Saturday, March 11, 2017
Devotional for Saturday, March 11, 2017
“Do You Have a Heart That Gives Him Thanks?”
It had been a while since I had been able to take my granddaughters to breakfast since they were back in their new school year. At last they had a day off school, and I was looking forward to spending the day with them. We pulled up to our favorite restaurant, and they excitedly jumped out of the car, and could not wait to get inside the restaurant. They have a favorite waitress that loves to see them, and they were anxious to see her! Before we got to the entrance I saw a sweet older gentleman waiting as he saw us approaching the restaurant. He politely opened the door as the girls and I walked through. They had their mind set on running up to the waitress and giving her a hug but I stopped them and said , “Girls, you need to say thank you to the gentleman for opening the door for you.” They both looked up at him and smiled and exclaimed their thanks. As we walked away I commented to them that whenever a gentleman opens the door for them they need to always say thank you. I love teachable moments like this!
Aren’t we the same though? We get our minds on things or excitement may be flooding our hearts, and we forget sometimes the most important thing of the moment. A lot of times when little things like this happen they seem to stick in my mind, and cause me to ponder spiritual truths. I began to think about how many times throughout our day that the Lord does precious things for us, He blesses us, and takes care of our needs. Many times He goes before us and “opens doors” before us as His wonderful grace flows in our direction. It made me think about the many times God so graciously blesses me, and I may forget to thank him.
Today I just want to encourage your heart to thankfulness. Thank him for the many things He has done in your life. Thank Him for the testimonies that your life bears as you serve Him. Today I encourage you to speak of His wonderful works to those around you, and thank Him every opportunity that you have. I leave you with the scripture to meditate upon.
Psalm 105:1-4
O give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the people.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all
His wonderful acts and devoutly praise them.
Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those who seek
and require the Lord as their most essential need rejoice.
Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength His power, His might;
Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Devotional for Thursday, March 9, 2017
“Nourished As We Hunger For Him”
by Dona Hake
Luke 6:21 Amplified
“Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness]
are you who hunger now [for righteousness, actively
seeking right standing with God], for you will be [completely] satisfied.”
I love how the word blessed in this scripture is defined as joyful and nourished by the goodness of our Lord. Think about the word nourish for a moment, and what that word means. It means to supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth. When we hunger for the righteousness and the good things of God our spirit and soul will be nourished and filled with every blessing that our Lord can give us. Oh praise Him today for He is the Good Shepherd that will keep us and we will want for nothing! He is the God that promises to supply all of our needs as we live to seek after His righteousness.
Everyday may we make it our pursuit to seek to walk deeper in His righteousness, for as we do we are desiring to walk in all that God is. He is all good, He is all moral excellence, He is all virtue, and He is all pure! Oh that we would actively hunger after His righteousness all the days of our lives for as we do, we will be satisfied and spiritually nourished in that desire.
Psalm 17:15 AMP
As for me, I shall see Your face in
righteousness; I will be [fully] satisfied when I awake
[to find myself] seeing Your likeness.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Devotional for Wednesday, March 8, 2017
“Wisdom’s True Value”
by Dona Hake
Job 28:13-18
” No human perceives wisdom’s true value,
nor has she been found in the land of the living.
The deep says, “She is not to be seen within me.”
“Nor within me,” says the voice of the raging sea.
No gold can be given in trade for wisdom,
nor a sum of silver weighed out as her price.
She cannot be bought with all the gold of Ophir,
neither with onyx nor sapphire.
The shimmer of gold and brightness of glass cannot compare,
and no refined gold jewelry is worth her in trade.
Perish the mention of coral and crystal;
even more than pearls is the value of wisdom.”
Today let us think about being thankful for the precious gift of the wisdom of God. It is one of His many priceless treasures available to us as we ask Him. Wisdom is sought by the heart that truly desires to please their Lord. It is found by the pure heart that desires to know that they are making the right decision in the midst of a complicated situation. God’s wisdom is able to bring peace to the heart of the one that is struggling with confusion. Our Lord promises us that if we ask for wisdom He will give it to us. Oh that we would seek our Lord’s wisdom and not settle for the wisdom that the world tries to impose upon us. God’s wisdom is precious, and there can be no price tag put upon it. Let us value it and be ever so thankful that He said in His Word that it is there for us…all we have to do is ask Him.
James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest. 18 People who work for peace in a peaceful way get the blessings that come from right living.
