by Dona Hake

Proverbs 25:4 (ERV)

silver to make it pure, and a worker

can make something beautiful.”

Today this is the truth I desire for you to ponder… You are so valuable and He loves you so much.   As we walk through this life we realize that we are all walking through the process of change and hopefully we are seeing spiritual growth within us.  There is a refining and purification that is taking place in our hearts if we deeply humble ourselves to His Mighty life changing Word.

One version of Proverbs 25:4 is translated like this:

“Remove the impurities from the silver,
and the smith has material to make a vessel.”

The Lord our Refiner desires to  bring our hearts  to a fine or a pure state; free from impurities.  As our Purifier He will cause us to be free from anything that debases, pollutes, adulterates, or contaminates our hearts.  God wants every bit of us so He can use us in wonderful ways to glorify Him on this earth.

In the forty one years that I have known the Lord I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have heard people share from the depths of their hearts as they walked through a difficult trial.  Many at the end of the trial admit that they experienced  God removing things from them that positioned them to be used in a greater way.  Many times those difficult situations can actually cause us to do the soul searching we need to do and God is able to work in us in a greater way.     At this point I want to say something very important and that is God does not bring grief and tests to see what we are made of.    This is such a lie and false teaching.   Our God is the giver of ONLY good gifts.  He desires that we stand fast in our faith when the trials of this life happen.   He desires that we seek to be full of His Word at all times for when the issues of life happen we have a rich well of strength within us to draw from.    As we draw upon Him for wisdom and strength in the midst of a trial we will always find that in the end we are stronger in patience, longsuffering, and all the good things of our Lord.  

As we keep our hearts humble before Him I believe He will continue to refine and purify us that we can serve and be used by Him in greater ways.  Praise be to the God who is the Refiner and Purifier!

by Dona Hake

“I feel like I’m on track!”  Have you ever said that?  I love the feeling that I know I am doing the right thing and all is flowing smoothly.  God desires to lead and guide us each and every day of our lives.  He also desires that we seek Him first and that we purpose that His Spirit is leading us.  Today I want us to meditate upon the Holy Spirit being our spiritual compass in this life.

Galatians 5:16   CEV

 Many times we can fall to the weakness of following our own way or our own selfish desires.  We can also be guilty of knowing the Lord’s direction but trying to make things happen in our own ability.  As we trust Him for answers and direction He will always be faithful to direct us and keep us on track.  Oh that we would seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we walk in His will.  May we stay conscious that we are not doing our thing and expect His hand of blessing on activities and works that proceed from our own making.

Have you ever heard the saying spoken when someone is needing to make a decision…”Maybe you just need to sleep on it.”  I have had times where I have received answers to a particular need or leading in what I needed to do during the night.  The Lord has a beautiful and tender way of quietly speaking in the quietness of the night.  I recently visited the most unique gift shop.   I know it is owned by an individual that is a believer.   As I was talking to a young lady working and helping me, I exclaimed to her how beautiful and unique the shop was.   She immediately began to share how creative the owner was.   But then she mentioned a very interesting thing.  She said that many times the owner will have dreams and she will see things in her dreams that prompt her to change up displays or show her something new to create.     I was so blessed to hear that. I know the Lord is definitely speaking to her for it is evidenced in her beautiful store.

Psalm 16:7    (ERV)
“I praise the Lord because he taught me well.

I praise God that He so tenderly desires to come along side of us in this life that we can know we are going the right direction!   Praise Him today and seek to be led by the loving Holy Spirit.

by Dona Hake

Yesterday I sat in front of my pre-school class at church, and purposed to bring one truth to them, and that was God created so many wonderful things.   My teaching to them was based on Psalm 89:11 and I will share it with you from the Easy to Read Version…

“Everything in heaven and earth belongs to you.

Psalm 139:17-18

“Your thoughts and plans are treasures to me,

O God! I cherish each and every one of them!

 How grand in scope! How many in number!

As I read this Psalm and think about the sands of the ocean it causes me to realize that I really cannot fathom how many thoughts the God of heaven has thought about me.  In saying that it reminds me as well that His thoughts are different than mine because He sees us through His pure love, and His thoughts and ways will always be higher than how my mind thinks. 

Isaiah 55:9 (ASV)

 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways

higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

He sees our future through His eyes and He desires that our faith rest in Him.  I am thankful that I serve such a loving God that loves me so much!

by Dona Hake

Ephesians 2:10   (AMP)

“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), [a]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”

This scripture should cause us to  anticipate the great Workman at work in our life.  Each one of us is a work in progress!  This should encourage our heart  that the God that created the heavens and earth is molding us and preparing us for another day.  Each day our feet hit the floor we should be anticipating how He is going to use us.  Let us be mindful though that we do it with His strength and ability.  Let our steps and plans be directed by Him.

Philippians 2:13   (AMP)

“[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while [a]effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and [b]delight.”

He delights in using our ears to listen to those around us.  As we speak words, let them be words of edification to the one that may need a word of encouragement in their life.  May our hands be those that work heartily unto Him!   Today I am looking forward to what He is going to do in my life today as His loving hands continue to mold and make me for His purposes!  I hope you are too!  May we purpose in our hearts to take those paths that He prepared ahead of time, and walk in them!

by Dona Hake

Matthew 6:11 (CEB)

Physical hunger will always prompt us to eat, and we need to feed our bodies that we be healthy and have energy for this life.   Today we will meditate upon keeping our spirit man strong and healthy.   What do we need to do to keep it strong and in faith?   I know we all know the answer to this question yet how many times we can be neglecting taking care of keeping our spirit man nourished.    Oh that we not be deceived to think that we can live yesterday’s faith and testimonies.      We all are dealing with different things and different demands, therefore we need to be diligent to read His Word and meditate upon it daily in order that our spirit, soul and mind are thriving on the Bread of Life.

