filled with the Spirit

Feel unable to live a life of victory?

October 12, 2016 By Christina Cook Lee Leave a Comment

By His persuasive abilities to convince, transform, constrain, guard, and warn me as He dwells in me, the Holy Spirit has made it possible for me to live a life of victory in Christ Jesus and to know true communion with You, as my God.

Feel unable to live a life of victory? The Holy Spirit can help you. Romans 8:9-11, christinacooklee.com — Praise Him for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” —Romans 8:9-11

My Great, Giving God,

I am deeply moved by Your expression of Yourself through the blessed Holy Spirit, without which I could not begin to know You. It is through Your Spirit that real revelation of Your Word comes to me. By His teaching, I have more plainly witnessed the fulness of the Trinity.

When Your Spirit came into my life, it was as though I had put on spiritual glasses. Things became clear to me in a way they had not been before.

I have become connected with Christ and His incarnation, as the Holy Spirit has drawn me into more complete unity with You, Your Son— and the Holy Spirit, Himself. By this same wondrous power working in the hearts of other Christians, I have been enabled to experience sweet fellowship and union with Your family.

All photos and design work by Christina Cook Lee.

Joy

September 4, 2014 By Christina Cook Lee Leave a Comment

SEPTEMBER 4

Focus: Being filled with joy and peace

Romans 15:13 (NKJV) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We look for many ways to fill the void and hunger in our hearts. Some would say there’s something wrong with a person who keeps feeling ‘empty’ after they’ve been ‘filled’ by the Holy Spirit. Some who have been filled with the Holy Spirit—and later feel ‘empty’—might think they missed something, or that the experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit must not be all that great, if later on, you feel empty again. They think that being filled with the Holy Spirit is supposed to be like the experience of being ‘saved’…but it’s not the same thing.

It’s like this. You were born as a baby. Once you’re born as a person, you can’t be born as a person again. It’s a one time thing, for sure. Being born of the Spirit is something like being born of the flesh, in that you are born to a newness of spiritual life through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

In the times of Jesus, a man named Nicodemus came to Jesus one night. Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews. He recognized that Jesus was a teacher who had come from God. He called Jesus, ‘Rabbi.’ Nicodemus acknowledged that no one could do the things that Jesus was able to do, unless God was with him.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?’

Jesus went on to say, “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John chapter 3)

The Bible says we should be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit on an ongoing basis. When you are born in the flesh, you need to eat physical food and keep eating to stay filled and live. The same thing is true in a spiritual sense. You are born of the Spirit, but you need to feed your spirit to stay filled in order to have lasting joy and peace in Christ. You won’t be filled with the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit by watching a ‘feel good’ movie or listening to music you love. True joy and peace only come from the God of hope through fellowship in prayer and feeding on the Word of God consistently.

Declaration: I will not let my spirit starve by withholding the kind of nourishment it needs in order to thrive. I will find new strength as I am fed and regenerated in the Spirit through prayer and feeding on the Word of God.

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee as of the date they were written and posted. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog. This material will be published as a book in 2013, by the grace of God. To subscribe to New Strength, select ‘follow’ in the upper left corner of this page.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, browse:http://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/videos?view=1&flow=grid

SEPTEMBER 6

September 6, 2012 By Christina Cook Lee Leave a Comment

Focus: Taking control of my future

Matthew 28:20 (NKJV) …And surely I am with you to the end of the age.

There are times when I wonder what the future holds. In everything we see and hear, we have to know scripture is being fulfilled and that perilous times are upon us.

We see nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Even within our own nation, we see people turning against each other in defense of what they believe is right.

When you’re discouraged for other reasons–and feeling lonely and alienated, the conditions of the world can make you feel like a lost child. You look around yourself and wonder why people can’t just get along. Why does there have to be so much turmoil and debate?

You wonder where it’s all leading and just how bad it’s going to get. It’s not easy to brush it off and try to forget about it. But, thinking about it doesn’t seem to help much, either.

It’s hard to get away from the negative, desperate sounding reports we are faced with on every side. If it’s not the economy, then it’s the weather. If it’s not the weather, then it’s politics. All of the conversation leads nowhere.

There is only one answer, as we see all of these situations just looking worse and worse. The answer, is Jesus. He’s our only hope.

Some things aren’t going to change. We’ve been warned in the Word of God—so, why are we surprised? Things have been ‘bad’ for one reason or another, for as long as I can remember. Throughout history, there has always been a reason to worry and probably until the end of time, there will always will be a reason to worry…if you’re prone to worry.

Centuries ago, the prophet Isaiah recorded a word for such a time as this. The Lord spoke through him and said, ‘Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)’

It has been a timeless word. People throughout the ages thought it was written ‘just for them’, as their times seemed to be worse than any other. There have been many times when it looked like the world was coming to an end for one reason or another.