Lord we thank You for the precious treasure of Your holy wisdom. We value it and we ask that You bless us this day with Your divine wisdom and direction in our lives. We anticipate that Your wisdom will flow through our actions and words, and it will cause those around us to even be blessed. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Tuesday, March 7,2017
Devotional for Tuesday, March 7,2017
“We Walk and See By The Light of His Face”
by Dona Hake
Psalm 89:15 The Voice translation
“How happy are those who have learned how to praise You;
those who journey through life by the light of Your face.”
“How happy are those who have learned how to praise You;
those who journey through life by the light of Your face.”
Today let us meditate upon our journey through this life. May we rejoice that the light of His glorious face will illuminate our path. Some days the journey is smooth and some days the journey is just full of unexpected things that try to hinder us. We may face days that may seem so predictable and other days we may find one obstacle after another. May we learn to look at obstacles as opportunities for we know that the trying of our faith will cause us to walk in greater depths with Him. The important thing about the journey is knowing that He has promised to be right there beside us, and He will never leave us. I know I share this truth with You often but it is important that we live and breathe this wonderful truth. May knowing that He is always with us burn deep in our souls. Yesterday I shared with you that the choice is entirely up to us how close we walk with Him. Here is another quote that exhorts us to not let anything come between you and your Lord…
“The closer you walk with God,
the less anything can get
between you and Him.”
between you and Him.”
Lord we praise You this day that our path is gloriously illuminated by the light of Your face! We thank You that You give us joy in the journey and You lead and guide us into every truth. We declare this day that we will walk in expectancy of good things that You desire to do for us today! In Jesus Name, amen.
Monday, March 6, 2017
Devotional for Monday, March 6, 2017
“Walking Close With the Lord”
by Dona Hake
One day while driving by a church I noticed they had this quote on the sign in their front yard. I love when words such as these stir my heart causing me to look deep into my soul and examine where I am at. Let us meditate upon these words today…
“You are as close to
God as you choose to be”
God as you choose to be”
This quote is what I refer to as a “heart checkup” quote. These words caused me to pause and think about where I was at in my walk with the Lord. We live in a time where there are precautionary tests to maintain optimal health because we want to live long and healthy lives. This is a good thing but we need to be as diligent to keep checks and balances over our spiritual health as well! May we permit words such as these that come across our path to stop us and lead us into examining our our hearts.
We need to keep our hearts challenged and listening to the loving voice of our Lord for He may choose to speak to us even through the simplest of things in the course of our day. We can be assured that it is God’s desire that we follow Him so closely and we never take our eyes off of Him. He desires that we seek Him with all of our heart for He wants us to know His thoughts. When He speaks to us through His Word or in prayer it is a precious thing for this is how we will experience a wonderful intimacy with Him. The closer we walk with Him, the stronger our faith will be, and our joy will overflow. Praise Him for He is our forever Friend!
Now let me share a little analogy with you to express the truth of walking closely and respectfully in your Lord’s presence. If you were to invite a special guest into your home you may want to go to every extreme to make your home look nice and welcoming. You may also desire to cook their favorite meal for you want your friend to be so blessed as they visit you. I am sure you would also make every effort to treat this guest with kindness and courtesy. Your speech would be thought out before you spoke a word because you would not want to be offensive in any way. You would want them to feel welcomed, loved and received. How much more mindful we should be of the presence of our Lord as He has promised to never leave nor forsake us.
May we always treat the Lord Jesus as a very special Guest of great honor in our homes. When we are in our homes we need to remember that He is always present and in our midst. May we ever be mindful that He should be honored and respected in all of our words and in our deeds. Remember, we are the temple that He dwells within. As we live and move and have our being,we should be moving closer to Him but the choice is ours. Remember…you are as close to God as you choose to be.
Psalm 73:28
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord
God, that I may declare all thy works.
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord
God, that I may declare all thy works.
James 4:8 The Voice
Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you.
Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Devotional for Sunday, March 5, 2017
“He Fills Our Hands That We Can Bless”
by Dona Hake
Jesus told us to seek and we would find. Today we will meditate upon our loving God and how He loves to fill us above and beyond our expectations. Oh that we would live to be used by Him to touch those around us with the many blessings He has so richly given to us. We must live to give that which has been given to us no matter how much or how little we have…God will bless that which we give. Let us look at the heart of a woman that was a widow. She had very little to live on yet her heart was toward God in her giving. In this portion of scripture we will see that Jesus perceived her heart as he observed the others’ giving.
