Jim Ewing Shares On Nehemia 8:10

Nehemiah 8:10....

The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength. Now, I'm not going to tell you anything here that you don't already know, but we all need to be reminded, especially when things in our lives seem the roughest and there is no way out, that no matter what- The joy of the Lord is your strength.
.
Our circumstances must never be our strength, because they can change so quickly, as can our surroundings, our moods, our desires. The world depends on superficial and transitory things for strength because those things are all that they have, or else they imagine something bigger than themselves, but usually something quite general (non-specific) that may see them through, but the believer has as his or her Protector the One Who spoke the universe (and everything in it) into existence, and His reality is not simply imagined.

God never promised us a rose-covered pathway (I know that from experience, and so do you!), but He does promise us that He will never leave us or forsake us- EVER. We must always remember that... As believers, we need to keep in mind that He is ALWAYS with us- every moment that we live, and then the very moment that we breathe our last- He takes our hand and brings us to Himself, for all eternity...Yes, we are in very good Hands, indeed!......
.
The biggest problem that we have concerning this truth is that we don't spend enough time contemplating His Presence. You notice I didn't say that we don't spend enough time IN His Presence, for we are ALWAYS in His Presence, but we need to ponder this fact, and trust that He knows our estate, that nothing that happens in our life escapes His Knowledge and attention....
.
Easy to say when things are going smoothly, isn't it? But it is true in the most absolute sense, regardless of our present circumstances. Is there a secret to always knowing His Presence and care? Well, the very Son of God didn't simply rest in the fact that He knew who He was, He sought the Father EARLY, before the crowds came. He coveted the Presence of His Father! Do we covet the Presence of our heavenly Father?
.
How about King David, "O God. thou art my God; EARLY will I seek Thee, my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is." (Psalm 63:1)......

Do we pant after Him like the deer panteth after the water (psalm 42:1)? Do you feel it as you read it? Now, tell me- is there a 'secret' to always knowing God's Presence and care- to always trusting God, no matter what? Read what the scripture tells us, and ponder the depths of His wonderful Word. His Spirit is bearing witness with what you have read. Seek Him early, and with all your heart....

En Agape,
Pastor Jim Ewing