Filled with Joy
…and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing, everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10
Heavenly Father,
Only You are worthy of all praise and glory, and we thank You for sending Your Son, born as a baby, and to become our Savior. May we know that only in Him can we find true and lasting joy. As we begin to sing the music of Christmas, we pray that true joy will fill our hearts.
Lord, sometimes it is difficult to live joyfully. Nothing of this earth can give us complete joy. Our joy isn’t dependent on what is going on in our life, in our world, or in the people within our circles. Joy doesn’t depend on the gifts we give or the ones we find under our Christmas tree. Our joy is a gift that only You can give – as You did that first Christmas.
We desire to have the joy experienced by the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, and Mary and Joseph – those who recognized Jesus and were filled with inexpressible joy. They trusted Your promises and their fear was turned to exceeding joy as they gazed upon the Savior.
Lord, we ask the Holy Spirit to inspire our reflections and meditations on the good news of Jesus’ birth and the power of the greatest joy this event brings. As we fix our eyes and hearts on You, fill our souls with renewed strength, courage, and hope. Bring peace into the hearts of those who believe, and joy to those that find their hope in Him. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.