“Eternity In the Heart Of Man”

Posted on Nov 2, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (AMP)
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”

I think this scripture is so precious, and it causes me to reflect on how God created us to need Him. He created each one of us with a special assignment in this life, and only He can accomplish it through us. I love how it tells us that God has planted eternity in every heart and mind that has ever lived. It is so very sad to hear when people decide to reject our loving Heavenly Father. There are those that deny Creation, and there are those that deny Jesus any place in their life. No matter how much one rejects truth, there will always be a hole and void in their heart, and they will try to fill it by living in their own ability, and serving the god of this world.Within the heart of man is a longing that only God can satisfy yet man who chooses to fill his needs and emptiness apart from Christ will never be fulfilled. I remember someone saying once that every man was created with a “hole” in their heart that only God is able to fill. How true this is.

I particularly want you to look at “man cannot understand the work God has done from the beginning to the end.” The beauty of this is that this is what makes God so great and almighty in all that He does. He is beyond us figuring Him out, nor should we try to comprehend His ways. If He wants you to understand, He will. Let us submit our lives and wills to Him, and simply trust Him. He has promised that as we trust Him that He will lovingly care for us, and we shall lack nothing.

Isaiah 58:11 (AMP)
“And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden
and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.”

Let God show Himself strong in you when there is no strength to be found. Permit Him to be the one to lovingly fill the void and emptiness in your heart. Permit Him to be your loving Shepherd in the dry lands for He will cause you to be as a well watered garden. It is not necessary to know how He does it for He alone is God, and all He wants is your trust!

Lord, we ask You this day to touch our hearts with fresh understanding of what our purpose is as we live this life on earth. We know that You and only You can satisfy every need that we have, and

we praise You for that. Cause us Lord to hear Your voice as we seek You with

our whole heart, and help us to continue to understand the way in which we are to walk. In Jesus Name, Amen!

“His Hand Is Filled With Good Things”

Posted on Nov 1, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Most vehicles sound off a little signal of some sort to warn you that you are low in gas. If you are wise you pay attention to it, and make sure you stop and get gas! If you ignore it, you are sure to encounter an inconvenience. If you park your car in town and you fill your meter for one hour, you are given that one hour to complete your errands. If you do not get back on time and the meter is empty, you could be pulling a slip out from under your windshield wiper with a hefty little fine that you will have to pay.

There are things in this life that we are given control of, and we must be responsible for them. This also applies to us spiritually. While God does not want us to live in our own ability, He does desire that we live responsibly and diligently live by His Word and do His commands. He desires that we seek Him and His voice as He watches over our hearts. God so beautifully will speak and warn us to make adjustments, and we must be obedient and diligent to do as He says. Remember, He will not force you to do His Word, for He has given us a will to live in this life.

Today I want to share about us paying attention to our hearts being kept full and maintained by all the good things of God. May we take heed to the warning signals that the Holy Spirit puts in our path. God has made every provision for us to be full of Him and He desires that we be full and stay full that we may live the victorious life that He intends for us to live. How many things in life do we diligently pay attention to in the natural…our gas tanks, our bank accounts, the parking meter, food in the refrigerator, etc… We keep a mental note and physical notes that we are maintaining these things, yet our spiritual being could be dry and we could possibly fail to notice. If we are not staying full spiritually, we will eventually have to pay for it. If this be the case we will not have the strength that we need, therefore we cannot persevere. As our peace is no longer present, we will react to things in a way that is not as God intended.

Today, Let us praise God that He has made a way for us to live in the fullness of His life! Lord, we ask You today that You fill us up. We ask for Your wisdom and Your voice to impart to us all that we need each and every day. We thank You for the wonderful joy and peace You give to us as we place our trust in You and You alone! In Jesus Name, Amen.

Romans 15:13 ERV
“I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“As You Look Into God’s Law”

Posted on Nov 1, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Proverbs 27:19 (ERV)
“Just as you can see your
own face reflected in water,
so your heart reflects the
kind of person you are.”

This scriptures provokes me 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!” or “I do not look like that!” Our reflections are speaking to us and telling us exactly what we look like. Now let us think about looking into the Word of God as a mirror. Do we permit God’s Word to show us the true condition of our

hearts? Do we permit His Word to correct and instruct us?

James 1:22-25
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“”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 we may feel a bit convicted and 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 Word will truly reveal to us the condition of our heart if we permit it to. The Lord is loving, and He will help you to make the adjustments you need to be molded into His image. Today I encourage you to look into God’s law, and see yourself in light of what it is speaking to your heart. Purpose to not forget what His Word has spoken to your heart and be a blessed doer of His Word!

“It’s the Big Picture That God Sees!”

