The
joy of the Lord is your strength. —Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)
“I've got the joy,
joy, joy, joy down in my heart!” Do you remember the words to the song? Joy was
exquisite when you first gave your heart to Jesus, and praise just flowed from
your heart! Is your joy just as real
now? Do you still praise the Lord in
personal worship or have the trials of life tarnished its luster? The Lord desires your praise. King David understood this when he wrote,
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.
Make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn–shout for joy before the Lord,
the King” (Psalm 98:4-6, NIV)!
No matter what His
circumstance David realized his strength came from trust in the Lord’s
provision. David knew how to release his attempt at any control. The very
thought of the Lord’s faithfulness erupted from him in joyful praise! “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my
heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give
thanks to him in song” (Psalm 28:7. NLT). David understood that strength and
joy were reciprocal. “Through Jesus, therefore,” the
writer to the Hebrews imparted, “let us continually offer to God a
sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name”
(Hebrew 13:15, NIV). David understood that he needed to relinquish more
than control of his own heart. He understood that in praising God no matter
what his circumstance he would be strengthened with the joy of the Lord's power
and provision. “I will declare your name to my
people,” David declared. “In the assembly I will praise you. From you comes the theme of my praise in the great
assembly; before those who fear you, I will fulfill my vows” (Psalm 22:22,25,
NIV). David knew that praise was his vow.
Centuries following
David’s reign, Ezra, the priest, stood before what had once been an exiled and
abandoned nation, but now a people who had been restored. He read the sacred
law. “Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their
hands and responded, ‘Amen! Amen!’ Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord
with their faces to the ground” (Nehemiah 8:6, NIV). Each Hebrew then wept because of God’s
redeeming love in spite of their sin! They had been saved from Babylon and
destruction. “Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the
Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, ‘this day is sacred
to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep. Go and enjoy choice food and sweet
drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to
our Lord’” (Nehemiah 8:9a, 10a, NIV).
When we are forgiven,
we are not meant to mourn over past sins. We are not meant to mourn over circumstances
or troubles in life. He has restored us! “Consider it pure joy, my brothers,”
James wrote, “whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the
testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3, NIV). Trials are meant to produce the purest
spiritual joy. Not diminish it. Strength grows from perseverance. Spiritual joy
carries you through times of deepest despair and brings God’s strength to a
troubled heart. Each day is a new day in Christ. Get up from your weeping and praise
Jesus for saving you and taking care of you. Nehemiah reiterated what David had
known to be true—that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10b)! Without
joy we have no strength, and without God’s strength we have no joy.
“O for a thousand
tongues to sing my great redeemer’s praise!” Charles Wesley wrote in one of his
best known hymns. “The glories of my God and King! The triumphs of His grace!”
Give thanks to God for handling your problems, and never take back the burden
you have given Him. Spiritual joy will blossom through faith, and His strength
shall sustain you. The fire of the Holy Spirit will draw your praise! When you
have deeply experienced your great redeemer’s love—have known the glories of
your God and King—have savored His victories, praise will be more than just a
result. It will be your highest act of worship.
© 2017 Lynn Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com
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