12/26/2023

Joy

Isaiah 9:3 ESV
“You have multiplied the nation; You have increased its joy; they rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.”

After all the food and fellowship, wrapping paper and bows are over and things seem to settle down, often with a lot of people, a discontent is felt. It happens, even to old salty preachers after a great message or the celebration in songs and dramas is over, they often feel a bit of a loss.

What is that feeling? After the joy, laughter, adrenaline, and endorphins are gone, that creates a vacuum of sorts? It is a chemical change in the body, but I have a remedy for that. Find some excellent Christian music, of your choice, listen to it intently, begin to worship the Lord. Forget about anything that went wrong, give it all to Jesus and find your joy!

True joy in Jesus, never fades, gets old, loses its anointing, and power, quite the opposite really, His joy is infectious. His joy is everlasting its vitality to sustain us. So, after all the glitz and the glamor of Christmas and celebration is over, never forget why we are celebrating in the first place. This gift, Jesus, is the real reason we are celebrating now and every day of our lives.

This passage says, “You have increased its joy…” That is what the Messiah does for us. Today, find the joy in serving, loving, singing, laughing, and enjoying life in Jesus. He is the gift that keeps on giving, and today He is bringing a wheelbarrow full of joy to us.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give us peace for the day, laughter, and joy. For those who need to be cheered up today, give them a huge dose of joy that can only be found in Jesus. In Your name we ask, Amen!