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Christina Cook Lee

Media Producer - Author - Blogger - Songwriter

consequences

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Topic: Justice

Focus: Lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness

Jeremiah 9:24 (NIV) “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on the earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

Did you ever stop to think about what really matters to God and what pleases Him? What God is looking for is people who will put all of their trust in Him, alone. Any pride we take in wisdom, strength, or riches is disgusting to God.

When you’re recovering from depression and addiction, it’s normal to feel like a complete failure. Someone in that condition is what is referred to in scripture as ‘broken and contrite’. In Psalm 51:17 (NIV), David wrote, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.”

David knew what he was talking about. In observing David’s life, we see that he had some great moments and some pitiful ones. Yet, David was one who boasted in the Lord. He knew from childhood that God was the source of everything good. David was loved by God and God showed David His lovingkindness in many ways. Over and over in scripture, David gives praise to God for His faithfulness and mercy.

As much as God loved David, and David loved God—David was also judged by the Lord for the sin he committed with Bathsheba. Nathan the Prophet told David what the consequences of his behavior would be, and it all came to pass.

The child that was conceived in adultery by David and Bathsheba died when it was seven days old. As another consequence for David’s sin, Nathan the Prophet foretold that David’s wives would be unfaithful to him by having relations with someone who was close to him in broad daylight.

David’s repentance didn’t change the consequences the prophet had predicted. God had to uphold His standard of righteousness. As much as God loved David, His righteousness

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

called for justice because of David’s sin. God preferred that David would not do what he did—but David chose disobedience. David’s life is a classic example of the way God reacts to our choices. God is good and loving. He would rather we choose righteousness in all things…but like David, sometimes we do—and sometimes we don’t.

People don’t always understand why there should be consequences. They think a loving God shouldn’t allow them to suffer for wrong choices. They also don’t understand that sin is what brings judgment. It is when people ignore or reject the standards of a Holy God, that He is forced to uphold His righteous justice.

It’s not that God is ‘mean’, it’s that He is ‘just’. When people choose to bypass God’s righteousness, they have to be willing to deal with God’s justice.

Many people fall into sin thinking that they can just repent afterwards and God will forgive them and everything will be fine. Think of it this way, living a life according to God’s righteous standards results in the right to God’s lovingkindness. Choosing to go against God’s righteous standards results in dealing with God’s justice.

The Bible is clear in foretelling the coming judgment of God because of wickedness on the earth. Many people—Christians and non-Christians live today in the pride of their own accomplishments, their wisdom, strength, and riches. James 4:7-10 (NIV) says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Humbling yourself is admitting weakness. Recognizing your own weakness is good in the sight of God. Repentance brings grace and mercy…but consequences are not always eliminated. Knowing these things should cause us to live a life of humility. Our generation has become so casual in respect to the standard of Holiness God desires. Assuming God will always be merciful when we perpetually choose to sin is a type of pride.

Even though Jesus died for the sins of the world, God is still Holy and He desires that people would put all of their confidence in His wisdom, strength, and riches. God is unchanging and His righteousness is eternal. If we say we ‘know Him’, yet ignore His lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, we are fooling ourselves. We can’t boast in His lovingkindness without also boasting about His justice and righteousness.

Declaration: I will find new strength by submitting myself to God. As I resist the devil, he will flee from me. I will wash my hands because I am a sinner and purify my heart from double-mindedness. I will grieve, mourn, and wail. I will change my laughter to mourning and my joy to gloom. I will humble myself before the Lord, and in His mercy, He will lift me up.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, A NEW SEGMENT WILL COME TO YOUR EMAIL EACH DAY.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

https://christinacooklee.com/2019/08/19-lovingkindness-justice-righteousness/

Overcoming by ‘being still’

By Leave a Comment

Topic: Overcoming

Focus: Overcoming by ‘being still’

Psalm 46:10 (KJV) Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

When we’re faced with a pile of things that have to be done—it’s so easy to feel ourselves start to tense up. One of the things that makes us want to run is being overwhelmed with responsibility. It goes against human nature to think that in a time of pressure we could actually ‘be still’. But, we can.

Even when we’ve take on too much and said ‘yes’ too many times—we can ‘be still and know’.

God loves it when we come to the end of ourselves. As long as we are trying to ‘overcome’ in our own strength—He will let us just keep trying…and we will probably just keep failing. It’s hard to remember God won’t force His way on us. He wants us to choose His way…or prefer His way.

He knows the only way we are going to learn His way is the best way—is if He lets us use our own power to do things. I can’t imagine how hard that must be for Him. Think about it. He is God. He can do anything and do whatever He wants to do—perfectly—the first time.

