Words from the Lord: "See your future with a new lens!"

During a time of prayer, I saw a vision of the Lord's hand taking away His people's old lens and giving them a new lens. That's when I heard the Lord saying, "My people are going to see their lives and their future with this new lens." 

I also heard the Lord saying to His people:

"You are entering a new season of new perspectives, new vision, and new strength. This is a time of rejoicing and fresh new hope. My presence brings joy and fresh new hope. See Me taking away all your sorrows and tears of the yesteryears. See Me taking away all those troubles and pains of the yesteryears. Begin to see Me in a new light. Begin to see Me with this new lens. This lens that I'm giving to you will cause you to see that 'all the lines have fallen to you in pleasant places', and that I've given you a good inheritance, going forward." 

This brings us to Psalm 16:6-8 (NKJV) that says, 'The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. I bless the Lord who has given me counsel... I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.' 

In Psalm 16:9-11 (NKJV), David wrote, 'Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices... You will show me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.' Notice the word 'therefore' here.

What does 'the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places' mean? 

This refers to 'using the measuring lines or ropes those days to divide the land among the tribes (in the Promised Land)'. This represents God giving and assigning each person a specific portion and inheritance. Here, God says that He has the pleasure of choosing a good and favorable place (or situation) for you, and that you have a good inheritance! 

Today, the Lord is saying the same to you that 'the lines have fallen to you in pleasant places'! He has chosen a good and favorable place (or situation) for you, and He has given you a good inheritance!

Another Psalm of David. Psalm 28:6-7 (NKJV) says, 'Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.' Notice the word 'therefore' again.

So, why rejoice and be glad in the Lord? Because the Lord has given you a good inheritance! Because the Lord has promised to surround you and help you! Because the Lord has promised nothing can hurt you or shake you! Because the Lord has shown you the path of life and hope! Because the Lord has given you new perspective, vision, and strength! 

You see, you have so many reasons to rejoice and be glad! In fact, there are many more reasons! 

Whatever your past may be, or whatever your background may be, choose to see God in a new light and with this new lens! In fact, see your future with this new lens! I declare things are going to be so much better for you, going forward. Amen! 

Prayer:

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your words today. We thank You because 'the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places' and we have a good inheritance from You. We thank You for surrounding us with Your presence, Your protection, and Your help. We thank You for showing us the path of life and hope. We thank You for leading and guiding us every step of the way. We thank You for Your good counsel and plans for us. Your plans for us are always good. There are so many reasons to give You thanks and to rejoice for what You've spoken and done for us. We declare aloud that You are altogether good, and You are our Mighty God, and there is no other. In Jesus' name. Amen!"

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Be renewed and refreshed, and receive the fullness of His joy!

The Lord says for this time: 

"Rejoice and be glad, for I am your God and I have loved you with an everlasting love! This is your time to receive the joy that comes from Me! Be set free from all your griefs and sorrows, and look to Me! I am now breaking every yoke and burden in your life! I am now destroying every curse and unwholesome word that has been spoken against you! I am setting you free right now! I am renewing and refreshing you, as you return to Me and receive from Me!" 

The Israelites are observing Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot) at this time of my writing. 

What is 'Sukkot'? What is the significance to the believers of Christ under the New Covenant? 

Before that, let's look at the word 'Sukkot'. The Hebrew word 'sukkot' is the plural of 'sukkah', which means 'booth' or 'tabernacle'. That's why this festival is also called 'Feast of Booths'. 

What does this Feast commemorate? It commemorates the forty years the Israelites wandered in the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt. They were living in temporary shelters, i.e. 'sukkot'. It also commemorates God's miraculous provision for them all those years. 

The word 'sukkah' in turn is derived from the word 'sakak' in Hebrew. This speaks of 'to be covered (by the Lord)' or 'to join together (with the Lord)', as the Israelites dwell in booths or 'sukkot'. 

Deuteronomy 16:15 (NKJV) says, 'Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.' 

See the words 'you surely rejoice' here? Surely rejoice! In New International Version (NIV), this is translated as 'your joy will be complete'. 

Flowing with this season of the Lord, as believers under the New Covenant, this is also a time for you to rejoice and receive the fullness of joy that comes from the Lord, and your joy shall be made complete! 

This is also a time of renewing your fellowship with the Lord, and coming and returning into His presence. Maybe earthly things have made you dry. Maybe many matters of this world have encumbered and burdened you, and you need a renewal and refreshing in your spirit and your soul. This is your time to receive such renewal and refreshing from the Lord!

In fact, this is also a time for you to give thanks to the Lord, and celebrate His goodness, His provision, and His blessing in your life. Yes, even in advance, for what is ahead of you! 

You see, where His presence is, there's fullness of joy! The joy that money cannot buy, and that the world cannot give. Because this joy comes directly from the Lord! Now, as a believer under the New Covenant, you can look to Jesus who is the Source of joy! 

Jesus is in the Old Testament concealed, and in the New Testament revealed. It means the Jesus whom you know in the New Testament was present all throughout the Old Testament through prophecies, typology, and as a foreshadow of what is to come in the New Testament time that we are living in today. 

Isaiah 53:4 (NKJV) says, 'Surely He (Jesus) has borne your griefs and carried your sorrows...' So that you can have His joy! This happened when He died for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago. 

Beloved of God, whatever grief or sorrow, bitterness or pain, hurt or brokenness that you may have suffered recently, let go all these to the Lord. In exchange, open your heart to the Lord again, and receive the outpouring of His joy from heaven into your life! Yes, let it flow right now! Heaven is open right now. Let the joy of the Lord flow unto you. Yes, you! 

God's Spirit is also the Spirit of joy! And when His joy comes, sorrow has to flee! 

Maybe recently you have suffered a loss. Maybe a loss of a loved one. Maybe you have suffered a certain heartbreak or betrayal. Maybe a loss of certain opportunity or job. Or maybe some people have said something about your life that has greatly disturbed you or affected you. 

Whatever it is that had happened, the Lord understands your situation. The Lord understands all those griefs and sorrows of yours. Today, the Lord says to look to Him and look ahead of you. The Lord wants to refresh you today with the refreshing that comes from Him, like a waterfall! The Lord wants to set you free from your griefs and sorrows, and release the joy that comes directly from Him. Receive all this by faith! 

Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV) says, 'To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...' 

Receive this oil of joy! This oil of joy destroys every grief, sorrow, yoke, burden, or bondage in your life! Be set free from your heaviness and captivity, and receive the fullness of His joy! And this joy of the Lord shall be your strength to carry on and look ahead in your life. Amen! 

Prayer: 

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your presence and for Your covering over our lives. We surrender to You all our griefs, sorrows, burdens, and heaviness, and in exchange, we receive Your oil of joy. Let Your Spirit of joy overflow in our lives right now. Let Your refreshing fall upon us like the waterfall, renewing and reviving us right now. We acknowledge there have been times the earthly things and earthly matters have made us dry, and even diverted us from You. But we now return to You and receive from You. We return to our first love that is You. We return to our fellowship with You. And let our spirit be filled with the fullness of Your joy right now. Right here! Today! In Jesus' name. Amen!" 

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The reward of practicing joy!

The Lord says: 

"For many of My people, I am releasing My Spirit and My power for you to break free from the spirit of depression! Let the 'dark clouds' in your life be blown away by My Spirit and My power! I am releasing also the supernatural joy that comes from Me! Receive the fullness of My joy, and rejoice!" 

Yes, now is the time to not just rejoice, but to receive the joy that comes from the Lord! 

Psalm 16:10-11 (NKJV) says, 'For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.' 

'Sheol' here can speak of 'deadness, lifelessness, torment, depression'. But what is the antidote against any 'Sheol' while you are on earth? The answer is to come into the presence of the Lord. Why? Because in His presence is fullness of joy. That's what the Scripture says here. Full of joy. Not a little joy here and there. But full of joy. 

The word 'joy' in Greek is 'chara'. It comes from the word 'chairo'. In the context of your relationship with the Lord, it can mean 'having a deep assurance inside you that the Lord delights in you, and the Lord is taking care of you and providing you well.' In other words, it is an assurance inside of you that the Lord loves you and the Lord delights in you, and that He is with you and He is for you. You see, if the Lord is for you, who (or what) can be against you? (Romans 8:31) Now, that is reason enough for you to choose to rejoice. Not just in this season of celebration, but also in every season of your life!

In Philippians 4:4, the apostle Paul wrote: 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!' 

The word 'rejoice' here is the same word 'chairo' in Greek that we've read just now. In this verse, it can mean 'be joyful, be glad, be happy'. Notice this word 'rejoice' is mentioned not just once, but twice. It shows an emphasis here. The apostle Paul who wrote this verse certainly knows the power of rejoicing in the Lord. Yes, rejoicing in the Lord in all circumstances! 

Beloved, as you keep receiving the joy from heaven and keep rejoicing in your life, choosing to rejoice, great things are going to happen in your life! 

Do you notice the word 'always' in Philippians 4:4? It is 'aei' in Greek. It can mean 'always, a continued duration, a regular practice'. In other words, rejoicing in the Lord should be a regular practice in our lives!

As believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and because you have hope when you have Him, and you know that He has carried away all your sins, curse, shame, infirmities, diseases, and every form of grief and sorrow, you should be the happiest and shiniest of all people on earth! Yes, happy shiny people!  

By the way, 'to practice' means 'to do something again and again'. As simple as that. Now, that's exactly what apostle Paul meant when he wrote Philippians 4:4. 

Let's look at Philippians 4:4 again. 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!' You can therefore read it as: 'Be joyful, be glad, be happy in the Lord always (as a regular practice). Again I will say, rejoice! (be joyful, be glad, be happy!)' 

So, what do you practice every day?

If you practice joy, you'll surely reap the reward of joy! That's how it works. We reap what we sow. On the other hand, if you practice sorrow, you'll reap even more sorrow! If you practice worry, everything in life will worry you! Because we reap what we sow. If you practice anxiety, everything you do will be filled with anxiety! If you practice anger, everything you see in life will anger you! Because we reap what we sow. 

As you receive the joy of the Lord, sow joy. Be a gift to the people around you. It isn't just about you giving gifts to people around you. But you being a gift to them, especially your family and loved ones!

As a matter of fact, whatever we practice (i.e. whatever we do over and over again), we'll be 'good' at it! It's just like if you keep practicing your tennis strokes, you'll be good in your tennis strokes! So today, begin to choose to rejoice as your regular practice. It is a decision that only you can make. 

Today, the Lord has spoken that He is releasing His supernatural joy upon you. Yes, inside of you. Your part is to let your heart be open. And as you keep receiving this joy from heaven, you are also releasing joy. Yes, releasing joy to others around you. That's how you can change the 'atmosphere' around you. 

Today, the Lord has also shown you that no matter what you have been going through, you can still choose to rejoice. Remember, Nehemiah 8:10 says, 'The joy of the Lord is your strength'. It means when you have the joy of the Lord inside of you, you'll also have the strength to carry on and to look forward to many more good things in your life! 

So, let this joy of the Lord fill your heart right now. Let this joy of the Lord overflow even into your mind and your emotions right now. This is your time to receive. And yes, this is also the time for you to give and to release the joy of the Lord to the people around you! 

What is the reward of practicing joy in your life?  

1. You'll have a cheerful countenance! 

People are generally drawn to you like a magnet when you are happy and shiny. So, be that happy, shiny people, beloved! Where is the proof? Proverbs 15:13 says, 'A merry (joyful, glad, happy) heart makes a cheerful countenance...' 

2. You'll have good health! 

What's in the inside of you will affect what's in your physical body. If you are full of joy inside, if you are happy inside, if you are contented inside, your physical body will respond accordingly. Happy people are healthy people! Where is the proof? Proverbs 17:22 says, 'A merry (joyful, glad, happy) heart does good like medicine...' 

3. You'll have the goodness of God surrounding you! 

Wherever you are, the goodness of God seems to follow you. Where is the proof? Proverbs 15:15 says, 'All the days of the afflicted (depressed, disputing people) are evil, but he who is of a merry (joyful, glad, happy) heart has a continual feast.' This speaks of celebration. This speaks of the goodness of God. This speaks of enjoying the goodness of God. 