Luke 21:1-4 (AMP)
” Looking up, [Jesus] saw the rich people putting their
gifts into thetreasury.
And He saw also a poor widow putting in two mites (copper coins).
And He said, Truly I say to you, this poor widow
And He saw also a poor widow putting in two mites (copper coins).
And He said, Truly I say to you, this poor widow
has put in more than all ofthem;
For they all gave out of their abundance (their surplus); but she has
contributed out of her lack and her want, putting in all that she had on
which to live.”
For they all gave out of their abundance (their surplus); but she has
contributed out of her lack and her want, putting in all that she had on
which to live.”
Jesus observed how there were some that gave out of the abundance or their surplus. Surplus is something that remains above what is used or needed. Many times people may be guilty of giving only the required amount of what they feel is expected of them whether it be their money, their time or their talents. Jesus perceived this as grievous because this type of giving is really not from the heart, it is merely being done out of obligation. As Jesus observed this precious widow’s giving He determined her gift to be greater than the sum of all that they gave out of surplus.
Let us remember that anything we have been blessed with whether it be our talent, money, good job, etc…is a gift from God, and we need to live in a place of giving our very best. Giving our best is an attitude of the heart that the Lord desires that we embrace. As the widow gave all that she had she knew very well what she was doing. She was purposing in her heart to give all because she understood she would be blessed.
As believers we need to know that we are deliberate in giving our very best. We need to constantly be checking our hearts that we are not guilty of giving God or others merely what is left over. God may call upon you to do something, and when you look at your time it seems impossible to accomplish. Know this…if you believe in your heart that it is the will of God, He will provide time. If God is speaking to you to give money, and it is hard to imagine how you can do it…believe Him and He will fill your hands with that offering or gift for you to give. God provides. Plain and simple. When
you believe, God will fill your hands with that which you need!
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Devotional for Saturday, March 4, 2017
“Our Purpose-His Delight”
by Dona Hake
Ecclesiastes 3 Amplified Bible
A Time for Everything
“There is a season (a time appointed) for everything
and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—”
Today let us meditate upon the word purpose. What do you think of when you hear this word? The dictionary defines it as the reason for which something exists or is done, made or used. I find it very sad to know that many live their lives, and never really find out what their purpose was for being here. I believe the Lord has put special things in each of us that we can be a blessing and help to those around us.
I can remember many years ago teaching a course to the senior class at our Christian school. The amazing Zig Ziglar was the author of the course. Each time that I shared from this course, I too was stirred and blessed by his instruction and wisdom in life’s experiences. I can remember one story where he shared a little cartoon and it’s caption was, “Some people take their music to the grave with them.” It was a graveyard with many tombstones in the image. The image gave a haunting quietness that spelled out the fact that those that were buried never lived their purpose nor did they play their God given “music” for the world to hear.
As we commit our lives to the Lord, and seek Him first in all that we do, we will be blessed to find His loving hand in every area of our life. He has planted gifts and “songs” in each one of us for the world to hear. Many times people do not step out in their gift because of fear of failure. Others simply have no one to encourage them and help them develop. God desires that we look to Him to express His purposes in us while we are walking this journey in the life we live . His Word proclaims that He will perfect ALL that concerns us so let us seek Him to understand what the purposes are for our lives. Today is a new day, it is like no other, and He wants to use us like never before!
There may be specific things that you know the Lord is desiring to do in you, and they may not been totally fulfilled. Remember…even as you walk in His paths you are still a work in progress. Have you ever been tempted to be impatient with God’s timing as He works in and around you? I think it is vital that we remind ourselves that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts. If ever there are times you find yourself impatient with His timing or how and when He is bringing things to pass, you will surely be tempted to do things in your own ability. It is in those times that we do not understand how to walk the way that He is leading us that we look up and cry out for His wisdom on the matter. The first chapter of James says that if we lack wisdom, we need to just ask Him for it, and then be patient in order that God’s perfect work be done in us.
James 1:4-6(ERV)
“If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good.
You will be mature and complete.
You will be all that God wants you to be.
Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys
giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom.
But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him.”
You will be all that God wants you to be.
Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys
giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom.
But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him.”
