Today’s Scripture: And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10 NLT Tyndale
Deep resounding joy, do you have it? Do you want it? Joy of the LORD is real and so much stronger than the walls Nehemiah and the people had rebuilt around the city.
A lot of hard work had just been completed and many people had uprooted and moved back to Judah. They were just settling in and they broke out the Book of the Law of Moses to read aloud from early morning to noon. Funny isn’t it that today’s church leaders get run out of town for going over their twenty minutes?!
It has been seventeen months since I last wrote on this verse and I am more convinced and more filled with the joy of the LORD today than ever. I am convinced that the steps to joy shown to us by these people are still, well, the steps to joy.
What are these steps?
1. Thy spent time in the LORD’s Word.
2. They chanted Amen! Amen! (So be it) and lifted their hands toward Heaven acknowledging this word was from the LORD.
3. They bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
4. They listened to their teachers and understood each passage.
5. They wept and were passionate as they were overwhelmed by the Word.
6. They replaced their weeping with rejoicing in the LORD.
7. They learned that the joy of the LORD was their strength.
8. They celebrated with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.
Today’s Prayer: LORD, thank You for Your Word. It is life, it is joy to those who hear and understand. Amen! So be Your ways. I thank You for these people, Your people who taught us the posture of prayer and the joy found there. The joy found in You LORD truly is my strength. I praise and worship You. Amen
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life
AMEN!
Thanks Cindy. Nehemiah rocks your heart doesn’t it?! Powerful devotion to Him that is on high!!!
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thanks single! Not sure about the contest but I did truly appreciate being in your list of 15 blogs and I look forward to checking out some of the others you listed. Best of luck and I hope to hear from you again!