Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Devotional for Wednesday, March 28,2018
“He Goes Before Us”
by Dona Hake
“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.” Psalm 23:5 (The Voice translation)
In ancient Near Eastern culture, at a banquet it was customary to anoint a person with fragrant oil as a lotion. Hosts were also expected to protect their guests at all costs. Our precious Lord offers us the protection of the Loving Host even when our enemies surround us.Our Lord, our Loving Shepherd promises to guide and protect us through this life to bring us into His eternal home forever.
Today let us rejoice that our Lord has laid out every provision that we need to walk through this day in Jesus Name. He understands every enemy that we are facing, and His provision is more than enough. May we be mindful to draw close to Him and continue to dwell in His presence, and surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Devotional for Tuesday, March 27, 2018
“His Name Is Wonderful”
by Dona Hake
Isaiah 9:6
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful…”
While we usually look at this scripture more when we ponder the birth of Jesus, today let us look at this it in light of the death of our Lord. “…unto us a child is given.” God’s Son was given to us but God’s whole plan was to give Him up for us. Jesus…the ultimate sacrifice for our sin. The sin we could never pay for. God’s plan to deal with our sin problem was to give up His Son to redeem us back to Him. Our Lord is wonderful isn’t He? Today I desire to stir your hearts to remember His wonderful work of redemption in you.
Let’s look at words synonymous to wonderful… awesome, wondrous, miraculous, prodigious, astonishing, amazing, astounding, phenomenal. This is the Jesus that we serve. As believers we can testify of the many wonderful things He has done in our lives, and we should never lose sight of those things. Let us never live one day without thankfulness in our hearts for the wonderful work at the cross that we could be redeemed, set free, and living our lives without the guilt and shame that we once knew.
At times I have tried to imagine what it would be like to live life without Him, and I cannot fathom it. I often think of people that do not know Him, and wonder how they get through one day in this life. I look at myself before I knew Him, and I will never forget what was going on in my heart and soul. In the stubbornness of my heart forty five years ago I continued to reject Him. I knew something was missing, and that feeling of something being missing is what would not leave my soul alone, and it drew me to the Lord’s love. One thing that I will never forget, and that is how I would lay on my bed as a teenager, and before falling off to sleep for two solid years I would pray…”Lord there has to be more to this life than this.” I will never forget the night that my blinded eyes were open. When I surrendered it all to Him, and it was then that I came to know true life. God’s wonderful work in me! Now…think back on when you surrendered your life to Him.
We need to tell of His wonderful works when people ask why we carry such joy. I encourage you to ponder the many testimonies that you have witnessed in your life since your have come to know Him, and just take time to give thanks to Jesus for He is so wonderful!! Tell of His wonderful works!!
Psalm 40:5 (ERV)
“Lord my God, you have done many amazing things!
You have made great plans for us—too many to list.
I could talk on and on about them,
because there are too many to count.”
You have made great plans for us—too many to list.
I could talk on and on about them,
because there are too many to count.”
Monday, March 26, 2018
Devotional for Monday, March 26, 2018
“He Directs the Humble”
by Dona Hake
Proverbs 25:9 (The Voice)
“With justice, He directs the humble in ALL that
“With justice, He directs the humble in ALL that
is right and He shows them His way.”
Proverbs 11:3 ERV says,,
“Good people are guided by their honesty.”
The Lord desires that the believer of the Lord Jesus Christ be walking the path of humility and integrity. This world is full of deception and pride, and we need to walk uprightly before Him in every area of our lives that we are shining as lights and exposing such darkness.
How sad it is if a believer slips and chooses the path that pulls their heart from truthfulness, humility, integrity, and excellence. Our hearts and souls should be tugged at the mere thought of being tempted to walk in any kind of pride, dishonesty or lack of integrity in this life. The Lord wants vessels that are pure and willing to follow Him wholly in all of His ways.
The devil is so sly and crafty and he understands how to deceive people into thinking that it is acceptable to pick and choose the truth they walk in. God desires that we walk in the totality of His Word, for there is no deception in the realm of His truth. If one thinks they are getting away with living a lie, and keeping it hidden, they will see that the Lord will expose the deceptive heart in His time. There will always be consequences for going against the voice of our heart. I will never forget the profound truth Roberts Liardon spoke, “Truth ALWAYS outlives a lie.” God wants our hearts to be pure, right and of utmost integrity.
1 Peter 5:5 (Amplified)
“For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.”
“For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.”
Let us diligently seek to be mindful of the condition of our hearts. May we seek the Holy Spirit daily to show us if we are in pride in any area of our life that we be not hindered in receiving guidance when we need it. As we pursue to keep our hearts humble, He promises to direct us as men and women of integrity in all that we do, and He will give much grace, favor and blessing!