We, on the other hand, are not God. We get a lot of crazy ideas, make impossible plans, and then—fail. We repeat our efforts—as though ‘doing the same thing again is going to produce different results’…and fail again.

It’s funny how failing at something can cause ‘determination’ to kick in. When things don’t turn out right the first time, an indignant attitude can rise up in us and make us feel we have to prove something. So, we go after it again—not wanting to admit defeat.

All the while, our Father in heaven is watching us with patient love, knowing we will eventually wear ourselves out and maybe then we will give Him the chance to show His strength. He is so capable. Nothing is too hard for Him, remember? He waits for us to ‘be still’ so He can go to work for us and win—in the thing we aren’t able to succeed at.

A big problem in the world today is the mess Christians have made of Christianity. By taking so many things into our own hands and trying to exalt ourselves instead of letting God be exalted—we have failed—and world is watching. They see ‘being a Christian’ as ‘being weak’—because of weak Christians who don’t let God, ‘be God’. They don’t see the power of God in us—they just see us.

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

Link to New Strength Audio Version
New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

It’s so hard to remember that God’s ways are not our ways. God is not who we imagine Him to be. He is so much more. His ways are beyond our imagining. The things we see as impossible are simple in His sight. They are impossible to us because we aren’t looking at them through the eyes of God.

But, it’s more than that. It’s more than just ‘seeing’ things that look impossible as though they were possible. It’s saying, ‘God, I need you’. It’s saying, ‘God, I can’t do this—You’re going to have to do it for me’. It’s saying, ‘God, help me to ‘be still’ and know that You are God’.

What are you facing today that you have been trying to overcome? Have you come to see that battle as impossible? Do you think what you are facing is too hard for God? Many of our struggles as humans are with humans. God can change the heart of a king, according to His Word. You can’t change other people—but, God can. You can stop trying—and ‘be still’, if you want to. You can lay it down and just stop struggling with it. It’s too big for you. You’re not going to win this one on your own. This is that time when God wants to show you what He is capable of. If you could just truly ‘be still’.

Doing something God’s way is usually the opposite of the way human nature would do it. Humans want to ‘be strong’. God wants us to ‘be weak’, so He can be strong for us. Why is that so hard for us? When we think of overcoming something we haven’t been able to beat—our mind tells us we just have to work harder and then we’ll make it happen. Truthfully, that’s just the opposite of what Psalm 46:10 indicates. True overcoming is when we say, ‘I give up’. It’s when we decide to take our hands off the situation and ‘be still’. It’s when we surrender all and just let God, be God.

When we don’t see immediate results, we can think He’s not doing anything and be tempted to jump back into the battle. Once again—His ways are not ours. His timetable is not ours, either. Overcoming is surrendering—period.

Declaration: I will find new strength and victory by being still. I will stop trying to exalt myself and let God be exalted. When others see the miracles that happen—they will know it is God, and not me.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, A NEW SEGMENT WILL COME TO YOUR EMAIL EACH DAY.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Overcoming by ‘being still’

By Leave a Comment

Topic: Overcoming

Focus: Overcoming by ‘being still’

Psalm 46:10 (KJV) Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

When we’re faced with a pile of things that have to be done—it’s so easy to feel ourselves start to tense up. One of the things that makes us want to run is being overwhelmed with responsibility. It goes against human nature to think that in a time of pressure we could actually ‘be still’. But, we can.

Even when we’ve take on too much and said ‘yes’ too many times—we can ‘be still and know’.

God loves it when we come to the end of ourselves. As long as we are trying to ‘overcome’ in our own strength—He will let us just keep trying…and we will probably just keep failing. It’s hard to remember God won’t force His way on us. He wants us to choose His way…or prefer His way.

He knows the only way we are going to learn His way is the best way—is if He lets us use our own power to do things. I can’t imagine how hard that must be for Him. Think about it. He is God. He can do anything and do whatever He wants to do—perfectly—the first time.

We, on the other hand, are not God. We get a lot of crazy ideas, make impossible plans, and then—fail. We repeat our efforts—as though ‘doing the same thing again is going to produce different results’…and fail again.

It’s funny how failing at something can cause ‘determination’ to kick in. When things don’t turn out right the first time, an indignant attitude can rise up in us and make us feel we have to prove something. So, we go after it again—not wanting to admit defeat.

