Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. NLT, If you are stressed out of your mind or find yourself in a difficult position where you have to make a life-changing choice, go to your bedroom, put on some worship music, and just rest in the presence of the Lord. Realizing and believing that is a key to not losing any precious joy. ( Psalm 5:11) " in your presence there is fullness of joy". Psalm 51:12. Psalm 67:4. Remain in My love. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. December 21, 2021 "The joy of the Lord is my strength" ( Nehemiah 8:10 ). How can we not be bursting with joy when were filled with all the fullness of God. Let me be totally honest for a moment. Paul prayed that the Ephesians would have the supernatural strength required to comprehend the staggering heights and depths of the love of Christ. It follows, therefore, that the joy we are talking about is serious, not only because it is central to Gods very being, and not only because it is central to his ultimate purpose in creation, but also because it is central to God-glorifying Christian living now. This is the ultimate purpose of God in creation a Christ-ransomed people with everlasting joy on their heads, sorrow and sighing gone, all creation transformed and applauding the work of God. . The joy of the Lord awaits you. Now I have a better understanding of what it is. Amen! Then they bowed down and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the groundThen Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, This day is holy to the LORD your God. It's not something we can just drum up on our own, or try to put on a fake, happy face, pretending everything is OK when we struggle to just get through. Meaning, Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33). Pingback: 3 Powerful Spiritual Goals and Inspiring Quotes to Grow Your Faith This Year, Pingback: The Story of John the Baptist: 4 Powerful Lessons and Bible Verses, Your email address will not be published. Paul avows, Do everything without grumblingor arguing,so that you may become blamelessand pure, children of Godwithout fault in a warped and crooked generation. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. This is where everything is heading. This kind of joy is a spiritual gift. Be devoted to one another in love. We have no reason to be discouraged because we have the Lord. Is your greatest fear being out of control? Here is one of the many climactic glimpses of the final world where God is taking his church and his new creation, And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Lord bless me, Lord I pray that you give my mother a miracle healing and remove cancer from her body. Yes, it is possible to be peaceful and cheerful in the midst of trouble. 3 John 2, "'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" And if you dont think the word good (in good feeling) is adequate, then you might try pleasant or congenial or delightful or agreeable or comforting or satisfying or amiable or sweet or happy or likable or glad or positive. This is beautifully shown in Psalm 32. 4+ Strategies to Make First-Time Guests Feel Welcomed, How to Get Kids Ministry Volunteers that Want to Help Every Week, 9 Ideas to Celebrate Dad this Fathers Day, 10 Christmas Bible Verses for Kids Ministry, Back-to-School Engagement with Churchgoers, Utilizing the Web to Form A Church Community. Again, This day is holy (Nehemiah 8:11). He says, As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. In other words, the joy of the Lord isnt primarily a feeling. The way the Bible goes about communicating through the inadequacy of language is by piling up diverse expressions that refer to the same inner reality. Though chosen, rescued, and promised, God's people suffered through severe consequence for their continual rejection of Him and His covenant. These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. Lets get the context before us. Joy in the Lord [Granville Mercer Williams] on Amazon.com. Blessings, Your email address will not be published. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus said so! I am an adopted son of God and will receive an inheritance from God. Joy in the Lord. Father, pastor, worship leader and avid film composer, he likes wearing many hats! Required fields are marked *. Joy Chases Away Depression "You have sorrow now, but your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." -John 16:22 (ESV) Depression is under the curse. It shall make a name for the Lord. It shall be an everlasting sign., It refers to what went just before: everlasting joy will be on the heads of the ransomed, mountains singing, trees clapping their hands. In Ephesians 3:18-19, Paul prays that the Ephesians would: have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (The LXX omits joy of the Lord and translates, because he is your strength [ischus].), Does the context perhaps constrain that translation as strength? You Are My Shield Psalm 119:114 Christian Meditation, When Mercy Found Me by Rhett Walker Christian Music Video, Abundance: Stories of Giving and Prospering, Growing Prosperity: 18 Financial Stewardship Principles, Long Way Home by Steven Curtis Chapman Christian Music Video. Objective. Uplifting Bible verses about joy and happiness This first set of scriptures on joy digs into the most easily understandable explanation of joy and its relationship to happiness. Nehemiah said, Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. He said, "I have been to Church today, and (Surprisingly) I am not depressed." I hope that your experience of coming to church at Church at the Mission leans more . Not to joyless grieving. When you build your ministry team to operate within the realms of joy, their output, motivation, creativity, and vision will be off the charts. In this conversation, Pastor Philip and Pastor Eric discuss the identity trap of seeking satisfaction through power. Paul and Silas are preaching and have stirred up the spiritual world a bit. Throughout the Bible we read about the great joy we can have in the Lord -. How could the Ephesians (and I) know God on such a deep, profound level? Constant introspection and forgiveness become the normality for every believer. Its not good to preach true sermons from wrong texts. The best of both worlds! Perhaps your eternal salvation is secure and yet you remain unhappy. Our heavenly Father is not indifferent to our happiness. And each time they say that, they make it the reason why the people should stop weeping: They had understood something correctly back in verse 8, but evidently not everything. How Can the Joy of the Lord Change Your Life? What does 'The joy of the Lord' is our strength mean? Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love (Psalm 90:14). Our Product Ambassadors Every morning he pours out new, fresh mercies that are custom tailored for the day. Gods Blessings: 4 Roads That Lead You There, Former NAACP Leader Dr. Benjamin Chavis Looking to Field 'No Labels' Centrist Candidate in 2024 Race, 'What a Legend!' Because Jesus said so! Praise be to God! (Ese from Nigeria), Ultimate Guide: 50 BEST Christian Books Every Christian Should Read, The BEST Study Bible In 2023 (Ultimate Guide), The Best Books On Prayer Every Christian Should Read, The Joy Of The Lord Is My Strength: 5 Methods For Growing In The Joy Of The Lord, 1. Dedicated Biblical Educator with experience preparing and teaching theological education in a wide range of environments both locally and internationally. Over the years, I've learned a few lessons that have taught me how to find joy in the Lord. ItistheunbendablebeliefthatGodismyFather,andthathelovesmemoredeeply thanIcouldpossiblyimagine. And do you know that even in times of trouble, Yes, it is possible to be peaceful and cheerful. Grief over what? How can the joy of the Lord change your life? "This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Ps 118:24 NASB). Here are 3 Powerful Reasons the Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength. . Secure. We see this, for example, in Psalm 16:11, ?You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. All other reality comes from him, and its meaning is derived through him. The majority of pastors are not even employed by the church but work a second and third job to provide a steady income. Psalm 5:11-12, God saves us from sin and separation from Him. Do not be conceited.Do not repay anyone evil for evil. The people are weeping with grief. Rejoicing about the promises God has given us in His Word. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Without joy, you are not much of a witness and there is not much evidence of the Lord in your life. He is author of, Verse 9, This day is holy; do not mourn or weep., Verse 10, This day is holy; do not be grieved., Verse 11, This day is holy; do not be grieved., Dont weep, go rejoice with feasting and with generosity for the poor (Nehemiah 8:910). #trinity #christian #worship #praise #church #trinity #mission #prayer #jesus #music #hymns I am part of Gods forever family and uniquely joined to his people. 4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I admit that trying to find adequate words for heart-realities is difficult. Healing from loss is a major part of my story as my family walks the dark path of grief after losing my beautiful 8 year old daughter. So the Word is the Son. All you feel is condemnation. Dont be grieved, and they went and rejoiced with feasting and generosity for the poor (Nehemiah 8:1112). Colossians 3:23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.NLT So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved. And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. Not a good place to be in life. Joy is essential to the Christian life. This is what I command you: Love one another (John 15:9-17 HCSB). It is good for the ungodly; when they see Christians glad, they long to be believers themselves. Yep, Paul praised God after he had been beaten and thrown into jail. This is a weeping for failure. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father (John 1:1, 14). For example, if sickness tries to attack your body, then confront it by confessing: By His stripes I am healed.(1 Peter 2:24). In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesnt know what his master is doing. And as he prayed he said (in Nehemiah 1:11), O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and grant him mercy in the sight of [the king]. In other words, the mercy of God is found in the stronghold of reverential delight. Behold . For several days, Paul patiently ignored her and finally had enough. It will only shine the way it ought to shine the way it is destined to shine when its greatness and beauty and worth are reflected in the God-centered gladness of the redeemed. Lord bless me with someone I can feel whole with. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Then you will shine among them like stars in the skyas you hold firmly to the word of life (Phil 2:14-16 NIV). Thank you for the simple but effective break down of the joy of the lord. That refuge is of infinite value. Psalm 149:2. At Play in the Fields of the Lord: Directed by Hector Babenco. Joy is a choice. I always assumed that the joy of the Lord in Nehemiah 8:10 was probably our joy in God, not his joy in us. Our. I have life everlasting and will eventually experience the new heavens and new earth. Joy of Living is a 1938 American musical comedy film directed by Tay Garnett and starring Irene Dunne and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. with supporting performances from Alice Brady, Guy Kibbee, Jean Dixon, Eric Blore and Lucille Ball. We read it three times, Go your way. With Tom Berenger, John Lithgow, Daryl Hannah, Aidan Quinn. Understanding the Joy of the Lord and How it Can Change Your Life, We get a bonus from our boss and our hard work is rewarded-, We spend the afternoon sledding and playing in the snow with our kids-, The setting is Jerusalem after the children of Israel have been punished by the Babylonian captivity. That is a proper response to the holiness of God. Jeremiah 29:11, Father God I repent of my sins and I ask for forgiveness.I thank you for all you've given me in, PRAYER REQUEST Protection prosperity miracles wisdom, freedom, bigs gains, winner's life of bigs gains, favor of God, blessings, finance, business, Am humbled abt the Blessing message and motivation i av gain..B Blessed too Brenda, Lord please bless me with my soulmate. He wrote, "None but the believer ought to rejoice.". Honor one another above yourselves.Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,serving the Lord.Be joyful in hope,patient in affliction,faithful in prayer. 7 Then you will experience God's . May your life abundantly flow with the joy of the Lord and growing prosperity! Gods holiness is the purity and perfection not only of his justice but also of his mercy and grace. The healing power of joy works like medicine to our bodies. The old is gone, the new has begun. He is steadfast and his love never ceases. And do you know that even in times of trouble, joy does not have to leave you? If this does not cause pure joy, then nothing will! Lamentations 3:40 Instead, let us test and examine our ways. My glory is their great gladness in me.. In this way, the stronghold of mercy that God built becomes ours. Still one more clarification of our conference theme before we turn to Nehemiah. When he finds time, he loves to share some leadership and faith application here on SharefaithMagazine. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. This joy of the Lord is my strength, and it works itself out in very practical ways in my life. Guilt over unconfessed sin, or a life in sin, brings a huge separation between you and God. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. ESV. Evans said it this way. Maybe next year. In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). Proverbs 17:22, If you feel yourself growing weary, then confess: I am steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord and knowing my work is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58), If you are facing financial troubles then confess the promise: My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19). (Neh 8:1-12 NIVUK). And this affects everything we do. Your happiness starts with the forgiveness God provides in Jesus. We are told that the joy of the LORD is your [our] strength (Neh 8:10 NASB). When Jesus was born, the angels announced "good tidings of great joy" ( Luke 2:10 ). But not if thats all you feel. This is why the commands and promises of Scripture concerning joy in God are so relentless: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice (Philippians 4:4). How can we not be overflowing with joy when we truly understand the great salvation to which weve been called? Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. What Does It Mean To Seek The Lord, And How Do We Do This? The Greatest Growing Prosperity Secret of All Time Giving! He said, I am who I am (Exodus 3:14). At Lessons from Home I share my homeschooling and parenting journey along with the lessons God teaches me as I learn to follow Him wherever He leads. But in verse 12 they stopped weeping and rejoiced because they understood what was declared to them., Notice that the kind of weeping they experienced is called grieving two times. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. As David says in Psalm 119:14-16: In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Hein van Wyk is the Co-Founder and President of Sharefaith.com. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He is a mighty savior. Or as Nehemiah 8:10 says, The joy of the Lord is your stronghold. The stronghold built by God, and full of God, becomes our stronghold when we find him to be the treasure hidden in the field and take him as the treasure of our lives when we are wakened to see and savor God as our joy. The joy of the Lord is my strength, and I experience that joy through the power of the Holy Spirit. Come into the refuge from sin and guilt and holy wrath. And it is a feeling a good feeling. This holy book has influenced spiritual and political leaders while providing answers to life's mysteries for those who profess Christianity. Your joy now springs from being chosen and loved by a Savior, who laid down his life (while you were still in sin) to die for you. Matthew 6:21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. When I come to the throne of grace, I am filled with the joy of the Lord that is my strength. They came after Paul and Silas. This is the everlasting sign of his purpose and his nature. Choosing to follow God with an obedient heart, dedicating our lives to our Lord and Savior. Nehemiah tells them that the day is holy (it is the beginning of the. ) If you try to seize the day, the day will eventually break you. Thats the refuge prepared by God. It is good for us; it makes us strong. If it was, then it would be impossible to experience it in moments of grief or in the depths of trials. This is a radical and utter transformation in every sense of your being. What joy is there when you stand in His presence during prayer, worship or in communion when your life is a wreck with sin? Now, as I read verses 912 watch for three things: the weeping of the people, the holiness of the day, and the joy of the Lord. Just the opposite. I say it againrejoice! This is not some Norman Vincent Peale positive-thinking pep talk, it is the essence of believing who you are, who you serve, and what that relationship offers. 1 Peter 4:12-13. And what is that protection, that stronghold? This is serious. It's important to understand what joy is. When the Bible talks about the joy of the Lord being my strength, I have a hard time relating to it. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. You are not worthless you have been chosen. All this brings so much stress and anxiety that one of the first things lost is the presence of joy. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs ( Zephaniah 3:17 ).