I’m not saying the times we are living in are the end of all things–and I’m not saying that the times we’re living in are not the end of all things. I’m just saying that times are bad, but they’ve been bad all along. Times haven’t really changed.

Another thing that hasn’t changed is the Word of God. It has given us hope in the past, and it can give us hope now, and in the future.

God, Himself, doesn’t change, either. His love and power are just as strong and real today as in times past. The love and power of God will be just as strong in the future as it is now.

So, what do we have to fear? God has promised to be with us to the end of the age and for all eternity. If He is with us, then we are not alone. If He is with us and we are not alone, then we should have nothing to fear.

What if our future was determined according to our faith? For instance, if we chose not to fear–then we would never face a reason to fear. If we chose to fear–then we would have to face a reason to fear.

When Jesus healed some people, He said, ‘Be it done unto you according to your faith.’ So, what if our lack of faith caused us to have negative consequences? If you knew that a fearful attitude was going to bring you a reason to fear in your future, would you try harder to be filled with faith instead of fear?

If you’re currently afraid–and you know that the Bible is filled with stories and prophecies that will help your faith in God to grow to the point that you wouldn’t have to fear for any reason–shouldn’t you try to be totally absorbed in the Word of God?

Sometimes we have a choice to make. Maybe the conditions in our world will continue to get worse and worse–as scripture says they will. Maybe we can’t really do anything about that fact. But there is something we do have control over–and that’s how we will face the future…and how much faith we will have in the future. That choice is completely up to us.

We can choose fear–or we can choose faith. I choose faith. I choose to be hidden in Christ and covered with His Blood and the Word of God.

Declaration: I will find new strength by choosing not to worry or fear. I will choose faith, instead.

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee as of the date they were written and posted. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog. This material will be published as a book at the end of 2012, by the grace of God.To subscribe to New Strength, select ‘follow’ in the upper left corner of this page.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, browse:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5unzXXC0k

SEPTEMBER 5

September 5, 2012 By Christina Cook Lee Leave a Comment

Focus: Having confidence in the Lord

Proverbs 3:7-8 (NKJV) Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.

The opposite of fear is confidence. When we put our confidence in ourselves and our abilities—we reap fear and failure. When we put our confidence in the Lord and in the power of His Word, we will rest in His strength. The more we meditate on His Word, the more confidence we will have in Him.

Psalm 118:8-9 (NKJV) It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Proverbs 3:25-26 (NKJV) Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.

Proverbs 14:26 (NKJV) In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge.

Philippians 3:3 (NKJV) For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

1 John 5:14 (NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

1 John 3:21 (NKJV) Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Psalm 71:5 (NIV) For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.

Psalm 40:4 (NKJV) Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV) This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight’, declares the Lord.

Romans 8:37 (NKJV) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Psalm 31:24 (NKJV) Be of good courage , and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJV) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; thought its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Psalm 91:2 (NKJV) I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’

Proverbs 3:3-4 (NKJV) Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write the on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 4:20-21 (NKJV) My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

Declaration: I will put my confidence in the Lord and in the power of His Word. I will rest in His strength.

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee as of the date they were written and posted. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog. This material will be published as a book at the end of 2012, by the grace of God.To subscribe to New Strength, select ‘follow’ in the upper left corner of this page.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, browse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5unzXXC0k

SEPTEMBER 4

September 4, 2012 By Christina Cook Lee Leave a Comment

Focus: Being filled with joy and peace

Romans 15:13 (NKJV) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the times of Jesus, a man named Nicodemus came to Jesus one night. Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews. He recognized that Jesus was a teacher who had come from God. He called Jesus, ‘Rabbi’. Nicodemus acknowledged that no one could do the things that Jesus was able to do, unless God was with him.

Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’

Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’

Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes and from where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’’

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ‘How can these things be?’

Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?’

Jesus went on to say, ‘No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.’ (John chapter 3)

The Bible says we should be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit on an ‘ongoing’ basis. When you are born in the flesh, you need to eat physical food and keep eating to stay filled and live. The same thing is true in a spiritual sense. You are born of the Spirit, but you need to feed your spirit to stay filled to have lasting joy and peace in Christ. You won’t be filled with the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit by watching a ‘feel good’ movie or listening to music you love. True joy and peace only come from the God of hope through fellowship in prayer and feeding on the Word of God

Declaration: I will find new strength as I am fed and regenerated in the Spirit by praying and feeding on the Word of God. I will not let my spirit starve by withholding the kind of nourishment it needs in order to thrive.

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee as of the date they were written and posted. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog. This material will be published as a book at the end of 2012, by the grace of God.To subscribe to New Strength, select ‘follow’ in the upper left corner of this page.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, browse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5unzXXC0k

filled with the Spirit

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