Find Your Strength in The Joy of The Lord

Remember the song – “The Joy of the Lord is my strength”?  Many of us probably sang it as a child. Probably like this YouTube video.  Remember?Well, here is my thought for today – what a shame that we have saved this song only for the children to sing.  As adults we should be not only singing it but living it. Why would I say that? Because as adults we carry the burdens and the failures of this world – Correct?  And as adults we need God’s strength to survive being an adult. That’s not an original thought coming from me. In the book of Nehemiah we find these words: “10 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.” 8:10The verse comes as the Hebrews are returning to the promised land after an extensive stay in exile because of sin.  God was bringing them home and, in the process, restoring the relationship that had been broken between He and His people. Don’t grieve – the joy of the Lord would be their strength.What was causing God to be joyful? His people were returning to Him.  Our God is a gracious and loving and forgiving God. He never wants to send us away because of our disobedience and sin. However, as we tell our children, there are consequences to our disobedience.  But what joy there is when the relationship has been restored. We find our strength in the joy that the Lord has when we are in relationship with Him.While we may not find ourselves in the same circumstances as the Hebrews did in Nehemiah’s time (returning from exile). We can always have the same assurance – the JOY of the Lord is our strength.So sing today, with all your might – the joy of the Lord is my strength.  Or you might want to enjoy Rend Collective’s adult version of the song.Blessings