July 22nd, 2026
by Rev. Kevin C Benton
by Rev. Kevin C Benton
Day 3: Joy as Your Strength
Reading: Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 16:11; Philippians 4:4-7
Devotional: Joy is not pretending everything is fine when it's falling apart. Joy is deep confidence that God is working, God is with you, and God will finish what He started. It's not based on what you see but on Who you know. Nehemiah declares that "the joy of the Lord is your strength." This means without joy, you have no strength to persist. Without strength, you cannot endure. No wonder the enemy fights so hard against your joy, it's the fuel that keeps you moving forward when feelings scream "quit." James tells us to "count it all joy" when facing trials. Make a deliberate decision to move your circumstance from the "loss" column to the "God's going to use this" column. You don't wait to feel joyful; you choose joy by faith, and the feeling follows. In God's presence is fullness of joy. Stay close to Him, and joy will flow. Joy isn't based on what you see, it's based on who you know. The joy of the Lord is your strength, and the enemy fights your joy so hard because without joy, you have no strength. Joy doesn't mean faking it or pretending you're not hurt. It's a deep confidence that God is working, God is with you, and God will finish what He started. Sometimes your praise isn't a party, it's a prescription. When your joy is low, take your medication: praise your God, and the joy will come. Count it all joy not because you feel it, but by faith, moving your trial from the loss column to the "God's going to use this" column. David encouraged himself in the Lord when everyone else abandoned him. You can too.
Reflection Question: What would change if you chose to "count it joy" in your current trial instead of waiting to feel joyful?
Reading: Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 16:11; Philippians 4:4-7
Devotional: Joy is not pretending everything is fine when it's falling apart. Joy is deep confidence that God is working, God is with you, and God will finish what He started. It's not based on what you see but on Who you know. Nehemiah declares that "the joy of the Lord is your strength." This means without joy, you have no strength to persist. Without strength, you cannot endure. No wonder the enemy fights so hard against your joy, it's the fuel that keeps you moving forward when feelings scream "quit." James tells us to "count it all joy" when facing trials. Make a deliberate decision to move your circumstance from the "loss" column to the "God's going to use this" column. You don't wait to feel joyful; you choose joy by faith, and the feeling follows. In God's presence is fullness of joy. Stay close to Him, and joy will flow. Joy isn't based on what you see, it's based on who you know. The joy of the Lord is your strength, and the enemy fights your joy so hard because without joy, you have no strength. Joy doesn't mean faking it or pretending you're not hurt. It's a deep confidence that God is working, God is with you, and God will finish what He started. Sometimes your praise isn't a party, it's a prescription. When your joy is low, take your medication: praise your God, and the joy will come. Count it all joy not because you feel it, but by faith, moving your trial from the loss column to the "God's going to use this" column. David encouraged himself in the Lord when everyone else abandoned him. You can too.
Reflection Question: What would change if you chose to "count it joy" in your current trial instead of waiting to feel joyful?
Posted in Daily Devotion
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