Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Devotional for Wednesday, July 5, 2017
“He Has a Purpose For You”
by Dona Hake
Yesterday we looked at the beauty of knowing that our Lord is molding us and making us for His plans and purposes. You may say, “But, what is my purpose?” God desires that we seek to know what His plans are for us for He most definitely has a special purpose in mind for our life. You see, all our days are numbered, He knows every hair on our head, and He desires to perfect all that concerns us!
Many times individuals struggle with why they are here, and what are they to do with their life. As people begin to age they may look back on their lives, and they need to feel that they have made an impact in this life or they desire to know that they have done great accomplishments. Only God can bring out of us all that He created us to be! It is so important to understand that God knew us before our mother gave birth to us. Every stitch and fiber of our being was uniquely knitted together as He formed us in our mother’s womb. Within us He has placed gifts and talents that are an expression of Him.
Psalm 139:13-15 (AMP)
“For You did form my inward parts;
“For You did form my inward parts;
You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the
awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works,
I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the
awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works,
and that my inner self knows right well.
My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and]
intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in
the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].”
My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and]
intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in
the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].”
We need to confess and praise Him for how wonderfully He fashioned us for this life. Remember what I shared yesterday, and that is only one YOU! Deep inside you there may be something that needs birthed. It may be a gift, calling, or some type of creativity that is waiting for it’s awakening. I love how verse fifteen says that we were curiously wrought as if embroidered with various colors. I have never embroidered but I have always felt it to look as if it was a tedious craft. So it was with us as we were being formed within our mother’s womb. He gave great thought to every part of us, and how He fashioned us for the work of our life.
Today I encourage you to think about how you are a gift from the hand of God, and as you live for Him, confess that He leads and guides you into all truth, and He will indeed accomplish much through you as you seek and serve Him.
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Devotional for Monday, July 4, 2017
“He Is Working On You!”
by Dona Hake
Ephesians 2:10 (AMP)
“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), 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].”
Praise the Lord for He is the Great Workman, and His skilled hands work to form, shape and mold us to do great things for His Kingdom! Our hearts should be encouraged that the One that created the Heavens and the Earth is at work in our lives, we should be rejoicing in our hearts over the plans He has for us! I shared with you in the last devotional that when we have needs, and we call out to Him for help, He answers us with His grace. His grace is always there to help us to do His will. His grace is at work in us to accomplish the great works and live in the realm of His miraculous works that He desires to do.
I want to encourage your heart today in the fact that you are a work in progress. No matter how long you have known the Lord, whether it be a few years or many, He continues to work in your life. God sees our lives from the beginning to end, and He has the perfect plans to accomplish His will . Remember…there is only one YOU! He has a special and unique plan for you, and only YOU can do it as you look to Him and follow in His direction. He is the faithful one that will continue to work by His Holy Spirit in our lives no matter what weaknesses or inabilities we may have. Praise Him today for what He has done in your life. Praise Him for what you also expect Him to do, and remember to give Him all the glory as He dwells within you and uses you as He wills!
Philippians 2:13 (AMP)
“[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while 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 delight.”
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Devotional for Sunday, July 2, 2017
“When We Call For His Help,
and He Answers With His Grace”
by Dona Hake
Sometimes we can walk through things in this life that leave us feeling like we are weak and broken. Whether our heart has been broken or we are walking through a tough time, we can be tempted to feel we do not have the strength to go on. Today, let us remember His grace is enough! There may be pieces of our life that are broken and seem beyond repair, but today I want you to meditate upon this…When we call out for His help, He WILL answer us with His wonderful grace! Let us read from 2 Corinthians 12:8-9…
2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Amplified Bible (AMP)
“Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him]
about this and begged that it might depart from me;But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy)
is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables
you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power
are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves
most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the
more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities,
that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah)
may rest (yes, may [b]pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!”
In a nutshell Paul finally saw what God desired for him to see. All Paul needed was to trust Him to be more than enough for His situation. Paul understood that he had hit rock bottom, and he no longer had his own strength to depend on. Now Paul was in the perfect place where God could totally empower him. He also realized that God was all that He needed, and that in his weakness the power of Christ would rest upon him mightily.
Maybe you are reading this and thinking all is well and you have no need to ponder this. It is human nature at times to neglect to continue to strengthen our inner man especially if all is going well. May I share with you that we can never get rock solid enough in this revelation. This is what I desire to think about and get it rooted so deep in me…God’s grace is sufficient for me to live, and He grace is more than enough. Read this awesome definition I found of the word enough.
ENOUGH:- in a quantity or degree that answers a
purpose or satisfies a need or desire…
When we call upon God , He will always answer us with the empowering grace that we need for the situation we are in. I think this is a powerful thought… your need or weakness is calling out, and as you call out to Him, He answers that need with grace that is sufficient to deal with it. Praise the Living God that is MORE than enough for every one of our needs!!!
When we call upon God , He will always answer us with the empowering grace that we need for the situation we are in. I think this is a powerful thought… your need or weakness is calling out, and as you call out to Him, He answers that need with grace that is sufficient to deal with it. Praise the Living God that is MORE than enough for every one of our needs!!!
