“10 Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ NIV

Tom Hale explains: ‘God-given joy is not merely happiness or a ‘’good feeling’’; it is rooted in our salvation. It is because our sins have been forgiven and we have been restored to fellowship with God that we can experience the joy of the LORD. That joy is a sign of God’s Holy Spirit within us (Galatians 5:22); and if God’s Spirit is in us, we will have God-given strength as well.’ ‘Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.762.

I have often said that the fruit of the Spirit is nothing less than the character of Jesus, reproduced in the Christian by the Holy Spirit. So this is Jesus’ own joy imparted to us. The joy He Himself possessed (and possesses) He gives away to His own. As he said to His disciples:

‘’I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete’’ (John 15:11)

Prayer: Lord, please give us your help that we do not live below the level of our privileges in Christ