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Christina Cook Lee

Media Producer - Author - Blogger - Songwriter

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Seeking God for ‘the heart’ to do what doesn’t come naturally

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Topic: Finding the heart

Focus: Seeking God for ‘the heart’ to do what doesn’t come naturally

Colossians 3:23 (NKJV) And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.

I went back to college to study TV and Film Production in my early thirties. Besides being a full-time student, I needed to pay for my education, books, room rental, car payment, food, and other living expenses. I had to support myself in the State of California—where the cost of living was extremely high.

As an unemployed, recent transplant from the Midwest—I was referred to the owner of a housecleaning business—through someone I’d met at my new church. The cleaning company had an immediate opening, the hours were flexible–so I agreed to begin a new career in domestic maintenance.

The work was hard. When I first started, I was handed a series of tough jobs cleaning empty houses that were going to be put up for sale. The people who had moved out often left the property in terrible condition. The kitchens and bathrooms were always especially bad. Stovetops and ovens were typically crusted and caked with stuff that had been burnt on repeatedly and just ‘left’. It took a lot of scraping and scrubbing to get them clean. The toilets, I won’t even go into. Let’s just say I used rubber gloves up to my elbows and a lot of chemicals. I would arrive on the job with my own supplies, vacuum cleaner and a long list of the agency’s expectations. The company I worked for required me to have an entire house spotless in five hours and I was paid seven dollars an hour.

I was grateful to have a job and be starting a new life—but, I was barely past the deep depression of my second divorce. Sometimes when I opened the door and stepped inside at a new cleaning assignment, I would stand in silence, immobilized by the disgusting sight—wondering how on earth I could do it.

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

Link to New Strength Audio Version

One day, feeling completely overwhelmed—God started whispering to my spirit that He could give me ‘the heart’ to do what I didn’t think I could do. Interestingly, a change started taking place in me. Leaning hard on God, I learned some techniques and found cleaning products that made things start to improve. I began cleaning a house as if Jesus Himself was going to be checking it out after I was done. I cleaned everything with all the love I would have cleaned it –if it had been for His own personal use and enjoyment.

With my newfound passion for excellence, the agency started giving me jobs for ‘regular clients’ who wanted their homes cleaned one to three times a week. These were people who liked a spotless home and appreciated my standard of perfection. I looked for unusual ways to go the extra mile in my cleaning efforts for the doctors and other professional people I now served.

Eventually, I was able to buy the contracts of my favorite clients from the cleaning agency. Once I had paid off the fees for the contracts, I was able to work directly for the clients and earn a much better rate of pay. I was able to work for wonderful people who loved my services—and became close friends of mine. Housecleaning turned out to be the perfect job that allowed me to focus on my studies and finish my TV and Film Production course with a 3.8 grade point average.

Since that time, I have had to do many other types of jobs that on first impression, didn’t strike me as something I thought I had ‘the heart’ to do. Some jobs literally made me feel like I was going to be ‘sick to my stomach’ because they were so far from what I felt naturally gifted for. Over and over I have had to ask God to give me ‘the heart’ to do what I didn’t think I could do…and He has.

When you are trying to move forward on the recovery journey, there will be times when you will wonder if you will ever be able to become ‘good at’ not being depressed or dependent–times when you’ll think it would be easier not to try anymore.

Looking back at the times of my life when I was struggling with depression—I can see how God gave me some hard work to do–something outside my natural ability. Something that would make me have to ask Him to give me ‘the heart’–so I could get in there and dig deep to get the job done—and also recover.

Declaration: I will find new strength by asking God to give me ‘the heart’ to work hard–and keep moving forward.

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.

Forgiveness and prayer

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Focus: Forgiveness and prayer

Mark 11:25 (NKJV) “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

In depression and dependency—it is almost guaranteed that some relationship issues helped take you there. If you want to walk in a state of true recovery and keep moving forward—you need to find peace with your past. That usually involves forgiving people who may have been involved in causing your condition to become what it has been.

Forgiving others can be quite a process. If you’re like me—you may have trouble remembering all of the people you might have offended and everyone who may have offended you. Even more—you probably don’t want to think about it anyway. Yet, the Bible encourages us to get–and keep a clean slate. The scripture above plainly states that forgiving others is absolutely necessary, not just for their sake—but our own!

You might think, well—can’t I just say one prayer like, “I forgive everybody”, and have it done? If you try that, and it truly works—meaning that you no longer have hard feelings when you think of anyone—well, good for you. Most of us, however, might need to go a little deeper in prayer than that.

