Joyful Christmas

Devotional Reading: 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.” Nehemiah 8:10 ESV

The word Joy is used a lot around Christmas time. The images Joy brings to mind are happy families sitting around having dinner, no one fighting, and everything going perfectly. But, the word Joy in The Bible is not really painted that way. Often our level of Joy is based on outside experiences. The Bible paints Joy as more of an inward confidence.

The scripture puts it this way “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.” So the question is, how can I have strength based on shifting emotions that are determined by outward experiences? The truth is, you can’t. Having hope based on that kind of Joy is almost impossible.

That’s where if we shift our focus and allow our Joy to be based on what Jesus has done in our life. Joy begins to fill our heart. Because we remember our Great Savior and all He has done. Then as that Joy fills our heart, strength comes. That strength births hope for the future.

This Christmas, let’s not allow the shifting seasons of emotions to shape our hope. Let hope rise from the Joy that we know: Jesus has done good and He will continue to do good in our lives.

Prayer and Confession
My hope is found in Christ alone, he alone is the source of my joy and not my circumstances. I choose joy always.

Further Reading: Philippians 4:4, James 1:2, 1Thessalonians 5:18