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

Link to New Strength Audio Version
New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

All the while, our Father in heaven is watching us with patient love, knowing we will eventually wear ourselves out and maybe then we will give Him the chance to show His strength. He is so capable. Nothing is too hard for Him, remember? He waits for us to ‘be still’ so He can go to work for us and win—in the thing we aren’t able to succeed at.

A big problem in the world today is the mess Christians have made of Christianity. By taking so many things into our own hands and trying to exalt ourselves instead of letting God be exalted—we have failed—and world is watching. They see ‘being a Christian’ as ‘being weak’—because of weak Christians who don’t let God, ‘be God’. They don’t see the power of God in us—they just see us.

It’s so hard to remember that God’s ways are not our ways. God is not who we imagine Him to be. He is so much more. His ways are beyond our imagining. The things we see as impossible are simple in His sight. They are impossible to us because we aren’t looking at them through the eyes of God.

But, it’s more than that. It’s more than just ‘seeing’ things that look impossible as though they were possible. It’s saying, ‘God, I need you’. It’s saying, ‘God, I can’t do this—You’re going to have to do it for me’. It’s saying, ‘God, help me to ‘be still’ and know that You are God’.

What are you facing today that you have been trying to overcome? Have you come to see that battle as impossible? Do you think what you are facing is too hard for God? Many of our struggles as humans are with humans. God can change the heart of a king, according to His Word. You can’t change other people—but, God can. You can stop trying—and ‘be still’, if you want to. You can lay it down and just stop struggling with it. It’s too big for you. You’re not going to win this one on your own. This is that time when God wants to show you what He is capable of. If you could just truly ‘be still’.

Doing something God’s way is usually the opposite of the way human nature would do it. Humans want to ‘be strong’. God wants us to ‘be weak’, so He can be strong for us. Why is that so hard for us? When we think of overcoming something we haven’t been able to beat—our mind tells us we just have to work harder and then we’ll make it happen. Truthfully, that’s just the opposite of what Psalm 46:10 indicates. True overcoming is when we say, ‘I give up’. It’s when we decide to take our hands off the situation and ‘be still’. It’s when we surrender all and just let God, be God.

When we don’t see immediate results, we can think He’s not doing anything and be tempted to jump back into the battle. Once again—His ways are not ours. His timetable is not ours, either. Overcoming is surrendering—period.

Declaration: I will find new strength and victory by being still. I will stop trying to exalt myself and let God be exalted. When others see the miracles that happen—they will know it is God, and not me.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, A NEW SEGMENT WILL COME TO YOUR EMAIL EACH DAY.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Enduring pain

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Focus: Enduring pain

Isaiah 46:4 (NIV) Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

There are all kinds of pain and nobody gets through this life without their share. Pain comes in all kinds of packages. Maybe yours came looking like a beautiful birthday present to begin with—but, it blew up in your face. Or, it might have come in an unassuming parcel that had no sign or notice of the untold and unexpected pain it carried—and the effects were ‘time-released’.

Pain can come through events that didn’t turn out as we had hoped—and linger like a dark cloud on a humid summer afternoon. It can come through a split second injury which gave you no warning—and sometimes hang on you the rest of your life. It might show up after the loss of a loved family member or friend—and change you in ways you didn’t think possible.

Sometimes you see it coming—and sometimes you don’t. Pain doesn’t always call ahead when it’s headed in your direction. That’s one of the things that can be so challenging when it comes knocking. If you had been warned, maybe you could have prepared yourself somehow. If you had known it was on its way—maybe you could have just ‘been out for the day’ so you wouldn’t have been home when it rang the bell and you opened the door so unsuspectingly. Oh, why does pain have to ever come at all?

Some pain comes in the form of consequences. As much as we’d like to think it shouldn’t exist, pain from ‘consequences’ is one of the worst kinds. Consequences can follow you around like a ball and chain, or a dark shadow that won’t go away. You’d like to move on and make it stay in the past—but in truth, you can’t get rid of it. A consequence doesn’t leave—it’s something that is here to stay and you’re just going to have to deal with.

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

Link to New Strength Audio Version
New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

Physical pain, as a result of injury or disease can send you staggering. A person who never touched a common over the counter painkiller might end up addicted to prescription narcotics. If they become able to ‘manage’ the problem of physical pain—they usually wind up with problems of other sorts. A person on narcotics can’t live a normal life. Relationships suffer—energy levels fluctuate—behavior is unpredictable—they can’t think straight enough to accomplish much of anything, even if they were able to consider doing something constructive. In that kind of bondage—there is a whole other dimension of pain.

