FREE! Get Your Joy Inside!

Scripture

Nehemiah 8:
8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear [a] and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.

9 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.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

17 From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.

Observation

We can live oblivious of loss- for a long long time… maybe only sometimes questioning “Is this really how it is supposed to be?”. Until one day, by the grace of God we will wake up and realize.. Wow I’ve been living without ______ for so long!

I was weeping yesterday. Listening to this free new album of Phil Wickham… I am so blessed by the worship. I was weeping because I couldn’t believe how long I’ve gone without feeling this way- worshipping God with abandon. This is also day 3 of consistent bible reading and journal reading. I feel like one of those Israelites hearing the word opened for the first time. It must’ve been awesome.

First there was grief. It was like “Wow we’ve ignored this beautiful Word for so long!”
Then there was obedience. They followed the guidelines on festivals and celebrations.
Then there was unspeakable joy. The word said not since hundreds of years ago was it done this way. They weren’t following it out of obligation or because it was just some law. Somehow they saw through the fact that it was a command, and found that the Lord was asking them to celebrate! They did. The joy of the LORD was their strength. And where did the joy of the Lord come from? The Word. When it is opened, joy inevitably comes.

Application

The DAY that the WORD is opened is a sacred day of the Lord. It is a day of great joy. A day of celebration. A day where his JOY will by MY STRENGTH. When is that day? In many ways it was 3 days ago, because something started that day (the day of my first entry here). But it could also be- every day.

Everyday I can open the Word, read it, and feel the JOY OF THE LORD filling in my bones. I will look for his statutes to obey, his directions, his guidelines, his words of comfort and love, I will look for the Father’s heart, and the whisper of my saviour. With great joy I will carry it out. Joy will fill my days.

Prayer

Father I pray for your Word to bring joy to my days. Your joy will be my strength. Your word will be my daily bread. Thank you that in your LOVE and MERCY you would have it that your word would be opened again in my life- that it would find its place again in my life. May it NEVER lose that place. Ever. And I will love you always, my Joy, my Truth, my Lord.