Saturday, October 21, 2017
Devotional for Saturday, October 21, 2017
“God Is Great”
by Dona Hake
Psalm 48:1 “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.”
Psalm 71:19 “Thy righteousness also, O God,
is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!”
Psalm 89:7 “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly
of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.”
Psalm 95:3 ” For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.”
Psalm 135:5 “For I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
These are wonderful scriptures about our Lord and how He truly is a great God! According to Ephesians 3:20 God is able to do above and beyond all that we dare ask or think. May we be reminded on a daily basis as we walk with our Lord that He is great and greatly to be praised! He is well able to exceed our highest expectations as we release our faith in Him. Why? Because He IS the God of Heaven and Earth, and His love for us is so deep. It is beyond our comprehension….this is how awesome our Lord is. There is none other like Him! May we continue to build our faith according to the Word of God that we may know in our hearts that any mountain in our lives, or those things that are sent to bring us down are can to be conquered by the power of God alone! He alone is able for He IS great!
I encourage you as you start your day to look around you, and be reminded that all that you see was created by the hand of the Almighty and loving God. Just this thought alone can renew our minds, and build our faith in the truth that God is great and greatly to be praised. There is not one thing that is too hard for Him to accomplish for you. He is able, and He is willing to do that for you!
Friday, October 20, 2017
Devotional for Friday, October 20, 2017
“When Our Paths Echo His Name”
by Dona Hake
Psalm 85:13 BRG version
Righteousness shall go before him; and
shall set us in the way of his steps.”
Today I want us to reflect upon the beauty of staying by our Lord’s side clinging to Him and His ways. He lovingly desires that we permit Him to set us in the way of His steps. I love knowing that as I abide in Him, He is going to continually restore my soul and lead me into His paths where His truth speaks of Him. I love knowing that as I walk closely to Him that my life will speak and echo of His righteousness and His truth.
Psalm 23:3 (VOICE)
“He makes me whole again,
steering me off worn, hard paths
“He makes me whole again,
steering me off worn, hard paths
to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.”
Now let us look at being steered from those worn, hard paths that has caused us to maybe live in ruts. Last evening I was listening as someone was sharing on social media the truth about how our past influences and way of thinking are so ingrained in us. It affects our thoughts and our behavior deeper that what we will ever know….unless we seek to know. I loved what she said, “If you want to clean up your act, you need to clean up your actions!” Wow! Simple yet profound isn’t it? What actions, what thoughts, what behavior am I doing that I assume is good and normal that is not good and it needs cleaned up? Now is the time to look to the Lord to help us to examine our hearts and if need be we should clean up our act that we can live and walk more effectively for Him as we purpose to do His will.
Let us look now at how He lovingly steers us away from worn, hard paths . Those worn, hard paths could be habits and patterns in our lives that have ultimately gotten us in trouble. Those worn paths are those that have developed because of 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. Paths that echo His wonderful Name!
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 path is full of freedom, humility, love, strength, grace, and peace. Remember…on this path His goodness and mercy is following you everyday!
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 to draw upon His. Let us look to His way, His paths, and we can live a life that is blessed because when we walk hand in hand with Him, that path echoes His Name! God bless you!
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Devotional for Thursday, October 19, 2017
“Because This Kind of Change Is Good”
by Dona Hake
Proverbs 27:19 (ERV)
“Just as you can see your
own face reflected in water,
so your heart reflects the
“Just as you can see your
own face reflected in water,
so your heart reflects the
kind of person you are.”
This portion of scripture stirs my heart to think about the true spiritual condition of my heart. If I were to stand over a crystal clear pond and look in, my reflection would answer back at me or in other words I see myself. I would see myself for exactly what I am because the reflection does not lie. When you stand in front of a mirror you can not stand there and say, “this is not me!” Our reflections are speaking to us, and telling us exactly what we look like. So it is when we look into God’s Word, He will reveal to us our need for Him and all that He wants us to be. If we permit Him, He will show us the kind of person we are, the condition of our heart, and give us true vision for change that He desires for us.
James 1:22-25
Amplified Bible
“”But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;
For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and
promptly forgets what he was like.
But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty,
and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it,
being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active
doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).”
There will be those times in which we hear the Word and if conviction strikes at our heart we need to give heed, and be an active doer as this scripture tells us to do. This tugging at our heart is the Holy Spirit speaking to us to make changes, and this kind of change really is a good thing. This scripture is clear that we need to give heed to the Word we hear and read, and the living water of the Word will truly reveal to us the condition of our heart if we permit it to. The Lord is loving, and He will help us to make the adjustments we need to be molded into His image. Let us look carefully at ourselves in light of God’s Word and allow Him to work in us.
