“The Closer I Walk With Him”

Posted on Nov 23, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Today I want to share about walking with Him and holding his hand. This requires our effort because many times we desire that He walk with us yet we break the hold and run off like a little child because something in this life has distracted us. Aren’t you glad to know that the God of Heaven and Earth desires to walk with you and hold your hand?

Even though we may feel we are all grown up in this world in which we live, we must remind ourselves that we do not always see the dangers ahead as our Lord foresees. It is of utmost importance that we purpose to hold the loving hand that desires to embrace ours. There may also be times that He too may see need to speak firmly to His by His Word because you are wanting to go your own way.

I once passed by a sign that a church keeps a little quote to provoke a spiritual truth. It said:

“The closer I walk with Him,
there’s less of a chance
that anything come between us.”

Today I encourage you to hold His hand tightly and allow no distance between you and Him. Know that there are many things in this world that are trying to take your attention from Him. These things tend to tempt us and will ultimately weaken your relationship with Him. Be vigilant to watch over your soul and hold His hand and keep your eyes on Him because He never takes His eyes off of you!

“Thankful For His Provision”

Posted on Nov 22, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

“Look at the lilies! They don’t toil and spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not robed as well as they are. And if God provides clothing for the flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, don’t you suppose that he will provide clothing for you, you doubters?”

This scripture reminds us of God’s loving care and how He watches over us. He is there to provide for us all that we need in any particular time. This is the time of the year that we are pondering how our hearts should be giving thanks. As Thanksgiving approaches I encourage you to ponder the blessings in your life. Think about how He has so faithfully provided for you every day. Maybe it is not in ways you expected, but we can count on it….He is faithful and He will provide!

Think about it…. When you need wisdom…The Lord will provide. When you need strength…The Lord will provide. When you need direction…The Lord will provide. Think about all you may need and then begin to become strong in your faith that the Lord will provide! God is good all the time…all the time God is good, and He knows all that you need!

“His Mercies…New Every Morning!”

Posted on Nov 21, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Lamentations 3:22-23 (TLB)

“His compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; His loving-kindness begins afresh each day.”

As you begin your day, do you remember to thank Him for His mercies? Do you remind yourself that His mercies are specifically new just for you each morning? Oh that we would remind ourselves of how He rescued us from a life a destruction. I think at times and wonder where I would be without Him for I know that He rescued me from a life of confusion, wrong choices, and deception. How about you?

Today I want you to look at this scripture and really read it keeping in mind that you are on God’s mind continually, and He desires for you to understand how much He loves you, and His mercies are ever toward you. I would like to share an interesting quote I found by John Bunyan.

“Since God has mercies to give, and He intends

to give them to us, those mercies are not broken

pieces or someone else’s leftovers….God has bags

that were never untied, never opened up, but set

aside through a thousand generations

for those who hope in His mercy.”

Let us meditate upon His mercies that are there for us now, and will be yours to find and hope for every day you live on this earth!

Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever:

with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

“His Word Teaches and Admonishes Us”

Posted on Nov 20, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Yesterday I shared with you about my little Granddaughter trying to keep pace with my footsteps as I was walking a bit faster than usual. After my Granddaughter and I arrived home from our breakfast yesterday she does her usual run as fast as she can thing to get into the house. As she began to run on our sidewalk I yelled at her and warned her to slow up, and she immediately stopped, and changed her speed. I just do not want to see her fall especially on cold concrete. I am just glad she is learning to slow up and heed to the voice of wisdom. A word of warning is only helpful to the degree it is heeded to.

Proverbs 4:26 (TLB)

“Watch your step. Stick to the path and be safe.”

Today, I want to share with you about those times that God calls out to us through His Word, His Spirit, or people in our lives. I know we can all relate to those times in which we feel we are being warned. We must always be careful to judge the warnings that come our way to make sure they are truly of Him, and not fear motivated. God’s Word clearly has accounts where men and women of God were admonished by the Lord.

Colossians 1:28 ( Amp.)

“Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One).”

Today I encourage your heart to respect the voice of the Lord as He speaks to you through His Word, the inward witness, and those God given people that have been placed in your life. May we all continue to grow deeper in the comprehensive insight in His ways and purposes.

“The Steps of a Good Man…”

Posted on Nov 19, 2014 in Devotions |

steps of a good man are ordered of the lord

by Dona Hake

Yesterday I was taking my little Granddaughter to breakfast, and it was bitterly cold and windy. As we were walking from the car to the restaurant I found myself walking a bit faster than usual forgetting the little feet beside me were running to keep up with me. I looked down and found her watching my feet, and trying her best to keep pace. I realized I needed to slow down for her, but what stood out to me was that she was trying her best to walk like Grandma, and keep up! After all she knew she was heading for her favorite breakfast restaurant!

