Tuesday, November 20, 2018

 
 
 
Devotional for Tuesday, November 20, 2018
“Without Bridle and Rein”
 
by Dona Hake
 
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you. Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bridle and rein to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.”   Psalm 32:8-9 Amplified Verstion
 
Our Lord desires that we be willing to learn of Him, He wants to instruct us and counsel us but without “bridle and rein.“   We all have a choice to obey, and He cannot make us do that which is right  if we are resisting the work of His hand.  If your mind is made up to do your life your own way, the Lord surely cannot gently lead you into His wonderful ways and will for your life.
 
The horse and mule need restraints to hold them in check or they will not obey. Our Lord desires that we humbly and willingly draw close to Him. He does not want us merely do the right thing  because we feel we have to or we feel an obilgation to do it, for this is what the Word calls a dead work.   We must serve him wholeheartedly with tender humble hearts.    It is sad when one replaces obedience with good works…this is not what our Lord is looking for.    God desires that we be free from the “bridle and rein” of just doing things to make ourselves to be good people apart from the work of His hand. We are free from such bondage!  His desire is that His light and good things shine in us as a result of our humble submission to Him…
 
“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”
Ephesians 2:10 AMP


Monday, November 19, 2018

 
 
 
 
 
Devotional for Monday, November 19, 2018
“I Won’t Look Back!”

 

 

Dont look back

by Dona Hake
 
“The past is not really the past if it is impacting your present.”
 
Once while driving I was listening to Christian radio,and I heard these powerful words  spoken by a gentleman giving his testimony.  He made emphasis on the power of keeping his eyes and heart set on what the Lord had set before him.  He really understood and shared how our past can affect our present if we do not deal with it as the Lord would have us to do.
 
I thought what he said was a powerful thought to ponder.  Of course we understand that what happened twenty years ago or even yesterday is behind us .  What we need to understand though is  if we dwell on any negatives of our past  and allow them to hinder us it will influence and affect our life in a very negative way.  Memories can serve to torment us IF we allow them to do so.
 

Paul wrote in the Corinthians and he exclaimed that those in Christ are more than conquerors but in Philippians he brought to us that in the “race” in this life we need to stay focused, strong, and purposed to continue in momentum, and he still did not consider himself a winner.

Philippians 3:13 God’s Word Translation

“Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet.

This is what I do:

I don’t look back,

I lengthen my stride,

and I run straight toward the goal

to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.

Whoever has a mature faith should think this way. And if you think differently, God will show you how to think. However, we should be guided by what we have learned so far.”
 

Paul was proclaiming that until he crosses the finish line he needed to run with the good mental and spiritual habits of a conqueror.  The heart of a conqueror does not look back.  He spoke of lengthening his stride or running a steady pace or course.  We must continually keep in front of us all of our goals both spiritual and personal and run toward them with all of our hearts and strength that comes only from God!



Sunday, November 18, 2018

 
 
Devotional for Sunday, November 18, 2018
“The Word Stands Forever”
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
The gentleman stood before the camera as he was being interviewed by a TV new’s team.   He had just returned to the place he once called home, and behind him were the ruins of his home that had burned to the ground.    If you have been following the news you have seen the wildfires of California, and how they have devastated the lives of many, many have died, and there are those that are still not accounted for.    As the gentleman was sharing his reaction to losing it all, he looked into the camera and said “This is the one thing that did not burn!”  He clutched and held up his Bible, and although he lost everything, I am sure he knew this was not a coincidence. There was this place he once called home,and it was totally gone, but His Bible, the  Word of God endured the heat and the fire’s destruction.
 
I was immediately reminded of the fact that no matter what happens in this life we can most assuredly know that the Word of God is what we will always have to stand upon.  As we trust in His Word, we can be unshakable even if our world has been shaken.   In the face of trials we can proclaim, “All is well with my soul!”. 
 
I truly believe the Lord uses such signs and miraculous things like this gentleman experienced to remind us that we need to keep our minds set on things above and not on the things of this earth.  The Scriptures tell us….
 
“Our lives are like the grass of spring, and any glory we enjoy is like the beauty of a wildflower. The grass dries up and dies, and the flower falls to the ground. But the word of the Lord lasts forever.” And that word is the Good News that was told to you.
1 Peter 1:24-25 – ERV
Human beings are frail and temporary, like grass, and the glory of man fleeting like blossoms of the field. The grass dries and withers and the flowers fall off, but the Word of the Lord endures forever! And this is the Word that was announced to you!
1 Peter 1:24-25 – TPT


Tuesday, November 13, 2018

 
 
 
 
Devotional for Tuesday, November 13, 2018
 
“God Hears the Prayer of the Humble Heart”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
by Dona Hake
 
Psalm 51:17 ERV
 
“The sacrifice that God wants is a humble spirit.  
God, you will not turn away someone who comes with a humble heart
and is willing to obey you.”
 
The humble heart my friends…this is what our Lord is looking for….this is what He wants from us.   Our loving God hears and listens intently to the cries of the man or woman with a humble heart.  He diligently searches for that one that seeks to serve Him with a whole and pure heart untainted by the things that are against His will.    
 
