Our Daily Bread Devotion 13 December 2025 — Joy and Strength in God
OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE FOR THE FAMILY – 13TH DECEMBER 2025
Read Our Daily Bread Devotional for December 13, 2025 — A powerful word of hope and empowerment to start your day. Discover today’s message, scripture, and reflection for spiritual strength.
Our Daily Bread Devotion 13 December 2025 Message
Topic: Joy and Strength in God
Bible in a Year: Hosea 12-14; Revelation 4
Bible Verse: Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. – Nehemiah 8:10
Today’s Scripture: Nehemiah 8:5-6,8-12
Insight: Nehemiah 8 captures a scene of God’s people unified by reverence for Scripture. As the priest Ezra read from the “Book of the Law” (likely a portion from the first five books of the Bible), “all the people listened attentively” (v. 3). He stood on “a high wooden platform built for the occasion” (v. 4), allowing for everyone to see him (v. 5). The people responded with awe-filled worship (v. 6). Perhaps recognizing their sin in the words read, they began to weep (v. 9), though the gathering was meant to be joyful (v. 11). So Nehemiah encouraged them to find strength in “the joy of the Lord” (v. 10). In our circumstances today, we also can find strength and joy as we focus on God and the Scriptures. By: Monica La Rose
Our Daily Bread Devotion 13 December 2025
In the midst of colorful creations made from old plastic bottles cut to resemble feathers and even lampshades, a tour guide at a New Orleans Museum shared the thinking behind the use of such material. “For a city that’s had such hardship, we’ve also learned to use what we have to create joy and beauty. We don’t focus only on the hard times; we celebrate the resilience.”
Nehemiah and the Israelites also faced hardship but resiliently pressed on in God’s joy. They’d been captured and taken away from their home, and at last were able to return to Jerusalem from exile (Nehemiah 3:7-12, 18). But upon arriving, they still faced opposition to rebuild the wall that protected Jerusalem (Nehemiah 6). Even after the wall was completed and they gathered for a celebration, hearing the words of God’s law, their spirits were heavy. They were “weeping as they listened” (8:9). But Nehemiah reminded them that they could find joy and strength in God—remembering who He was and what He’d brought them through. Nehemiah told them, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (v. 10).
Focusing on God can give us “great joy” and strength too, especially when our circumstances seem dire. God’s ability, character, and the Scriptures can renew our minds and bring us joy (v. 12)—providing the strength and resilience we need. By: Katara Patton
Reflect & Pray
When have you found joy and strength in God? How can you practice resilience amid your trials?
Holy God, when my circumstances seem bleak, please remind me to focus on You to find joy and strength.
