The Joy of the Lord

Nehemiah 8:10

10 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.”

Quickword: The Joy of the Lord

On this Sunday morning, I want to echo the words of Nehemiah. The people of Judah had just completed rebuilding the wall around the city of Jerusalem. The wall was not as high or think as it once was but it was completed. Many of us have had to rebuild. We’ve had to rebuild marriages, rebuild churches, rebuild relationships, rebuild careers, rebuild families after they have fallen. Today, Nehemiah moves beyond repairing physical structures to rebuilding people. Nehemiah reminds the people to enjoy life, to bless those who are less fortunate. The key to rebuilding is found in where your strength comes from. The text says the joy of the Lord is our strength. I just need one witness who will join me and declare that my strength comes from the joy of the Lord. Simply stated my strength comes from the joy I have in relationships with Him. Everything may not be perfect, but I find my strength in the Lord. We can learn from Nehemiah that wherever we are this morning, we can find strength in our relationship with the Lord. The lord is constantly, the Lord is consistent, it is because of the Lord we are not consumed. I find my joy in the Lord on this Lords day knowing that my help, my strength, my peace and my joy are found in the Lord.

Let’s pray: Eternal God our Father, we come before you this morning thanking you for being the joy that gives us strength. The joy that with us while we grieve, the joy that is with us as we deal with illness, the joy that we have when our family and friends forsake us. God it’s during these moments that our joy in you strengthens us to face everything that comes our way. This morning, I come echoing the sentiments of the Psalmist who declared, this is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. God have your way today, may your presence, peace and power fall upon your people today , give us the joy of the Lord, which is our strength. This is our prayer in the name of Jesus, Amen.