You may wonder who are those that truly reverence and humble themselves to His Name.   It is the man or woman that consistently looks to Him every day to be the Lord of all things in their life.   They understand that true humility will cause them to make everything that tries to challenge or stand against the Word of God to bow it’s knee quickly.     God’s eyes look for those of a humble and dedicated heart, and  He is attentive to their cry.
 
 
Psalm 145:18-19 TLB
“He is close to all who call on him sincerely.
He fulfills the desires of those who reverence and trust him; he
hears their cries for help and rescues them.”
 
 
Father, we thank You this day that You desire to move in great ways in our lives.   Help us to grow in our understanding of true humility for we know that this is so pleasing to Your heart. As we encounter needs in our lives, we ask in Your Name to meet our needs for Your Word says that You desire to perfect all that concerns us. Today we rejoice in Your provision over our lives, and we ask for Your help us to pursue true humility in our hearts.  In Jesus Name, amen.
 


November 10, 2018

 
 
Devotional for Saturday, November 10, 2018
 
“His Hands Are Filled With Good Things”
 
 
let us receive
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
 

“You open Your hand and they are filled with good things.”

Psalm 104:28b
 
 
 

Our loving God’s hands are full of abundant blessings and provision just for us!  Is your heart being kept full, strengthened and maintained by the power of the Holy Spirit?   Yesterday I shared that He makes it possible that our lives can be as a spring that never runs dry. This scripture from Psalm 104:28  can direct our hearts to know in an even deeper way that our Lord is able to keep us full and overflowing with His touch from above!

 

Let us diligently watch over the gauge of our hearts and minds that warn us when we are running on low.   Think of the many things in your home that work on batteries that must be kept charged.    We must also watch over our hearts that we are kept charged by the power of the Holy Spirit. Many times we are weakening simply because we are not drawing from the provision  of our loving Heavenly Father.  Sadly if we do not make adjustments and draw upon His strength, we could turn to living by our own ability…drawing upon our own ideas and strength is not a good thing.

 

My friends I encourage you to pay close attention when your spirit is sending you warning signals. It’s that uneasy feeling when you just know something is not right. Turn to the Lord quickly that He can help you make the needed adjustments.    The Holy Spirit is sent along side of us to comfort, strengthen and lead us at all times.     A good friend will always be there to help us, and most certainly that good friend  will point out to us what they are observing so they can be a support and help .      Because Jesus is  truly our Best Friend, may we honor Him with humble ears and hearts at all times for He desires to fill our lives with His good things and keep us strong in every area of our being.   Trust Him today for what you need  for He is our anchor and our hope for this life!

 
 

Romans 15:13 ERV “I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.”



Friday, November 9, 2018

 
 
 
Devotional for Friday, November 9, 2018
 
 “Your Life…A Garden of Refreshment!”
 

refreshed

by Dona Hake

 

Isaiah 58:11 (ERV)

 

“The Lord will always lead you and satisfy your needs in dry lands.

He will give strength to your bones.

You will be like a garden that has plenty of water,

like a spring that never goes dry.”

 

 

This scripture reminds me that I am here to be used by the Living God.   I am here not just for myself but to serve those around me.   Why else would He make me to be as a spring that never runs dry?    Of course we need His spring of life to live but I believe that He desires we be givers of that spring that is an endless supply of all that He is. 

 

How can I be a giver and help if I am not walking in His provision and strong in the strength that only He gives?   As we draw upon the living water from above each, and everyday let us be mindful to share that water that gives life.  Let us be thankful that the water He gives is the only water that will quench the  spiritual thirst of man.

 

 God desires to see us active in doing good for others from a heart of faith and love. Today I encourage you to think about the abundance in your life.   Seek opportunities to  look to be a blessing as you go about your day.  I pray that the life of Jesus within you may touch and bless the dry places of someone in need.    Think about the many times He has rescued you from a problem that seemed unsolvable.  Thank Him for those times that your anxiety tormented you and that spring of peace permeated you beyond your understanding.   We have so much to be thankful for, and as we focus on those blessings and  abide in Him we will be in a position to refresh those around us.  

 



Thursday, November 8, 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
Devotional for Thursday, November 8, 2018
“His Grace Upon the Works of Your Hands”
 
and God is able
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
2 Corinthians 9:8 (CEB)
 

 God has the power to provide you with

more than enough
of every kind of grace.
That way,
you will have everything you need always
and in everything to
provide more than enough
for every kind of good work.
 

 

Look closely at the specific words that I have underlined. To have more than enough means that you will everything you need ALWAYS for every kind of good work. He also wants to bless and provide us with His grace for MANY KINDS of good works! This scripture just really blesses me. I love meditating on the fact that God is desiring to shower us with His all sufficient grace as we set out to do His will. He is watching over the MANY KINDS of good works that are in His plan for us today. Keep you heart and eyes open for unforeseen divine opportunities and appointments in which He desires to use you! He wants to shower our works that are done according to His will with great grace!
 