Posted on Oct 31, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Some days life really does seem like a complicated puzzle doesn’t it? I see the jigsaw puzzle as a great analogy of our life being put together day by day by the loving hand of our loving God. There are times we can get so focused on a particular area just having to fit because in our minds we just want to see that part of our life worked out. May we come to trust and believe that God is wanting to work on some other area of the “puzzle” or tapestry of His will for us. His ways and thoughts are always higher and greater than ours!

Today I am hoping that we be reminded to allow God to search the “pieces” of His specific will for our life that He may work through us. As we live each day may we remain humble and allow Him to work and fit the pieces together that are in His plan, not our custom made ideas. It is a comfort to know that God is the Master Planner and within His plan will always be perfect timing. Young or old, we can all get a bit impatient with God’s timing, and we need to be cautious of this. I always love when my Granddaughters ask how long something may take and if I say it will be in about five minutes, and I get this…”Grandma, that will be forever!” Makes me grin every time. How many times do we react to God the same way?

God wants you to know that He has a plan for your life and He works in your life as you permit Him to. As we stay humble, He will work out all things according to His plans and purposes in His perfect and masterful timing!

Romans 8:28 (DRA) “And we know that to them that love God, all things work together unto good…”

“Unspoken Thoughts-Unspoken Words”

Posted on Oct 30, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Have you heard this quote??

“Just because a thought comes into my head

does not mean it has to come

out of my mouth!”

Sometimes people can be so blunt with their words, and quite honestly I am taken back that they are not considering how they are affecting people with what they are saying. I tease at times in the course of discussing people like this and I always say, “Their edit button for their mouth is not working, or has just gone totally bad!!” Our mouths can be used as tools to bring encouragement, peace, and love. Our mouths can also be used to bring hurt, sarcasm, criticism, etc…. May we daily seek the Lord that our mouths and minds be used as instruments of His love and goodness to those around us. Let us look at the psalmist’s prayer about our thoughts and words being pleasing to the Lord.

“May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts

be pleasing even to you,

O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 TLB

I think that this is such a wonderful prayer that we could never pray enough. Oh that we would ask the Lord more often, “Is what I just said okay Lord?” or “Lord Is my heart right in this matter? I think Jesus wants us to view Him as our best friend, and we should be allowing our best friend to challenge our heart and bring accountability in our lives. I value the times when I feel a tug at my heart from my Best Friend in those times that my thoughts or words are not pleasing to Him. When He is Lord of our life, we will truly welcome His admonishment and disciplines into our life.

The Lord has promised to help us with all things that pertain to life and godliness, so be encouraged that it is His heart to help you walk victoriously. Paul wrote in Philippians how to keep our thoughts in line with truth. If we just purpose to think on good things…those things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report! Philippians 4:8.

“Is Your Cup Full?”

Posted on Oct 29, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Yesterday I shared with you about responding to God’s ability, and not drawing upon your own. Our scripture today is from Psalm 23 and it depicts, and is an analogy that we do indeed go through times of dryness and barrenness, and our soul needs refreshed. The Psalmist speaks of the Lord overflowing our cup, giving us a cup of blessing.

Psalm 23:5 (Expanded Version)
“You ·pour oil of blessing on my head [anoint my head with oil;  oil was a means of refreshment in a hot, dry environment];
“You ·fill my cup to overflowing [make my cup overflow;  a cup of blessing].”

We all have a “cup” which we hold and sometimes our cup is in need of filling. If we do not look to Him for the refreshment and filling, we will position ourselves to live in our own ability. We will look to ways other than His to fill our cups of need that can only be met by Him. It is vitally important that we make it a priority to take time each day, and be still before Him. Read His Word, and seek His face according to that which you are in need of. God desires that we take our cup which should be filled, and lift it up to Him.

I cannot help but think of my youngest Granddaughter right now. She is all so determined to try to do so much without any help or assistance. “I can do it myself Grandma…” Just recently I had to laugh to myself as we were snacking together with some fruit and string cheese. Those packages of string cheese can be hard for me to get open, and I went to open hers but she insisted, “I can do it myself Grandma!” After about three minutes of being frustrated she hands it over to me….”Grandma, can you open it?!” It is interesting though if she is drinking, and her cup is empty, she always eagerly hands it over and says, “Please Grandma, I need more!” May we ever be before the Lord asking Him for more when our cups are on low or empty!

Each day we need to be before our Lord, and we need to seek Him for every need that we have. We need to make sure that our cup is full of and overflowing with all the wonderful and good things that flow only from above. He desires to overflow our cup with His grace, His tender mercies, His love, His wisdom, etc. Every task that we face needs to be met as we draw upon Him for that cup of abundant blessings!

“Responding To His Ability”

Posted on Oct 28, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Corrie ten Boom simply yet profoundly put it this way…

“It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.”

