Today’s Scripture: Nehemiah 8:10 NLT Tyndale: 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!”
Deep resounding joy, do you, have it? Do you want it? Do you need to know how to get there?
This eighth chapter of Nehemiah is a step-by-step method to find the joy of the LORD. Just as in building the wall there are materials needed and steps to take. They had just completed the wall now they were cementing their joy.
I am convinced that the steps to joy shown to us by these people are still the steps to joy.
What are these steps?
1. Thy listened closely to the LORD’s Word (from early morning until noon!)
2. They praised the LORD and 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 received instruction from 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 God, thank You for Your Word. Your Law is life, and it is joy. Thank You Lord God that we can hear and understand Your Book of the Law. Help us to understand Your Laws and Your ways. I thank You for the people who can teach us in wisdom and in example. I thank Jesus and those who have taught us the posture, structure, and joy of prayer. The joy found in You LORD truly is our strength. I praise and worship You. Amen
Tom Raines Jr
Affirmations of God
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