In Nehemiah 8:10 ESV we are told: “And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” That’s it, I'm dumping human happiness for something far better, “The Joy of the LORD!” Human happiness is mostly rooted in earthly circumstances. It is temporal; coming and going with ebbs and flows like tidal waters. Over a lifetime we learn to anticipate its departure soon after its arrival since we know that circumstances never stay the same. The Joy of the Lord, however, is very different. Unlike circumstantial happiness, the Joy of God sticks and grows since it is rooted in the Eternal One Himself. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full,” John 15:11 NKJV. God’s Joy is not frivolous giddiness; instead, it brings deep gladness, exquisite blessing, and is loaded with extras. Lord, I love Your Joy, no cheap substitute will suffice.
A serious pursuit of godliness requires an equally serious renunciation of worldliness. Too often, we measure spirituality with false scales. While being wisely selective with our public vices we are less so with our private attitudes and perspectives. In reality, it is the thoughts and intents of the heart where the greatest battles must be waged; our actions will ultimately align with the condition of our hearts. Lord God, You know me inside out, You are not fooled by human facades. Plow my heart with Your Word and Spirit and leave nothing unturned. Refresh my inward man that I may outwardly glorify You in all places at all times.
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