Many times we are faced with things that God has asked us to do, and we can discourage ourselves because we tend to try to accomplish them our own ability. We feel deep down we are to do something yet there may be times in which we lack the confidence we need because we are so focused on our inability or where we are lacking. Simply put…we are looking at ourselves rather that God.

Philippians 4:13 (AMP)“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].”

Today I encourage you to look up and draw from Him. Draw upon heavenly possibilities and God making you able through Him. If you are dealing with something that seems too big for you, set aside your thoughts and plans. Ask Him to infuse you with His strength and His thoughts on the matter. The Lord loves when we do things with our whole heart and soul yet we need to keep check that we are NOT drawing upon our own wisdom or how others say it is to be done. Remember, respond to His ability with faith in your heart for this is what truly counts!

“In God Alone”

Posted on Oct 27, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

I love this visual of hope being the door that stands open before us. Because the door is open, you are able to see what is on the other side. You see, when you embrace the hope that God gives, there will always be a place to stand, and in His timing the door will open or that which you are believing for will come to pass. God desires that we look beyond our circumstances, and believe the unseen. In God alone our soul must find our rest!

As we stay quiet and humble before Him, He will be faithful to bring hope to any situation, and our soul will be at rest. Faith is the evidence of that which is hoped for. Again, I like this image because there are the times of waiting and standing in faith, and sometimes the natural speaks all so loudly, and it can tend to distract us. Hope will always cause us to see open doors, finish lines, and shouts of victory! Hope will always show us how to see things that be not as though they are. It will keep our heart as we wait for something to come to pass. What a wonderful thing it is to possess hope, and be at rest in our souls. This only happens in God alone. Thank you Lord for the hope you have brought to us through your son Jesus Christ!

Psalm 62:5 (AMP)
“My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him;
for my hope and expectation are from Him.”

“Walk As a Child of Light”

Posted on Oct 26, 2015 in Devotions |

Genesis 1 :1-3 (DARBY)

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light. And there was light.

And God saw the light that it was good; and God divided between the light and the darkness. “

One of the first things the living God did during creation was separate the light from the dark. He saw it to be a good thing that light stood out from the darkness. As believers we awaken each morning to that Light, His faithfulness and loving mercies over our lives. He promises to walk with us, and lead and guide us throughout our day with that divine Light. Do you think about how blessed you are to be a child of the King? May we not take for granted that we are forgiven and set free. There are many people that are still in bondage to the devil and his dark and evil ways, and our hearts need to be toward them. This darkness they live in serves to create confusion and lack of direction. Oh how well I remember how my life was so void of life, light and love before He totally transformed my life. Darkness in one’s life can bring great depression and lack of hope to a soul. For such a time as this, we are called to be lights in the midst of darkness. He is watching for those that desire to shine like a light because He has been given us the Light that never grows dim.

Psalm 112:4 The Voice
“When life is dark, a light will shine for those who live rightly— those
who are merciful, compassionate, and strive for justice.”

Have you ever lost electricity with no warning? It is amazing how helpless you can feel because you cannot see anything in front of you. As you carefully make your way to wherever your flashlights or candles are, it is always amazing how even the smallest of light will dispel the darkness around you. The light that we shine as believers is the same way. Never underestimate the Lord Jesus using you

in the midst of one’s darkness.

Lord, today we ask You for Your help as we live in a world where there are many that are lost and do not know You. Their world is dark and they are deceived. May we be sensitive and be willing to be used as You call upon us. May we show the light of Your truth and love to all that need it. In Jesus Name we ask this. Amen

“God’s Love Is Able To Overcome…”

Posted on Oct 25, 2015 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

I was listening to a Christian radio station during some errands that I was running yesterday, I heard the most wonderful story of God’s love and the testimony of His hope for those that seem hopeless. The radio announcer shared that there was a refugee camp for Iraq refugees, and there was a person that was a part of ISIS that disguised himself to be a refugee, and he got into this camp. I am sure his motives and plans were not good.

The wonderful testimony of God’s love was that this young man was so overwhelmed and taken by the love and joy of Jesus that these refugees exhibited that he totally surrendered his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, and changed his way of thinking which had been that of extreme hatred and everything that ISIS represents. He was so ecstatic of his new found faith and freedom that he could hardly contain himself.

Let us be reminded that God’s love is able to conquer all, it is able to conquer the worst hatred that we can imagine. After hearing this testimony my heart was so blessed, and hope for that which seemed hopeless was birthed in my heart. As I hear the despicable and evil acts of this group, one could think their hearts are hardened and closed. Remember, the love and freedom of Christ is available to anyone. It is there for those that seem hopeless and those that do not seem to deserve it. Really…when you think about it, none of us really deserve the love and mercy of God. At the foot of the cross He sees us all the same. God’s love truly has no limits, and I hope you are rejoicing in this young man’s salvation! Hate and deception could not keep his heart from being touched by the love of God!

Romans 8:39 AMP nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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!