Friday, August 24, 2018
Devotional for Friday, August 24, 2018
“Walking Onward In Truth”
by Dona Hake
The Lord desires that we are walking onward in His truth no matter what is going on around us. I think one of the tools the devil will always try to use against us is the distractions that wage war against our peace. I am speaking of the distractions that come when all hell is breaking loose around us and we are going against the strong current in spirit that difficulties or trials bring. Oh that in those times of trials and adversity we would continue to draw from Him and continue to be taught as He speaks to us, we pray, and read His Word. He loves to teach us how He moves and works in the good times as well as adversity.
Sometimes in our moving onward the Lord may command us to stand still and watch His hand at work on our behalf. As we obey this is part of the process of moving onward with Him. I think of how scared the Israelites must have been as the sea was before them, and their enemy was behind them. No where to run, no where to hide…no where to walk onward…but God had a plan.
Exodus 14:13-16 (The Voice)
” And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”
Let us learn in those times how He works and moves in the midst of overwhelming adversity. It as we believe, obey, and expect great things that we will praise Him as His truth grows in us, for we will bring honor and glory to His Name!
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Devotional for Tuesday, August 21, 2018
“You Were Made For a Purpose”
by Dona Hake
Awesome thought…God knew us before our mother gave birth to us. Every stitch and fiber of our being was uniquely knitted together as He formed us in our mother’s womb. He thought up a very special plan and purpose for us as He uniquely formed us. He placed gifts and talents that are an expression of Him.
Psalm 139:13-15 (AMP)
“For You did form my inward parts;
You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will confess and praise You for
I will confess and praise You for
You are fearful and wonderful and for the
awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are
awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are
Your works, and that my inner self
knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You when
knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You when
I was being formed in secret [and]
intricately and curiously wrought [as if
intricately and curiously wrought [as if
embroidered with various colors] in
the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].”
the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].”
We need to confess and praise Him for how wonderfully He fashioned us for this life. We may be unaware of the fact that deep inside us there may still be something that needs birthed. There may be something within you that is ready to be birthed for such a time as this. It is your very own assignment, and your Lord has equipped you to do it…all you have to do is step out and believe Him to accomplish that work in you. It may be a gift, calling, or some type of creativity that is waiting for it’s awakening. I love how verse fifteen says that we were curiously wrought as if embroidered with various colors. I have never embroidered but I have always felt it to look as if it was a tedious craft. So it was with us as we were being formed within our mother’s womb. He gave great thought to every part of us and how He fashioned us for the work of our life.
Next time you feel tempted to feel that you have no purpose or you judge yourself as a failure, I encourage you to stop and remember that the hand of a loving God formed you for a time and a purpose for such a time as this. As you walk with Him and commit yourself to Him, He will be faithful to lead and guide you and make plain your paths.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Devotional for Tuesday, August 14, 2018
“When You Know You Are
On Track With Him”
by Dona Hake
God desires to lead and guide us all the days of our lives. He longs that we seek Him first, and that we purpose that His Spirit is leading us. Our God is always desiring that we are are on track and moving forward. It is our own fleshly desires that are able to keep us standing still, and not moving forward in His perfect will.
Galatians 5:16 CEV
“If you are guided by the Spirit, you won’t obey your selfish desires.”
Many times we can fall to the weakness of following our own way or our own selfish desires. We can also be guilty of knowing the Lord’s direction but trying to make things happen in our own ability. As we trust Him for answers and direction He will always be faithful to direct us and keep us on track.
Have you ever heard the saying spoken when someone is needing to make a decision…”Maybe you just need to sleep on it.” Never make the mistake of trying to make a decision when you are tired or upset emotionally. We need to stop and rest in the Lord and also get the rest we need in our body. I have found more times than not that when I am physically tired that I usually am not seeing things correctly, and I tend to overreact…not good! Oh I praise God when I have had times where I have received answers to a particular need or leading in what I needed to do during the night while my body and mind were resting. The Lord has a beautiful and tender way of quietly speaking in the quietness of the night.
