THE JOY OF THE LORD
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Thursday 8th June 2022
“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV).
One thing you must understand is that one of the ways that the devil comes is that when you are coming very close to the manifestation of the promises that God has made to you, the devil comes at that time and shoots his best and fastest arrows. If you don’t understand this strategy you will quit at that time that the devil intensifies his attack, just before your breakthrough. So, when you see that the attack has intensified in your life, it indicates that your breakthrough is near.
When you understand this strategy, you will be able to stand irrespective of what comes against you. You will be shocked how many people had fallen victims and prey to the enemy even when they are close to the manifestation of the promises of the God on their lives. Many at times it comes in this devious way to cause you to abort God’s plan for your life. Don’t expect that the devil will play dead simply because God has made a promise to you. He is not going to play dead because he doesn’t want you to be joyful, he doesn’t want you to be happy. He wants you to be frustrated, he wants you to be discouraged and he wants you to be confused. The best approach is for you to remain joyful despite what the devil is doing.
The Bible says in our text that Nehemiah said to the people “Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don’t have anything: This day is holy to God. Don’t feel bad. The joy of God is your strength!” Beloved the joy of the Lord is your strength in the face of the attack of the enemy, knowing that you will always come out victorious. I see you coming out of your challenges. I see you coming out of your obscurity.
Further Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-12
Daily Bible Reading: Morning – 2 Chronicles 32-33, Evening – John 18:19-40