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Devotional for Saturday, July 1, 2017
“Being Used By the Lord”
by Dona Hake
In yesterday’s devotional I had shared with you about how the little deeds and kindnesses can mean so much to people around us. Many times we do not realize that such small things can touch another’s heart in a way we may never know. Today I would like to share with you a personal testimony of mine in which the Lord presented to a me an opportunity to stop and take a few minutes with a complete stranger yet it made her day extra special.
I love when God shows up in my day and shows himself so sweetly when I least expect it. It was during a trip to the grocery store. I was walking my cart full of groceries toward my car, I noticed a woman walking through the lot. She had a cart full of groceries, and she looked at me and giggled a bit and said, “Did you ever lose your car in the parking lot? I said,”Oh my, yes I have had times that has happened to me.” We began to share with each other funny things that we have done that made us giggle at ourselves. I began to share with her that sometimes when I find myself forgetful it is because of lack of rest. Little did I know that she was going to begin sharing her heart with me.
She began to share that she had brain surgery, and she also dealt with epilepsy. She felt ever since her surgery that she has dealt with forgetfulness, and she felt it was relative to the surgery, and the scar tissue on her brain. I told her I was not going to leave her until I helped her find her car. So we walked around the parking lot and finally we located her car. We chatted for a few minutes, and she said “I want to give you a hug!” We embraced and as we did, I prayed over her and she thanked me and exclaimed that she too knew Jesus! We began to share our testimonies of coming to the Lord, our times in prayer, and our life as a result of serving Him, and then we parted.
I was just overjoyed at how the Lord moved in such a sweet and simple way in the middle of the grocery store parking lot, on behalf of another believer that was in need. I just want to encourage your heart today to look for Him in the every day things, and permit Him to take the ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary.
Psalm 40:4 (Easy to Read Version)
“Lord my God, you have done many amazing things!
You have made great plans for us—too many to list.
I could talk on and on about them,
“Lord my God, you have done many amazing things!
You have made great plans for us—too many to list.
I could talk on and on about them,
because there are too many to count.”
Friday, June 30, 2017
Devotional for Friday, June 30, 2017
“Sometimes It’s the Little Things”
by Dona Hake
Yesterday I shared with you about our Lord being the one that we can always depend upon. At the end of that devotional I encouraged you to pray for opportunities to show His goodness and faithfulness to someone that does not know Him. Today I will share about how sometimes it is those little things that we do from a heart of love that may speak louder than words.
Sometimes it really is the little things that may count to be something really big in another’s life. It is also true that sometimes the things we are called upon to do may even be inconvenient, yet if God is asking us to do it, we need to be obedient no matter how small of a thing it may seem to us.
There was a time ordained by the Lord in which He had me visiting two special ladies in a nursing home. They had shared a room in the home, and their days were long so they loved to have visitors. Some days I would take my little dog, and it was so precious to see all the resident’s eyes light up when they got to pet and love on that little dog. Sometimes I would sit by the bed side of these women and read devotions from the scriptures for them. Other days I would try to decorate their room according to seasons and holidays or I would try to show up with some fresh brewed coffee for them. Such small things meant so much for their world was now confined to four walls, and limited activity. Honestly, there were days that fitting this in my schedule really did make for a long day for me, but I knew I needed to be obedient to what the Lord had instructed me to do. He filled my heart with total joy as I was able to bless them with my time, help and love.
Today I encourage you to find ways to bring joy to those that cannot repay you. As I drive by the street on which this nursing home is I often think that I would give anything to pick up some hot coffee, and walk through those doors and see their precious faces. They have gone on to be with the Lord and that time is gone and precious memories of their love for me is all I have to remember. I learned once again in my life that life is so frail, and there are those that need us desperately May we obediently show the love of Jesus no matter how small the deed may seem to us.
“Never get tired of doing little things for others.
Sometimes those little things occupy the biggest
parts of their hearts.”
Author unknown
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Devotional for Thursday, June 29, 2017
“Upon Him We CAN Depend!”
by Dona Hake
Lamentations 3:24 (CEV)
Deep in my heart I say,
“The Lord is all I need;
I can depend on him!”
“The Lord is all I need;
I can depend on him!”
Today we will ponder that we serve a God that promises to keep His Word and we can depend on Him! Our God never changes and He has promised to walk beside us. He is our great Friend in which we can always count on! Praise Him for that today!
The God in which we depend desires to do a great work in our midst, and I believe that we are going to continue to see and hear wonderful testimonies of His works in the lives of believers. Let us always be mindful though, and I know I say this often but it needs repeated…the blessings and good things we walk in are not for us alone. There is a lost an dying world around us. Those that live in darkness do not know what it is to have a true friend in which they can depend. The greatest Friend one can ever have is Jesus and they need to know Him.
I encourage you today to pray for those around you that do not know Him. Pray that the Lord of the harvest would grant you opportunities to share His goodness and faithfulness. Be ready to share about the Jesus in which you can always depend!