Psalm 16:7 (ERV)
“I praise the Lord because he taught me well.
Even at night he put his instructions deep inside my mind.”
I praise God that He so tenderly desires to come along side of us in this life that we can know we are going the right direction! On track with Jesus is where we need to be!
Monday, August 13, 2018
Devotional for Monday, August 13, 2018
“Our High Priest Understands”
by Dona Hake
For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.
Hebrews 4:15 AMP
Hebrews 4:15 AMP
How comforting it is when we share our hearts with someone, and we feel they understand. While that is a blessing there will be those times that the one you are sharing your heart with cannot understand nor can they identify with your pain for they having never weathered the storm you are in. We can always be comforted by the fact that Jesus will always be able to hear, sympathize and understand what we are dealing with. Our Lord knows our weaknesses and He knows our every need.
Oh that we would take comfort and courage in knowing that He walked here as a human yet He never committed any sin. Today let us praise Him that He not only walks close by our side but He sees into the distance and He knows what lies ahead of us, and He desires to give us the grace to get us through our day. This Great Conqueror desires to see us walk victoriously, and this should cause our hearts to rejoice!
Today let us expect Him to lead us away from the crooked paths, still the storms of our life, and gently lead us in paths of righteousness, for those paths speak of His works and echo His lovely Name to the world around us. He loves us more than we will ever know for we are His precious children.
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Devotional for Thursday, August 9, 2018
“Waiting On God”
by Dona Hake
“But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.”
Isaiah 40:31 – Amplified version
Isaiah 40:31 – Amplified version
Waiting… Sometimes it is hard for us to just simply wait. Our impatience and wanting everything instantly is simply one of our worst hindrances. Our impatience can easily rob us as we step out in faith. Isaiah shared the secret of this word wait, and how it will cause us to walk in new strength. His words encourage us to expect from God, look for God, and have our hope only in Him.
I am praising the living God today because He has promised me that He diligently and constantly watches over me…so I watch for Him. He is true to His Word…so I expect from Him. He provides my feet a firm place to stand so I stay put when He shows me how to stand, and my trust is only in Him for He has showed His many works that He is God that is trustworthy…so my hope will not be disapointed! In those times I feel wearied I can wait and expect to lift of the wings of my heart of faith and rise up, running with great strength!
I encourage you today to meditate on this simple truth. No matter how young or old you are in your Christian walk, may we constantly refresh ourselves in this truth of our Lord.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Devotional for Tuesday, August 7, 2018
“In God Alone”
by Dona Hake
Daily responsibilities and cares can take it out of us if we are not resting in the care of our sweet Lord. God wants us to run to Him when we are in trouble. Trying to substitute His peace and rest by running from our problems is never God’s way to His rest.
God desires that we stay in a place of rest for it is there that we are able to live refreshed and drawing upon Him. It is there that our hearts, minds and bodies are kept in check. It is there that there is strength and peace beyond any human comprehension exists.
I believe that God wants us to live in a place called rest that ONLY He provides. So what is this rest? Here is one definition that I loved… relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs.
Let us abide under the shadow of His wings, and may we stay there and enjoy the rest that only our Lord can give. He does not desire we come and go as we please. It is as we abide in His resting place that we really do experience the sweet restoration that only He can bring to our souls! I would love to share this version of Psalm 23 from the Voice Translation. I have been meditating on this and it have touched my heart…
“The Eternal is my shepherd, He cares for me always.
He provides me rest in rich, green fields
beside streams of refreshing water.
He soothes my fears;
He makes me whole again,
steering me off worn, hard paths
to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.
He provides me rest in rich, green fields
beside streams of refreshing water.
He soothes my fears;
He makes me whole again,
steering me off worn, hard paths
to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.
Even in the unending shadows of death’s darkness,
I am not overcome by fear.
Because You are with me in those dark moments,
near with Your protection and guidance,
I am comforted.
