“… Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” – Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)
REFERENCE:
Nehemiah 8:9-11 (NLT)
If the devil can’t steal your joy, he cannot keep your goods. Your strength is in Joy, but we often fail to see it. It is why the most significant part of every spiritual battle or challenge you may be dealing with now is psychological warfare. When the devil can manipulate your mind, give you a false view of your struggles, and blow your issues out of proportion, he will bring you to a point where you lose your peace of mind, are fearful, and forfeit your hope and confidence in God.
What satan does not expect when he shoots his arrows at you is joy. He expects you to cry and be sad, but your strength and victory are in Joy. Nehemiah knew that although God’s word convicted the people, sadness, and sorrow would not change things; in fact, they would put them where satan could further harass them. He, therefore, counseled them to turn joy on for victory.
James said, “Count it all joy when trials come.” It is because joy is your exit door out of the trial. The longer you cry, complain, and grumble in trials, the longer you remain in them. Your strength is in joy. As a believer, you have the capacity for joy because you have the Holy Spirit. Your victory in any situation is within you, and joy is what unlocks and unleashes it on the devil.
Find your strength in joy. Play praise songs, sing, dance, thank God for His kind deeds, maintain a positive attitude, and make melody in your heart. As you do these, you will discover an inner strength and peace independent of circumstances. This response will confuse satan, lighten the weight of the trial, demonstrate faith in God, and give you strength to keep moving.
Being joyful instead of sad in trials may not be easy, but it is the bible way. Don’t give in to the natural inclination of your flesh; find your strength in joy. Don’t hang your head like an unbeliever without hope. See what God expects from you: stay praiseful, stay thankful, stay expectant, stay trusting, and stay in faith. Things will ultimately work together for your good.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
James 1:2-4, Joel 1:12, and Isaiah 12:3-5.
PRAYER POINTS
+ Thank God for His Joy, which gives you the strength to withstand and soar above life’s circumstances.
+ I cast off the garment of sadness, sorrow, and sighing from my life today. My strength is in joy!
+ Ask for divine enablement to deliberately release joy as your weapon against the enemy’s psychological warfare.
