Discover Your Strong Place
Do you need strength today to get through some of life’s difficulties?
Is everything feeling like a heavy weight over you? Are life’s challenges overwhelming? Do you need something to help you get through a trial or circumstance? Want a dose of strength? If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, my response to you is “Me too!”
Sometimes life can feel difficult, and we wonder how we will get through it. We want to be strong and resilient, but we feel weak and perhaps hopeless. We may want to give up but realize we have no place to go from there. We pray, often briefly, and feel no relief. We try to stay in faith by reading the Word or encouraging devotions; however our spirits feel low and weak. Often times a Christian friend can lift us up or a powerful sermon can snap us back into a good place. Prayer may also be a key in returning our strength. However, sometimes we just feel a sense of despair when we look at our circumstances on earth.
Many times our finances continue to suffer and bring us down. Often times difficult relationships weaken our spirits. Divorce, illness, death, loss and many other orders of life can give us a feeling of hopelessness. It happens. I have some very good news for you!
Now that I have brought up the realities of the not so pleasant part of life on earth, I am thrilled to announce that STRENGTH is available to you. Strength is within your reach, and it is not just any strength. This strength, that is at your disposal, is packed full of power, ability and force. It has a world of authority and influence. It can only prevail and succeed. This strength has absolute might. And if you are a believer of God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is at your fingertips.
The strength, power and might that I speak of here are from the Creator of the Universe, the one who used mere words to create this earth and its contents. From God’s words alone he placed the heavens and the earth in their home. God’s strength and power is beyond our comprehension. God is the Almighty Lord. Would you like some of God’s strength to get through a trial or difficult time? It is accessible to you Christian sister!
In Nehemiah 8:10 the Word of God says, “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” The joy of the Lord is your tool to receive strength. Did you realize that? We have learned many ways to give God thanks in previous lessons. Giving thanks to God will put you smack-dab in the joy of the Lord. Yes, smack-dab. Lol. How do you possibly avoid the joy of the Lord when you are thanking him and rejoicing in the things he has given you? I don’t see a way to not experience the joy of God while you praise him.
When you face something difficult that begins to feel hopeless or more than you can manage, reach out to that strength of God by simply speaking thanksgiving to God. This will put you in the joy of the LORD. The joy of the Lord is your strength. You will find strength here. Anytime you feel weak or defeated, find your joy in God by thanking him and praising him. Strength will show up. In times of guilt and condemnation, don’t let Satan enjoy your state of mind, go to the joy of God by giving him thanks.
Rejoicing, praising and giving thanks to God moves you to the joy of the Lord and his strength will be yours. Satan can’t win any battles against you while you are in the joy of the Lord and carrying such spiritual strength.
Nehemiah 8:10 are words spoken to the Israelites by Nehemiah, the governor of Judah, after the Israelites returned from captivity and were rebuilding Jerusalem. Ezra the priest had just finished reading the Book of the Law of Moses to the people. They began to weep and mourn when they realized how disobedient they had become. Nehemiah told the Israelites that the day was sacred to God and they should not weep.
Nehemiah 8:10 NIV
“This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
This verse remains true today. When any of our circumstances cause us weakness, sorrow or feelings of being out of control, the joy of God is our strength. Use this resource. Use your joy of the Lord which is received by continuing to give God thanks in everything. This is a huge benefit of thanksgiving. Strength is at your disposal, you just need to reach for it by giving thanks. You know how to give thanks, you have learned many ways over the last 8 weeks in this Bible study. Look over the previous lessons to refresh your memory on easy ways to give God thanks.
Your meditation homework for this week is from Nehemiah 8:10. For meditation purposes we will reword this verse. Strength in God can also be referred to as “a strong place.” I want you to meditate on this:
The joy of the LORD is my strong place. (A derivation of Nehemiah 8:10.)
Think about the fact that you have a strong place. You have a place to go for strength. Knowledge of that alone should give you reason to rejoice, thus putting you in the joy of God. I am beyond grateful to learn that I have a strong place where I can go and receive strength like no other.
Other easy things to do to find the joy of the Lord:
1. Listen to spiritual songs and sing along. This works really well.
2. Read from the book of Psalms.
3. Listen to Biblical teachings.
4. Take a close look at God's creation of earth and appreciate it. Tell him you appreciate
THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRONG PLACE!
-- This study is from my eBook How to Give God Thanks in Everything - Chapter 9, a 12 week easy Bible study designed for busy women. On Sale Now for only $5.00! Go to SHOP page and get it today! --