The pain resulting from rejection can leave a grown man or woman whimpering like a lost child. Bewildered and humiliated—you awkwardly grope for purpose and significance in the wake of a loved one casting you off like an old cell phone—as though you had somehow outlived your service contract—while they move on to the next fascinating thing.

A pain that can gnaw on your mind and stomach comes from ‘regret’. We’ve all had some of that, too. It shows up in the form of, ‘if only…” When you have a chronic problem with this kind of pain it can be very tormenting. You wander from one scenario of the past to another—reliving failures. You may also glimpse moments when life was all in front of you and you made a choice that took you down a dark road that led to alienation and misunderstanding. You can’t seem to help going back to that place and wonder how things might have been different, if only…

Pain shows us who we really are, and what we are really made of. From a spiritual standpoint, pain will most definitely take you further from God—or drive you closer to Him. A long-term struggle with physical or emotional pain is the acid test for any person’s faith.

Yesterday, I heard a country re-write version of the old song ‘Love Lifted Me’. The familiar message of the song came flooding back and brought encouragement as I recalled some of the words I learned so long ago. A line from the chorus stayed with me as though it had been dropped out of heaven like a lifeline. The words were, “When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.”

There are some painful things in life that we just have to endure. Things we’d like to fix—but we can’t. Things we didn’t want to see break—but, they did. When pain like that forces its way in and there is nothing we can do to make it go—God is Love—and Love can still lift us. Some pain might never leave—but neither will the Love of God. In spite of our circumstances, or our consequences—His Love can sustain us and see us through.

Declaration: I will find new strength and get to know God in a deeper way as I endure pain. I will be encouraged in the Lord as I experience the ability of His Love to lift me above my circumstances and consequences when nothing else can help.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, A NEW SEGMENT WILL COME TO YOUR EMAIL EACH DAY.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness

By Leave a Comment

Topic: Justice

Focus: Lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness

Jeremiah 9:24 (NIV) “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on the earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

Did you ever stop to think about what really matters to God and what pleases Him? What God is looking for is people who will put all of their trust in Him, alone. Any pride we take in wisdom, strength, or riches is disgusting to God.

When you’re recovering from depression and addiction, it’s normal to feel like a complete failure. Someone in that condition is what is referred to in scripture as ‘broken and contrite’. In Psalm 51:17 (NIV), David wrote, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.”

David knew what he was talking about. In observing David’s life, we see that he had some great moments and some pitiful ones. Yet, David was one who boasted in the Lord. He knew from childhood that God was the source of everything good. David was loved by God and God showed David His lovingkindness in many ways. Over and over in scripture, David gives praise to God for His faithfulness and mercy.

As much as God loved David, and David loved God—David was also judged by the Lord for the sin he committed with Bathsheba. Nathan the Prophet told David what the consequences of his behavior would be, and it all came to pass.

The child that was conceived in adultery by David and Bathsheba died when it was seven days old. As another consequence for David’s sin, Nathan the Prophet foretold that David’s wives would be unfaithful to him by having relations with someone who was close to him in broad daylight.

David’s repentance didn’t change the consequences the prophet had predicted. God had to uphold His standard of righteousness. As much as God loved David, His righteousness

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

called for justice because of David’s sin. God preferred that David would not do what he did—but David chose disobedience. David’s life is a classic example of the way God reacts to our choices. God is good and loving. He would rather we choose righteousness in all things…but like David, sometimes we do—and sometimes we don’t.

People don’t always understand why there should be consequences. They think a loving God shouldn’t allow them to suffer for wrong choices. They also don’t understand that sin is what brings judgment. It is when people ignore or reject the standards of a Holy God, that He is forced to uphold His righteous justice.

It’s not that God is ‘mean’, it’s that He is ‘just’. When people choose to bypass God’s righteousness, they have to be willing to deal with God’s justice.

Many people fall into sin thinking that they can just repent afterwards and God will forgive them and everything will be fine. Think of it this way, living a life according to God’s righteous standards results in the right to God’s lovingkindness. Choosing to go against God’s righteous standards results in dealing with God’s justice.

The Bible is clear in foretelling the coming judgment of God because of wickedness on the earth. Many people—Christians and non-Christians live today in the pride of their own accomplishments, their wisdom, strength, and riches. James 4:7-10 (NIV) says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Humbling yourself is admitting weakness. Recognizing your own weakness is good in the sight of God. Repentance brings grace and mercy…but consequences are not always eliminated. Knowing these things should cause us to live a life of humility. Our generation has become so casual in respect to the standard of Holiness God desires. Assuming God will always be merciful when we perpetually choose to sin is a type of pride.