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The Lord says in this time and season: "Be of good cheer!"

As I was praying and worshiping the other day, the Lord simply said this: "Tell My people to be of good cheer, in spite of all the troubles they see around them, and whatever that's happening in the world right now." 

Yes, be of good cheer, in spite of whatever trouble, problem, or challenges you may be facing at the moment. Take heart. There is help for you! Whatever work of the enemy that comes against you, be it sickness, disease, lack, or all other kinds of troubles, spiritually or physically, look to the Lord! 

Literally, beloved, the Lord wants to put smiles back to your face. 

Maybe you are going through a tough time at workplace. Maybe you are struggling with certain health issues. Maybe some family members of yours are going through a rough patch in life, and because you love them so much, you are deeply concerned. Or maybe there's a relationship issue in your life that sucks joy out of your life. Whatever your situation may be, take heart. Look to the Lord. He is a good God. He is a God who is alive. He isn't dead in your situation. He will know how to save you, deliver you, rescue you, and set you free from all your predicaments. Just do not doubt. Keep trusting in Him and His goodness in your life. 

Let's begin with the definitions of 'Be of good cheer', translated from the original words spoken by Jesus. It can mean 'be bold and of good courage'. It can mean 'keep the joy of the Lord'. Nehemiah 8:10 says, 'The joy of the Lord is your strength'. It means when you keep the joy of the Lord and receive the joy of the Lord, you have the strength to carry on and look forward in your life. Another way to define 'Be of good cheer' is 'to rejoice (in spite of the troubles around you)'. It means you choose to rejoice, in spite of all those troubles and "choppy waters" around you. You can also define 'Be of good cheer' as 'having hope (that all will be well)'. It can also mean 'not getting discouraged', 'not losing faith and trust (in the Lord)', or 'facing life with confidence (in the Lord)'. 

In other words, come what may, but if you have the Lord with you, you have no problem looking ahead in your life, knowing that you can count on the Lord to bring you through. 

Let's go to the Scripture now. Matthew 9:2 says, 'Then behold, they brought to Jesus a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith (i.e. 'a believing heart'), Jesus said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."' 

You see, Jesus has the power to forgive sins. He then said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he was made well, arose, and departed back to his house. 

Beloved, whatever that's past is past. Let the bygones be bygones. Receive the forgiveness of the Lord right now. Whatever mistake that you've made or committed in your past, this is your time to receive the forgiveness of the Lord. You know what? Forgiveness leads to your healing, whether in the spirit, soul, or physical body. 

The words 'good cheer' here is 'tharseo' in Greek. It can simply mean 'be comforted' or 'have good courage'. 

So, whatever your situation may be, the Lord is comforting you. The Lord is saying to you, "I will give you the strength to look ahead. I will give you the strength to carry on. I will give you good courage."

Matthew 9:20-22 says, 'And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of Jesus' garment. For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.' 

The words 'good cheer' here is the same word 'tharseo'. 

As simple as this message may be, the Lord has spoken, "Somebody needs to hear this." And He is saying to you, whatever healing that you need, He is touching you right now. Wherever you may be, let the Lord touch you. Be healed, and stay healed, in the name of Jesus! Be well, and stay well, in the name of Jesus! Receive by faith!

Matthew 14:22-24 says, 'Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.' In other words, they were in "choppy waters".

Matthew 14:25-27 says, 'Now in the fourth watch (between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.) of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."' 

The words 'good cheer' here is the same word again, 'tharseo'. 

Here, you see that Jesus was walking on the sea. Literally, He was walking on water! That's supernatural! No one in the physical realm can do that! But Jesus is above the physical realm. He is supernatural! 

Whatever "storm" or "choppy waters" you may be in at the moment, the Lord is saying to you, "With men, it may be impossible. But with Me, nothing is impossible. All things are possible." If Jesus could walk on water, Jesus can do anything to rescue you! 

Matthew 14:28-29 says, 'And Peter answered Jesus and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.' 

In other words, Peter was beginning to walk in the supernatural! As long as he continued looking to Jesus, he could walk in the supernatural realm! Now it is the same with us. As long as you keep looking to Him, and not look at the left or look at the right; and as long as you're not looking at all those "stormy and choppy waters", you can walk in the supernatural realm as well. You can walk higher and above all that is in the physical realm!

Now, of course, don't get me wrong. What you've read in the verses above is just an example of your God who is supernatural. That doesn't mean you can be like a 'daredevil' and just walk on water now. If the Lord never puts in your heart to do something, then you don't try to do it by your own strength. 

Let's continue with Matthew 14:30. 'But when Peter saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."' 

Yes, Jesus is the Son of the living God! Not just any prophet. Not just any teacher. But God came in the flesh. 

Last but not least, let's go to John 16:33, in the words of Jesus: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (i.e. 'trouble'); but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 

Again, the words 'good cheer' here is 'tharseo' in Greek. So, all throughout the Scripture verses that we've read with the words 'good cheer' today, we have learned this word 'tharseo', meaning 'be comforted' or 'have good courage'. 

So, in the midst of all those troubles around you, be it in the office, in the neighborhood, in an organization, or whatever your situation may be, the Lord is giving you the peace, the Shalom peace, right now. The peace that comes only from the Lord. The peace that you cannot get from this world. The peace that the Lord says, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled. Let not your heart be afraid." Amen!  

To wrap it up, you can personalize all these verses that I've mentioned to you, and speak these out over and over again for your ears to hear. 'Faith comes by hearing; hearing comes by the Word of God' (Romans 10:17). In other words, your faith arises when you hear the Word of God being spoken. 

I can summarize it for you: 

He has forgiven me (Matthew 9:2) 

He has made me well (Matthew 9:22) 

He has saved me from my troubles (Matthew 14:27) 

He has given me peace (John 16:33a) 

He has overcome for me (John 16:33b)

Indeed, I want to declare that the Lord is here, and the Lord has overcome for you. Amen! 

