Finding Joy...

So, next week is the second week of Advent. I have never really done anything for Advent or even though about it until a couple weeks ago when Dan King of bibledude.net asked for volunteers to write a little for one week of Advent.  Divine providence gave me "Joy", literally, metaphorically, and figuratively. Here it is:

Read:

Psalms 16

Psalms 30

Isaiah 35:1-10

Luke 1:39-56

Romans 15:13

1 Peter 1:3-9

Pray:

           Joy comes from hope. Without hope, there can be no joy. With hope, there is rejoicing, and the greater the hope, the greater rejoicing.

            In the presence of God we find our “fullness of joy” (Ps 16:11). Is it any wonder why the coming of Immanuel – “God with Us” –causes such rejoicing? Should we not leap for joy as John did when he first came into the presence of Jesus? Absolutely! Certainly! Believers should be the most joy-filled people on the planet. We should be rejoicing with every breath we take.

             Joy comes from the overwhelming hope that comes from being redeemed, rescued, and adopted as a child of the Living God. Joy comes from the realization that we have been given not what we deserve, but what we don’t deserve, an “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven”. Our rejoicing is with “joy is inexpressible and filled with glory” because we believe. (1 Peter 1:3-9)

            The glory filled inexpressible joy is there, but I wonder what is keeping it from coming out? Circumstances? Stuff? Fear? Pride? Anger? Bitterness? Loneliness? Hunger? Thirst? Sickness? Sorrow?

            Oh please Lord:

Remind me that my hope is in only You, and I will rejoice!

Remind me that nothing can separate me from You (Romans 8:38), and I will rejoice!

Serve:

            Someone once told me that when I felt low, I should do something for someone. Guess what? It works. In the simple economy of God, God is our hope, we rejoice in our hope, and we find even more joy in sharing that hope with others. Joy is multiplied and magnified in serving others. Serving others is like pushing your joy through a giant Back to the Future sized amplifier. Even the littlest amount going in will result in an overwhelming, knock you off your feet and across the room amount of joy coming out. Don’t be scared, it is just joy. Revel in it, rejoice in your joy, maybe dance a little, sing a little louder, give glory to God, and then serve again. 

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:11 NASB

 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us”. Matt 1:23 HCSB