Joy is a word seen frequently during the Christmas season–on cards, ornaments and even fence gates.
But holiday-pleasure based on Santa, gifting, and parties, quickly disappears with the decorations and Christmas cookies.
Where do we find January-Joy that will carry us through the new year and even beyond?
First, we have to understand: true joy is more than feel-good endorphins.
To some that sounds ridiculous. Acquiescence sounds like distasteful servitude. And what possible delight can a person find in Someone we can’t see or hear?
Little do they know the depth of joy Jesus offers us (John 15:11).
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex
and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child
who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot
imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.
—C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
Little do many people understand:
This deep sea of joy is made available to us as we obey God–another reality that makes some bristle. They don’t realize when Christ tells us to follow God’s ways, he’s not trying to make our lives miserable. He’s showing us the way to enjoy abundance of life (John 15:9-11; John 10:10)!
Anything God commands of us is so that our joy may be full.
—Beth Moore, quoted in Values for Life
Scripture presents a number of principles that contribute to our fullness of joy, including:
POSITIVITY (Philippians 4:4)
GRATITUDE (Psalm 126:3)
It’s not happiness that makes us grateful,
it’s gratefulness that makes us happy.
–Brother David Steindl-Rast
We just have to turn up our joy detectors,
notice, and give credit to the God who provided them.
—Deana Chadwell, When I’m in His Presence
MINDFULNESS (Psalm 89:15-16)
(How else might we make space for joy? That’s a question worth contemplating!)
GENEROSITY OF JOY (Acts 20:35)
In spreading my joy, God restored ME. MY JOY WAS FULL! . . .
As we pour out ourselves for others, we ourselves are renewed.
—Barbara Johnson, Pack Up Your Gloomies in a Great Big Box
Also worth remembering:
Empathy (Romans 12:15a)
Joy happens as we enter into the joys of others. The meek get
the most value out of others because they enter in the joys
of others. Not being envious, they rejoice in the successes of
others. Thus they live expansively, multiplying their own lives
in the careers around them.
—Ralph W. Sockman, The Higher Happiness
And what happens to those who focus on all things beautiful, good, and true—no matter how small—and thank God for them?
What happens to those who discover the joys of the here and now—no matter their circumstances–and praise God for them?
“They are the change agents who bring fullest Light [and JOY] to all the world.”*
JOY to the world! For January–beyond.
Now there’s an objective to embrace for 2025.
* Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts, 58.
Art & photo credits: http://www.pickpik.com; http://www.freerangestock.com; http://www.negativespace.co; http://www.pickpik.com; http://www.pixabay.com; http://www.canva.com.
From the Inside Out 