Prayer:

"O Lord God, no matter what we may be facing at the moment, You have spoken 'Be of good cheer' ('tharseo'). Because You will surely know how to save us, deliver us, rescue us, and set us free from all our predicaments. We choose not to doubt. But we choose to put all our trust in You. You are a miracle-working God. With men, it may be impossible. But with You, all things are possible. So, we look to You in a time like this. We do not want to look at the 'storms' or 'choppy waters' around us. We do not want to look at the left or at the right. But we look to You, knowing that we can count on You. In Jesus' name. Amen." 

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How to break the yoke of sorrow and receive joy?

During a prayer meeting the other day, the Lord showed me a vision. In the vision, I saw the power of darkness putting some kind of blanket over certain people and homes, even certain cities, towns, and countries. This power of darkness caused the sunlight to be hindered, and as a consequence, the spiritual atmosphere over that place or that home became stale, dull, and damp. Then, I saw joy, the joy of the Lord, being squeezed out from that place. I saw that blanket sent by the forces of darkness covered the people with sorrow. There's like a yoke and heavy burden of sorrows being wrapped over that place, or that family, or that person. 

The Lord then spoke to me to take authority and bind those yoke of sorrow. 

He spoke further: 

"There's a fresh release of My anointing to break and destroy every yoke of sorrow right now. Sorrow is being dissipated and dispersed. When the sorrow is gone, the joy that comes from Me, that comes from heaven, is going to take over. Receive this joy from heaven! Receive a fresh new lease of life from heaven!" 

Beloved of God, if you have been going through a situation when suddenly you are overwhelmed with sorrow for no reason, or suddenly you are overwhelmed with hopelessness and purposelessness in your life, this message is for you. 

Yes, right now, receive this anointing to break and destroy every sorrow in your life, and receive the joy of the Lord which is your strength!

Maybe recently some of you have heard of certain news that caused your heart to feel like your heart is dropping, or your heart feels like being crushed. Or you may have heard of something from someone or received news from someone that breaks your heart. Or maybe someone has told you certain matters that caused your heart to be sad. It may be a hurtful news. It may be a hurtful thing said and done by someone whom you care for, or whom you love, or someone who matters to you. Whatever it may be, whatever that causes you to be sorrowful, the Lord has a good news for you today. The Lord knows it, and the Lord knows how to put a stop to those sorrows in your life. 

Let's go to the Scripture now. 

Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT) says, 'You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!' 

The word 'joy' here is 'simkhaw' in Hebrew, which can mean 'gladness, rejoicing, celebration'. Yes beloved, always find reasons to celebrate in your life, no matter how small the reason may be. The Lord wants you to celebrate all of His goodness in your life. And of course, the Lord wants you to live a life of thanksgiving and gratefulness. Give thanks to Him in everything, yes, even in advance for the good things that are to come in your life! 

Jeremiah 31:13 (NLT) says, 'The young women will dance for joy - and the men old and young - will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.' 

Even though this verse is specifically for the people of Israel and the Lord's promise of restoration for Israel, but this can apply to you (God's beloved) too. The Lord is telling you there's hope for restoration in your life as well! 

This word 'joy' here is 'sawsone' in Hebrew, which can mean 'cheerful, welcoming, rejoicing'. Let me explain. Why the word 'welcoming' here? The joy of knowing you are always welcome into God's presence as you draw near to Him in worship, and the joy of knowing you are always welcome to partake in all the goodness that the Lord wants you to have and experience! Now, knowing this, your sorrow will be lifted away, and joy comes in your life! You see, weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!

You may have gone through a time of mourning and sorrow, or you are under certain bondage of sorrow, but the good news for you today is God has promised to turn all this into joy! The joy of knowing you are loved with an everlasting love of the Lord. The joy of knowing that God is here to restore you and repair you. The joy of knowing that there is hope and purpose in your life, no matter what had happened in your past. The joy of knowing that the Lord your God is greater than any form of sorrow that is being sent against you. Amen! That's what Jeremiah 31:13 mean here!

You see, you are living in the spiritual realm, the heavenly realm, even though you are on earth. Now, in the heavenly realm, there's no sorrow. In His presence is fullness of joy. So, walk in this presence. Walk in this heavenly realm. Walk in this joy of the Lord. Amen! 

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NLT) says, 'The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair...' 

You see here? The Lord wants to bless you with this joy, the joy that comes only from Him, the joy that comes from heaven. Not only that! Look here. 'Festive praise instead of despair'. Wow! That's celebration! Festive praise! And not just that! He is also turning your ashes into beauty. Now, what does 'ashes' symbolize here? 'Ashes' speaks of 'hopelessness'. 'Ashes' speaks of 'mourning'. When things turn into ashes, there's no way to restore it again and to make it whole. But that's how the world sees it and how the world thinks. But to God, even ashes can be restored into something beautiful again!

Indeed, this is the time for your vindication. This is the time for a turn around in your life. Yes, this is the time the Lord is turning things around for you! So, rejoice and be glad therefore! Give thanks to Him, for He is good and His mercy endures forever! Hallelujah! 

Isaiah 61:7 (NLT) says, 'Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.' 

Whatever trouble, shame, or dishonor sent by the enemy against you in your life, you are now receiving double share of honor. That's what the Scripture say! And look here. 'Everlasting joy will be yours'. Not a temporary joy that the world gives, but everlasting joy directly from heaven to you! Now, this joy cannot be destroyed by anything or anyone in this world. Because this joy is from God. Amen! 

Let's continue with Nehemiah 8:9-10 (NLT). "Don't mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God." And Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" 

You see the words 'the joy of the Lord is your strength' here? It means the joy of the Lord is your strength to carry on and to look forward in life! Without this strength, it is not easy to carry on in life and to look forward. So you see, this joy from the Lord is the key. This joy of the Lord is the key to your strength, and with this strength, you can carry on, and you can move forward in your life. Hallelujah! 

Nehemiah 8:12 (NLT) says, 'So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God's words and understood them.' 

In that context, they were eating rich foods and drinking sweet drinks, literally. But it can also symbolize receiving spiritual food and spiritual drink. The Word of God. The Spirit of God. Word and Spirit. Spirit and Word. So, keep eating the rich from the Lord and drinking the sweet from the Lord! 

