Merry Christmas! It’s the most wonderful time of the year ... for some. For others, the unmet expectations, painful memories, and mounting debt signals anything but wonderful.
How do we keep our joy this Christmas?
Their praises changed the atmosphere (check out the pregame warm-up at any major sporting event). It stirred up the army, emboldened their faith, and prepared them for battle. The sound of praise is like supernatural fingernails on the devil’s chalkboard. It breaks spiritual darkness and can shatter the chains of despair. So, If you are fighting the holiday blues … stir up your joy and start praising: sing, dance, shout and laugh. Take time to enjoy the twinkling lights, wonderful food, cheesy
The Christmas season amps up our emotions and can leave us feeling drained. We hunt down the perfect gift, obligate ourselves to parties we don’t want to go to, and fight for a seat just to see the top of our kid’s head at their Christmas pageant. Yet, the Bible mentions joy nearly 200 times. Why?
... for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
Joy is one of the most powerful spiritual forces in the universe. Joy is not a feeling but an attitude of the heart: content, confident, and hopeful despite the circumstances. Even though we may not “feel” joy, the seed of joy is in us:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
The fruit of the Spirit are the nine attributes central to the character of Christ. God is joy, and we were created in His image, so it’s who we are. Just like any fruit, it begins as a seed that grows when nurtured.
Stir Up the Joy
Joy grows when we feed it, and it’s fertilized with praise. Have you heard the statement "praise precedes the victory?" In 2 Chronicles, a multitude was marching toward Israel—outnumbered. So, what was the military strategy? Put together a praise choir (singers and dancers) and send them to the front lines. Huh? The enemy was slaughtered and not one Israelite was killed.
Their praises changed the atmosphere (check out the pregame warm up at any major sporting event). It stirred up the army, emboldened their faith, and prepared them for battle. The sound of praise is like supernatural fingernails on the devil’s chalkboard. It breaks spiritual darkness and can shatter the chains of despair. So, If you are fighting the holiday blues … stir up your joy and start praising: sing, dance, shout, and laugh. Take time to enjoy the twinkling lights, wonderful food, cheesy Hallmark movies, and family and friends.
Praise God
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11
Merry Christmas!
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