God’s Word is our sustenance, and as we ask for Him to give us our daily bread we will certainly receive from Him.  His bread is our means of sustaining life and nourishment.  I encourage you today to seek Him for that which you need.  Is it a specific answer or need for direction?  Is there emptiness in your heart and pain?  Anything you need God is well able to give to you and He will give you nothing less than what you need to be sustained this day.

Matthew 7:7-10(ERV)

“Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you.  Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to

knock will have the door opened for them.

“Do any of you have a son? If he asked for bread, would you give him a rock?  Or if he asked for a fish, would you give him a snake? Of course not!”

by Dona Hake

“Love,

to be real,

must cost –

it must hurt –

it must empty us of self.”

Mother Teresa

God is calling us to the high places of love.  A wonderful place to meditate is 1 Corinthians 13 because this simply spells out what God’s love is and what it is not.

Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious,

doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about.

There’s no arrogance in love;  

it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—

it’s not self-absorbed.

Love isn’t easily upset.

Love doesn’t tally wrongs  or celebrate injustice;

but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight!  

Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along;

it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what.

Love will never become obsolete.

Let us desire today that God’s true and real love flows through us in every way possible.  Lord help us to desire to pay the cost even when it hurts.  Cause us to see that which hinders us from loving like Him and may He help us empty us from such things!  Lord, we are believing that You are well able to do above and beyond all we dare ask or think regarding Your love operating through us!  In Jesus Name, amen!

“Be Thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light”

(A portion of lyrics from “Be Thou My Vision”)

Just a few verses from the beautiful hymn “Be Thou My Vision.”  I believe the more we purpose to keep our eyes steadfast on Him, the more we will see clearly and see as He sees.  Waking or sleeping, His sweet presence can be our Light.  As we take hold of His commands we can begin to walk with more courage and confidence.  Many times if things seem foggy and unclear to us we can fear making one step in front of the other.  Yet the more we have clear understanding we know by His Word that He will broaden our path and we can run the race with joy and purpose in our hearts!

Psalm 119:32 (CEB)

” I run the same path as your commandments
because you give my heart insight.”

Today my prayer for you is from Ephesians 1:18…

Ephesians 1:18 (CEV)

“My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.”

by Dona Hake

Psalm 1 :2-3  (TLB)

“…but they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely.

 They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper.”

There is great reward for being diligent in embracing the Word of God.  As you daily follow Him and purpose to put His teachings first and foremost in your life, He has promised that your life would be prospered.  As we stand as trees along God’s riverbank we will begin to see things grow and develop within us.  Let us always be mindful that our fruit is not for us alone to survive in this life but rather to be a blessing to those around us.  Let us purpose to be used by Him and to be willing to bless those He puts in our path as we live and abide in Him.  As we proclaim His Word many will be blessed and nourished from the  fruit that our lives bear.

 “The lips of the righteous nourish many…”

I’m feeling blessed today knowing that I am standing strong in His promises.  I love that He has promised that my life would bear fruit all the seasons of my life and all that I put my hand to shall prosper!  I encourage you today to look for ways that you can follow Him more closely.  We are able to be His people that prosper in all that we do!

by Dona Hake

Oh the power of the cross!    He finished the work, and He desires that we walk as He walked.  It is only by the power of God that any of us can remain strong for He has promised to give us ALL things that we need that pertain to this life and living godly.  When God says ALL He means ALL.  Not just a high percentage but ALL, and that means He will cause us to lack in no good thing as we ask Him.

2 Peter 1:3-4 (PHILLIPS)

“He has by his own action given us everything that is necessary for living the truly good life, in allowing us to know the one who has called us to him, through his own glorious goodness. It is through him that God’s greatest and most precious promises have become available to us men, making it possible for you to escape the inevitable disintegration that lust produces in the world and to share in God’s essential nature.”

We no longer need to strive to live a life pleasing unto to Him but rather draw upon Him as we come to know Him more intimately.  It is as this becomes so real to us that the scripture in Philippians 4:13 will explode with power within us!

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 may we meditate on seeing ourselves walking as our Lord walked.   Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be pleasing to Him.   Seek out divine opportunities to be a vessel of His love.    To God be the glory!!!!

by Dona Hake

 Little children are a constant reminder to me of honesty, and their desire to please.  The Lord desires that our faith be as a child.  He loves when we run to Him with our concerns and every big or small detail of our lives.     As I teach the preschoolers at church I cannot tell you how many times one of the children will run to me and show me their latest bump or boo-boo.  Sometimes their boo-boo is so small I cannot see it, but believe me I try to show them that it matters!  Why?….because if it is important enough for them to bring it up,  I want to pay attention…and our Lord loves when we turn to Him with the smallest of our worries and problems we are facing, and believe me He is paying attention to us!

Luke 18:17 (ERV)
” The truth is, you must accept God’s kingdom

like a little child accepts things…”

Throughout your day take time to whisper prayers to Him about those things that concern you.    May we seek to have the heart of the child that gets excited over the simple things as well.   Never stop expressing praise and gratitude for the beauty and fun things God has created for us to enjoy.    As you remember His works and they thrill your heart, share your heart and tell Him.  He wants to hear about everything that is going on in your heart and mind for He truly cares about every detail of your life!

 “Any concern too small to be turned into a

prayer is too small to be made into a burden. ..
Corrie ten Boom