Last but not least, to take authority and to bind every stray thought. Now, this is a very important principle to kill off whatever sorrow and to receive joy. Never entertain even for a few seconds those thoughts that are sent by the enemy. Never let those thoughts grow and fester. Don't let what's in your past to linger in your mind. Because if you don't let go of your past, you cannot move ahead. Now, anything that is a joy-killer and joy-stealer, take authority against it! It means whatever that kills or steals your joy, you take authority! No one and nothing in this world can or should be able to take away and rob away God's joy in your life! 

So, take authority and bind all those stray thoughts and negative thoughts! Cast those down! Set your mind free! Receive this anointing from the Lord to set you free! And that's how you are free and you are free indeed! Set free from every bondage of sorrow, and walking in the joy of the Lord. Amen!

Prayer: 

"O Lord God, we receive this joy that comes directly from You. We receive a fresh release of Your anointing that breaks and destroys every yoke of sorrow in our lives right now. Yes, we see all these sorrows dissipated and dispersed. You have turned things around for our lives. You have turned our sorrows into joy, our mourning into dancing. We therefore now take authority and bind every stray thought or negative thought that's been sent by the enemy against us. In You, O Lord, we triumph! In You, O Lord, we receive Your joy which is our strength! In You, O Lord, we see our hope and restoration! In You, O Lord, we have our victory! In Jesus' name. Amen!"

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How to receive and keep the joy of the Lord?

The joy of the Lord is your strength! 

When I say this joy of the Lord, it is the joy that comes directly from heaven. Unspeakable joy! It is not something that humans can conjure up in this world, or no matter how many hours people spend in the entertainment outlets, singing their blues away, and trying to find joy and happiness in this world. No, I'm not teaching you about the worldly way. But I'm teaching you about the joy that comes directly from heaven, that you can receive and walk in it. Hallelujah! 

Nehemiah 8:9-10 (NKJV) says, 'And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; Do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!"' 

Why is it so important to have this joy of the Lord? Because without this joy of the Lord, one will not have the strength to carry on in life. But when you have this joy of the Lord, you will also have the strength and vigor to carry on in life and to fulfill all that God has purposed for you to be (and to do). And that's what it means by 'the joy of the Lord is your strength'! 

The word 'joy' here is 'khedvaw' in Hebrew. It comes from this word 'khawdaw', meaning 'to rejoice, to make glad, to be glad', and this is interesting, 'to be joined (in this context, to be joined with the Lord)'. 

I don't have to elaborate on the words 'rejoice', 'make glad', or 'be glad'; but I want to pinpoint today on 'be joined with the Lord'. That's 'khawdaw'! When your spirit and soul are joined with the Lord, you will be filled with unspeakable joy. And this joy stays with you and dwells in you.

You see, He is the Lord who is the Source of true joy. You can receive this joy from heaven when you align with Him, when you do what He says, and be who He wants you to be in each time and season of your life. You know what? This joy money cannot buy. And this joy cannot be conjured up by any human being in this world. This joy comes from the Lord. And that's why it's so important for you to be joined with the Lord. Because as I've written just now, without this joy, it's not easy to have the strength to carry on in this life, especially in this world when everything is being shaken and is in turbulence. 

Some people may say they can find joy and happiness the worldly way, in all kinds of places, at the entertainment outlets, trying to make friends, and singing their hearts out all night long. All these will not last. But the Lord is telling you what will last. It's by receiving and enjoining ourselves with Him in our spirit and our soul. It is from the inside out. Not from the outside in. It will then emanate from your spirit and soul, and flow out to others. People around you can sense and feel this joy that you have! 

One way to keep this joy is not always be self-seeking, but to look out for others, and to share good things with others. Not just good food and good things, but how about spiritual food? Yes, that's the Word of God! So, whenever you have the opportunity, be a blessing to others, encourage others, pray for others, minister to others, and share the good news of Jesus Christ to others. Yes, it doesn't have to be done formally. It can be done anytime, anywhere, wherever you are. So, do something to surprise others. Do something to bring joy to others. Those who bring joy to others will themselves receive the joy. So, listen to the Holy Spirit what are the things that you can do, and how to do it? How can you be a blessing to others? How can the river of the Holy Spirit in you flow out through you? You see, there's something wonderful about letting the river of the Holy Spirit flow, not just only in you, but also through you to others.

Back to the book of Nehemiah now. In Nehemiah's time, the people of the Lord were told they should be rejoicing. You can read through the whole book of Nehemiah. They have overcome the opposition, i.e. from Sanballat, Tobiah, etc. They have overcome with the help of the Lord. Therefore, they have every reason to rejoice! So it is the same with you! Because Jesus who is in you is greater than he that is in this world! You have overcome, because Jesus in you have overcome! Therefore you have every reason to rejoice as well! 

Another reason for the people in Nehemiah's time to rejoice was because the Lord has shown to them that He has been with them, He is still with them, and He will still be with them. This assurance that the Lord is with them is one reason for them to rejoice. So it is the same with you! In Christ, you know that the Lord is with you, and the Lord will not leave you nor forsake you. So, even for this one reason, you can rejoice too! 

Beloved of God, you don't have to wait till you are in heaven to have this joy of the Lord. Heaven on earth! His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven! One aspect of His kingdom is this joy that comes from heaven. You can walk in this joy while you are on earth. So, go ahead and celebrate today, rejoice and be glad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength! Hallelujah! 

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Rejoice, for the Lord has granted!

I heard the Lord speak these words recently:

"Rejoice, and again I say rejoice. For I am encouraging you to keep a heart of rejoicing. Because I have heard your heart cries, and have begun to move in ways that seem impossible to you in the past. Rejoice in advance for the greater things that are to come. Do not look at the current or recent circumstances, but look to Me. For I have granted you My favor, just as I have granted Hannah My favor."

Let's read 1 Samuel 1 to see the details of what happened to Hannah.

1 Samuel 1:1-3 (NKJV) says, 'Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah... And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh...'

When Elkanah made an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah, and all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah, he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah. However, Peninnah would provoke her severely to make her miserable. Therefore Hannah wept and did not eat (1 Samuel 1:4-7).

