The Joy of the LORD is my strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 (GWT)

Then he told them, “Go, eat rich foods, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who cannot provide for themselves. Today is a holy day for the Lord. Don’t be sad because the joy you have in the Lord is your strength.”

I was recently challenged by my wife about the difference between happiness and Joy.  The indication was that I was missing out on an element of Joy in my daily response to life.  After spending some time soul searching I came to the conclusion that I had somehow substituted happiness for Joy at some juncture in my Christian journey.  That set me on the path to rediscover Joy

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What earmarked my new journey to re-discover joy was obedience.  I have found that responding to even the simplest responses of the Lord leads to profound joy.   It was so easy for me to think that I was hearing the Lord when I wasn’t pursuing Joy, but that often was not the case.  Pursuing joy meant that I needed  to  become accountable to others, and humble enough to receive instruction, correction or rebuke from my brothers and sisters in Christ as they speak into my life.  What determines joy is my attitude in how I receive these words from others.  For me I have found humility is really at the heart of Joy.  Whether or not a word spoken to me  is from the Lord, I receive it with eagerness and with humility and kindness of heart and allow the Lord to bring wisdom, and understanding. The pursuit of joy is not a solo effort, it involves others.

Ephesians 6: 10-11 (GWT)

Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. 11 Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies.

I have been talking a lot about praise and worship lately.  This stems from a heart seeking the Joy of the Lord.  But, Joy like anything else (as compared to the armor that God supplies) is something that you put on (or step into).  That is where the obedience comes into play.  That is the beauty of God’s salvation –

Matthew 7: 7-8  (GWT)

“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

The joy of the Lord is my strength, the joy of the Lord is my strength, The joy of the Lord is my strength, the joy of the Lord is my strength. He heals the broken hearted and they cry no more, He heals the broken hearted and they cry no more. He heals the broken hearted and they cry no more, the joy of the Lord is my strength. He gives me living water and I thirst no more, He gives me living water and I thirst no more. He gives me living water and I thirst no more, the joy of the Lord is my strength.