WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MAY 06 2024
TOPIC: NEW STRENGTH
BY T. O. BANSO
“But those who trust the Lord will find new strength” (Isaiah 40:31a New Living Translation).
Proverbs 20:29a says the glory of young men is their strength. But Isaiah 40:30 says even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. In other words, nobody, not even a young person, should think that he is a superman. Everyone can become weak. Therefore, everyone must depend on God for strength and renewal of strength.
Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (New King James Version). Note the phrase “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” The New Living Translation says, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.” The Contemporary English Version puts it nearly the same way: “But those who trust the Lord will find new strength.” New strength also means renewed strength. This comes through waiting on the Lord, which means trusting in the Lord. The New International Version says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (New International Version). Waiting on the Lord also means hope in the Lord.
There is no weariness or faintness for those who wait on the Lord or hope in the Lord. “They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (New Living Translation). Those who wait for the Lord exchange their weaknesses for the strength of God.
The Bible says concerning Sarah: “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11 New King James Version).
Sarah’s conception was not ordinary – the source of the strength for her conception was God. Both Sarah and Abraham had waited for years for the fulfilment of God’s promise without any result. Sarah became pregnant at 90 years of age. Indeed, she received the strength to conceive.
Wait for the Lord, hope in Him, or trust in Him for new strength or renewed strength. Psalm 23:3a says, “He gives me new strength in my life” (EasyEnglish Version). But something happened before this: “He takes me to green fields where I can rest. He leads me to streams of water where I can drink” (verse 2 EasyEnglish Version). God gives new strength, and you need it in your life. However, remember that David, the author of this Psalm, started by saying, “The Lord is my shepherd” (verse 1a New King James Version). Follow the Shepherd – the Lord. He will give you new strength.
Listen to, study, and follow His teachings; obey His Word. Psalm 19:7a says, “The teachings of the Lord are perfect; they give new strength” (New Century Version). The Good News Translation renders it thus: “The law of the LORD is perfect; it gives new strength.” Note the phrase “new strength.” Listen to, study, and obey the Word of God; it will give you new strength.
Even youths grow tired and weary. Depend on God for strength and renewal of strength. God will give you new strength if you trust in Him as your Shepherd. David regarded the Lord as his strength and he did exploits despite all the problems that he faced. The secret of his exploits was God, his strength. He discloses this secret in Psalm 27: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident” (verses 1-3 New King James Version).
It takes more than ordinary strength to have victory in such circumstances that David found himself but the Lord who was his strength gave him victory. David says in Psalm 28:7a: that the Lord was his strength and shield, and in Psalm 62:7 calls the Lord the rock of his strength. He says in Psalm 29:11a, “The Lord will give strength to His people” (New King James Version).
Psalm 84 is a Psalm of the sons of Korah and one of the Psalms that speak on the strength of the Lord. It says in verses 5-7, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion” (New King James Version).
If you wait on (for) the Lord, trust in Him, or hope in Him, He will give you strength, and you will go from strength to strength. Be wise; depend on the strength of God rather than your strength or the strength of other people. “No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength” (Psalm 33:16-17 New King James Version).
Pray to God for always new strength or renewal of strength. He will give you. He will strengthen you, as He says in Isaiah 41:10. The Bible also says in Nehemiah 8:10 that the joy of the Lord is your strength. Therefore, rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I trust in You; give me new strength. The Lord is the strength of my life; I shall not be afraid of anyone. I shall wait on the Lord and find new strength; I shall mount up with wings like eagles; I shall run and not be weary, I shall walk and not faint in Jesus’ name.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
