You know those famous words of old man Nehemiah -
"the joy of the LORD is your strength"
Most of the times I have heard it referred to, i get a vague sense that joy is related to strength and i feel strong for precisely two minutes because I have a way of leaking joy and losing strength.
So i decide to check. Are we mis-using Scripture? Are we missing some gem? If there's a way to be strong in my days, i sure want it.
i thought-prayed. i read. i asked.
A 3-part scrutiny: Joy / Joy of the LORD / Strength
Joy is a God attribute. It does not originate from earth. The word is distinct from 'pleasure' which is the proper word for when we see, feel, taste or experience something temporal that brings a smile and a sense of satisfaction. Pleasure however is a glimpse of joy. Psalm 16 famously tells us that joy in its fullness is found in one place, or rather one Person: God Himself.
God is Joy, not kill-joy! {what an awful distortion and lie}
Christians, who are God's children, will over time mature in joy. It is the Father's character and being flowering in his children's lives.
God is Joy. God is also joyful - over certain things. Jesus mentioned the wild vive joie of the father who hikes up his coat and runs to welcome his prodigal's return. The entire mood of the coming of the Saviour is one of great joy - God is excited about His Son coming to earth to save us. God is joyous about what he is up to and He invites us to share His joy!
We find joy and grow joyful as we relate to our Father God. Day by day, he infuses more of Himself into our being.
We find joy as we take upon our hearts what is upon His. If we take up His cause and join in His plan. Old man Nehemiah's words in fact come from this take. The people were listening to the Law and beginning to look at their failures and feel sorry and sad. But to God, his people's hard labour of rebuilding the wall, their coming together to hear the Law, the turning of their hearts God-ward is all joy! So they are to take their eyes off themselves and share in God's joy over them!
Each time you en-joy life's gifts, remember it is a doorway to the God who is joy and who invites you to join in His joy over life.
EN(ter) into JOY.
This is how Joy becomes a strong cord and holds you together, keeps you strong through the storms in the coming days.
"the joy of the LORD is your strength"
Most of the times I have heard it referred to, i get a vague sense that joy is related to strength and i feel strong for precisely two minutes because I have a way of leaking joy and losing strength.
So i decide to check. Are we mis-using Scripture? Are we missing some gem? If there's a way to be strong in my days, i sure want it.
i thought-prayed. i read. i asked.
A 3-part scrutiny: Joy / Joy of the LORD / Strength
Joy is a God attribute. It does not originate from earth. The word is distinct from 'pleasure' which is the proper word for when we see, feel, taste or experience something temporal that brings a smile and a sense of satisfaction. Pleasure however is a glimpse of joy. Psalm 16 famously tells us that joy in its fullness is found in one place, or rather one Person: God Himself.
God is Joy, not kill-joy! {what an awful distortion and lie}
Christians, who are God's children, will over time mature in joy. It is the Father's character and being flowering in his children's lives.
God is Joy. God is also joyful - over certain things. Jesus mentioned the wild vive joie of the father who hikes up his coat and runs to welcome his prodigal's return. The entire mood of the coming of the Saviour is one of great joy - God is excited about His Son coming to earth to save us. God is joyous about what he is up to and He invites us to share His joy!
We find joy and grow joyful as we relate to our Father God. Day by day, he infuses more of Himself into our being.
We find joy as we take upon our hearts what is upon His. If we take up His cause and join in His plan. Old man Nehemiah's words in fact come from this take. The people were listening to the Law and beginning to look at their failures and feel sorry and sad. But to God, his people's hard labour of rebuilding the wall, their coming together to hear the Law, the turning of their hearts God-ward is all joy! So they are to take their eyes off themselves and share in God's joy over them!
Each time you en-joy life's gifts, remember it is a doorway to the God who is joy and who invites you to join in His joy over life.
EN(ter) into JOY.
This is how Joy becomes a strong cord and holds you together, keeps you strong through the storms in the coming days.
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