Two-minute read.
“Remember, the joy of the Lord is our strength.”
Wrapping up our small group session, the leader said those nine words in closing, and they immediately struck a chord with my heart. I had never heard the verse shared that way before. As many times as I’ve read the Bible, the scripture had escaped me. Coming home, I looked up the passage and began studying it; unbeknownst to our leader, his words changed my life. When we live communally with others, sharing the blessings God gives us, it brings joy to our hearts and strengthens our souls.
Becoming spiritually rooted in God’s presence and increasingly relying on Him gives us joy that produces enduring strength. We can’t gain strength from anything we do, only from a God-given joy. Hope and forgiveness connect us to the Creator. Letting go of past sins gives us a do-over, putting the Savior’s teaching into practice in our lives, and foregoing our selfish desires. The more we look for God’s blessings, worship Him, and let scripture take root in our hearts, the more divine joy we will experience.
“I’m leaning into God’s promises,” a friend said when talking about an uncontrollable situation in her life. Knowing she had done everything she could to help the people involved, she left the rest in the Lord’s hands, trusting His promises and that He loved them more than she ever could. Memorizing, meditating, and applying scripture in your life helps it take root. The more seeds you plant, the deeper your relationship with the Savior will become. As life unfolds, you will quickly discover that God has given us promises to apply to everything that comes our way.
Live in the joy of the Lord by letting His promises take root in your heart. Find verses that apply to your current situation and plant them in your soul. Ask the Savior to fill your being with His divine joy and lavish the strength you receive from it.
Journal Questions:
How have you discovered God’s joy?
In what ways does the joy of the Lord give you strength?
In what situation do you need God’s promises today?
Joyful Application:
Ask God for His divine joy and the strength that comes from it.
