The Alpha of Joy

UV 3069/10000 The Alpha of Joy
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 v 10
When we make the Lord our chief joy, we are greatly strengthened. We rejoice in Him as our all knowing and all powerful Maker, our wise Ruler or King and our Good Shepherd and Best Friend. When we delight in what the Lord delights in – we are filled with joy. Knowing that we will not suffer the second death or the death of our souls or spirits, fills us with eternal joy. Knowing that He is with us as Immanuel all the time, fills every moment with joy. Knowing that our sins are forgiven fill us with the peace of God. Our joy is not dependent on external circumstances. The joy we find in the Lord is not acquisitional or achievement-based but relational. Our personal relationship with the Infinite, Almighty, Perfect Lord gives us greatest joy.
The joy of salvation is a special kind of happiness that helps us endure all kinds of difficulties in this world. It makes us resilient and strong. The assurance that we are saved by the grace of God through Jesus lifts our spirits. The vacuum in our souls is filled completely. We have a sense of purpose in life and we do not have to lament that all is vain. To know that all things happen for good and it is not by mere chance or accident gives us comfort and hope. The promises of the Lord fill us with hope. One cannot be joyful without hope. When the hope is fulfilled, we are also filled with joy. We enjoy all the blessings of the Lord and the familial and material provisions He has blessed us with. We are filled with joy when the Lord enables us to enjoy the fruit of our labour. When our prayers are heard, when the desires of our hearts are granted, we are also filled with joy.
The songs of praise and thanksgiving we sing are the sacrifices of joy that we give up to the Lord. It is sacrificial as we need to remember, take time to give thanks and exult in the victory He alone has given us. We are thankful to the Lord for the victory He has given us over the enemy of our souls. He vindicates us even in our struggles with our mortal enemies. When we are healed of our afflictions, of diseases, we are filled with joy. The joy of the Lord is not ephemeral unlike the joy of the world. It is lasting and instead of fading, it grows on us. ha to Omega or the A to Z of our lives if we only let Him and ask Him to do so.