A Journal of Joy: Things that make my heart smile…
Christmas has passed and the New Year will soon be upon us. Perhaps it’s wise to carry the message of Christmas into the New Year—a message of joy. Joy to the world because the Lord has come.
There was much joy when Jesus came. Before He came, there was no hope. When Jesus was born it was a joyous time. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men’” (Luke 2:8-14).
“Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room.” Is my heart so full of other things that I don’t have room for Jesus? If I have Jesus in my heart, I will have joy. Jesus is my joy. His joy needs to be in me and it can’t be in me if I don’t make room for it (John 15:11).
I remember the song I sang as a young child. “I have that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Down in my heart to stay.” I want that joy down in my heart throughout the coming year and every day of my life. So each day I need to acknowledge that God is the source of all joy (Psalm 45:4). There is joy in the presence of God (Psalm 21:6; Psalm 16:11). There is joy in praising God (Psalm 43:4). There is joy in thanking God (Colossians 1:2). There is joy in believing what God says (Philippians 1:6). There is joy in trusting God (Romans 15:13).
There is joy in Jesus. There is joy in knowing He came to earth. There is joy in knowing He accepts, loves, and died for us—inexpressible, glorious joy (1 Peter 1:8). It’s the kind of joy that’s hard to put into words. One has to experience it. It’s genuine and can’t be faked. It’s a joy that no man can take away (John 16:22). It’s a joy that is always with me in good times and in bad (Philippians 4:4).
Yes, that’s what I want this next year. I want that joy, joy, joy, joy of Jesus down in my heart—down in my heart to stay.
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Oh Jesus, You are my joy! As the New Year approaches help me stay focused on You. May there always be room in my heart for You. May I always rejoice in Your presence. May I always praise and worship You. May I always trust and believe You. My prayer for this next year is that You will live in my heart and let it overflow with Your presence and love.