Today I want to encourage your heart that as long as you have breath in you, God has a purpose for you. He has desires, and His planning and timing are perfect. As we purpose to seek His purposes, He promises to fulfill them!
Friday, March 3, 2017
Devotional for Friday, March 3, 2017
“We Walk Before Him In the Land of the Living”
by Dona Hake
Yesterday our meditation was upon the truth that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Our Lord never changes! Today let us meditate on what He has delivered us from. Many of us can testify of the fact that had we continued in going our own way, we would have been destined to a life of destruction. But even that person that did not have a rough past has also surely been saved from going to hell. Oh praise the Lord today for He has delivered each of us from what we all deserved, for He paid the price with His precious blood. That same God that has promised to never leave us has assured us that He is always there to listen to us. His ear is always toward our cry and He longs to rescue us.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone, and in the midst of it you feel as if they were not listening closely. Maybe they were preoccupied with something else but nevertheless this can be disheartening. It can also be quite discouraging especially if you are sharing a hurt that is in your heart or you are upset. Thank God that we serve a loving God that always listens, and hears our prayer as we go to Him with humble hearts. We will never find Him preoccupied or too busy to hear the cries of our heart.
I would like to share from Psalm 116. The psalmist begins the chapter by exclaiming, “I love the Lord, for He heard my voice…” He proceeded to say that he knew God’s ear was toward him, and then he said, “I will call on Him as long as I live!”
You see this psalmist understood that danger and death was before him, and he had no where to turn. I am sure that what the writer went through was terrifying yet he stopped and commanded his soul to return to it’s rest for God was with Him. This is what Psalm 116:7-9 says…
“Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.
For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.”
I believe this chapter in Psalms can serve to remind us that in trying circumstances we absolutely must call on the Lord for our help, and we must purpose to remind ourselves of His love and care over us. Lord, we thank You that Your ear is always open to listen to our heart’s cry no matter how big or small it may seem. We thank You for your faithfulness and lovingkindness toward us that we may walk before You in the land of the living!!
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Devotional for Thursday, March 2, 2017
“But There Is One That Never Changes”
by Dona Hake
As a rule most people do not like change of any kind. I have heard it said that 67% of the population hates change. Today let us meditate on the truth that there is One that never changes, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ! Let us praise Him today that He remains the same. His Word does not change nor does it weaken in the midst of any storm that we may face.
He said He will never leave us, and He will never forsake us. His Word tells us that EVERY morning His mercies are new, His faithfulness is toward us, and He promises His grace to flow toward us. Every day He stands by that promise for He never changes! My heart is so grateful that His love never changes for me. Even if we mess up, He still loves us just the same. Faithfully He waits for the humble heart to turn to Him for forgiveness and He cleanses that soul. Praise God, He NEVER changes!
He is always by our side. I am so glad that we can count on that. His ear is always towards us when we pray. Today let us continue to dwell in this beautiful truth that Jesus promised to never leave or forsake us, no matter what happens…He is always there, for He never changes!
Hebrews 13:8 (VOICE)
“Jesus the Anointed One is always the same: yesterday, today, and forever.”
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Devotional for Wednesday, March 1, 2017
“When His Grace Overflows”
by Dona Hake
2 Corinthians 9:8 EXB
“And God can ·give you more blessings than you need
[ overflow/abound all grace to you].
Then ·you will always have plenty of everything
[in all things at all times you will have all you need]—
enough to give to [abounding/overflowing in] every good work.”
Today we are going to meditate on our Lord’s grace being the breakthrough that we need. Can you think of a time that you have needed a breakthrough because your problem or trial seemed unsolvable. Today I want to encourage your heart to look to the Lord for the grace that you need. It is His grace that is sufficient for all that you need, and His grace will cause you to breakthrough whatever seems to pose a hindrance in your walk with Him. God’s grace will cause you will have all that you need, and you will excel in the good fight and in the good work.
This scripture just really blesses me. I love meditating on the fact that God is desiring to shower us with His all sufficient grace as we set out to do His will. Think about it…He desires to bless us with more than we need. He wants our hands and hearts to be overflowing with His grace and good things and those wonderful blessings are going to spill out to those around us.
Today, look to Him with great desire to be a living example of excellence in all that we put our hands to. Draw upon His great grace, and just watch for how He showers it upon you. It is as we do this that we will demonstrate that He is the God that is more than enough!
Psalm 1:3 (ESV)
“He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.”
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!