Lord, we ask You this day to show us the true condition of our hearts. Help us to be reminded of the importance of remaining humble before You that You may have free reign in our hearts. Help us to be doers and not just hearers of Your Word. We thank You that You are able to do a wonderful and transforming work within us. Help us also to be patient and persevering as we walk through times of change that You are desiring to work within us. In Jesus Name we ask, amen!
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Devotional for Wednesday, October 18, 2017
“But First…”
by Dona Hake
Matthew 6:33
Easy-to-Read Version
“What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you
Easy-to-Read Version
“What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you
to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.”
In this portion of scripture Jesus is teaching that our priority as a believer is to seek His kingdom first and His righteousness and all else will be taken care of. He was teaching that heavenly things are more important than anything else. Oh how this world can occupy our hearts and minds and cause us to lose sight of the most important things.
Prior to Jesus sharing this He spoke about worrying about being clothed. He spoke of the lilies of the field, and how they grow without care and they thrive on their own. How much more will He take care of us?…yet we worry. Remember Jesus understands our weaknesses and our human nature, but He commands us to cast our care, and wants us to do the most important thing, and that is to seek Him first. Let us read some scriptures from the writings of Luke.
Luke 10:38-42
Easy-to-Read Version
“While Jesus and his followers were traveling, he went into a town, and a
woman named Martha let him stay at her house. She had a sister named
Mary. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach. But her
sister Martha was busy doing all the work that had to be done. Martha went
in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the
work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and
Easy-to-Read Version
“While Jesus and his followers were traveling, he went into a town, and a
woman named Martha let him stay at her house. She had a sister named
Mary. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach. But her
sister Martha was busy doing all the work that had to be done. Martha went
in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the
work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and
upset about too many things.”
This story tells us that our Lord desires that we seek Him first setting aside anything that would distract our love and worship toward Him. Mary understood this well, but poor Martha in all her good intentions did not understand. She thought for sure that Jesus needed to rebuke Mary for not thinking about helping her . Martha’s cares proceeded from placing her serving above her worship of Jesus. I do not believe Martha was wrong for wanting to serve but it was her wrong attitude that caused her to misplace her priorities. Her focus was so much on what needed to be done, and then anxiety began to rule her heart and rob her of her peace. “Lord, don’t you care?…” she spoke in frustration. Of course she knew her Lord cared about her but her worries and cares were causing her to react improperly and cast wrong judgments . Martha’s sister Mary understood that she needed to cease from her work, and sit at the feet of the Lord for it was the time to do so. Martha problem was her struggle with laying the work aside and sitting quietly and listening to her Lord.
May we learn from this story of Mary and Martha. Let us seize the opportunities in which the Lord is desiring us to stop and hear what He has to say. May we make it a priority to sit quietly before Him that we may receive from His hand of provision. Remember in your walk with Him that there is ONLY ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT and that is to seek Him first!
Monday, October 16, 2017
Devotional for Monday, October 16, 2017
“It Is Following You…”
by Dona Hake
God is good all the time and all the time God is good… A wonderful thing that I hear people say often! But what about the times that the circumstances around us are not so good? Do we stop in those times and exclaim that our Lord is good no matter what things look like around us? Do we exclaim Him as good when our heart is troubled, and our plans are not turning out as we thought they would?
One morning I was having my coffee, and I was watching the news. They were interviewing a couple that was returning to their home in Texas after the severe floods that resulted from the hurricane. This woman was entering her home for the first time or should I say the remains of her home. She stood before what she once called home, and a reporter ask her, “What would you tell us is your first thoughts as you stand here?” As she welled up in tears she said, “God is good all the time even when things are bad… set your priorities and hold loosely to your earthly possessions.” Her words touched my heart and ministered to me deeply.
We take so much for granted, and we can never assume things are always going to be the same. One thing we can always take to the bank, and that is God is always the same, and God is always good. Today I encourage you to meditate on the truth that God‘s goodness and mercy follows you everywhere you go all the days of your life. Let us do as this woman suggested, and hold loosely to your earthly possessions. Let us set our eyes on the things that are above, grow more in love with Jesus each day, and walk closely beside Him just as He has promised to walk beside you. So if you ever feel like you are being followed…you are! Look behind you…it IS His goodness and mercy!
