Nehemiah 8:10, NKJV “…for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
I have come to a realization that in life, we all have peculiar concerns and therefore need strength at every point in life to surge on. There are times our hearts thirst for joy and renewed strength, and thankfully our Heavenly Father has Purposed to release upon us a new kind of strength: JOY.
The joy of The Lord, which is the gladness of heart comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being Filled with the Holy Spirit. Let us know Him in every aspect, in our decision making, actions, behaviors and communicate with Him daily, He is the Foundation of our life. “The joy of the Lord is our strength,” is brought to fullness when we accept His Provision of Righteousness by Grace that Reunites us so we can enjoy His Presence.
The account of Nehemiah begins on an emotional note: as it reflects the devastating state Jerusalem was in, when the Jews returned from exile to rebuild the city. Imagine a whole nation filled with a mixed feeling of freedom and despair: a sense of dejection as a result of the consequences of their sins. When the Law of the LORD was Read to them one more time, they wept sorrowfully.
It was at such an occasion that Nehemiah, Ezra and the leaders of the Jews challenged the Jews to stop weeping, wipe their tears and rejoice in the LORD their God, for the Joy of the LORD was their strength. Logically, one is to wait for every problem to be solved in order to rejoice for the victory. Ironically, it doesn’t work that way when it comes to God: with God, when in the problem and you need strength, you have to take a step of Faith and rejoice in advance. The Joy of the LORD is our strength.
Do not wait until you cross the finished line before your heart bubbles with joy. Instead, if you feel stuck and weakened by the pressures of life, pray for the joy of the LORD to fill your heart sways. Once that happens to you, you will have a renewed strength to rise to the top. The devil is not after your stuff, nooo he is after your ‘JOY’ because; ‘…the joy of the LORD is your strength’ (Neh 8; 10) – have Joy on purpose, don’t let the devil steal your joy.
Always remember that Joy does not depend on the circumstances you will find yourself in. Joy is a component of the Fruit of the Spirit and naturally emerges from a strong assurance that God is with you through the thick and thin of life’s uncertainties. This is truly the Joy of the LORD. When you walk in this level of Joy, the devil knows that there is nothing he can do rob you of your joy and strength in the LORD.
Stop making excuses, stop blaming others (and do not try to justify every wrong thing that you have done), but take responsibility for your own behavior because nobody is responsible for your joy or your life except you – being responsible makes you a honorable person. One of the things the enemy doesn’t want us to do in enjoy, because Joy is our strength, it’s a weapon against him. If you know who you are in Christ you will be happy everywhere you are because you know that your Joy is in The Lord, and not in what you have or in who know.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the pure Joy that always Strengthens us in You. Fill me with a new strength LORD, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
