Study Notes
You Can Make It
Nehemiah 8:1-12, verse 10
February 28, 2010
Learning by heart (tip): Paul tells us that a time “is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3). When you commit God’s word to memory, you grow strong in faith and better able to recognize and refute false teaching. For instance, this week’s verse says “the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). The doctrine found here is that God is our strength. The more this word abides in your heart, the less likely you will be to search for strength elsewhere. You will become more dependent on God. Continue to hide God’s word in your heart and you will be a stronger Christian for it.
Finding the gospel (hint): How does Nehemiah 8:10 take us to the good news?
- Reflect on what Jesus says in John 15:1-22. Who is our source of joy?
- Reflect on what Paul says in Philippians 3:1; 4:4, 13. Where does Paul find his strength?
Living Witnesses (today): Find someway to serve someone in the joy of the Lord this afternoon or evening.
Praying scripture (now): “Lord, I am struggling to find joy right now. So much in my life makes me sad. Your word says the joy of the Lord is my strength. Help me, sweet Jesus, to experience this joy in a fresh way. Enable me to my find strength in your great love for me. I ask you, O Holy Spirit, to make all of this real in my life today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
“Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience” (Richard Foster).
“Joy is prayer – Joy is strength – Joy is love by which you can catch souls” (Mother Theresa).
Where others see but the dawn coming over the hill, I see the soul of God shouting for joy” (William Blake).
Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God” (Robert Schuller).