 
Today, look let us look to Him with great desire to be a living example of excellence in all that we put our hands to.  Draw upon His great grace, and wait expectantly for Him to shower it upon you.  It is as we do this that we will demonstrate that He is the God that is more than enough!  We shall be testimonies of being living trees planted by water, yielding fruit, and prospering in every good work!!
 

 

Psalm 1:3 (ESV)

“He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.”



Friday, November 2, 2018

 
 
 
Devotional for Friday, November 2, 2018
 
 
“…and Nothing Shall Make Them Stumble”
 
 
stumble
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
Psalm 119:165 (HCSB) “Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction; nothing makes them stumble.”
 

When you purchase something brand new, it is a very wise idea to pull out the instructions, and follow them closely so your product works as you wished for it to. The person that tries to figure things out on their own apart from the instruction manual usually ends up frustrated. I thank the Lord that He has provided us with the Ultimate Manual to instruct us how to live this life, and that is the Word of God. He has given us every instruction for our journey, and all we have to do is abide by it, and follow it closely.

We need to love His Word more than our own opinions and past experiences. When we love His Word and instructions, He promises that our peace will be abundant. This peace will guard our hearts, guard our tongues, and keep us from stumbling. I thought it would be interesting to share some definitions I found on the word stumble. Remember…as we love His Word NOTHING will make us stumble…
 
 
 
Stumble defined:
* to strike the foot against something,
as in walking or running, so as to stagger or fall; trip,
to walk or go unsteadily: to stumble down a dark passage.
 
* to make a slip, mistake, or blunder,
especially a sinful one: to stumble over a
question; to stumble and fall from grace.
 
* to proceed in a hesitating or blundering
manner, as in action or speech.
 

I am thanking God today that He has made provision that we do not have to stumble. Have you ever walked into a place of business to find a “Wet floor” sign or “Caution Ahead” signs on the road?   Such words are there to warn us of possible danger, and as we heed to them we can proceed in safety, and confidence. The Word of God also provides words of caution, admonishment, and great instruction for us to walk in. I do not know about you, but I find great peace in knowing that God has provided every answer I need in His Word. His Spirit is here to guide us into all of His truth, and He will teach us things that we do not understand. The tricks of the devil will clearly be exposed, and we will remain guarded with His abundant peace.

 

I encourage you today that He has provided everything you need in His Word that your life can be permeated with great peace. I thank God for those times that He has reached down and lifted us back up when we have stumbled in our way. Great is His forgiveness and faithfulness. Great is His peace. Purpose to seek these things, enjoy them , and possess them as you serve Him everyday!



Tuesday, October 30, 2018

 
 
 
 
Devotional for Tuesday, October 30, 2018
 
“Righteousness Shall Go Before Us”
 
 
 
righteousness will go before Him
 
 
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
 
 

Psalm 85:11-13 BRG Bible

” Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.  Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.”
 
My meditation today is upon a few words at the end of verse 13 in Psalm 85. “and shall set us in the way of his steps.” Oh that we would long to know that our feet are firmly planted, and walking within the footprints of our Master. As I meditated on this I began to think of a small child on the sands of a beach finding some big footsteps of his or her parents. Walking along, the child carefully places her feet inside the big footprint, and purposes to walk in them, and allow those footprints to lead them. So it is with us as we desire to cling to our Lord and follow Him closely. His footprints are established in truth and righteousness, and we too should desire to stay within our Lord’s imprints as we walk. They are rock solid, and as we purpose to walk within His footprints we will always be within the borders of His will for our lives. There is great comfort and strength in knowing that His righteousness goes before us!
 
Lord, we thank You this day in which we can set our hearts to live for You and serve You.   Oh that our feet would be set deep within Yours as we trust in You.  Help us to be mindful of keeping ourselves in the way of Your steps and not wandering away.   Even in those times that Your way may not make sense to us, help us to understand that Your ways are higher than our ways, and You understand the big picture of the work in our life.  In Jesus Name, amen!
 
 


Friday, October 26, 2018

 
 
 
 
 
Devotional for Friday, October 26, 2018
“Lord, Teach Us To Love As You Love”
 
 
lord enlighten our hearts to love
 
by Dona Hake
 
Nothing can separate us from His love, and His love is unfathomable. His love conquers all, and God’s love covers all things. God desires that His conquering love flow through us yet there are times His love is not able to flow freely. If we do not desire to look beyond our own ability to love, how is He able to love and flow through us and reach a lost and dying world? There is a cost to loving like Jesus, and it is a matter letting go of that which is holding us back. We must press in to love like Jesus love.
 

 

“Love,

to be real,

must cost –

it must hurt –

it must empty us of self.”
Mother Teresa
 

God is calling us to His high places of love. A wonderful place to meditate is 1 Corinthians 13 because this simply spells out what God’s love is and what it is not.
 

 

“Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious,

doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about.

There’s no arrogance in love;

it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—

it’s not self-absorbed.

Love isn’t easily upset.

Love doesn’t tally wrongs or celebrate injustice;

but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight!

Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along;

it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what.

Love will never become obsolete.”

 

 




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!