The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength

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*_The Joy of the Lord is your Strength_*


And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, *"This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep."* For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. *Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."*

~Neh 8:9-10


So as they were reading the scriptures and as the scriptures were being explained, the people came under a godly conviction, for they realized how far they had failed in keeping the law of God. *The Word of God brought conviction to their hearts. And realizing their failure before God, they began to weep* as the scriptures were being read.


It's always a beautiful thing to see God's Spirit working in the hearts of people; and how the Word of God is alive and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword and is able to pierce between the soul and the spirit. It really began to cut deep. That conviction just brings tears as people realize their failures.


But they said, "Hey, don't weep, don't mourn. This is a day of rejoicing because we are renewing the covenant with God. It's a time of coming back to God. It's a time of restoration. And so go, eat the fat, drink the sweet. Give portions to those that have not prepared. *For the joy of the Lord shall be your strength."*


What a joy it is to be in the Lord,

and what strength there is in that joy. God has intended that your life be filled with joy.

That's God's will for you.

*God wants you to have a life full of joy.*


Peter speaks about the

*"joy inexpressible and full of glory"* (1 Peter 1:8). *Jesus said, "that your joy may be full"* (John 16:24). And He was talking always about this fullness of joy.


What a misconception it is of God to think that God wants to lay heavy burdens on all of us, to make us struggle through life and barely pull through as if He dont care. God wants you to enjoy life in Christ. And the command in Neh 8:9-10 was to enjoy. *The joy of the Lord shall be your strength. And what a joy there is in walking with Jesus!*

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