Corona Devo 3322

Sometimes we forget...to be joyful.       ...To smile.  
Sometimes we become detached from kicking-back and having fun...but we shouldn't.  
 
...for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  ~Nehemiah 8:10

Nehemiah (in the Bible) said that.  Can we say that?  ...That the joy of the Lord is our strength? (Nehemiah 8:10)

And perhaps we might say that, but do we believe it?  And--more telltale: Do we live it?  

Could anyone accuse us of being "fun" or "joyful"?  (I am asking myself this question...and you ask yourself.)  
Would our closest family and friends say that we have joy in our heart and life? 

Our answer might not be one that makes us happy, but let's move past "happy", which is a circumstantial and fleeting feeling.  Joy comes from somewhere deeper, and there is a meaningful reason at joy's base: it's God.

...the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  ~Nehemiah 8:10

We can have joy in the hardship, in the pain, in the sorrow...but do we?  

Let's choose joy today...anyway.

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.  ~Psalm 30:5

Joy is not a circumstance...it is a decision that we make in spite of our circumstances.  We can choose joy (in Christ), even when things are hard.  And we must also be on our guard, because entitlement and pride can creep into our hearts...and sometimes we don't even choose joy when things are good.

But today, the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10) and we can be purposeful to choose joy in the Lord.

I saw a few birds gathered in a sidewalk puddle after a rain the other day.  I watched as they stood together still in the water.

But the next moment...they were twittering, flittering, splashing and choosing joy, as far as I could understand.  Their wings and beaks moved and flicked and I laughed out loud at their show.  

Their joy was contagious!

Can we dig down deep and find some contagious joy today?

We should.  There is nothing sour-puss about our Savior and what He has done in granting us salvation from our sins.  And if we don't have joy, who is going to be interested in knowing more (and accepting) the Savior that we serve?
 
Let's go play in some puddles today.

If the birds are doing it, we just might be able to learn something from their carefree nature.  Because, if the Lord cares for the birds....aren't we going to be okay also?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  ~Matthew 6:26
~~~

Nehemiah got it right when he said the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10) and if we want to dig deeper into Nehemiah's joy-philosophy, we just might like what else he has to say: Good food, drinks, and sharing them with others---it sounds like a party to me!  

Nehemiah's road to joy was paved with good food and a generous heart.  Ours can be too.
Let's choose joy today. 

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  ~Nehemiah 8:10  

~~~

The heaviness of life is real.  The darkness does everything it can to crowd out the light of Christ and our joy.  Don't let it.

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  ~Psalm 118:24

Let's get the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Down in my heart! Down in my heart!

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Down in my heart to stay (Song by George W. Cooke: copyrighted in 1926).

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.  ~Psalm 16:11


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