What’s the reading on your “joy meter” today? Is this a terrible day for you? Is everything going wrong? Is there anyway to escape days when everything goes wrong and you feel you have lost your joy? Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) gives this instruction, “This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
So, if you don’t like the day you are having, exchange it. This day is special to the Lord. Why? Because He has purposed to do special things for His children today. Sacred means set aside for divine use. If grief is overtaking you, ask God what He wants to show you. When you see that, you can experience His joy today.
God is a God of joy. He wants you to have His joy. The temporary happiness or merriment of the world is too short-lived for God, that’s why He wants you to experience His lasting, never-fading joy.
Joy is that calm sense of assurance and security that comes when you know that your God is sufficient for every situation and you have trusted Him with all of your life. Note again that it is the joy of the Lord that is your strength. Understanding heavenly joy and receiving it from God can strengthen your weary bones.
Note Heavenly joy in Luke 15:7 (NIV) “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” The joy of the Lord has to do with perspective; what is really important.
Years ago someone told me, “Don’t sweat the small stuff”, and I have tried to follow that advice. Life is filled with minor irritations and major tragedies enough to rob us of all our joy. Don’t let it happen to you. Don’t let anyone or anything ever steal your joy.
“Thank You, God, that You are more interested in our having lasting
joy than temporary happiness. Eternal Joy is our hope. Amen”
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment