This devotion is #1 of the 4 Part The NEW Series. The series is a group of devotions I felt the Lord putting on my heart for the NEW YEAR. I sensed Holy Spirit inspiring me to share hope and refreshing words with you. The devos will follow along the same format as my normal #SoulH2O devotions except the last one will have a bonus post later in the week for the first week in February.
I hope these posts build up your expectation for the great things God desires to do in and through you in 2017! Praying you take hold of all He has for you this year!
Be Blessed & Refreshed,
NEW STRENGTH
“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NLT
When my kids were little January seemed to be the month of dead batteries. After Christmas toy gifts were opened they needed a constant supply of power. It was a cost savings when rechargeable batteries came on the scene, but the kids had a hard time waiting for the batteries to recharge. Brandon hated waiting for the batteries to play Xbox. Often he’d take them off before a full charge cycle ended. The result was that the batteries wouldn’t last long and then he’d have to put them on the charger again.
In other translations of this verse it says, “they that WAIT on the Lord shall renew their strength”. We’re all like rechargeable batteries. We need to wait on God and trust in Him to find new strength. He wants to give it to us, and boy do we ever need His power for bigger battles than Xbox has made! James encourages us to “Let perseverance finish its work”1. If we want to soar, to run, walk and not grow faint then we have to LET God work in us till He’s finished what He started.
Today, learn to wait. Show your trust by waiting for God’s timing. Then, when your batteries are fully charged get out there and release that power!
Prayer
Father…I thank-You for the seasons in my life. Seasons of busy, seasons of rest and seasons of great energy to fulfill all You’ve called me to do. May I use the new strength you’re bringing me to make a difference in this world for You! In Jesus Name…Amen
1 James 1:4
#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth,
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms,
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell

Oh, and I’m such an impatient waiter! Thanks for this lovely and convicting metaphor!
Michele,
I’m the same. As you know, we write what we’re working on 🙂
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Great post today –looking forward to this new series. God bless
Great to hear Beverley 🙂 See you next week!
~Sherry
xoxo
Hi Sherry,
Your link on Laura’s blog does not work. But I found you anyway. That’s a great analogy of waiting for full battery power. Love it.
Blessings,
Janis
Janis,
Thanks for letting me know. I’m in Florida and was posting waaaay late at night 🙂 Hope all is well with you.
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
You couldn’t have said that better; I went adrift just before the holidays so busy with work and getting everything ready that when the new year came I felt and still do felt overwhelmingly completely empty spiritually and mentally; I needed the reminder to get into His word and doing so these last few days I’m feeling much better! Thanks for sharing !
Stephanie,
So glad to hear you realized the source of your strength 🙂 Have a blessed week.
~Sherry
xoxo
I can actually picture myself connected to the Bible as if it’s a battery charger, but slowly inching away as I get the power I think I need… Ohhh, but I need to really focus on the One who give me strength. Because and unfocused charge leads to a weakened life. So happy to be your neighbor this morning at the #RARALinkUp! Blessings, my friend!
Liz, God just keeps connecting us 🙂 So glad He does. I think you totally got what I felt God speaking to me about. Have a great day!
~Sherry
xoxo
Hi, friend. ? This is an encouraging post. Such a great analogy. I’m right there waiting on something and I love what you said about when it’s time we can go out and release the power. I’m excited about your new series!
Kelly,
I can only imagine how powerful the result will be if you give those batteries a little extra juice 🙂 I don’t know how I keep writing series lately, but that’s what God is giving me. Have a great day!
~Sherry
xoxo
Things never seem to go right when we run ahead do they? Patience is hard for me too. The waiting can be difficult, but it’s important to wait until we’re ready so we don’t run out of steam too early. Great devotion Sherry.
Thanks Kelly! You’ve got it right. We do mess things up when we run ahead of God. Have a great day!
~Sherry
xoxo
Thanks for linking up your encouragement as part of the #RaRaLinkup Sherry!
My pleasure Katie 🙂 Have a great day!
~Sherry
xoxo
I think waiting is the hardest part of the Christian walk, but it is often the most rewarding. Looking forward to reading more of the New series.
Laura,
I so agree with you. Waiting is the hardest part.
~Sherry
xoxo
amen and amen…such a good word!! we WILL rise up, once again, oh God!!
Georgia,
You are such a woman of faith! Keep that confidence in HIM!!! Hebrews 10:35-36
Love ya!
~Sherry
xoxo
Thank you, Sherry! I sat next to you on a flight from Detroit to Winnipeg in November. I have been so blessed by both the life story you shared and your words as well. And I know God put you in that seat next to me and I praise Him for thinking of me and knowing my needs!!
Nancy,
I’m soooo glad to hear from you! It’s amazing that you wrote me two days ago. I was actually stuck in the Orlando airport for two days trying to fly home. I met so many amazing people, like how I met you. I am convinced now that I have an Airport/Airplane ministry 🙂 It was a complete pleasure to meet you. I know it was because God loves you so much and divinely appointed our seating arrangement. He just loves you THAT MUCH! I’m glad you were encouraged by our talks on the plane and by the blog. Hope you stay connected. Praying for you girl.
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
What a beautiful new series, and an important message for the new year. Looking forward to the rest of it!
Sarah,
Glad you stopped by today. See you next week 🙂
~Sherry
xoxo
I absolutely love this analogy. I have a son in my home too who goes through a great deal of batteries. I never linked this to our need to fully recharge with the Lord. Thank you for this beautiful and much needed reminder.
Candace,
Having ‘everyday analogies’ helps me stay connected to what God has said. Now that I’ve written that one I will alwyas think of it when I use batteries 🙂
Thanks for stopping by.
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Oh, yes, patience. Seems like I’ve been waiting for SO long, but this devotional is strengthening me to wait patiently on The Lord. I know it will be for something good. Thank you for sharing!
Heather,
Keep waiting and then when it is God’s timing it will happen “suddenly”. God seems to take a long time and then works all of a sudden making up for the years that ‘seemed’ wasted…if we don’t waste them 🙂 He has something good for sure!
Keep believing Hebrews 10:35-36
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
that is exactly what i needed to read. Thank you so much i really enjoy your devotional you are so good at putting together what needs to be read .
Suzanne,
So glad to hear that it’s exactly what you needed. God knows what we need and how to get it to us in a way we understand. He’s that personal of a God. He cares that much for YOU! Have a blessed day!
~Sherry
xoxo
I’ve never been called a rechargeable battery before–but I like it. 🙂 Great analogy, Sherry. Strength that looks like grace–because when we’re fully charged up in Him, we’re better able to serve others. — Congrats on being one of the winners on my site today! yay! 🙂 Will be in touch soon with gift-card info. Internet service is finally back up, so I’m playing catch-up. 🙂 Thank you for linking up with #ChasingCommunity today. Great to connect. 🙂 ((hug))
Brenda,
Love all your emoticons 🙂 Glad you liked the analogy. I look forward to hearing from you and growing in community through your linkup. Isn’t it interesting that your internet went down the day of your linkup. Hmmmm… Just remember, Romans 8:31 is true!
Much love,
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Sherry,
I am encouraged by your power-packed devotions, my spiritual batteries are being recharged. And your prayer reminded me of how I used to dread the changes in the seasons, the battles and the cycles that came with them. But through the years the Lord has been teaching me how to find the blessing in each season and how to look for the minute wonders that add up to His constant care. 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Blessings!
Dawn
Dawn, I’m encouraged that you’re encouraged 🙂 Have an awesome weekend!
~Sherry
xoxo