The Lord has once again been showing me the importance of Joy, Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Praise, ect. We all know so much about these things and even try to implement them in our lives. I seem to be consistent with these for a very short time only to be swallowed up with life, and joy, thanksgiving, gratitude and praise seem so far off in the distance.
Recently I was meditating on the verse we all know and love in Nehemiah. What is it ladies, you know right?
The joy of the Lord is my strength.
(Truth be told, it's only part of a verse, but that is the part I will talk about.)
I have always thought that I had to some how get His joy and then I would have strength. I have prayed for His joy. I have confessed joy. I have meditated on this scripture.
Well, as I was seeking the Lord for wisdom and revelation on this verse, this was my thought process.
'could it be joy "in" the Lord?' ' as I am joyful 'in' You, then I am strengthened?'
I looked up the Hebrew word for 'joy', H2304 (from H2302) meaning rejoice. Rejoice! So, REJOICE in the Lord and I will have strength! (Maybe this was a no brainer for you all, but not for me)
Then I looked up 'strength', H4581: a fortified place, a defence.
Wow, it was becoming clear to me that as I rejoice/praise Him not only am I strengthened but I find myself in a fortified place. Which speaks to me of a safe place, a place where the enemy can't get to me quite so easily.
Then I came across another verse, Psalm 16:11,
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
In His presence is fullness of joy, that joy I desperately need for victory, for strength. Hmmm, how do we enter into His presence, where that fullness of joy is?? That's right, Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Recently I was meditating on the verse we all know and love in Nehemiah. What is it ladies, you know right?
The joy of the Lord is my strength.
(Truth be told, it's only part of a verse, but that is the part I will talk about.)
I have always thought that I had to some how get His joy and then I would have strength. I have prayed for His joy. I have confessed joy. I have meditated on this scripture.
Well, as I was seeking the Lord for wisdom and revelation on this verse, this was my thought process.
'could it be joy "in" the Lord?' ' as I am joyful 'in' You, then I am strengthened?'
I looked up the Hebrew word for 'joy', H2304 (from H2302) meaning rejoice. Rejoice! So, REJOICE in the Lord and I will have strength! (Maybe this was a no brainer for you all, but not for me)
Then I looked up 'strength', H4581: a fortified place, a defence.
Wow, it was becoming clear to me that as I rejoice/praise Him not only am I strengthened but I find myself in a fortified place. Which speaks to me of a safe place, a place where the enemy can't get to me quite so easily.
Then I came across another verse, Psalm 16:11,
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
In His presence is fullness of joy, that joy I desperately need for victory, for strength. Hmmm, how do we enter into His presence, where that fullness of joy is?? That's right, Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Are you seeing this yet? Are you lacking that strength you need for your day? Do you seem to barely be one step ahead of the enemy most days? Praise, give thanks, rejoice!!!
It has been on my heart to get more consistent with my Gratitude Journal again and now I see why. I see how that is the answer to many of my struggles. Rejoicing, being thankful, praising.
Might be a simple message, but I'm a simple woman. Isn't it so cool when He lets us peek behind the 'why' to His commands? He tells us to rejoice, be thankful, to praise, and we should simply because He says so. But how cool when He shows us why.
Might be a simple message, but I'm a simple woman. Isn't it so cool when He lets us peek behind the 'why' to His commands? He tells us to rejoice, be thankful, to praise, and we should simply because He says so. But how cool when He shows us why.
3 comments:
Michelle,
Thank you so much for this reminder to always be joyful. That is also a theme the Lord has been working in my own heart. I realize too that my children will never be consistent with joy in their life unless it is modeled consistently by me. Joy is for all of our Christian walk...not just when things are going our way. There is a difference between joy in the Lord and worldly happiness. God bless!
Amen!!
simple right there with ya. =0) It has been crazy busy here and not even the holidays yet... thanks for the simple reminder.
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