From Be Still and Know...
"The joy of the Lord is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10
Many physical fitness programs have been developed to produce strong bodies. There are programs for developing strong muscles, programs for exercise and diet, programs for taking a series of vitamins and minerals. This is done to increase the strength and energy needed for each day.
In God's Word we are given a prescription for increasing our strength. One ingredient of this prescription is joy; and inner joy produced by the Spirit of God.
Nehemiah and his people were observing the Feast of Tabernacles. As the law was read the people began to weep over their sins. But Nehemiah and Ezra said, "This day is holy to our Lord, and be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold" (Nehemiah 8:10, Amplified).
Nehemiah encouraged them to rejoice in the Lord as they read the Word.
There is a special inner joy that overflows from the heart. It shines from the eyes. It gives special beauty to the lives of people. The secret of this joy is the Lord, for He is the source of the joy.
When we have the joy of the Lord we are strong in the midst of trials and tensions, fears and frustrations of life. Joy gives strength to our bodies and spirit.
The Amplified Bible reads, "Strength and stronghold." He who trusts and rejoices in the Lord has a strong fortress in which he is safe. The joy of the Lord transforms our weakness into His strength. It is not every joy that brings strength, but the joy of the Lord. His joy is the joy of salvation, the joy of a yielded will, the joy of fellowship with Him, the joy of His steadfast love.
Do we know that inner joy that brings strength because we spend time with Him who is its source?
Someone has said, "The oil of gladness reduces friction and eases the wear and tear of living."
A joyful heart gives a joyful face.
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22).
From Behold the Lilies...
"And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God." - Acts 3:8-9
Did this man overdo it with his thanksgiving? He had something to be thankful for, and he was not ashamed to let others know about it. In his gratefulness, he probably even forgot that there were onlookers.
Can those around us tell by our lives that we appreciate what Christ has done for us? Do we express our thanks to God? Or are we like the nine lepers who, although glad to be healed, forgot to say, "Thankyou"?
Do we dwell upon God's benefits to us, or do we think negatively? Do we lift our hearts in praise, or are we prone to discontentment? Our circumstances do not determine whether we rejoice or not. As the saying goes, "If Christians do not rejoice, it is because they do not live up to their privileges." May it be our common experience to give thanks in everything.
Be of Good Cheer - There's Nothing to Fear
Cheerful thoughts like sunbeams lighten up the darkest fears,
For when the heart is happy there's no time for tears...,
For the nature of our attitudes towards circumstantial things
Determines our acceptance of the problems that life brings.
And since fear and dread and worry cannot help in any way,
It's much healthier and happier to be cheerful every day.
And if you'll only try it, you will find, without a doubt,
A cheerful attitude's something no one should be without,
For when the heart is cheerful, it cannot be filled with fear,
And without fear, the way ahead seems more distinct and clear,
And we realize there's nothing that we must face alone,
For our heavenly Father loves us, and our problems are His own.
- Helen Steiner Rice
