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 holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
The joy of the Lord is our strength. It is a common phrase amongst Christian circles but what exactly does it mean and how does it apply to us today since it was written to the Israelites after they rebuilt Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile?
All month we have explored verse after verse that speaks of the joy we can experience as believers. We have looked at Greek words and their meanings, as well as the ways we can be brought joy… It is clear that joy is an important part of our faith and is a natural response to the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. Joy is pretty much as important and present of an emotion as love is.
But what exactly IS the joy of the Lord? And how is it our strength?
The joy of the Lord is our gladness of heart. It is an emotion that we feel and becomes second nature to us when we are abiding in Him. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). We see that believers are filled with joy (1 Peter 1:8). And there are numerous other verses that we could mention that speak of the joy we have as believers – so many, in fact, that we could spend even more than our short 31 days in this devotion exploring the topic.
How is joy our strength? It is through Him that we find that strength. The joy within us fills us to overflowing. It girds us up, boosts us, makes everything more bearable. Paul and Silas, facing imprisonment and discomfort, chose to sing joyous praises to God throughout the night. Though they were in prison, they were filled with joy and it became their strength that carried them through. (Acts 16:25)
What can you do today to let joy be your strength?
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