Interestingly, the name 'Hannah' in Hebrew means 'Favored', from the word 'khawnan' meaning 'to favor'; whereas the name 'Elkanah' in Hebrew can mean 'God has created, God has redeemed, God has purchased'. Therefore, 'Hannah' is a 'picture' of you, beloved and favored of the Lord who has created, redeemed, and purchased you by the Blood of the Lamb.

Now, depending on who says it, words can either bring blessing or misery. In Hannah's situation, the words of her rival (Peninnah) affected Hannah rather badly, and she was deeply grieved due to those constant words of provocation.

People of God, like Hannah, maybe you too have your share of 'Peninnahs' in this world; and due to your current (but temporary) 'barrenness' or 'lack of breakthrough' in certain areas of your life, your 'Peninnahs' have been piling misery on you with their unkind words. But take heart, because just as for Hannah, the Lord remembers you, and He is a God who hears the cries of your heart.

In her 'barrenness' and 'childlessness', Hannah then promised God that if He would give her a male child, she would give him to the Lord all the days of his life. As she continued praying, Eli the priest saw her lips moving, but her voice was not heard. Therefore, Eli thought she was drunk. But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord." (1 Samuel 1:15)

Eli then answered and said, "Go in peace and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." (1 Samuel 1:17) Upon hearing these words, Hannah went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad (1 Samuel 1:18). In other words, she believed what Eli the priest had said, and she began to rejoice! Do you see something here? Just one sentence from Eli the priest settles it all!

A priest, by the way, is a 'picture' of someone representing the Lord. You see, Peninnah's words through the years had no more effect the moment Hannah heard Eli's words! It's like all those negative words have been totally wiped away! No more room for Peninnah's words! No more vacancy for Peninnah's words! Because Hannah's mind was now filled with the words that proceed from the mouth of the Lord! She never looked back ever since. Let it be so for you too!

Soon after she returned with Elkanah to their house at Ramah, Hannah indeed conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel (1 Samuel 1:19-20). And for all the 'pounding' and 'provocation' by her rival against her in the past many years, the Lord began to 'redeem' her and 'visit' her again and again, so much so she conceived and bore three more sons and two daughters! (1 Samuel 2:21) Speaking of being totally set free and entering the realm of breakthrough! Hallelujah!

People of God, just as Eli the priest spoke over Hannah those days, the Lord wants to speak over your life today! This is the time to believe that your breakthrough has come, and you are moving to the next level! This is the time to declare that you are set free from the words of your 'Peninnahs' - words that sought to steal, kill, and destroy your life (and your destiny)! Let the Lord your God speak life into you right now, and declare that He has granted! In Jesus' mighty name. Amen!

Rejoice in the Lord always!

Philippians 4:4 (NKJV): Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

The word 'rejoice' here is 'chairo' (pronounced 'khah-ee-ro') in Greek, and it means 'be joyful, be glad, be happy'. Notice this word 'rejoice' is mentioned not just once, but twice in this verse itself! And the apostle Paul who wrote this verse certainly understood the power of rejoicing in the Lord!

Do you also see the word 'always' here? It is 'aei' (pronounced 'ah-eye') in Greek, and it can mean 'always, a continued duration, a regular practice'. In other words, rejoicing in the Lord should be a regular practice in our lives!

In fact, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we should be the shiniest, happiest people on earth! Why? Because Jesus has carried all our sins, cross, shame, curse, and even sorrows when He died for us on the cross! (Isaiah 53:4-5)

Nehemiah 8:10 says, '...Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength'. If you study that part of the Bible thoroughly, you'd know that Nehemiah wasn't just giving a mere suggestion to the people of God, but he was saying it as a command from the Lord!

So, why is it so important to 'rejoice in the Lord as a regular practice'? Because if you lose this joy, you would also lose the strength to carry on!

Some people say, 'Practice makes perfect'. Indeed, the more you practice on something, the more you'll be good at it! For example, if you practice your tennis strokes regularly every day (with the right coaching), you'll definitely be good at it! In fact, you'll even have no problem sparring with some of the household names in tennis! Now, that's the power of practice!

By the way, 'to practice' simply means 'to do something again and again'. And that's exactly what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote Philippians 4:4! I can therefore translate this verse to sound like this: 'Rejoice (be joyful, be glad, be happy) in the Lord as a regular practice. Again I will say, rejoice (be joyful, be glad, be happy)!'

So, people of God, what do you practice every day?
If you practice joy, you'll surely be reaping the reward of joy!
If you practice worry, everything in life will worry you!
If you practice anxiety, everything you do will be filled with anxiety!
If you practice anger, everything you see in life will anger you!
And the list goes on (and on)...
In short, you'll be good at whatever you practice every day!

Choose therefore to practice the joy of the Lord moment by moment, day by day!
You might ask, "How do I begin?" 
It's easy. You don't have to struggle for it. In fact, it's effortless.
1. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, know that He is the Giver of joy, the Source of joy, and He lives in you! You see? This joy lives in you! And no one (not even the devil!) can take it away from you, unless you allow it!
2. Receive this joy that comes from heaven, like a waterfall! Let this joy fill your heart and mind now. The Spirit of the Lord is also the Spirit of joy!
3. Take joy in what (and who) you are now.
4. Take joy in whatever you are doing now.

Notice the word 'now'. Some people might say,
"If only I become like so and so, then I'll be happy!", or
"If only I have that much money in the bank, then I'll be happy!", or
"If I move to that new country, then I'll be happy!"
Really? Is that really so? Why not choose to be happy even now, and watch how the Lord can do wonders for your future?

What is the reward of practicing joy in life?
1. You'll have a cheerful countenance! People are generally drawn to a shiny, happy countenance!
Proverbs 15:13 says, 'A merry (i.e. joyful, glad, happy) heart makes a cheerful countenance. But by sorrow of the heart, the spirit is broken'.
2. You'll have good health! Happy people are healthy people!
Proverbs 17:22 says, 'A merry (i.e. joyful, glad, happy) heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones'.
3. You'll have the goodness of God surrounding you! Wherever you are, the goodness of God seems to be attracted to you and follows after you!
Proverbs 15:15 says, 'All the days of the afflicted (i.e. depressed, disputing people) are evil, but he who is of a merry (i.e. joyful, glad, happy) heart has a continual feast'.