A practical way to start working through it, is to simply make a list of people who come to your mind. Ask God to help you recall every single person you need to forgive–for things to really be right in your life. As an experience comes to your mind that involved a particular person—write down the name. After you forgive them, cross it off.

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

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

You might be thinking this is something too hard for you to do. Or, you might feel like you don’t know how—or even have the desire to forgive them. Well, let’s start there. Stop right now and say out loud, “God please give me the help and desire I need to forgive anyone who has offended or harmed me, or who as harmed someone I care about. Please bring these people to my mind so I can get things right with You. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

As someone comes to your mind that you have a hard time wanting to forgive…Say, “God, I confess to You that I have an offense toward ________________. I need Your help to have the desire to release them from guilt and condemnation. Will You help me? In Jesus Name, Amen.”

God wants you to get free from these things, so don’t be surprised if right away you feel the ability to go further in prayer. As soon as you can–continue on with, “God, You know how much pain __________________has caused me, but with Your help, I want to forgive them. Please forgive me for the offense I have held in my heart toward _________________. I am asking You to release them from judgment and condemnation. I choose by an act of my will to forgive, release, and bless _________________. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

If at all possible, after you have prayed—you should try to go to the person or write them a letter and tell them you forgive them and have chosen to release and bless them. If you know they have an offense against you—ask them to forgive you, too. Often, this is an amazing experience. If you think they will not receive it, ask God to work in their heart so that you will be able to do it when He shows you the time is right.

Recovery is not a destination—it’s a journey. If your journey is like mine, it will be an ongoing process of revelation, confession, and restoration.

Declaration: I will keep moving forward by finding peace with my past. With the help of God, I choose to forgive those who have offended me and I will seek forgiveness from those whom I have offended. Doing these important things will help me receive new strength and the ability to pray more effectively for myself and others.

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.

I was worth dying for

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Focus: I was worth dying for

Isaiah 43:25-26 (NKJV)  “ I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted.

There is always ‘a reason’ that drives a person to depression and dependency. Something happened that was unfair—and you haven’t been able to forget it. Someone said something that made you feel like an eternal, complete failure—and you have never been able to get their words out of your head. You did something you knew wasn’t right–that you can’t go back and undo—and it continues to eat you up from the inside out.

In a place of weakness and vulnerability—something happened. You walked ‘out’ of that hard experience—but you left the door open. As a result, that thing has followed you. When you have been tired, hungry, or were just having a rough day, you have relived those moments—played back the video and audio way too many times. By choosing to hold onto those memories—you have placed yourself in a condition of ‘judgment and condemnation’—instead of choosing to be in a position of ‘mercy and grace’. It actually is a choice, and you’re the only one who can choose which place you’re going to be. You say, “It’s not that simple”. You say you can’t get over it…but God says you can.

Imagine, being able to wipe away the guilt of those tormenting memories and have all the stains truly blotted out forever. Imagine having the ability to close the door and walk away from it, once and for all. That’s what the blood of Jesus can do. Nothing can change the fact that those things happened, but the blood of Jesus really can erase the account against you that you haven’t been able to erase on your own.

(read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

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

The big thing keeping you from your acquittal and freedom is that awful sense of unworthiness you feel when you ‘remember’. Remembering can be a good thing—if you do it in a healthy way. You say, “What can be healthy about those painful experiences and why did they have to happen at all?”

It is my belief that ‘the reason’ those things happened is so you could get to know God better. Think about it. If you never cried, then you wouldn’t need comforting, would you? If you were never weak, you wouldn’t need more strength. If you were never broken, you wouldn’t need to be made whole again. If you were never lost, you’d need no help to find your way. The truth is, when you find yourself crying, weak, broken, and lost—you know you need help. All of the help God wants to give you—you just wouldn’t need, if you had never failed.

The healthy way to remember your failures–is to remember that they are ‘over’. We try to ‘fix’ our failures in all kinds of ways. People, experiences, and substances are not a permanent fix—the blood of Jesus, is. Stop believing the lie that you aren’t worthy of the sacrifice Jesus made for you. You ARE worth it, or He wouldn’t have done what He did.

Declaration: I will not always feel as desperate as I feel today. Each day will get better from now on, as I find new strength in Jesus Christ. The reason God has allowed me to experience the depth of my own despair—is so I would know the power of His ability to save me. Almighty God is on my side. He fights for me and with me. The blood of Jesus covers all my sins and every memory of my failures. Someday, I will be able to help someone else because of what God is doing for me today.

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.

