Nehemiah 8:10, “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Whew… we made it to day 13! Happy Wednesday to all.

For me, this has been a tough day physically. But I made it through, and to God be the glory!

Let’s talk about joy. By definition Joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. The joy of the Lord is the pleasure, happiness, and satisfaction that comes from God dwelling on the inside of us. This pleasure, happiness and satisfaction gives us strength through God to accomplish anything; to overcome anything; to make it through anything. So no matter how tough the day, or how heavy the load we must bear, accessing this joy strengthens us. It propels is forward. Gods is that good.

On days like today – those tough days where you were extremely busy, or where it seems everything has gone wrong, it is important to rest in joy. This is why daily devotion – spending time with God – is so important. It provides an avenue to just give all that heaviness to God.

Exercise is important because it is a stress reliever. It reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators.

According to World Health Organization, A healthy diet is important because It protects you against many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats, are essential for healthy diet.

We need to achieve a balanced life for both natural and spiritual benefits.

With that said, let us make sure to spend quality time daily with the Lord. Let us make sure to move our bodies in exercise for at least 30 minutes daily. Let us pursue healthy eating options, both at home and if eating away from home.

In the spirit of trying something new, you might like this breakfast recipe:

The joy of the Lord is your strength and praise is your weapon. On tough days lean into that strength and pull out your weapon of praise and get to work! This is how we make it through tough days and hard times.

Be blessed and keep push towards your goal.