"Be of good cheer"

John 16:33 (NKJV): "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

In a time of prayer last week, I kept hearing the words "Be of good cheer", and that's when the Lord also reminded me of the verse above.

Then, I heard further from the Lord, and I released these words to the congregation on Sunday:
"Be of good cheer, for in Me, you shall overcome. This is a time to rise above and not to succumb under."

Looking at John 16:33 now, there is a stark contrast between 'in Me' (i.e. in Christ) and 'in the world' as spoken by Jesus Himself here. Let's look at the 'equation' below:

In Me (i.e. in Christ) = peace;
In the world = tribulation.

The word 'peace' here is 'eirene' in Greek, which basically means 'peace, quietness, rest', whereas the word 'tribulation' here is 'thlipsis' in Greek, which can mean 'pressure, affliction, anguish (severe physical/mental pain), burden, trouble, persecution'.

Matter of factly, the whole world seems to be 'down' and 'gloomy' recently with a spate of terror attacks, tragic accidents, natural calamities, and all in all, no news seems to be good news in the media nowadays (of course, with an exception of a few). And if one looks at the world today, it's just trouble, trouble, trouble everywhere with no reasons to cheer about, or are there?

But that's not what God says to those who are in Him! You may be in the world, but you are not of the world! (John 17:16) In other words, you don't have to succumb under the 'thlipsis' atmosphere of this world, but instead to rise above! That's why Jesus said, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Why? Because you belong to a higher realm! In Matthew 6:10, Jesus said, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." See the words on earth here? God's kingdom (i.e. God's realm) on earth! And that's where righteousness, peace and joy can be found! (see Romans 14:17) It means you don't have to wait till you reach heaven to experience righteousness, peace and joy. You can live in this kingdom (realm) right now!

"Bro, I think you are out of touch with reality!"

No, I'm not! In fact, I'm living in the reality of God's realm, one that is higher than the earthly "trouble, trouble, trouble everywhere" realm! And mind you, this realm is real. The Word of God says so! This realm is where I can experience the fullness of joy (see also Psalm 16:11), even in a world full of trouble. And where there's joy (from on high), there will also be strength (to carry on and to look ahead)! The Bible says 'the joy of the Lord is your strength' (Nehemiah 8:10)

So, people of God, no matter what you may be facing in the world at the moment (whether it's a trial in your health, or in your finance, or in any other area of your life), take heart and be of good cheer, for Jesus has overcome the world. The word 'overcome' here is 'nikao' in Greek, from the word 'nike' (pronounced 'nee-kay') which means 'to subdue, to prevail, to overcome, to get the victory, to get success'. 'The world' here simply means 'everything or every challenge that the world throws at you'.

This is also a time to believe for your end-result (end-victory) in any area of your life! Joel 3:18 says it perfectly, 'And it will come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drip with new wine, the hills shall flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water; a fountain shall flow from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Acacias'.

'New wine' here speaks of 'joy and celebration';
'Milk' here speaks of 'peace and comfort';
'Water' here speaks of 'refreshing and renewal'.

How about 'a fountain shall flow from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Acacias' here?
Another meaning for 'Acacias' is 'Shittim' in Hebrew, which simply means 'thorns'. This word comes from the verb 'shotet' which means 'to pierce, to scourge, to flog, to beat/punish severely'. Some 2,000 years ago, Jesus Himself has suffered all those 'shotet' for you, so that this fountain of health and healing can now flow right into every part of your life right now - spirit, soul, body. Therefore, beloved of God, there's every reason to rejoice, be at rest and be blessed, for He has overcome for you. Amen!

Receive the joy of the Lord which is your strength!

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV): Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

What does 'eat the fat, drink the sweet' mean here? As a matter of fact, there's just something about 'eating the fat, drinking the sweet' that makes people happy, literally! For some, just imagining a platter of hot, sizzling steak, and the fat that melts in their mouth is enough to put a smile on their face, and of course, make them salivate!

So, does this statement 'eat the fat, drink the sweet' literally mean what it is? 

I believe there are also spiritual meanings to 'eating the fat, drinking the sweet' here.

1. 'Eat the fat' = Taking in God's portion
Leviticus 3:16 says, 'And the priest shall burn the offering on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the Lord's, i.e. the Lord's portion'.
So, 'eating the fat' here speaks of 'taking in God's portion', i.e. receiving God's heavenly resources (and inheritance) for you as a believer.
2. 'Drink the sweet' = Taking in God's Word & Spirit
Proverbs 16:24 says, 'Pleasant words (a 'picture' of God's Word & Spirit) are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones (a 'picture' of one's physical body)'. This speaks of 'taking in God's Word & Spirit'. Sweetness to the soul (inside) in turn leads to health to the body (outside).

And while you feed yourself with the 'fat' and the 'sweet', Nehemiah 8:10 also says, 'send portions to those whom nothing is prepared'. It means 'to remember those who don't have, and send portions (i.e. give some) to them, so that they have reasons to rejoice too!'

To 'eat the fat, drink the sweet' here also means 'to eat and drink the best that you have', and the truth is 'taking in God's portion' and 'taking in God's Word & Spirit' are the best ‘food’ and ‘drink’ that a believer can ever have! Yes, better than anything else on earth! As you eat and drink the best, you’ll then also acquire the fervour in your soul (i.e. mind, will, and emotions), and the strength in your body to do God’s will effectively, and cheerfully!

A rejoicing heart is also a continuous medicine for you! Proverbs 17:22 says, 'A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones'. The word ‘merry’ here is ‘sameach' in Hebrew, which can mean ‘joyful, rejoicing, gladness, cheerful, gleeful’. You see, a rejoicing heart does not necessarily arise from a life that exists without problems (i.e. free from problems), but even if one is faced with problems (or challenges, or persecution) in life, he/she can still receive His joy, and grow in His joy! This happened in the early church days, and in the lives of the early apostles, like Peter and Paul (see 1 Peter 1:6-8 and 1 Peter 4:12-14). In Nehemiah's case, persecution came from people who tried to shake his faith and his vision (in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem) that God had put in his heart to fulfil.

