Day 13: by Juno Smalley
A familiar passage in the Bible pertaining to joy, especially around Christmas is, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
I wonder if fear and joy have nothing in common or if they can coexist with each other.
We know that we can't buy a jar or bottle of joy, yet we often try.
We can't order joy from Amazon, even Amazon Prime, although we would like to.
Joy doesn't come in a paycheck or envelope,
Joy isn't dependant on a spouse or a friend,
Joy isn't dependent on a GREAT career or promotion
Yet, according to Luke, joy is available to all people. So why are so many people, including believers, living lives that are not joyful or joy-filled, even living lives of fear?
Maybe while our heads embrace the news from the angels that joy is for everyone, our hearts have allowed fear to take residence. When we are so full of fear there is no room for the presence of Jesus. With the news being in front of us daily, hourly, and even by the minute, it's easy to complain, worry, be critical, and be negative. While we may want to say yes to joy, our mind is filled with so much fear. I’m wondering if ‘there's no room in the inn’ for joy? And if there isn’t, maybe it’s time to do some early spring cleaning, maybe it's time for an estate sale to make room for the joy from Jesus.
I wonder if fear and joy have nothing in common or if they can coexist with each other.
We know that we can't buy a jar or bottle of joy, yet we often try.
We can't order joy from Amazon, even Amazon Prime, although we would like to.
Joy doesn't come in a paycheck or envelope,
Joy isn't dependant on a spouse or a friend,
Joy isn't dependent on a GREAT career or promotion
Yet, according to Luke, joy is available to all people. So why are so many people, including believers, living lives that are not joyful or joy-filled, even living lives of fear?
Maybe while our heads embrace the news from the angels that joy is for everyone, our hearts have allowed fear to take residence. When we are so full of fear there is no room for the presence of Jesus. With the news being in front of us daily, hourly, and even by the minute, it's easy to complain, worry, be critical, and be negative. While we may want to say yes to joy, our mind is filled with so much fear. I’m wondering if ‘there's no room in the inn’ for joy? And if there isn’t, maybe it’s time to do some early spring cleaning, maybe it's time for an estate sale to make room for the joy from Jesus.
Friday's Song
Reminds us that we should not be afraid because Jesus is born today. Click here.
Friday's Prayer
Lord, I pray that you will replace my fear with your joy. This season, establish a joy that comes from you, may your joy fill my heart and kick out fear and doubt.
Help me bring my concerns, burdens, and worries to you and experience your joy. Forgive me for trying to take things back from you. Help me to remember your purpose for coming was to help carry my burdens.
Lord help me to take responsibility and find friends who are filled with your joy. Lord help me to set boundaries with the negative news I watch as well as people who always complain about most anything and everything in life.
Help our church to continue to make a difference. Continue to help us be a light in the places you call us to and to the people you call us to be with.
Remove any fear in my heart and replace it with your joy.
AMEN
Help me bring my concerns, burdens, and worries to you and experience your joy. Forgive me for trying to take things back from you. Help me to remember your purpose for coming was to help carry my burdens.
Lord help me to take responsibility and find friends who are filled with your joy. Lord help me to set boundaries with the negative news I watch as well as people who always complain about most anything and everything in life.
Help our church to continue to make a difference. Continue to help us be a light in the places you call us to and to the people you call us to be with.
Remove any fear in my heart and replace it with your joy.
AMEN
Posted in Advent Devotional 2022