Sunday, October 14, 2017
Devotional for Sunday, October 15, 2017
“The Lord Our Valiant Supporter”
by Dona Hake
Psalm 54:4-5 (VOICE)
“But see now! God comes to rescue me;
the Lord is my valiant supporter.”
the Lord is my valiant supporter.”
God desires to help us to be more than overcomers in this life, and He promises supernatural strength to us as we lean upon Him in our day of battle. Thank God that in our time of trouble He desires to rescue us for as this scripture says, He is the valiant supporter. The word valiant means: boldly courageous; brave; and stout-hearted. Even if one is alone in the natural they really are never alone if God is on their side! It is so wonderful to know that the God of ultimate strength and wisdom is standing with us, and He is on our side.
May our only concern be that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are standing on the side of God in all matters. Here is a powerful quote by Abraham Lincoln that fits perfectly with our devotion today. In the time of battle and the concerns of it, he spoke these words….
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side;
my greatest concern is to be on God’s side,
for God is always right.”
my greatest concern is to be on God’s side,
for God is always right.”
Father, help us to stay aware that we are always abiding in You and walking in Your truth. We know that You are all truth, and that brings us strength in our day of trouble. Help us as well to have the courage to speak the truth even when it may not be the most popular thing to do. Help us to be mindful to stay on Your side, the side of truth, and cause us to speak truth in Your Spirit of love for You Lord God are always true and right! It is by Your all consuming power that we live and move and have our being.
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Devotional for Saturday, October 14, 2017
“Praying Continually”
by Dona Hake
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to hold fast to our joy and continue to maintain a heart that prays and gives thanks in all circumstances. Whether circumstances are sweet and lovely or not so good and pleasing to our hearts, we are to maintain joy and a thankful heart as we abide in His presence. We are to do this and make it a lifestyle for this is God’s will for us as we live our lives for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us not over complicate the thought of having a heart that seeks to continually pray. Of course we can not sit and pray all the time for we have jobs and responsibilities that would not permit that. There will be those times in which we may have opportunity to sit quietly and pray with no interruptions. Then again there may be days in which those blocks of time may be more challenging. I love talking with the Lord as I clean, wash my dishes, do my laundry etc….He said He would be with me always, why not speak with Him at any of those times?
I love to meditate on the fact that Jesus is my best friend, and He has promised to never leave nor forsake me. I know that His presence is felt throughout my day no matter what I am doing for this is my Friend that sticks by me through thick and thin! I like to speak to Him about the simplest of things as well as the things that may be troubling my heart.
Let us keep prayer as a priority in our hearts, and may we learn how to walk and talk with Him throughout our day for He is always with us and eager and ready to hear our voice! I leave you with this precious writing that is one of my many favorites. It fits perfectly with our devotion today. These words remind me how easy it is to pray as often as I desire as I abide in Him!
Prayer is so simple.
It is like quietly opening a door and slipping into
the very presence of God
there, in the stillness,
to listen for His voice,
perhaps in petition
or only to listen,
it matters not,
just to be there,
in His presence
Is prayer.
It is like quietly opening a door and slipping into
the very presence of God
there, in the stillness,
to listen for His voice,
perhaps in petition
or only to listen,
it matters not,
just to be there,
in His presence
Is prayer.
Anonymous
Friday, October 13, 2017
Devotional for Friday, October 13, 2017
“Choose His Teachings”
by Dona Hake
Today we will look at the importance of choices in a scripture from Proverbs 8. Within this scripture the writer exclaims that we are to choose God’s teachings, His instruction, and His discipline. He states that the value of these things are more precious than silver, and His knowledge is greater than fine gold. Think about it…whatever you could ever desire can never be compared to His precious gifts.
Choices are a part of our life each and every day. We can choose to walk in His way or walk in our own way. We can choose to receive His discipline through His Word or we can choose to reject His Word. We may choose to walk in love as 1 Corinthians 13 instructs us to do or we can choose to become angry or impatient. The choices we make will affect how we live and sadly our wrong choices may bear consequences that are unpleasant. Oh that we remain humble and quiet before Him choosing His ways over ours. Today we ponder that choosing His ways, His teachings and His wisdom are more precious than a fine beautiful stone.
Proverbs 8:10-11 Expanded Bible
“Choose [Take] my ·teachings [instructions; discipline] instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than ·the finest [choice] gold.
