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Is The Joy Of The Lord Your Strength?

      It is not strange to see people that are depressed, spiritually weak, dissatisfied and sad about the goings on in their lives fill the pews every Sunday Worship Service, Sunday School and weekly Bible Studies and leave the same way they had come. Not because the Word was not preached but they are yet to get an understanding of what they had heard and how it would work for them: “I bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge” (Romans 10:2, AMP).  God’s word is true, real and it works. But for it to do so in your life you must understand it to walk in it in order to access the blessings therein. No wonder, the Bible tells us: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). Even as we get all the principles about becoming the next millionaire or billionaire, marrying the right person or nailing the best business or job, we must understand that the foundation of all our getting must be Jesus Christ (He is Wisdom) and nothing more. This brings Him joy: “A wise son brings joy to his father…” (Proverbs 10:1a). When we try to do the ‘getting’ outside of Him, we are not only foolish, we also walk on the road of dissatisfaction, spiritual weakness, dejection and depression. Any wonder why the people of the world, in spite of their huge bank accounts still need Psychiatrists to psycho analyze them at every turn as if they are getting a routine medical check-up! 
       The Bible makes us to understand that our creation is to bring joy to the heart of our Father, the Creator of the Heavens and the earth. Why is that? The Bible tells us: “Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for 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, AMP). After the people heard God’s word read to them, they were moved with godly sorrow; they saw their errors and they wept before the Lord. God was pleased by their responses and through His priests He told them not to weep but should rejoice and eat before Him. In fact, the fat offerings that would have been for Him, He asked them to eat. The above verse now ended with: “the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold”. This means when we bring joy to our Father in Heaven, He becomes our strength and stronghold from the storms of life.  When you live to bring joy and happiness to yourself, all you get is weakness, sadness, depression and the likes! 
       For the sake of brevity of this article, may I ask: What you are doing now is it or will it bring Joy to your Father in Heaven? All the getting that you have been on from the beginning of this year, has it brought joy to your Father, will it bring joy to Him? Or they are all designed to make you feel good? If the Joy OF the Lord (not joy IN the Lord) is indeed your strength then there will be no room for depression, spiritual weakness, dejection and dissatisfaction. As you seek God from this point on, do ALL to bring joy to the heart of your FATHER in Heaven. God bless you and may His Joy indeed be your strength.

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