Even though Jesus died for the sins of the world, God is still Holy and He desires that people would put all of their confidence in His wisdom, strength, and riches. God is unchanging and His righteousness is eternal. If we say we ‘know Him’, yet ignore His lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, we are fooling ourselves. We can’t boast in His lovingkindness without also boasting about His justice and righteousness.

Declaration: I will find new strength by submitting myself to God. As I resist the devil, he will flee from me. I will wash my hands because I am a sinner and purify my heart from double-mindedness. I will grieve, mourn, and wail. I will change my laughter to mourning and my joy to gloom. I will humble myself before the Lord, and in His mercy, He will lift me up.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, A NEW SEGMENT WILL COME TO YOUR EMAIL EACH DAY.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Overcoming

By Leave a Comment

Focus: Overcoming by ‘being still’

Psalm 46:10 (KJV) Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

When we’re faced with a pile of things that have to be done—it’s so easy to feel ourselves start to tense up. One of the things that makes us want to run is being overwhelmed with responsibility. It goes against human nature to think that in a time of pressure we could actually ‘be still’. But, we can.

Even when we’ve take on too much and said ‘yes’ too many times—we can ‘be still and know’.

God loves it when we come to the end of ourselves. As long as we are trying to ‘overcome’ in our own strength—He will let us just keep trying…and we will probably just keep failing. It’s hard to remember God won’t force His way on us. He wants us to choose His way…or prefer His way.

He knows the only way we are going to learn His way is the best way—is if He lets us use our own power to do things. I can’t imagine how hard that must be for Him. Think about it. He is God. He can do anything and do whatever He wants to do—perfectly—the first time.

We, on the other hand, are not God. We get a lot of crazy ideas, make impossible plans, and then—fail. We repeat our efforts—as though ‘doing the same thing again is going to produce different results’…and fail again.

It’s funny how failing at something can cause ‘determination’ to kick in. When things don’t turn out right the first time, an indignant attitude can rise up in us and make us feel we have to prove something. So, we go after it again—not wanting to admit defeat.

All the while, our Father in heaven is watching us with patient love, knowing we will eventually wear ourselves out and maybe then we will give Him the chance to show His strength. He is so capable. Nothing is too hard for Him, remember? He waits for us to ‘be still’ so He can go to work for us and win—in the thing we aren’t able to succeed at.

A big problem in the world today is the mess Christians have made of Christianity. By taking so many things into our own hands and trying to exalt ourselves instead of letting God be exalted—we have failed—and world is watching. They see ‘being a Christian’ as ‘being weak’—because of weak Christians who don’t let God, ‘be God’. They don’t see the power of God in us—they just see us.

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

Link to New Strength Audio Version
New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

It’s so hard to remember that God’s ways are not our ways. God is not who we imagine Him to be. He is so much more. His ways are beyond our imagining. The things we see as impossible are simple in His sight. They are impossible to us because we aren’t looking at them through the eyes of God.

But, it’s more than that. It’s more than just ‘seeing’ things that look impossible as though they were possible. It’s saying, ‘God, I need you’. It’s saying, ‘God, I can’t do this—You’re going to have to do it for me’. It’s saying, ‘God, help me to ‘be still’ and know that You are God’.

What are you facing today that you have been trying to overcome? Have you come to see that battle as impossible? Do you think what you are facing is too hard for God? Many of our struggles as humans are with humans. God can change the heart of a king, according to His Word. You can’t change other people—but, God can. You can stop trying—and ‘be still’, if you want to. You can lay it down and just stop struggling with it. It’s too big for you. You’re not going to win this one on your own. This is that time when God wants to show you what He is capable of. If you could just truly ‘be still’.

Doing something God’s way is usually the opposite of the way human nature would do it. Humans want to ‘be strong’. God wants us to ‘be weak’, so He can be strong for us. Why is that so hard for us? When we think of overcoming something we haven’t been able to beat—our mind tells us we just have to work harder and then we’ll make it happen. Truthfully, that’s just the opposite of what Psalm 46:10 indicates. True overcoming is when we say, ‘I give up’. It’s when we decide to take our hands off the situation and ‘be still’. It’s when we surrender all and just let God, be God.

When we don’t see immediate results, we can think He’s not doing anything and be tempted to jump back into the battle. Once again—His ways are not ours. His timetable is not ours, either. Overcoming is surrendering—period.

Declaration: I will find new strength and victory by being still. I will stop trying to exalt myself and let God be exalted. When others see the miracles that happen—they will know it is God, and not me.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, A NEW SEGMENT WILL COME TO YOUR EMAIL EACH DAY.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.