Joy is a word often associated with Christmas. And it should be. It’s also week 3 of Advent. Joy. Jesus brings Joy. Great Joy – actually, that’s what it says in Luke 2 – the Angel says tiding of “great Joy”. So – are you feeling or experiencing “great Joy”? Why not? Here’s some reasons we don’t and a couple ways to tap into the joy that is promised to us.
Reasons we miss the “joy”: we are too busy. Yep, simple – easy to understand and 100% true. Also, we are too worried about other “things” – like the food, gifts, parties, in-laws etc.
Ways to tap into the “joy”: start your day with Jesus and keep Jesus in your day - often praying. I think many will think this is an over-simplification, but it isn’t. If you stay connected, through prayer, to God and His Son and Spirit, you are WAY more likely to experience JOY – because you will be alert to see it and feel it. If you are too busy – you miss all those chances and they are gone – literally gone. This will also help with the “things” worries, since you will begin to realize that with God right there – all the time – you are better equipped and able to handle those “things” and you might even realize that some of the “things” weren’t worth worrying about at all.
Obviously not all situations are going to be avoided – and not all situations will turn out super-cool – some things might still fall apart, and some things might still back-fire or “blow-up” or that certain person might say the “wrong thing” and you could be hurt. Yep, all that can still happen. BUT – if you are praying and in contact with God = keeping Jesus in the front of your mind – you are WAY more likely to pull-through those situations faster – or possibly even repair it. At the least, you’ll have God helping you make better choices and avoiding a “mud-slinging” where you fightback and let anger get the best of you. God will speak hope and peace and Joy into each situation and if you listen you will be far better off than if you weren’t.
Got Joy? Let me know if you have done this and if it’s working.