Introduction

Are you struggling to find joy in life amidst all the chaos? The Bible offers timeless wisdom on how to overcome adversity and embrace God's gift of joy. In this devotional, discover how to recognize and eliminate the obstacles that hinder the flow of joy in your life. Then, explore the transformative power of the Holy Spirit's joy and unleash the full potential of true joy in your daily life.

The Free-flowing Joy of the Lord

The argument in the car on the way to church was loud and heated. While walking into the sanctuary, I planted a smile on my face to make my demeanor match my outfit. I lied as I responded to a greeter at the door who asked me how I was doing, "I'm doing well, thank you. Too blessed to be stressed."

On that day, like many others, I was not feeling the joy of the Lord. Instead, I felt the absolute opposite: sadness and despair. Do you know what I’m talking about?

Nehemiah, the Old Testament rebuilder, has a word for us: Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

This verse is a beautiful, strong call to walk in the joy of the Lord that is available to believers. It reminds us to grab hold of joy from the Lord that will give us the strength to walk through whatever we have going on in our lives, but so many believers live as if that joy is unattainable.

I think the most challenging part of this directive is "do not be grieved." Do you agree? All the bad things happening around us make us wonder the opposite: how can we not be grieved? It is easier to go along with the tide of negativity than tap into this joy Nehemiah seemed so excited about, a joy that gives us strength to go through anything.

This plan will examine four areas where we may have unintentionally erected joy blockers in our lives. Then, we will discuss how to eliminate these and stimulate our hearts and minds to allow the joy of the Lord to flow freely in and through us.

Once we realize that the Lord has not failed in His promise to give us joy, we can start working on allowing that joy to be active in our lives.

Prayer:

Thank You, Father, that Your joy is available to us, Your children. I tend to look at circumstances, forgetting that the gift of Your joy is within my reach. Forgive me, Lord, and help me to walk in Your joy today and every day. May I find the strength that comes from Your joy, and I commit to let it flow freely, in and through me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.