Prayer

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Topic: The power of the tongue

Focus: Prayer

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

As a child, I learned to pray by reciting bedtime prayers like, “Now I lay me down to sleep” and the classic mealtime prayer that begins with, “God is great, God is good”. As I got a little older I began tacking a few things onto the end of my bedtime prayer and sometimes drifted off to sleep before or after I had finished my list. As I learned more about prayer, I prayed with more originality. Sometimes I sang my prayers and some of my prayers turned into songs.

I think it’s good to be creative. There are lots of ways to pray. Some prayers I pray are still pretty standard, depending on the occasion, but throughout my day when I have the liberty, I like to talk to God at length about the things that are on my mind. A lot of my prayers are an ongoing dialog with God. At times, I might be focused on something in particular that someone has asked me to pray for. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I will dwell on that as much as possible. Other times, I feel compelled to pray for my family or personal concerns.

I try to make it a point to begin my prayers with thanks and praise. It’s always good to remind ourselves of the goodness of God as we come before Him. As we speak words about the great things He has done in the past and His extraordinary qualities that enable Him to be the mighty God and the eternal Father, our faith is increased and His power is released.

Recently, I was in a time of prayer. I was past the thanks and praise part of praying and into making my requests known to God, according to Philippians 4:6, which says we shouldn’t be anxious for any reason, but instead by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make our requests known to God, and by doing so the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard our heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

I was in the process of praying for some very practical things to take place that would make life so much easier for me and my family, when I felt the Spirit of the Lord impressing something on me. I was suddenly highly conscious of the amount of time I spend praying for my own needs and the needs of others. I was instantly struck with the stark reality that I spend far more time praying for needs than I spend praying for the lost. I felt the Lord challenging me to spend the same amount of time praying for the lost as I spend praying for needs of my own and others. Equal time.

(Read more below)

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

Luke 19:10 states a sobering point. Jesus came to this world to seek and save the lost. That was His singular vision and purpose. He didn’t come to accumulate wealth or build an amazing home or even have a wife and kids. He came to seek and save the lost. Everything He did on earth advanced His purpose. He lived His life strategically in order to accomplish the will of God. He put the kingdom of God and His righteousness first as He lived His life on earth.

As I contemplated what the Spirit of God had impressed on me, the real meaning of Matthew 6:33 became crystal clear. I had the revelation that when we truly have a passion for souls, we are in perfect agreement with the heart of God. In such a state of heart and mind, everything takes on a new perspective and the things that are pressing us for attention are put in their proper place of priority.

By choosing to focus at least as much time on the lost as we focus on ourselves, we are no longer self centered or abnormally absorbed with our own issues.

In the past week or so I have seen how God is enlarging my vision as I pray for the lost. He is giving me glimpses of various kinds of lostness. He is taking my mind on trips around the world to different places where there are types of darkness I have never perceived. He has impressed on me to speak to those areas of darkness and to command His light to penetrate and His power to be released so that the Truth would be revealed and the lies could be exposed.

So much change would take place in this world if we, as the body of Christ, could get our minds on the right things.

Another revelation I have had for the past year or so is that I should spend time in prayer deliberately asking that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all flesh according to Joel 2:28. The body of Christ—the Church—who is supposed to also be the Bride of Christ is so disjointed and immature. Jesus is going to return for a Bride who is ready for the wedding. A Bride without spot or blemish. We are so far from that! If Jesus came to earth with a single purpose to seek and save the lost—shouldn’t His Bride share that same vision? Shouldn’t She be more passionate for fulfilling His desire than Her own?

Declaration: I will find new strength as I purpose in my heart to pray for the lost and have a passion for souls.

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.

Agreement with God

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Topic: Prayer

Focus: Agreement with God

Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Jesus was the one who instituted the use of “Amen” at the end of a prayer. There is no record of the word ever being used at the closing of a prayer before the time when He taught His disciples the best way to pray. Isn’t it interesting that people who aren’t willing to use the Name of Jesus in a prayer are still praying the way Jesus taught people to pray, when they say, “Amen”?

For centuries, people have used the word “amen”, to indicate a strong verbal agreement. To fully appreciate what is happening when we say “amen”, we have to consider what is taking place when we pray.

As we review the Lord’s Prayer, we see the immediate confirmation of God as our Father and the reverence due His Holy Name.

The prayer goes on to agree with the will of God being done on earth and in heaven, concerning His kingdom.

The next portion of the prayer is a request for daily food.

The willingness to be forgiven according to the same measure that we are willing to forgive is stated next, followed by a request for deliverance from temptation and the evil one.

(Read more below)

Now, you can listen and/or read!

