions must always be based on truth or they can get us in trouble. Sometimes leaning on our own understanding can become like a crutch or a comfy place. You may be tending to resist looking beyond your own ways unto God’s ways therefore it hinders you from trusting Him.
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. Today I encourage you to learn of Him and lean on Him. With every step you take think about what He wants, and He promises to direct you in the right way!
“The Cost of Humility”
by Dona Hake
Sometimes it can be the hardest thing in the world to say “I am sorry, please forgive me.” I can remember hearing a woman’s testimony that just really touched my heart. The woman sharing her testimony had done something offensive in her workplace. She admitted that she knew she was wrong, and she knew the right thing to do. Even though it was hard she walked into her bosses office, and admitted she was wrong. The thing that hit me the hardest was the joy that was in her voice as she tried to explain how good it felt to just humble herself. Sometimes humbling ourselves can really make our flesh squirm, but the end result is pure joy and freedom.
When I think of the word HUMILITY, the thing that comes to my mind is that there is cost and there is blessing in the obedience of striving to be humble in all circumstances. Depending on the situation the cost may be admitting to someone that you were wrong. Sometimes the cost is keeping your opinion to yourself, and not exalting it when you are busting at the seams to just tell someone what you think. Of course self control works hand in hand, nevertheless, it takes you giving something so your heart can be at peace again. The blessing of humility is that peace has been restored to your soul, and this is worth it all! A very important thing to cling to is knowing that God is able to help us when we remain humble, for His hands are tied with the proud man. He can do no work in the heart that resists Him.
1 Peter 5:5 (CEV)
“God opposes proud people,
but he helps everyone
who is humble.”
There will be times that the Lord will show us areas of our hearts in which we need to humble ourselves. Pride is such an enemy to our soul and it is a destructive thing. Let us seek Him as to how we continue to grow in humility and receive His grace as we do so. Let us praise the God that promises to be our help as we remain humble in His sight.
“Keep Your Mind Fixed”
Philippians 4:8
Amplified Bible (AMP)
“For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.”
Amplified Bible (AMP)
“For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.”
As Paul wrote this in Philippians he was stating the importance of understanding what you are thinking about at all times. I think it would do us all good if we paused on a regular basis during our busy days and ask ourselves…”Right now, where is my mind fixed, what is captivating my thoughts?” When God’s Word is not permeating our mind, we can quickly feel overwhelmed and moved by that which is going on around us. If we are weak and feel alone, we can easily be sucked into depths of sorrow and sadness. Circumstance can cause anger and fear as well. God will always show us how to rise above what is going on around us as we stay full and overflowing as we draw upon Him, especially in the realm of our thought life.
Paul said to practice this habit of keeping your mind fixed on all that has virtue and excellence.
“Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me,
and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace
(of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.”
I encourage you to model your way of living by Paul’s example. Take inventory of your thoughts as much as you can. I hope you will value the blessing and benefits of your mind being filled with sweet things. Let your mind be busy with thinking about anything that would bring blessing to God and those around you. God is good, and He desires that we too live to bring His goodness to everyone we encounter! God bless you!
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!!
thank you Lisa for sharing. I am blessed that this was a blessing to you!
Ralph &I are really enjoying your devotional together.
So glad this is blessing you both!
Oh, what a wonderful reminder! I want to break the magnifing glass of worry and trust God for each step I take.
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!