Joy Gems

The Joy of the Lord Makes Us Strong

(Nehemiah 8:10) Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

So this is the way to celebrate; eat and drink and share with those who don't have anything prepared. The day is special, set aside to our Lord. So we are not to grieve because the joy of the LORD God Almighty is our strength.

Ah-ha, so a day is only special when we set it aside to honour our Lord God. The way to celebrate is to party and share. We can stop being sad about whatever is tormenting us because the Lord's joy is what makes us strong.

Do we really see this connection? The more joyful we are in the Lord, the more we experience strength. If we want to be strong spiritually, it will come as we dwell in that joy of the Lord.

You may have noticed that cheerful people seem to be on top of the world. They appear to have their lives under control. Good things just come to them from others. That's true, Cheerful people have more confidence and attract others to them.

But we're talking about something even deeper than that. Do you know anyone who is so devoted to the Lord Jesus that they can hardly talk about anyone else? Do you notice their faith level? Do you see how they praise God for every little good thing, and that they see His hand in everything that happens to them? That is being spiritually strong in the joy of the LORD.

I want that! Don't you too?

PRAYER: Yes, Lord! I want that joy in You too. I want that kind of faith and confidence in You as my daily lifestyle. Then I'll be a mature and effective Christian. Even if I fail many times, I am going to strive for that continually from now on. Please bring it on from Your end too, okay? Thanks, Lord!

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