3 John 4 English Standard Version (ESV) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

My search engine failed to find the results that gave me any peace.

Praying for an answer this came to me. There is no greater joy in the Father than when His children return to Him.

This we can share in the Lord. It is why we preach the gospel, counsel the young, encourage the old, and support others in fellowship. We can do so with the Lord because of His abiding presence. His joy becomes our joy.

Search Engines are great tools but they cannot replace listening for that still small voice.

When we get too dependent on man’s inventions we are less likely to rely on what lies in our hearts. We think too much about how amazing technology is and forget that our creator has all knowledge and holds the keys to our needs and our true hearts desire.

Technology has made things so easy but at the same time gives others a chance to have influences over us that might not be the best thing for our personal growth in Christ.

While I used the search engine at www.biblegateway.com to find scriptures the same can be accomplished by asking a biblical question of any search engine whether it be google, bing, firefox or a host of other platforms, nothing replaces opening up that old oil stained paper copy on the shelf or coffee table.

I call mine oil stained because of the oil stains incurred from my hands over decades of use. Some users write in their bible, or use hi-liters. We all have reasons why we do that. If you do, let me ask you to go to an older writing or hi-lite and read the passages again. 

How long has it been since you visited those passages? Is what you wrote in the margin what you discover in reading it today? 

I journal and find it difficult to find time to revisit what I wrote long ago. The Word is active and alive and seems to have something new for me every day.

Two things happen when I do think about revisiting my journals. I will discover that what I wrote was inspired or I will discover how immature I was.

Since we are all subject to the same Holy Spirit, I imagine your experiences are very similar.

Nehemiah 8:10 English Standard Version (ESV) Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

This is the first time that my search engine uses the actual phrase “the joy of the Lord”. It is not until now that we find the joy of the Lord specifically. Until now our search has all been about our emotional responses alone or separated from the Lord. Now we find His Joy providing strength.

We know from our readings that Nehemiah has been given permission to return to Jerusalem and his first task was to rebuild the wall. This is where dedicated men were stood in the gaps in the wall to protect them from those who opposed them in their calling.

I recall attending the D.C. even “Standing in the Gap”. If ever any man should feel strengthened it is when a million men answered the call and with one mind and purpose prayed for our nation. We did not call for a fast yet God put it on the hearts of all of us to fast. When food was catered in, we told them to give it to the needy and the homeless in D.C., in unity of mind and purpose.

What a joy it was for all of us to feel sustained during the event. The wind encircled us and we were refreshed. God in our midst was all we needed as strangers took each other aside and began to pray without ceasing.

We could see that it pleased the Lord that so many men and boys answered the call.

Everyone in the area of Jerusalem got to see the restoration of the city.

We who attended “Standing in the Gap” saw it for a day.

To be frankly honest with you. We could use a day like that day every day.

While Joy in Sustenance is wonderful, I believe the Joy of the Lord is more.