Do you observe the pace that the Lord is desiring to walk? Sometimes things can seem to be moving slowly, and then out of nowhere business picks up and the Lord is doing all kinds of things around you. The most important thing is that we are diligently observing the footsteps of the Lord, as He has promised to walk beside us.

Psalm 37:23 (AMP)

“The steps of a [good] man are directed and

established by the Lord when He delights in his way

[and He busies Himself with his every step].”

The Lord is very interested in the paths that we walk on. I love how the Amplified version say that He busies Himself with my every step! It is important that we know He is delighting in the path that we are walking. All too often we can get into our own ways and ability, and stray from the path He desires. Today I encourage you to look often at the path or ways you are choosing for God desires to walk with you, but most importantly He desires to walk in the way that He has chosen just for you! Be strong in the Lord and follow His steps.

Psalm 84:5

“Happy are those who are strong in the Lord,

who want above all else to follow your steps.”

“Praise, Seek, Trust, and Thank Him”

Posted on Nov 18, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

I love the Word of God and I love having encouraging and inspirational words displayed in my home. Presently I updated my decorative chalkboard to say “Count your blessings!♥” Every morning when I awaken and enter my kitchen, this is the first thing I see, and it immediately causes my mind to think on how blessed I am. A few weeks ago I purchased a new notebook/journal. On the front of it, it says:

In the happy moments

PRAISE GOD

In the difficult moments

SEEK GOD

In the quiet moments

TRUST GOD

In every moment

THANK GOD

I just loved this so much that it has taken it place where once again, I see it often. I would like to share some scripture with you relative to these words.

IN THE HAPPY MOMENTS let us give Him praise. Let us ever be mindful that all good things are from Him and when we are happy and rejoicing, let us praise His Name.

Psalm 9:2 (AMP)
“I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High!”

IN THE DIFFICULT MOMENTS let us seek God. It is when we are walking through troubles that our hearts need to draw near to Him, not run away or seek refuge in worldly pleasure.

Psalm 27:5-8 (AMP)
“For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock.
And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy and be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, SEEK My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].”

IN THE QUIET MOMENTS let us trust God. It is so awesome to know that no matter how busy things get or the noise of this world tries to trouble our hearts, our rest and quiet is in Him. It is all so common if one is troubled that their sleep can be hindered by the anxieties of their mind tormenting them. It is in the quietness that He gives that we can calmly trust in Him.

Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.

IN EVERY MOMENT let us thank God. Oh that we would remind ourselves to stay in His presence every moment we breathe. It is in His presence that there is fullness of joy.

Psalm 30:12 “To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”

“Good People May Fall But…”

Posted on Nov 17, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Proverbs 24:16 (ERV)

“Good people might fall again and again, but they always get up.”

There will be times that we are weak, weary, and there are times in which are choices that set us back. Praise God for those times that even when we are at our worse, He promises to lift us back up. As we reach for His strength in our time of weakness He promises to meet us where we are at, and stand us back up on our feet again. As we seek to serve Him humbly, He promises to help us.

This life brings obstacles and difficulties that can stand in our way in the good fight of faith, IF we permit them to. I am going to say it again, things can stand in our way IF we permit them to. Along with difficulties and trials, we can become worn down in our hearts and minds. Many times during trials we can be tempted to focus so much on the problem that our thoughts become saturated with them. Let us meditate on the truth that God has commanded us to be diligent to guard our hearts and minds with His Word. He well knows the fight that we have before us, and He is well able to equip us to fight it!

I want to encourage you today as you run the good race, and set out to serve Him. Be diligent to do all that He requires of you and do it with all of your heart. God is looking for a people that are willing to give their all, He is not looking that we do everything perfectly for He knows we are human and that is impossible. He is looking for the pure and diligent heart that seeks to obey Him.

“Find Your Strength In God”

Posted on Nov 16, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Philippians 4:13 (CEB)

” I can endure all these things through

the power of the one who gives me strength.”

What a blessing it is to know that we have all that we need for anything that we face. Let us look at this verse and as you read it emphasize the first two words, “I can.” Many times when we are faced with adversity or we are feeling weak, the first words that we may be tempted to entertain in our minds are “I can’t do this.” Today I want to encourage you to seek daily to find your strength in God.

In preparing for this particular devotional my original focus on scripture was John 10:10:

John 10:10 (AMP)
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill

and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy

life, and have it in abundance

(to the full, till it overflows).”

