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Dec 19, 2022 06:00am

How To Increase Your Joy

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Alec, my seven year old son, is leveling up the “jolly” this Christmas season. His room is covered in twinkle lights; he is pumped about his upcoming performance in the school Christmas program; he enthusiastically zooms around the house on a scooter rehearsing Christmas songs for the church program; he insists we plan to bake cookies and decorate a gingerbread house over Christmas break; and he has promised to help me cut fresh cedar to decorate our front porch…as long as I cover everything with lights.

It’s like living with a little Christmas whirlwind!

His pure joy and child-like faith have been infectious. A welcomed gift.
And also..convicting.

Maybe, like me, you could use a little more joy for yourself this season?

Sometimes life is less than joy-full and our “jolly” is lost.

But, the joy of the Lord is always available.

To quote Randy Alcorn, “Jesus has a gladness that exceeds that of all people (which makes sense, because he created us). If we were to ask a random group, “Who is the happiest human being who ever lived?” few people – including few believers – would give what Hebrews 1:9 tells us is the correct answer: Jesus.”

Hebrews 1:9 explains God anointed his Son with the oil of gladness. The word translated joy or gladness in scripture literally means delight. Jesus was delightful. So, joy as a primary theme of Christ’s birth makes sense.

Joy was the reaction to Jesus in the womb, joy was the message of the angel to the shepherds, joy was the dance of the wise men who followed the star and joy was given to us.

Here are three ways to increase your J.O.Y. this Christmas:

J – Jesus came.

Choose to focus on the reality of Jesus.

In Luke chapter 2 we can read the whole, beautiful story. One of my favorite parts is when an angel of the Lord appears to the shepherds, announces the birth of Christ and declares with all of God’s glory in verse 10,

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY which will be for all the people.” (emphasis mine)

The reality of Jesus is good news.

Such.good.news.

“Late on a sleepy-star spangled night, those angels peeled back the sky just like you would tear open a sparkling Christmas present. Then, with light and joy pouring out of Heaven like water through a broken dam, they began to shout and sing the message that baby Jesus had been born. The world had a Savior! The angel called it “Good News” and it was.” Larry Libby

O – One day.

Choose to focus on one day or one thing at a time.

Too often my joy is drained because I am too busy, too distracted, too tired and too worried. Life, as I live it, is too much. I have a quote hanging in my office that reads, “If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.” Roosevelt.

Ouch.

I’ll admit I tend to over-do it, whatever “it” is. I manage to ruin what God meant for my joy. I feel my joy meter decreasing when I’ve overcommitted, over-exaggerated what needs done, am overworked and overwhelmed. I’m learning to slow down. I’m learning how to stop, in the moment, and focus on the one thing or the one person that is most important on this one day — today.

Jesus said it like this in Matt. 6:34, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

And isn’t that the truth?

Simply, today is enough. God’s grace is sufficient, what we need is promised for today and God’s mercies will be new in the morning.

When joy is lacking; refocusing fuels rejoicing.

Y – You matter.

Choose to believe you matter.

For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross. Do you realize YOU are Jesus’ joy? His goal was a relationship with you! Everything Jesus did on this earth was to bring glory to God through relationships with people.

His perfect life, His sacrificial death and his glorious resurrection made a way for you to be with him.

And to gain His joy.

Because you matter. Especially to Him.

Like yours, Jesus’ life wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows. He wept. He lost friends. His own family didn’t always like him or believe in him. He watched suffering. He suffered. He grieved the death of loved ones. He had enemies. Crowds of people put demands on him. He got tired and hungry. He lived life.

And He was delightful.

And He loves YOU.

Have you ever given your life to Jesus?

Jesus said to be a part of his kingdom, to know His joy, we must be born again. He also said to be born again we must believe.

Corrie Ten Boom is quoted as saying, “If Jesus were born one thousand times in Bethlehem and not in me, then I would still be lost.”

Ask Him to be your Savior.
Ask Him to forgive you.
Surrender to Him.

And may the experience of true JOY level up your “jolly” this season!