Friday, March 23, 2018
Devotional for Friday, March 23, 2018
“But Those Who Trust”
by Dona Hake
I just finished reading about what an eagle does right before an approaching storm. He knows the storm is approaching long before it breaks. He will seek out and fly to a high place, and wait. He waits for the winds of the storm to come, and at the exact moment the eagle sets its wings so that the wind will pick him up, and lift it above the storm. While the storm is raging below, the eagle soars above it! He seeks not to escape the storm but rather he uses the winds to lift him higher.
In Isaiah 40:31 Isaiah spoke of the eagle and it’s great strength. He wrote about waiting upon the Lord just as the eagle waits for the storm. We too can wait upon the Lord, for it is Him that will prepare us to do battle, and cause us to rise above every storm.
In this life we can know that storms will indeed come. Jesus told us that we would have days with trials and tribulation, but praise God He helps us and makes us overcomers as we trust in Him. Storms do not have to take us down and overwhelm us for the Greater One lives within us, and the Holy Spirit is able to show us things to come. Just as the eagle is able to sense the storm coming we can know of such things by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit.
It is important to remember that the storms of life can also be embraced as opportunities to show those around us how the power of the Living God works in a believer that trusts in Him. As we wait on the Lord in the storm, He will instruct us how to soar and ride with open wings, and great strength that comes only from Him.
“But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength. They will soar on wings as eagles. They will run— never winded, never weary. They will walk— never tired, never faint.”
Isaiah 40:31. The Voice Translation
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Devotional for Thursday, March 22, 2018
“…and I Am Sure”
by Dona Hake
“For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.”
Hebrews 4:12-13
These two verses contain such powerful words don’t they? God‘s Word that is given to us to live by is powerful, and God promises us that it works as we believe it and act on it ! It is sharper than the sharpest of all swords, and is able to cut deeply into our souls. It penetrates way down deep where God knows how to accomplish the precious work that only He can do in each of us. You know, He sees things within us that we are not even aware of.
Nothing is hidden from the eyes of our Almighty God. For some this may be a thought that is not welcomed but for the believer that really wants freedom in their life it is a liberating thought. He sees everything clearly and He understands how to work His Word in our heart. May we permit the work of His precious Spirit work deep with in us through the Word we have hidden in our hearts. The miraculous work of God’s truth in you has endless possibilities. My friend, He has began a wonderful thing in you, and He desires to continue to help you and grow you up in Him!
“And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.”
Philippians 1:6. The living Bible
Devotional for Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Devotional for Tuesday, March 20, 2018
“In All You Do, Do It With Your Whole Heart”
by Dona Hake
Our Lord knows us inside and out, and know this…He knows when we are not giving our whole heart in the tasks that are in the assignment of our life. God sees deep within our souls, and He knows what course corrections are needed to get our hearts right and back on course for Him. May we humble ourselves to Him, and seek to hear His voice in these times. He sees our struggles and He knows well what we dread relative to our job or other responsibilities. The Lord desires that in all that we do that we do it with our whole heart.
Colossians 3:23 (AMP)
” Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul),
as [something done] for the Lord and not for men…”
In this scripture we can see that as we do anything, our focus needs to stay on Him as though we are doing it for Him. As I think about doing all things as if I am doing it for Him I cannot help but to think about how my heart would definitely be more willing even if the job is not pleasant.
Another translations says, in ALL the work you are given, do the best you can. I think that is a great attitude to carry with us as we face each day’s demands no matter how big or small. No matter what it is that is our responsibility, we must simply do the best we can, and do it as if we are doing it for Him. As we pursue to make this a habit of our heart, He will bless and prosper all that we put our hand to.
Devotional for Monday, March 19, 2018
Devotional for Monday, March 19, 2018
“Your Strength, Our Weakness”
by Dona Hake
Many times we hand pick the small stones called hindrances that are scattered in our path. There are small things we just put up with, and then there are things we feel we cannot bear. There are so many things that factor into the equation to face trials and deal with them in this life. One thing for sure is that each of us need to be seeking the Lord at all times, and hearing His specific Word to our hearts in order that we can deal with our hardship according to His Will. Some hardships seem to never end, but know this our Lord is with us no matter what.
Paul spoke of being content in having much and also in the midst of great need. He also wrote how to count it all joy when we face trials. Isaiah wrote of the importance of waiting upon the Lord and He would bring a strength that we would mount up with the wings as eagles. Paul certainly learned the secret of walking through hardships, and we can read that in 2 Corinthians 12:10.
“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities;
for when I am weak then I am strong.”
I believe we can learn from the scripture that no matter what we walk through, we can draw on God’s grace and continue to move forward and upward in the good fight. I leave you with this short poem written by Corrie ten Boom. Corey learned and was able to trust and serve God even in a Nazi concentration camp and throughout the days that followed in her life. Her wisdom is priceless…
“Your strength, my weakness – here they always meet,
When I lay down my burden at your feet:
The things that seem to crush will in the end
Be seen as rungs on which I did ascend!