People of God, this is your time to receive the joy of the Lord anew and afresh again! And this joy that comes from heaven (from Him) will also be your strength, regardless of the circumstances in and around you at the moment.
Note: Heaven is always full of joy and celebration! So, never for a second think that heaven is a dull, monotonous place! How do I know? Jesus Himself says so in the 'Parable of the Lost Coin' (see Luke 15:8-10), that when one soul repents (or returns to the Lord), the whole heaven rejoices and celebrates. And there are currently at least 6 billion people on earth and counting! So, just imagine how busy heaven is in celebration every day! Do you also know that when you were saved (or when you return to Him), all of heaven celebrates and rejoices with you? That’s how precious you are to Him! So, never mind if not many people on earth celebrate you (say, your birthday), because you have the whole heaven celebrating you!

Jesus has indeed borne all your griefs (‘choliy' in Hebrew, 'including all your sicknesses or diseases'), and carried all your sorrows (‘makowb’ in Hebrew, 'including all your pains or afflictions') on the cross for you, so now you can have joy! Isaiah 53:4 says so. As a believer, there's therefore now every reason to rejoice! So, never allow anything (or anyone) to rob away the joy of the Lord in your life!

As you receive this joy that comes from Him, the Bible says you’ll also have the strength (or power) to overcome, abounding in hope as you move on and carry on whatever God has for you in life. Romans 15:13 says, 'He fills you with all joy and peace, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit'.

Notice also when one loses the joy of the Lord in life, everything deteriorates (and that includes health). Say, when a chef loses the joy of serving his trademark cuisine, the quality of his cooking will inevitably (cannot be avoided, sure to happen) deteriorate! Or when someone who serves in ministry loses the joy of serving and blessing others, his (or her) ministry will also inevitably deteriorate. That’s how important receiving (and keep receiving) His joy afresh and anew is! So, when things begin to get a bit 'routine' and monotonous in any area of your life, 'eat the fat, drink the sweet' again (maybe not literally!), and receive His joy afresh and anew again!

Back to Nehemiah 8:10 now. This verse ends with 'for the joy of the Lord is your strength'. The word ‘strength’ here actually has military connotations in Hebrew. In fact, all in all, the book of Nehemiah is effectively a 'defence' manual for God's people today. This word 'strength' is “ma’owz” in Hebrew, which means ‘a fortified place (citadel), a place of defence, a place of safety, a fortress, rock, stronghold’. It is a place of safety (stronghold) where the enemy’s 'fiery darts' cannot touch us! In other words, 'the joy of the Lord' in you is your 'safety place, stronghold, fortress' against any problem, challenge, or persecution you face on earth!

By the way, what are those ‘fiery darts’ in Nehemiah’s days (which we believers today can also identify with)? 
(a) Ridicule and sarcasm (Nehemiah 2:18-19)
(b) Mockery and insults (Nehemiah 4:1-3)
(c)  Conspiracy and confusion (Nehemiah 4:7-8)
(d) Threats and fear tactics (Nehemiah 6:6-9)
All these are also 'joy-robbers' of God's people in our days.

People of God, as you build (and keep building) what God has for you this year (like Nehemiah building the wall of Jerusalem), keep looking to Him and keep receiving the joy that comes from Him (not from the world), so that you can run with His strength this whole year!

As you build (and keep building), also keep meditating and confessing God’s Word (i.e. agreeing with His Word, and not what the world says). Nehemiah 4:18 says, 'Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built'. The ‘sword’ here speaks of 'the Word of God'.

Finally, with Nehemiah 8:10 in your heart and in your mind, I believe you'll also be well on your way to completing all that God has for you this year, just as happened to Nehemiah and the people of God in his days. Amen!

In Christ, your joy is made complete!

Deuteronomy 16:15 (NKJV): "Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice (in NIV: your joy will be complete)."

This verse speaks of the celebration of 'Sukkot' (i.e. The Feast of Tabernacles) among the Israelites. Deuteronomy 16:13-14 says, "You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates."

People of God, this is a time to rejoice and to receive the fullness of His joy! This is also a time for renewed fellowship with the Lord, and being conscious of His Presence; enjoying Him and celebrating His blessings and goodness in your life!

Leviticus 23:40-43 says, 'And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths ('sukkah') for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths ('sukkah'), that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths ('sukkah') when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.'

This Hebrew word 'sukkah' (where the word 'Sukkot' comes from) simply means 'tabernacle, tent, or hut', i.e. 'a shelter made of tree branches'. This word 'sukkah' is in turn derived from the word 'sakak', which speaks of 'to be covered (by the Lord), to join together (with the Lord), and to shut out (from the world), as God's people dwell in booths'.

This reminded me of when Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting (Exodus 33:7), just to be alone with God. It was here that the pillar of cloud descended, and the Lord talked with Moses (Exodus 33:9) face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11). Moses later experienced God's glory in the cleft of the rock (Exodus 33:12-23), and he came out totally refreshed and renewed for the things ahead of him! (Exodus 34:1-2)

What do all these mean to you as a believer in the New Covenant?

Like Moses, we all need such time at one time or another, away from the people, and even the materialism or worldliness around us, just to be alone with God, enjoying His Presence, and communing (i.e. communicating and being in union) with Him. His wisdom and revelation would also flow when one connects with Him!

And where His Presence is, there is also His joy! Jesus is indeed the Source of your joy, and this joy is one that money can't buy, or the world can't give! It is also eternal and not short-lived (unlike the one that the world gives). Isaiah 53:4 says, "Surely He (Jesus) has borne your griefs and carried your sorrows ..." So that in exchange, you can have His joy! This happened when He died for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago!

His Spirit is also the Spirit of joy, and when His joy comes, sorrow has to leave; just as when the light comes, darkness has to flee! The Bible also says, 'this joy of the Lord shall be your strength' (Nehemiah 8:10). In Him, you are also anointed with the oil of joy that breaks every sorrow and heaviness (Isaiah 61:1-3), setting you free from every yoke, burden, or captivity. As a result, your life is now filled with the fullness of joy. Hallelujah! By faith, receive this oil of joy wherever you are right now, and be refreshed and renewed for the things ahead of you! In Jesus' name. Amen.