Friday, November 17, 2017
Devotional for Friday, November 17, 2017
“God’s Mercy Never Runs Out!”
by Dona Hake
Lamentations 3:22-23 NAS
“The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted,
his compassion is not spent;
They are renewed each morning—
great is your faithfulness!”
his compassion is not spent;
They are renewed each morning—
great is your faithfulness!”
As we look to our Lord at the start of our day we can stand believing for bountiful blessings flowing from His hand into our life. Look up and know that His acts of His tender mercies are never exhausted nor is His love ever spent. Every morning my friend that we awaken we can go forward knowing we serve a gracious and faithful God. We can know that everything we will need to sustain us is in His hands, and all we have to do is ask Him for it.
I love knowing that I serve a God that is FULL of mercy and His faithfulness is so great. As you meditate upon this, I encourage you to set your gaze upon Him, and allow your spirit to receive all that He has for you today. We can look to Him in prayer and believe that His fullness will be upon us as we trust in Him.
Psalm 90:17
“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
and direct thou the work of our hands upon us…”
“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
and direct thou the work of our hands upon us…”
I believe as we allow His beauty or His grace to be upon us, He will direct the work of our hands. He will begin to deal with how we view everything. He is well able to put us in alignment with His will as we stay humble before Him. He will in turn cause all that we set our hand to to be blessed and prosperous. Praise Him today for His wonderful mercies that never run out!!!!
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Devotional for Thursday, November 16, 2017
“Are You Rooted and Grounded?”
by Dona Hake
Our lives speak and reveal what is rooted deep within our hearts. If a child of God is grounded in the love of God, he or she will seek ways to be a blessing at every opportunity. If an individual has any root of bitterness within their heart it will be hard for them to flow in His love and freedom that was bought for them by the blood of Jesus.
The Lord instructs us to be diligent over our hearts, for from our hearts flow the issues of life. As we tend to our hearts as our Lord commands, we will value the fruit of the deeply rooted good things He desires to work and produce in us. It is as we guard our hearts like this that we will immediately discern if any roots of ungodly thinking that would try to creep into our hearts and minds.
Today I want you to think about the love of God in your heart. Are you rooted and grounded in His love? Do you value tending and guarding your heart? Can you see that you are growing in the love of God or are you at a standstill? Quite honestly no matter how old you are in the Lord, this is a question we should ask ourselves on a regular basis.
We have heard the quote “Bloom where you are planted.” It is important to know in our heart that we are staying connected with the Living God, and permitting Him to prune us when He sees fit. I was given a Poinsettia one year as a Christmas gift. It is still flourishing after five years. In order for this particular plant to grow and flourish there is a schedule in which I must prune it back. I recently had to prune it back, and it was so hard for it was so bushy and beautiful. In order for it to remain beautiful I did what I know was best for it’s health and maintaining it’s beauty, and so it is when our Lord prunes us. Part of our strength and flourishing in our Lord is His time of pruning us, and we must welcome it. He knows what needs to go, and He knows exactly the right time to do it.
Today, I encourage you to have vision of being rooted and grounded in Him. May your roots go down deep in the things of His Spirit. Look to Him to grow in His wonderful love, and be filled up with Him! I leave you with this scripture to meditate and pray it over your life.
Ephesians 3:17-20 The Living Bible
“And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living
within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of
God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all
God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his
love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so
great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it.
And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.
Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to
do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely
beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.”
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Devotional for Wednesday, November 15, 2017
“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. We serve a mighty and living God that hears and listens intently to the cries of the man or woman with a humble heart. God desires to move mountains on behalf of those that truly reverence His Name, and seek diligently to keep a humble heart before Him and man. You may wonder who are those that truly reverence 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. It is the man or woman that calls upon Him for help whether it be a big or small thing. 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. We thank You that as we ask for all good things that come from You that You are able to place godly desires within us, and You will be faithful to fulfill those desires. 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 In Jesus Name, amen.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Devotional for Tuesday, November 14, 2017
“Truth and Laughter”
by Dona Hake
I love watching the very old TV shows on television. One of my favorites right now is “Father Knows Best.” It was first aired on TV 63 years ago on CBS, and oh my so much has changed in all those years. Almost without fail each episode brings a lesson of holding fast to good and moral values. Last week I was cleaning and had one of these shows on, and the father of “Father Knows Best” responded to one of his children and spoke a very interesting comment. He said, “Laughter and truth are the most powerful weapons.” I found this to be so interesting for in this day and age you would never hear such statements made on TV. Most of current TV has very little moral values coming through the story line of a program. There may be a few but they are few and far between.
