Find Strength in His Joy

                Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Focusing on our personal serving of joy in the Lord will nurture a deeper relationship with God.

                In the book of Nehemiah we are given an inside, personal look into the life of a man who was sold out to God.  Nehemiah was promoted from cupbearer to builder of the wall to governor of his people.  Unlike so many people who receive promotions in their careers, Nehemiah remained humble, faithful and realized from Whom his blessings came! 

                Nehemiah nurtured his relationship with the Lord. Chuck Swindoll explains, “In spite of his salary, the privileges, the politics or the pressure, he said in effect, ‘My accountability to my Lord is the focus of my life.’"

                In verse 19 of chapter 5, Nehemiah prayed:  “Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.”  Now, before we jump to the conclusion that Nehemiah was bragging on himself a bit, let’s realize that he was praying to God to hold him accountable for his actions and to treat him accordingly.  How many of us pray like that?  Do we REALLY want to be held accountable for our actions …..and treated accordingly?  

                What truth do we glean from Nehemiah’s example?  “Adversity should force us to trust, to wait on God, to turn to Him for strength.”  (Charles Swindoll)  Nehemiah trusted God through all the difficulties, as well as giving God the glory in the successes. 

                 Listen to and follow God’s plan; trust Him in the details & difficulties; and find strength in His joy.