I am not overcome by fear.
Because You are with me in those dark moments,
near with Your protection and guidance,
I am comforted.
You spread out a table before me,
provisions in the midst of attack from my enemies;
You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil,
filling my cup again and again with Your grace.
Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me
where I go, always, everywhere.
I will always be with the Eternal,
in Your house forever.”
provisions in the midst of attack from my enemies;
You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil,
filling my cup again and again with Your grace.
Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me
where I go, always, everywhere.
I will always be with the Eternal,
in Your house forever.”
Upcoming C
Devotional for Friday, August 3, 2018
“He Is the Living Water”
by Dona Hake
Only Jesus can satisfy our thirsty souls. He explained to the woman at the well the meaning of the true spring of water that only He gives.
“Jesus answered her, All who drink of this water will be thirsty again.
But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life.”
Whether life is full and good or if you are drained within, it is only His life giving water that can satisfy and sustain you. May we daily stop and drink of His water that will strengthen and refresh our soul. It will continue to minister to that thirst within us because it is from the living God. Everything that God gives is above and beyond all that we dare ask or think.
As this scripture translation says, His water “shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling, continually…” This gives such a beautiful image of His living water within us. It truly is the life flow from which we can draw upon whenever we meet uncertainty and overwhelming problems. God is gracious and He ever lives to pour forth that living water to us!
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Devotional for Wednesday, July 25, 2018
“The Lord Fill and Satisfy Us”
by Dona Hake
“…My people will be filled and satisfied
with the good things I give them.”
Jeremiah 31:14 – ERV
Jeremiah 31:14 – ERV
God‘s provision… His daily manna for you and for me! It is ours to seek and take hold of. Oh how He desires that our heart and eyes look to Him for our provision, and we not turn to our own ability and ways of filling our needs.
He promises to fill us, satisfy us, and keep us sustained, no matter what. Lack has a voice, and we must recognize its ability to sway us from trusting in our Lord. Praise the living God! His hands never run empty, they are always full with exactly what we need,and there is no end to His grace and goodness in our life. Open your hands today and receive every good thing He has for you!
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Devotional for Tuesday, July 17, 2018
“The Heart That Seeks Humility”
by Dona Hake
There is power in the heart that seeks to be humble. The humble heart will always be yielding to see that which is right in the eyes of God. This humble heart that God is looking for does not seek to verbalize it’s opinion but rather it seeks what God has to say about every matter. Let us read how the Psalmist David in Psalm 131:1 prays to his God with a humble heart…
“O Eternal One, my heart is not occupied with proud thoughts; my eyes do not look down on others; I don’t even begin to get involved in matters too big, matters of faith, state, business, or the many things that defy my ability to understand them .”
Psalm 131:1 -the Voice translation
Oh that we would recognize the minute a proud thought takes occupancy within our hearts. We must recognize the things that provoke us to think about things that we have no business thinking about. You know… the things that set our mind spinning, and therefore our opinions that proceed from those thoughts begin to come out of our mouth. Living our life prayerfully will keep us clear minded and our hearts guarded. As we seek Him for His guidance and provision, He promises to cover our life with all that we need. That includes the wisdom in guarding our thoughts, opinions, and it provides us power over thoughts that would serve to take us down. He will give us that peace that this world cannot touch, and that peace will lead our thoughts and guard our our tongues.
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Devotional for Saturday,Sunday, July 15, 2018
“Living Your Life As An Offering”
by Dona Hake
“Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering…” Romans 12:1 The Message
“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. “. Romans 12:2 The Message
Living for God… It is taking one day at a time dedicating our all to Him. No matter how big or small let us purpose to dedicate it all to our God. He wants us to humbly lay the smallest to the biggest detail of our life before Him for He knows us better than we could ever know or understand ourselves. He desires to touch and bless all that we hand over to Him. This is the act of worship He desires from us. It is then that we will be progressively changed by the power of the Holy Spirit and we will be living proof of His perfect will He has ordained for our lives.
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!