JUNE 15

Focus: The God Who restores

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) 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.

Even when you’re trying to do things right, it’s easy to get side-tracked. You have good intentions and feel like you’re going in the right direction, but somewhere along the way, you realize you’ve done it again. You’re off on some rabbit trail—far from where you’re supposed to be. How sad for God. He has to stand there and watch as ‘off you go again’—and He gets stuck ‘recalculating’, as the Great Global Positioning System Master of the Universe. What a job He has—trying to keep all of us moving forward on our recovery journey. It’s probably a lot like herding cats.

It’s a good thing God is all the things the Bible says He is—and more.

John 3:16 (NKJV) 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. 

Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV) The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Isaiah 40:11 (NKJV) He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
and carry them in His bosom,
and gently lead those who are with young.

Psalm 107:32-41 (NKJV) Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
and praise Him in the company of the elders. He turns rivers into a wilderness,
and the watersprings into dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness,
for the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
and dry land into watersprings. There He makes the hungry dwell,
that they may establish a city for a dwelling place, and sow fields and plant vineyards,
that they may yield a fruitful harvest. He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;
and He does not let their cattle decrease. When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, affliction, and sorrow, He pours contempt on princes,
and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
and makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice,
and all iniquity stops its mouth. Whoever is wise will observe these things,
and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Psalm 34:15-22 (NKJV) The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones;
not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

Psalm 25:9 (NKJV) The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.

Isaiah 49:8-13 (NKJV) This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you,
and in the day of salvation I will help you; 
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’
 and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ “They will feed beside the roads
and find pasture on every barren hill. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. I will turn all my mountains into roads,
 and my highways will be raised up. See, they will come from afar —some from the north, some from the west, 
some from the region of Aswan. Shout for joy, you heavens;
rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! 
For the Lord comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

Declaration: In my times of feeling lost and bewildered, I will find new strength by recalling Who God is.

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.

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