THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15

READ: “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10

REFLECT: At first this verse seems harsh. “Don’t be dejected and don’t be sad…”; how in the world is that possible? When the prophet Nehemiah first said these words to the people of Israel, they were dejected and sad because they had just heard the scriptures for the first time. It was just dawning on them how far they were from God. But Nehemiah says, “No, God doesn’t want you to wallow – don’t be dejected and don’t be sad – the joy of the Lord will be your strength to come back to him.”

When we realize how far we are from God we don’t have to be dejected and sad. The joy of the Lord, the joy of the Savior, is our strength. And God gives the joy – it’s grace – again!

When you’re tempted to give in to sadness and dejection today say to yourself, “The joy of the Lord is MY strength.”