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Devotional for Tuesday, June 27, 2017
“But God Selects…”
by Dona Hake
“But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish
things of the world to shame the wise
[revealing their ignorance], and God
has selected [for His purpose] the weak
things of the world to shame the things
which are strong [revealing their frailty]. ”
1 Corinthians 1:27 Amp
When I read this scripture I am reminded once again that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and they are above figuring out. Many times we may think that God is going to use what we perceive to be our strengths, yet He may chose to touch our heart and ask us to step out in an area in which we feel totally inadequate. Many times if the Lord asks us to step out in something that we do not feel adequate in we can reason it away or fear of failing will grip our heart.
I can remember a specific time in which the Lord was tugging at my heart to step out in something, and I did not feel that I was qualified to do what He was asking. I resisted for a while, and after I finally gave in I experienced His grace flowing toward me filling me with all I needed for the task that He asked me to do. I was able to testify of His strength flowing into my life, and enabling me to look away from my inabilities and draw upon His ability.
Many times God will call upon those that may not have an ability or they may even be weak or uneducated in the eyes of the world. The Lord knows exactly which vessels He desires to use, and I am thankful that He is not interested in how smart we are or our endless abilities but rather He is looking for the humble in heart. When we remain humble He can take our strengths and abilities and use them for His glory. Sometimes He will pick those that you would least expect. Sometimes He will call upon us to do things that people around us may seem odd but let us settle in our hearts that our Lord knows exactly what He is doing. Today I leave you with a quote by the late Justice Scalia. May it touch your heart as it did mine….
“God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the
world would view Christians as fools…and He has
not been disappointed. Devout Christians are destined
to be regarded as fools in modern society. We are
fools for Christ’s sake. We must pray for
courage to endure the scorn of the sophisticated world.
If I have brought any message today, it is this:
Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded
as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage
to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.”
Supreme Court Justice
Antonin Scalia 1936-2016
Monday, June 26, 2017
Devotional for Monday, June 26, 2017
“God’s Overcoming Love”
by Dona Hake
I can remember hearing a very powerful testimony of God’s powerful love. This is an extraordinary testimony of our Lord taking that which may have seemed impossible to man, and turned it inside out for His glory. I had heard this on a Christian radio station. This gentleman had shared that within a refugee camp for Iraq refugees there was a person that was a part of ISIS that disguised himself to be a refugee, and he got into the camp. I am sure his motives and plans were to take the life of the innocent. For those of you that follow the news you are quite aware how hateful and evil that ISIS is. They have done horrific things to precious, innocent people. Let us read on about the powerful work of our Lord’s love that was able to overcome this horrible evil that had a grip on this young man’s heart.
The wonderful testimony of God’s love was that after this young man disguised himself as a refugee he began to observe God’s love which he had never witnessed. He 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, His love IS ABLE to conquer anything….even the worst hatred that we could ever 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. Let us remember, the love and freedom of Christ is available to anyone. God’s overcoming love is there for those that seem hopeless and those that do not 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.”
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Devotional for Sunday, June 25, 2017
“You ARE the Light of the World”
by Dona Hake
Matthew 5:14-16 ( Amplified )
“You are the light of the world.
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do men light a lamp and put it under
a peck measure, but on a lampstand,
and it gives light to all in the house.
Let your light so shine before men that
they may see your moral excellence and
your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds
and recognize and honor and praise and
glorify your Father Who is in heaven.”
In this scripture our Lord proclaimed who we are…we ARE the light of this dark world. A lamp is not for the well lit room it is for the room that is full of darkness. A lamp’s purpose is to bring light that one can see and not stumble around in the darkness. We ARE the light that gives light to all of this world! So today I encourage you to let your light shine. As your light shines even those that are in darkness are going to notice something different. God is preparing us for such a time as this. Remember my friend, He uses each of us differently so let us not compare ourselves to others. It is in those times that we measure our grace in comparison to others that we are not permitting our Lord to shine through us as He desires. This is not a competition, it is command….we are lights and we are to shine!
Today I encourage you to shine for Him through every word and deed you do. As He continues to mold and make you into His image He will be faithful to show Himself through you that others may see how awesome He is.
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Devotional for Saturday, June 24, 2017
“Awaken To His Lovingkindness”
By Dona Hake
Psalm 143:8 (AMP)
“Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,
for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.
Cause me to know the way wherein
I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.”
Today let us trust to hear His voice about His will for our life, and the instruction of our day. Each new day is a fresh canvas in our life, and only we as individuals can make the decision to look to Him first thing in the morning. Do you look to Him first thing in the morning? Many times we can go to bed with the burdens and cares of our life on our mind. I encourage you to cast all your cares on Him especially before you lay your head down to sleep. If you do not, more than likely you will awaken with those things on your mind.
May we be mindful to be ever leaning and trusting on Him for everything that we do. Let us remember to lean on Him not only for His strength and wisdom but for the balance and direction that He can bring to our lives. Thank Him as He unfolds His plan for our day yet be willing to allow Him to interrupt it if He has other plans.
Lift up your soul to Him and allow Him to touch you because He loves you so. Lift up your inner self to Him and allow Him to do great things in your life today!
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!