Today’s Reading:
Nehemiah 8
Matthew 11
John 16
Philippians 4
John 10
They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading. Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.
Nehemiah 8:8-12 NASB1995
I heard the Spirit of the Living God say,
Tragedies have come, and they have settled in your heart burdening your soul and making you weary from within. Heartbreak has come at the sight of the suffering of My people, of people near and people far. Pain, sorrow, heartbreak and tragedy have all become heavy weights in your heart. You see the pain all around. And you feel it deeply. You have taken it on as your own. But I already did that. I already did that.
“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”
Matthew 11:28-30 TPT
I have called you to compassion, but not burden. I have called you to bear one another’s burdens — but only and always in partnership with Me. You are not out there on your own bearing the burdens and weight of the pain and suffering of the world. That was My job, and I did it already. Don’t trouble your soul unnecessarily. I have not called you to carry this great weight. I did it already. I carried it all. So what are you to do? You lead with love, and Let Me carry the weight of it. You operate with compassion, but you pass the burden on to Me to bear. Trust Me to carry it, to hold it, to bear it and to address it rightly.
“And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!”
John 16:33 TPT
This has been a time of great sorrow, of heartbreak, of tragedy and pain. In this world you will have troubles, but don’t take it on yourself. Don’t allow it to hang as heavy weights from your heart and soul. You will never bear up under the weight of it. You will never accomplish all that I have for you under the weight of it. I need you to respond in love, in compassion and with action. And then I need you to walk forward in My full joy. As you strengthen yourself in Me, joy will be your portion. And this is the appointed time for joy to rise. You have not been properly using, leaning on or accessing My joy. It’s time to do that. Do as David did. Strengthen yourself in Me by recounting My great faithfulness, and joy will be your strength and your portion. Joy will become a powerful offensive weapon that even repels the enemy as you say and revere and bless My Holy Name.
Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let your joy overflow! And let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near. Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.
Philippians 4:4-8 TPT
Stand up. Shake off those ashes. One by one remove the burdens, pain and sorrows you have allowed to hang in your heart as great weights. Put them in My waiting open hand, and go forth in joy. Go forth in great joy, and let your response be a song. Let your response be a great belly laugh. Let your response be a celebration. Because I have conquered it all. I have overcome the world.
How to Respond
- Pray, Holy Spirit help me to identify the burdens that have been weighing down my heart. Help me to see what suffering, pain and sorrow I have taken as my own. Help me to remove those one by one and place them in Your waiting open hand. Thank You that You have already borne all of these burdens. You have already paid the full price for all the sins we have committed and those committed against us. You have already paid the full price for the full health of mankind. You have already done it all, and You have risen in victory. Help me not to unnecessarily carry any burdens. Help me to roll them over to You. Help me to strengthen myself in You, so Your joy can rise up and be my portion, my song, my strength and my weapon.
- Declare, A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow!
— John 10:10 TPT - Decree, The Lord Jesus has paid the full price for all that has not aligned with Heaven since the fall of man. There’s no burden, sickness, sin, wrong, betrayal or misfortune that He does not see, carry and overcome. I will live in the unmatched victory of the Lord Jesus Christ. I will not bear burdens like this any longer. I will respond in love and compassion and turn the burden, sorrow and pain over to Jesus to carry. His joy will be my strength, my song, my victory and my weapon. I will be a joyous carrier of His overcoming victory and of His brilliant light.
For more encouragement from The Glory & New Wine, check out the post from this day in years past:
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