September 4

Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” — Neh 8:10 BSB

If we want to be strong for service and do our best in everything, we must nurture a joyful spirit. The Bible emphasizes the duty of Christian joy more than almost anything else. But we need to make sure it’s the joy of the Lord that we have. We must draw our gladness from the wells of salvation, not from the muddy pools of the world! The joy that comes from the Lord flows from the heart of Christ. When we have this joy, we are strong, for joy gives us hope and courage. When we can sing while we work or even in sorrow, we receive the Lord’s strength, and there’s no risk of us being overwhelmed.