Nehemiah 8:10 says “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah had said this to the people after the wall had been rebuilt and people had gathered together to read the word of God.  The joy of The Lord is something that only comes from knowing God and experiencing his presence in our lives. The Jewish people had collectively experienced the Joy of the Lord when they came together to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah says that our strength is in the Joy of the Lord.

So how do you experience the Joy of the Lord? Psalm 16:11 says “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The Joy of the Lord is only experienced by knowing God and having a relationship with him. Jesus himself said in John 15:10-11 “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”  Jesus had said this to his disciples but it applies to all of us. If we keep his commandments and trust in Jesus we will have the Joy of the Lord in our lives.

The dictionary defines Joy as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” When we accept Jesus Christ and put our trust in him then we experience a feeling of great pleasure and happiness that comes from only knowing the Lord. Romans 15:13 says “ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” In order to experience Joy in the Lord we must also ask him for forgiveness for our sins. If we have sin in our lives that breaks God’s commandments then we often do not experience the Joy of the Lord. 

David said in Psalm 51:10-19 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” This is the key to experiencing the Joy of the Lord. We have to ask God for forgiveness of our sins and to renew our spirits so that we are ready to experience the Joy of the Lord in our hearts and in our lives.