WEBVTT

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Nehemiah said, Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have

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nothing prepared.

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This day is holy to our Lord.

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Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

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– Nehemiah 8.10

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Picture the scene.

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God's people had just heard Scripture read out loud for the first time in generations,

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and they wept.

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Guilt, probably.

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Regret over all those wasted years.

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And Nehemiah's response was to send them home to eat good food, drink something sweet,

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and to share with anybody who had nothing.

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Celebration was the assignment.

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The joy of the Lord is your strength.

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It's structural.

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It's the thing that's holding you up when your own energy gives out somewhere around,

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I don't know, three in the afternoon, and you're staring into the pantry hoping for

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a miracle.

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So when you're running low today, stop digging around for more willpower to feel better.

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Turn toward Him instead.

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His joy does what your effort can't, and He gives it freely.

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What I want you to do today is do one small thing today purely because it brings you joy.