Today I bring you some scriptures to meditate upon truth and laughter. They really are powerful, and are weapons against the devil. Think about how the devil loves nothing more than attempting to rob our joy, and keep us from walking in the truth. I encourage your heart to hold fast the God’s truth, and take every opportunity you can to laugh, and enjoy your life in Christ!
John 8:32
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Proverbs 12:17
“He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness…”
Proverbs 12:19
“The lip of truth shall be established for ever:
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.”
Proverbs 16:6
“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:
and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.”
Psalm 126:2
“Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
and our tongue with singing: then said they
among the heathen, The Lord hath
done great things for them.”
Proverbs 17:22
“A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful
mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
Monday, November 13, 2017
Devotional for Monday, November 13, 2017
“The Lord Our Shepherd”
by Dona Hake
Psalm 23:1. Amplified version
“The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide
and to shield me], I shall not want.”
We serve a faithful Shepherd. He walks beside us, He walks before us. He tends, guards, and watches over us carefully. To me, this is a precious meditation that we should how dear to our hearts. We can never think about this and ponder it enough. In this day and age, we are presented with so many things, and if we are not careful we can become discontent with what we have in our life. These things can easily become distractions, and take our focus off of what is really important. Just because we want something does not mean we need it nor should we feel that we are entitled to have to have it.
As I am composing these thoughts for you to meditate upon I am thinking about my need for His love to empower me and rule in my heart. Oh how I need His grace and strength to sustain my heart in those times I feel I cannot do something. My heart is so thankful for His wisdom that comes from above to help me in decision-making throughout my day.I thank Him for His provision of forgiveness in those times I’m needing to overlook things, release hurts and offenses, and simply let them go. I praise Him for His peace that passes my comprehension, and sustains my heart in times of trouble. I encourage you now to think about what you really need to get through your day.
As we focus on heavenly things He will take care of all those things in this earthly realm that we have need of. Let us praise Him today for His faithfulness…He promises that we will never lack in any good thing. As children of the Living God, may this be our confession that the Lord is our Shepherd… WE SHALL NOT WANT for He is faithful to supply all of our needs. Let us not dwell on what we do not have but rather that we need to look to Him to take care everything in our life for He is our faithful God.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Devotional for Saturday, November 11, 2017
“Vessels For His Use”
by Dona Hake
2 Timothy 2:20-22Amplified Bible (AMP)
“Now in a large house there are not only [a]vessels and objects of gold and silver, but also vessels and objects of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honorable (noble, good) use and some for dishonorable (ignoble, common). Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things [which are dishonorable—disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Today let us meditate upon knowing that we are His vessels. He has called us to do greater things in this life. This is His will for every child of God.
In my prayer time this morning the words came from my spirit, “Help me Lord not to carry care but to carry peace.” I meditated upon these words as I was praying, and I began to see in an even deeper way that as I serve Him how He desires to use me as a powerful and pure vessel of His. We must be rid of anything that would hinder our effectiveness and our testimony for Him. My friends, we must be mindful and careful of what we are carrying in spirit. We must be diligent to carry His peace, love, joy, and His grace and all that He is that we may glorify Him on this Earth.
Lord, help us this day to be mindful that we are Your vessels, and You desire to use us in a great way. May we look to You, and the help of Your Holy Spirit to show us when we are carrying things that are not glorifying You. We know we must make good use of all of our time here that You may use us in all of our potential. Help us to be reminded to lay down cares, anxieties, and anything that would keep us from totally carrying all that You are. In Jesus Name, amen.