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

The kingdom, power, and glory are affirmed as belonging to God forever.

At the end of the prayer, we see the word, “Amen”.

The literal meaning of the word amen is, “so be it”, or “truly”, but when the word, “amen” is spoken in response to what another person says, it is the same as making a verbal covenant with that person forever. When we pray, we are speaking to God and coming into agreement with Him. We make a covenant with God when we put the word, “amen” at the end of what we say to Him.

A “covenant” is an agreement between two or more parties. It is a powerful pact. The power of agreement is seen in Matthew 18:18-19, when Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”

“Amen” is a very small word that carries an overwhelmingly huge impact. When we say “amen”, we’d better be sure we truly agree with what is being spoken, whether the words being said belong to us, or someone else. In the sight of God, saying, “amen” is the same thing as signing a lasting contract.

The fact that the word, “amen” is so powerful is actually pretty exciting, in regard to the positive aspects. Think about how powerful prayer really is, as we pray according to the will of God. When we appropriate our faith to come into agreement with the Word and will of God, we can expect miracles. In Mark 11:24, Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

In John chapter 16, Jesus was telling His followers that the time was approaching when they wouldn’t be seeing Him on earth. He said, “And in that day (after His ascension back to heaven) you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My Name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Jesus came to earth and fulfilled the plan for our salvation. He gave His life’s blood as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world, but besides doing that, He left us armed with His Words and directions for praying in the best possible way. We are not defenseless or helpless. All we need to do is put our hearts in agreement with the will of God and pray in the Name of Jesus, and we will experience the eternal blessing of God in our lives.

Declaration: I will find new strength as I come into agreement with God’s Word and will. As I pray in the Name of Jesus, I will use my faith to release the power of God. As I speak the word “amen”, powerful covenants will be made.

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.

Sharing your testimony

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Topic: Progress

Focus: Sharing your testimony

Hebrews 6:9-12 (NKJV) But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 

Part of the beauty of a person who is walking in recovery is that they are not only a precious example of what God can do in the life of a broken individual who is completely surrendered to His hands—but they are also a beacon of light to the ones who are just starting on their own journey.

If you keep walking in victory, your life can have a tremendous impact on others.

If you are faithful, God will certainly give you opportunities to share what He has done in your life. It may be person to person, through divine appointments that could only have been arranged by Him—or it might be in front of a roomful of people. This might not sound appealing to you, but it’s an important part of your own healing…to tell your story in a way that will help and encourage others.

As you verbalize what has taken place in your heart, God will multiply His blessings on you. As you hear your own voice making declarations about your progress and recovery, you will become even more strengthened in your commitment to keep moving forward and stay clean.

Most likely, someone was a role model to you, as you began your own journey. At times when you’ve been discouraged and tempted to fall back, you might have remembered that person and how they were also tempted, but made it through tough times, too. Knowing other people have struggled as you have helps give you determination to press on when it would be so much easier to just slack off.

(Read more Below)

Now, you can listen and/or read!

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

If you haven’t had another person you could turn to during this time—that’s all the more reason you should make yourself available to someone who might be needing the kind of support you could have benefited from.

You might be wondering what kind of role model you could possibly be to someone else, when you still feel barely able to get through a day. Don’t be too concerned about the amount of experience you have under your belt. If you are a day or two ahead of someone else, that’s enough encouragement for them to keep trying—just like you have. It’s a day by day effort.

God is very much in favor of giving a person like you the help you need to become a minister of hope. If you tell Him you’re willing, He will give you the right opportunities.

If you worry that you might fail and be a stumbling block, try to remember that it isn’t your power—it’s God’s power that has sustained you this far. His power is the only thing that will get you through today, tomorrow, and the next day. If it’s His power that you’re trusting in—then you have nothing to fear, because He cannot fail. It’s looking at our own strength that makes us start to worry we might not make it.

Thoughts and fears that you can’t succeed are from the devil, who is the author of lies and the accuser of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

Remember what Isaiah 54:17 (NIV) says. “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me,” declares the Lord.

Walking in victory includes yielding yourself for the Master’s use. Your own personal testimony is the most powerful story you can ever share. You are a sinner saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, and your experience is unique and beautiful to the ears of someone who is suffering from the insecurity and weakness associated with depression and dependency.

Being an able minister of the gospel is really very simple. All you have to do is share the truth of what has happened in your own life, which is something no one can dispute…since it’s your story.

Declaration: I will find new strength by verbalizing my progress in recovery whenever I am given the opportunity, as a labor of love. As I hear my own words and make positive declarations, I will be blessed…and I will be a blessing.

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.