Strengthen!: A Devotional

By Debra Cox

Though you may believe in God, difficulties often arise that lead you off the path he intends for you to follow. In Strengthen!, author Debra Cox offers a devotional that inspires you to continue to strive and stay in the race.

Cox understands that all Christians may need to be reminded of the acts of God and the promises he provides in his biblical instructional book. By examining everyday challenges and life experiences, Strengthen! assures you that God can do the impossible, and he is present in what seems to be the mundane and crazy situations you endure. God promises never to leave you or forsake you, regardless of the situation you face.

The lessons delivered in this devotional help you to be encouraged, strengthened, and blessed. Believe God can do the “it” you need to walk successfully through your life’s journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664262379

Debra Cox

Debra Cox enjoys writing and seeks to use words as a way of encouraging and challenging others in the household of faith. Strengthen! is her second book.

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Copyright © 2022 Debra Cox.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6236-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6235-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6237-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022905867

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/15/2022

Contents

Introduction

Producing Perseverance

The Benefits of the Right

A Known Plan

The Humility Factor

Being Humble

The Uncluttered Series: Matthew 6

Unclutter Thyself from Worry

Being a Non-Foodie

The Supreme Supplier

A Salty Light

The Armor of God Series

The Truth Belt (Verse 14)

The Righteous Breastplate

The Gospel of Peace Designer

Faith Shield

Helmet and Sword

Stretch!

Supply is Needed

A Spiritual Renewal

Do It Without Fear

Spiritual Regimen

Unworldly Peace

FOCUS Series

Give Yourself an F!

Going to Your One and Only

C is for Commitment

U is for Understand

S is for Steadfastness

Weight Distractions and the Wait

Psalm 37

Spiritual Drano

A Cure for the Stuffed Head

God Buts

Behold!

Brand New Possibilities

Rewrite and Reform

A Refresher in Joying

Need vs. Want: Which One Do You Have?

Restriction vs. Life Abundance

The Sight of Faith

The Existence of Assistance

Watering

Whose Slave Are You?

Hope Series

From Downcasting to Hope

Know What to Look For

Unforeseen Hope

Powerful Overflowing Hope

The Power Within the Word

Behind the Scenes Activity

Don’t Quit Christ Because of Crisis. Tap Into God’s All-Inclusive Package

In-Synced Discipline: Working with God

I Will Not Be Shaken: Thoughts on Psalm 62

Why Praise?

Worth-ship

The Life Game Plan

Ant Living

Adverse Blessings

Getting to the Other Side

The Spiritual Treasury

Free Indeed

Introduction

I enjoy writing, and I want to use words as a way of encouraging and challenging others in the household of faith. Though we may believe in God, oftentimes difficulties come that can get us off the path God intends us to follow. I hope this book inspires you to continue to strive and stay in the race. You may be like me, who needs to be reminded of the acts of God and the promises he provides in his biblical instructional book. The writings may have similar themes, but we may have to read something again for it to stick in our minds. Yes! God can do the impossible, and he is present in what seems to be the mundane and crazy situations we endure. But God promises never to leave us or forsake us, regardless of the situation we face.

Be encouraged. Be strengthened. Be blessed by the words you are about to read, and believe God can do the it you need to walk successfully through your life’s journey.

Producing Perseverance

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

—James 1:2–4 (NIV)

Life may seem to be in a bit of turmoil lately. The kids are being homeschooled; you are home, no longer allowed to go to another environment to get away from the home environment; and time seems to be disappearing, none of which you can have for yourself. Financially, the funds have decreased for various reasons, and you’re wondering how you are going to make it through to the next sparse paycheck. To say you are stressed is an understatement, and that stress is in addition to the frustration that comes with sudden changes on how to live life. Scared to go outside and frustrated by staying in, you desperately try to come up with some solution, though it is quite challenging to say the least. See what James has to say about times like these? Consider it going through turmoil as joyful!

What? How can joy and turmoil be in the same sentence? Now before you get your pajama bottoms in a pinch, review what James says in the above verse. When trials (those situations you did not plan or want to be a part of) come, your mindset and how you address the issue are important. Think about it. I understand you are frustrated while trying to grasp onto peace, and there are stressors all around. Is the way you are reacting to it bringing peace to the situation you find yourself in? My answer to that question would be no.

But when you address the trial from a different perspective, I would suggest that things change. The word perseverance comes up in this passage of scripture. In order to pass the test of the trial, allow the situation to happen, but don’t attempt to solve it. Rather, do all you can to get through it and pass with flying colors. How do you do that? Fight not to be frustrated. When that feeling comes up, get into prayer—and no, it does not have to be a super long one, nor one full of formality. Remember when Peter sank in the water not long after walking on it? He simply asked (though I’m sure he was scared out of his mind), Lord, save me! And Jesus answered the request immediately.

The same can happen for you. When trials come, we choose how we respond. We can be full of frustration and try to solve them ourselves (and get more stressed out), or we can allow God to save us through the situation. It may take some time, but I am confident you will not feel like you are in this by yourself.

The Benefits of the Right

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.

—Psalm 34:19 (NIV)

When you get a new job, you are given various benefits: days you can take off, a retirement plan, and a portion of your health insurance paid by the employer, to name a few. You trust what is promised in your job package will in fact be honored. And if something should arise where they need to support you, the support of the employer should make you feel a bit secure that you are not alone during those challenging moments at the office.

God calls those who trust and believe in him the righteous ones. They are the ones who (no matter what) trust that God has their back, regardless of the circumstance. Here is a summary