Is there something you are missing out on?

When you plan to travel, you want to be sure that you’ve packed everything you need. You confirm that all is in place even when you have packed in the best way you know.

Hey you! …’me?’ …yes you, stop looking away because it’s you…’why don’t you call me by my name?’… well I have a whole list of names in my head right now. How I wish I could write down all these names then have you choose the best name that suits you…ooh!  I mean, you get to choose your name. Meanwhile, as we get this fixed, let’s talk about something else. Something that we always long for in our everyday life. Something that is a gem. I know you are curious. What do you think the ‘something’ is?

Maybe as you read this, you are just getting home from work, you took a break from your day’s routine or you just woke up and your day is yet to start, so before we get moving, I will serve you some fruit and a glass of mango juice, just the way you love it. You sure will enjoy every sip and maybe…just maybe…I’ll leave it at that.

Let’s get moving…

“… Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength! “

Nehemiah 8:10 NLT

As I grew, wait, does someone ever stop growing at any point in their life? No! We are always growing in the various aspects of life, at different phases and rates. One of this aspects is joy. When I first heard the above verse, I did not quite understand what it meant. I am happy I did not, then. I was a ‘child’. I spoke, thought and reasoned like a child. That does not mean I had zero understanding or still, the right one. I just had my understanding.

Like anyone else, I replaced the ‘your’ in the verse with my name, so that the verse read, ‘the joy of the Lord is Captain’s strength’ then I interpreted it to mean that when God is happy, then I am strong, since I draw my strength from His joy. What did I just say? Well, that may sound funny, until you are the one, trying your best to make God happy so that once He is, His joy becomes your strength. Yes, the strength you need to excel in everything you do.

You may also wonder whether such an understanding exists. I just confirmed that to you. It does. I was once a victim. When I said that I tried to make God happy, it is true I tried but like any trials, there was always an error. That’s sad. It is like saving up so you can buy a bike or your favourite sport shoes but end up spending the money on some other stuff you had not planned for. If outdoing one self is possible then that’s what I did.

I know you want to know what I did as I tried to make God happy. My answer is this that I did what God said I should, according to His Word. You know, helping the needy in the society, name them all. I do not mean that all this is wrong. Actually that is how we are supposed to live life. We should always ensure that all members of our community are enjoying the best of life. This is only possible when we carry out all those acts of charity.

The greatest error that I made here, was having the wrong motive of the heart. I did all this to ‘please’ God. To make Him happy, so that by this I would keep growing stronger. Moreover, I lacked knowledge. I did not know that God is already pleased with me just as I am. I did not know that after He had made everything, after He had created us, He looked and saw that all he created was very good. I would always be frustrated or disappointed when I didn’t achieve what was expected of me because I thought that God wasn’t happy with me.

It was after I looked into the context of the text that I understood what the verse means. The builders had  completed rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem amidst all the opposition and the Israelites had settled in their towns. Then in the seventh month, they gathered to hear the reading and interpretation of the Law of Moses. It was then when Nehemiah told them not to mourn or weep. Instead they were to celebrate and share gifts of food with those who had none. They had no reason to be sad for the joy of the Lord was their strength.

In conclusion,

Do you know that you don’t have to do a single thing to earn this joy? You don’t need to please God at all, He is already pleased with you, because He created you beautifully and fearfully. He calls you His beloved and He delights over every detail of your life. The joy of the Lord is right inside you, waiting for you to radiate it out . You only have to make one decision. A decision to choose joy at all costs. A decision that no matter how tough or rough life seems, you choose joy. The best thing about this joy is that it results to peace, even the peace of mind. With this joy, then you are strengthened with might in the inside of you. See, choose joy today and let the joy of the Lord flow in you until it is what moves you.

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Thank you. In case you’ve missed any posts, check them out below. 

• You’ve got to cheer up😃July 16, 2020
• Wait! Do you have happiness in your basket?July 20, 2020
• A LOVE that is CHANGE.July 23, 2020