Friday, November 10,, 2017
Devotional for Friday, November 10, 2017
“Perseverance’s Power”
by Dona Hake
“Let us run with endurance the race that
is set before us, looking onto Jesus, the
author and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.“
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
We all face our fair share of road blocks and stumbling blocks in our life. Such blocks cause us to stop and make a decision. Will it be courage or discouragement? Will it be patience for impatience? Will it be strength or will it be weariness? My friends, we must purpose to persevere for our Lord Jesus Christ has set before us an example to live by. He is the ultimate example of perseverance and attaining any goal that we have.
Father God, we thank you this day for Your Son Jesus. We thank you for how He has taught us to persevere, and how to live for He persevered and He is the author and finisher of our faith. He set the joy before Him, and endured in the Cross, He despised the shame, and He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. May we also run with that same endurance the race You have set before us, as we persevere drawing upon Your grace, and Your strength. In Jesus name amen.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Devotional for Wednesday, November 8, 2017
“Calming An Anxious Heart”
by Dona Hake
Today I desire for you to ponder the precious quietness that our Lord desires for you to have in your soul. Oh how easily the cares of this world and troubles can become so noisy. The more the thoughts and distractions are permitted to remain in our minds, the more unruly they get. This noise comes and robs us of the precious peace that God desires that we guard and hold fast to.
PSALM 42:5 KJ21
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
And why art thou disquieted within me?
Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise
Him for the help of His countenance.”
Ecclesiastes 4:6
“Better is an handful with quietness,
than both the hands full with
travail and vexation of spirit.”
Lord, we ask You this day to help us by the power of Your Holy Spirit to remain in that place of quietness. We thank You that this place of quietness is in Your presence, and in Your presence is fullness of joy, and all the provision that we need. May we promptly take authority over anything that is trying to rob our hearts of Your peace. Help us to be discerning over the things that cause our souls to be disquieted. Lord, Remind us to draw upon Your strength and grace for all that we need. You are our hope, and we praise You this day for the help of Your countenance. In Jesus Name, amen!
Monday, November 6, 2017
Devotional for Tuesday, November 7, 2017
“The Secret To Reaping”
by Dona Hake
Galatians 6:9 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
“And let us not lose heart and grow weary
and faint in acting nobly and doing right,
for in due time and at the appointed season
we shall reap, if we do not loosen and
relax our courage and faint.”
I shared with you a few days ago that to everything there is a season. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Today we meditate upon the season of reaping. This is the due time or appointed season of seeing reward and blessing for that which we have put our hearts and hands to as we sow to the Spirit. This “appointed season” is be at different times than the seasons we experience on this earth such as winter, spring, summer or fall. The seasons in which the weather changes is somewhat predictable, and we kind of know when to expect seasons to come and change. The seasons with God are different for sometimes we can see change is coming, and sometimes change happens without warning. No matter what, our Lord promises that if we sow to the Spirit there will reap reward, IF we do not lose heart and grow weary.
Each of us will experience that “appointed season” at the time in which the Lord says it is time to reap. Let us hold fast to the secret of reaping in that appointed season. It is all contained in this precious scripture in Galatians.
Lord help us to stay strong as we sow to the Spirit. Let us not grow in weariness as we act nobly and purpose to do the right thing. May our courage not relax, and may be resist anything that would keep us from crossing the finish line. God has promised to be with us my friends, and in Him we are more than conquerors!
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Devotional for Saturday, November 4, 2017
“Realizing the Brevity of Life”
by Dona Hake
Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
so that we may grow in wisdom.
Psalms 90:12 NLT
As I meditate upon this scripture my heart is drawn to wanting more and more of God’s wisdom for I need it to live victoriously in this life. Oh that we would come to deeper understanding of the brevity of this life. May we seek to know and care about what really matters, and set our priorities in line with His will.
Lord, today we ponder how this life is as a vapor, and time passes so quickly. We desire to make the most of our time so we ask you to help us to see the time and energy wasters that are in our life that we may gain better insight into Your wisdom and understanding. Cause us to be reminded that reverencing You is the beginning of all wisdom and good understanding. In Jesus Name, amen.
The [reverent] fear of the Lord is the
beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute
essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; A
good understanding and a teachable heart
are possessed by all those who do the
will of the L ord; His praise endures forever.
Psalm 111:10
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!