Wisdom is more precious than ·rubies [or pearls].
Nothing ·you could want is equal to [is more delightful than] it.”
There are many things in this life that are able to tempt us to lust. Let us be discerning and guarding of our hearts and eyes for the devil seeks to devour us in this matter. May we continue to be grateful for every blessing that we have, and may we remember that it is only the eternal things that have the greatest of value. Let us value His Word above anything this world has to offer. Let us purpose to choose His teachings and receive the discipline that His Word brings to us.
We can read scriptures and daily partake of His wonderful mercies yet fail to continue to keep a grateful heart that He has brought us out of darkness into the light of His kingdom. Let the Word of our Lord never become mere cliches to us, and may we never grow tired of hearing certain truths over and over again. God’s Word is fresh, alive, and it is exactly what our spirits needs. It is His Word that is the light that caused our blinded eyes to be open. For this we need to be thankful and grateful to the Living God! Today I encourage you to guard your heart that you are diligently making choices that are blessing your Heavenly Father.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Devotional for Thursday, October 12, 2017
“Each Day Gives Us New Reasons”
by Dona Hake
Psalm 5:3 (CEB)
” Lord, in the morning you hear my voice.
In the morning I lay it all out before you.
Then I wait expectantly.”
” Lord, in the morning you hear my voice.
In the morning I lay it all out before you.
Then I wait expectantly.”
I thank God that His mercies are new every morning and we can wake with the expectancy of a new day with fresh opportunities to serve our living God. Today let us look to Him as we lay our day out before Him, and with hearts of expectancy, let us give Him praise! Let us look to Him with faith to do His will.
Psalm 145:2 (AMP)
Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless You
[affectionately and gratefully praise You];
yes, I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless You
[affectionately and gratefully praise You];
yes, I will praise Your name forever and ever.
I love this scripture especially the words that imply that each new day gives us new reasons to bless Him. I want to challenge you today to think about something the Lord has done special for you over the past few days. Maybe He has blessed you with an answer to a prayer, or He gave you strength when you thought you could not go on any longer. I love pondering how He has faithfully answered me so many times with His sweet wisdom and how it is always so timely. Really my friends, there is always something to praise the Lord for. Just the fact that our day is new…a fresh slate for Him to write upon…how awesome is that? God is so good, may we bless Him with our praise from the depths of our hearts.
Lift your eyes toward heaven and lay your heart open to Him and wait expectantly for Him to guide you throughout your day. All of us have reasons to bless His Name and be thankful. Take time to call out the blessings that you possess because of the goodness of God that flows toward you. Today, with it’s new beginning and new reasons, choose to praise and bless His Name for all the good things you embrace because of His goodness in your life!
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Devotional for Wednesday, October 11, 2017
“Knowing the Lord’s Purposes”
by Dona Hake
Proverbs 19:21 (AMP)
“Many plans are in a man’s mind,
but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.”
We can all have our plans that are for a specific day and then there are the plans and dreams that live in our hearts about our life and our future. Today I want you to ponder the following questions as we meditate upon our Lord’s purposes in our lives:
What would the Lord have me to do today to bless Him?
What does the Lord desire for me to do with my life? Am I in His will?
Are my plans fitting His purposes that He has for me?
A purpose is the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc. It is such a good and fulfilling feeling when we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are flowing in the perfect will of God. There may be times we are doing something that seems to be a good thing yet it is not God’s perfect will at that time. I have heard it said, “Just because it’s good does not mean it is God.” So true isn’t it? The Lord desires that all our good deeds proceed from a right heart and not one of feeling obligated. Let us be careful that all we do is instructed by the Lord for His purposes and His glory.
As we begin our day let us seek Him and know that our heart is toward Him and our ears are as well. He desires to speak to our heart while we are at work, home or whatever we may be doing. Maintain a readiness of heart at all times to be used by Him. I must share something I overheard once while I was shopping. It made me giggle to myself for my Mother used to say this to me a lot. I was in a store and a mother was struggling trying to carry something and she looked at her child (with empty hands) and said, “Don’t just stand there, make yourself useful!” How true this is for us as spiritual children! Let us make a conscious effort to have our “hands full” being helpful to our Lord, and doing His will. He desires that we be about His business accomplishing His purposes for He has a great work He desires to do through us. As we stay aware of how He desires to use us, we will not stand empty handed, but we will allow Him to make us useful as we do His will and give Him glory! May we always be aware of His divine purposes for our life.
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!