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Day Forty Three - Joyful as you want to be

  • Writer: Congregational Federation
    Congregational Federation
  • Dec 13, 2020
  • 3 min read

But the Angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people”.

Luke 2:10


If you could use just one word to describe Christmas, what would it be?


Headache? Expensive? Stressful? Or, Joy? Happiness? Love?


I’m sure we have felt at some point all of the above, but how do we focus on the event that brought so much joy from Heaven to Earth, how can we experience joy this Christmas time?


I would like to suggest to you that this Christmas time can be a time of joy for all, no matter what our situation.


Joy is like love, not just an emotion, but a real decision and I believe you can be as joyful as you want to be. It’s all about where we choose to put our focus. So, let us look at 3 places to focus our hearts and minds.


J - focus on Jesus

A child was once asked, “Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?” After a little thought their wise answer was, “No, but then its not my birthday!” It’s too easy sometimes to get so wrapped up in the celebration that we forget what we are celebrating.


Focusing on Jesus means that we not only remember the Saviour in the manger but we remember that this baby grew up and went to the cross to pay for our sins, then rose again to give us new life and lives in our hearts today. Yes, by faith and by his Spirit he lives in us, in our hearts. This should fill us with pure joy.


I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20


O – focus on others

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus himself who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.

Acts 20:35


Paul quotes Jesus here to point out the joy of generosity. Christmas is the time we celebrate the most wonderful gift God has given us – Jesus. His focus on giving Christ to the world was his love for others and He gave us an example that we should follow.


Joy does not come from getting all we can get from others, but in giving all we can give to others. It is this focus in others that will bring us joy.


If you want to know joy at Christmas, then discover the joy of giving. Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” This Christmas find someone in need and in the name of Jesus give to them of your time and talents.


Y – Focus on Yourself

Yet there is a sense in which you should focus on yourself. Your own attitudes determine whether you will experience joy this year. We can let worry, stress, unforgiveness or discouragement rob us of the joy of Jesus. Everyone struggles sometimes, but attitudes are not automatic, it’s our choice. I know this because the Bible commands us not to allow these things to rule our lives and God would not command us to do what we cannot (in His strength) do.


Worry and Stress - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6


Forgiveness – Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other; just as in Christ, God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32


Discouragement – May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. - 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17


So, we can be full of faith or full of doubt, full of joy from the Holy Spirit or full of the world’s woes.


God has a gift for you this Christmas. It is a joy that you can unwrap by focusing on Jesus, others and then yourselves.


Don’t wait until December 25th to unwrap that gift, open it now and enjoy!


Julie Burnett

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