In this life we all face the thief, and he is the devil himself, He diligently seeks to steal and rob from you. He will try to kill your dreams, weaken your faith, and more than anything try to convince you that “you can’t” be an overcomer. He seems to sometimes have the mysterious ability to make the smallest of things look gigantic, yet we serve the one that can bring all problems down to size it only we keep our eyes on Him. Paul spoke of when he was his weakest is when he truly experienced

God’s strength. As we look to live in His strength we can know that no matter how things are going in the natural, He is with us, and He will ever strong Him self strong on your behalf.

“and You Will Be Given So Much…”

Posted on Nov 14, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Today I want to share with each and every one of you that God has given you something, and He wants you to pass it on. Each of us are blessed in different ways and He desires to flow through us to those around us. I have heard people over the years exclaim that for some reason or another that they feel they have nothing to give. Sometimes people limit themselves to giving because they think of it being only monetarily. There is more to giving than just the giving of money. God can use us in so many ways to touch lives in our paths everyday. There are those that need your listening ear or a word of encouragement or wisdom. Those times that the Lord lays an individual on your heart, I encourage you to stop and pray, for your obedience could make a difference in their life in that moment in time.

I am going to share two quotes with you that are the words of Mother Teresa. I admire the life of this loving, gracious and humble woman of God. Read and take heed.

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”

and the other quote is

“God doesn’t look at how much we do, but with how much love we do it.”

As we are obedient to the voice of the Lord to give what we have, He will surely bless it. Along with obedience in our giving let us do it with a heart of love. The scripture I am want to share with you now is from Luke 6:38 (ERV)

“Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”

Now I want to emphasize that your giving should never be for the sake of what you get back. When God gives back to you, it is solely for the purpose of your hands being filled to the full that you can continue to give out and be a blessing to those in need. I encourage you today to open your hands to those around and obediently give that which the Lord has so graciously blessed you with!

“The Place To Dwell”

Posted on Nov 14, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

God has provided for us His place of refuge. He knows exactly what we need to feel secure from the things of this life. All He asks is that we dwell there, and that we remain. It is one thing to live under His wonderful shadow of protection, peace and joy, but it is more important that we remain there. In other words, we cannot allow things to pull us out from that place that He has provided for us.Let us purpose to remain in the place of His peace, love, joy, protection, and all the wonderful things He has provided.

There will be things around us from day to day that will tempt us to walk out from His shelter. Many times people may choose anxiety over peace or bitterness over love, etc. This is only a few of the many choices we can make that can rob us from the shelter He has provided. Remember, His shelter is our refuge. Next time you are tempted to get upset, instead of dwelling on the one who upset you or the circumstance, choose rather to run to Him for help, and refuge from the problem.

Psalm 91:1 (GW)
“Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High
will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.”

In our home, my husband and I have lived by a rule since the day we married. We will do whatever it takes to maintain peace in our home. We value the peace in our home and in our hearts. We never leave each other with things unresolved, and we purpose to continue doing this. This is also a truth we imparted to our sons. No one went to bed until we knew there was peace in our hearts. No matter how long it took, we talked until it is resolved.

“”When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath
(your exasperation, your fury or indignation)
last until the sun goes down.”
Ephesians 4:26

You see, God well knows our human nature, and that there will be times that we can heed to anger, but the warning here is to deal with it and resolve it. Do not go to sleep with anger in your heart for when you awaken it will be there, and you will surely carry it with you throughout a new day. This is not God’s plan for you! God wants us to live in a place of peace in our hearts as well as in our homes, and those around us.

Today I just want to encourage you to value the wonderful blessing of Him providing a place for you to dwell. Do not allow the negative things of this life to pull you from that place of love, peace, and protection that He has so abundantly blessed you with. For every problem we have, He has a solution. All we need to do is remain in His presence, look to Him, and He will be your helper, and all that you need to keep you there.

Devotional Archives

6 Responses to “Devotional”

Lisa Viands says:

November 8, 2013 at 5:05 pm

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!!
- Dona Hake says:
  
  November 8, 2013 at 11:15 pm
  
  thank you Lisa for sharing. I am blessed that this was a blessing to you!
Selena Neely says:

November 18, 2013 at 3:07 pm

Ralph &I are really enjoying your devotional together.
- Dona Hake says:
  
  November 18, 2013 at 3:29 pm
  
  So glad this is blessing you both!
Selena Neely says:

November 19, 2013 at 12:50 pm

Oh, what a wonderful reminder! I want to break the magnifing glass of worry and trust God for each step I take.
Dona Hake says:

November 20, 2013 at 2:41 am

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!