Christmas Joy...

 

Merry 3 Days before Christmas!  Are you feeling the JOY today? 

As Christmas gets closer, you may feel excited looking forward to a loved one, or a friend opening a gift. 

However, some of us may have so many things on their plate that it dims that joyful feeling.  Maybe you are like me, Christmastime brings stress due to things out of my control.  It is hard to find joy in times of stress.  In the hustle and bustle of the days before Christmas, our joy may feel closer to the bottom of our stack of things to do. 

Still, in the busyness of life, have we forgotten the first gift?  That gift which will give us lasting Joy? 

True Joy.

As I mentioned yesterday, we need to take a breath, and be still.  The second part is today.  We need to refocus our thoughts and seek True Joy.  How do we do that?  One way is by re-prioritizing our expectations.

I do this often.  Maybe you can relate?  I set unrealistic expectations that come from social media, watching a Christmas special, hearing from others how they spent the holidays together as a family.  There are so many ways.

I want the ‘perfect holiday’ so badly I lose focus on what was truly important.  Having family around and a table filled with food is nice.  But in the end, there is no perfect family, or perfect event.  My expectations are unrealistic.  I want everyone together under the same roof.  To get along.  To appreciate each other and the gifts and meals we fixed.  My focus was not where it belonged.  I needed to refocus on Him and the true meaning of Joy. 

True Joy comes from knowing God sent His son to the earth to save us…

True Joy comes from knowing what Jesus did for us on the cross…

True Joy comes from being still and listening to His voice, not my own…

At the end of our days, it will only be us, and our Heavenly Father.  Nothing else will matter.  No one else will matter.  Nothing is more important that our relationship with Him.

Take a minute to reflect on that statement.  Seek True Joy.  Let everything else fade away for the moment.  That is how it will be in the end.  Take stock today, to seek His face, and you will find True Joy.

 

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.