When I lay down my burden at your feet:
The things that seem to crush will in the end
Be seen as rungs on which I did ascend!
Thank you Lord.”
Devotional for Saturday, March 17, 2018
Devotional for Saturday, March 17, 2018
“Who Is the Man?”
Who is the man who fears the Lord
[with awe-inspired reverence and
worships Him with submissive wonder]?
He will teach him [through His word]
in the way he should choose.
Psalm 25:12
I shared with you a few days ago about how important it is that we understand how to live in the awe of the Lord. One of the ways I had shared was by seeking His precious wisdom, and as we do this we would find and understand the treasures that have been tucked away and hidden just for us.
Today we will see how fearing the Lord with awe inspired reverence is couple with worshiping Him with submissive wonder. Oh that we would see our life as an act of worship to Him, and live every day in total submission to the Word of God that we have hidden in our hearts. With every breath we take, we are faced with choices throughout our day. In those times that we are hearing so tenderly from our Lord that our choice is wrong let us submit to Him in the awe of all that He is, and be quick to repent that He can continue to point us in the way that we are to walk. May we never choose to walk in our own way but rather seek to live in the awe of the Lord and submissiveness to His ways and His Word as an act of worship to Him.
Devotional for Thursday, March 15, 2018
Devotional for Thursday, March 15, 2018
“The Awe of God”
by Dona Hake
“Don’t ·depend on your own wisdom [L be wise in your own eyes]. ·Respect [Fear; Hold in awe] The Lord and refuse to do wrong (turn away from evil) Then your body will be healthy and your bands will be strong and refreshed.”…”
Proverbs 3:7-8 EXB
~~~
“My ·child [or son], ·listen to [grasp] what I say and ·remember [L store up] what I command you. ·Listen carefully [L Bend your ear] to wisdom; ·set your mind on [L stretch your heart to] understanding. Cry out for wisdom, and ·beg [shout out loud] for understanding. ·Search [Seek] for it like silver, and ·hunt [search] for it like hidden treasure. Then you will understand ·respect [fear; awe; 1:7] for the Lord, and you will find ·that you know God [the knowledge of God] . Only the Lord gives wisdom; ·he gives [L from his mouth comes] knowledge and understanding. He stores up ·wisdom [resourcefulness] for those who ·are honest [have integrity]. Like a shield he protects the innocent.”
Proverbs 2:1-7
Today I would like to share what it means to hold in awe the living God. Those words “hold in awe” really touched my heart as I was meditating on the Word this morning. The word awe is an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration and fear. It is produced by that which is grand and extremely powerful. Oh that we would praise the living God upon every morning that we awaken for how powerful and wonderful He is. Let us praise Him for the wonderful things that He has done in our life for He is truly an awesome God!
The Word of God shows us here in Proverbs chapter 2 that one of the ways we can understand and embrace the awe of our God is seeking His wisdom like a hidden treasure. It is one thing to ask God for wisdom but do we actually seek it diligently with all of our heart as if it is a hidden treasure tucked away just for us?
Many times God and His precious blessings are not always as we expect them to be, and we miss them. Look for and seek after God with all of your heart. Today I encourage you to seek His wisdom, do not be wise in your own eyes, and be ready for the eyes of your heart to be enlightened as it never has been before. The blessing of walking in the fear and awe of the Lord, and turning away from evil is the promise of a healthy body strong bones and refreshment by the Spirit of the Lord.
Devotional for Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Devotional for Wednesday, March 14, 2018
“Now To Him…”
by Dona Hake
“I ask the Father with His great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through His Spirit. 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.”
Ephesians 3:16-19. (Easy to Read translation)
Today we will meditate on being full of our Lord. What does it mean to be full? Paul sums it up here in his prayer, and that is knowing and understanding the greatness of our Lord‘s love. It is understanding how wide, how long, how high, and deep that love really is.
For us to express the fullness of the love of God we need to understand that it can only be done in and through Christ. May we desire to contain all that Jesus is, may we be filled to the utmost capacity of His love, peace, joy, all that He is… In order that we stay full we absolutely must seek to be in faith and be prayerful as we daily live for Him. Only you can ask the Holy Spirit to fill every aspect of your life to its fullest.
It is as we stay full of Him that we will have the power to live and rise above every trial and circumstance that we face in this life. It is as we are full of Him that He is able to do great things as we release our faith. I want to leave you with this scripture, and in my opinion it is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible, and I love to meditate upon it often.
Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”
Today I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord to know His love in a greater way than you have ever known. See Him as the God that is able to do above all that you dare ask, think, and is able to do above your wildest dreams in Jesus Name!
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!