“His Joy, My Strength” 

Greetings, Dear Friends ~  

I pray you know the love of God, which exceeds our capacity to understand!  It is my privilege to offer today’s Selah blog article, “His Joy, My Strength.”

How often have you felt the absence of joy in your life?  Too often, I think that we, as believers, can be very critical of ourselves for being human.  We might sometimes pretend we are fine—even when we are not.  It is as if we express how we are really feeling, we are less Christian. I think it is important, not only to be honest with other people about how we are feeling, but with God and with ourselves.  After all, the Lord already knows how we are really feeling.

These things being said, if we are down, depressed (or just having an “off day”), we are never meant to continue that way.  Feelings of loneliness, isolation, or being misunderstood can contribute to our feeling, what I will call “the three ‘I’s,”—inadequate, inefficient, or inept.  We feel like we are not good enough; are not as productive as we should be; and maybe even feel useless!  These thoughts further compound our problem, robbing us of our joy.  The Lord never meant for us to live this way.  He knew we would have these kinds of days, but He gave us each other to help us through the hard times; and He wants us to have His joy!

Think about it!  When you have joy in your heart, you exude joy!  It is contagious and other people want to be around you!  Joy draws us, and often cannot get enough of it—when our hearts are clear so we can embrace and receive it.  Even if all is not the way we want it to be, when we are around people that have the joy of the Lord, it is energizing!  Although our circumstances might deplete our joy, it is only temporary.  God can restore us! 

Consider these words from the Book of Nehemiah 8:10 says:

“Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 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 children of Israel, who had returned from Babylonian exile, were saddened to hear the words of the Law.  Their behavior condemned them, and they felt genuine remorse.  The words (Law) did not bring them joy; it only pointed out their flaws, the three “I’s.”  Instead of condemning them for their bad behavior, the Lord sent them a different message.  Nehemiah instructed them to “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.”  

What a great way to remove their burdens!  They were wrong, and they knew it!  However, instead of beating up on them for something they already knew they had done wrong, the Lord forgave them.  Nehemiah told them to go and have a good time!  This was news that liberated them!  It was the Lord’s good news that brought about this overwhelming sense of joy! It deserved a hallelujah response!  

The words brought encouragement, hope, and peace!  It was a holy day—a day to celebrate and rejoice!  The message was uplifting!  The best good news we can ever receive it a message from the Lord that brings us great joy!!!  It is the kind of message that can send us into great shouts of praise and thanksgiving!  As the Lord liberated them (us), our words should liberate others!  Our words should create an atmosphere of joy!

My friends, I pray the Lord brings you to a special place of revelation concerning—

• the knowledge of His overwhelming love and compassion for you
• the understanding of His desire to save, heal, deliver, and protect you
• the blessing of being in His fellowship and sweet communion with you
• the beauty of knowing that He will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)
• the glory of basking in His presence where there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11)

His Joy, My Strength!!!  Oh, yes!  Let us taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!  Let the Lord strengthen you today and every day!!!

As we thank God for Resurrection Sunday, we honor and bless Him for His joy that is always knocking on our door!  As the songwriter said, “Do me a favor; open the door and let Him in!!!!

Thank you, once again, for allowing me to share with you! May our God fill your life to the brim and allow you to see the overflow! This is my prayer for you as you remember my mantra . . . This world is definitely a much better place because you are in it!  

God’s peace and blessings! 

Until Next Time, My Dear Friends,  

Selah

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