Nehemiah 8:10,12

Nehemiah 8:10,12

Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks. . . . So the people went away to eat and drink . . . and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.

Ezra had just read God’s laws to a large group of people. Many listened carefully and repented of their sins. Then Ezra told them to celebrate! Celebration is about calling attention to something important so it can be remembered. It is closely linked to gratitude because it involves pausing to be grateful for something the Lord has done. Sometimes we celebrate wonderful events like the birth of a child or a wedding, and other times we celebrate when we’ve persevered through painful seasons. What is one thing you want to celebrate from the past year? How can you weave gratitude into your celebration?