Thank You LORD for giving us great joy.

Today’s Scripture: Nehemiah 12:43, NIV- And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

Deep resounding joy, do you, have it? Do you want it? Do you need to know how to get it?

The book of Nehemiah provides a step-by-step method to find the joy of the LORD. Just as in building a wall there are materials needed and steps to take. They had just completed rebuilding the city walls of Jerusalem and now these people were cementing their joy.

I am convinced that the steps to joy shown to us by these people of Nehemiah’s day are still the steps to joy. What are these steps?

1. Bring out the Book of God’s laws. (Nehemiah 8:1)
2. They listened closely and were attentive to the Book of the Law. (Nehemiah 8:3)
3. They praised the LORD and chanted Amen! Amen! (So be it) and lifted their hands toward heaven acknowledging this word was from the LORD. (Nehemiah 8:6)
4. Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. (Nehemiah 8:6)
5. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. (Nehemiah8:8)
6. They wept and were passionate as they were overwhelmed by the Word. (Nehemiah 8:9)
7. They replaced their weeping with rejoicing in the LORD. (Nehemiah8:10)
8. They learned that the joy of the LORD was their strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)
9. They celebrated with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. (Nehemiah 8:12)
10. They confessed and worshiped the LORD their God. (Nehemiah 9:3)
11. They stood up and praised the LORD their God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. (Nehemiah 9:5)
12. They studied and remembered how the LORD guides His people. (Nehemiah 9:12)
13. They turned to God’s Spirit for instruction. (Nehemiah 9:20)
14. They remembered and praised God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps His covenant of love with us. (Nehemiah9:32)
15. They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the LORD our Lord. (Nehemiah10:29)
16. They celebrated joyfully with songs of thanksgiving. (Nehemiah 12:27)
17. They rejoiced because God had given them great joy. (Nehemiah 12:43)

We too will find our great joy in our LORD!

Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, the Great and mighty God, we praise Your name. You are the God of Israel who continues to guide us today. Strengthen us LORD as we confess and worship You. As we bow down to worship You and as we stand to praise You as the LORD our God, please continue to teach us through Your Laws and remind us of all You have done for Your people. Thank You LORD for keeping Your covenant of love with us even when we have been wicked. We seek to follow Your laws and commands. We are offering You our thanksgivings and rejoicing now. Thank You for Your joy, Father God that is our strength. Amen.