The Advent Adventure- 8 Days to Christmas: The Foundation of Joy
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I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)
Finding delight in God can feel very abstract. To our senses, it can be puzzling to pray to the invisible creator. We can know within our hearts that something is happening and continue to believe in our spirits that God is communing with us, but our bodies and minds may struggle to grasp that. Our grasp of God's presence and closeness will fluctuate often. As much as we want a continual feel of Him, there will be moments where we simply will seem out of reach. As the creator, sustainer, and giver of joy, this could push us into a place of darkness and depression where joy, as well as God, seem light years away.
But take heart! There is good news and great joy for all people who feel distant from God or struggle to connect to the unseen Father. Our joy, inspired and given to us in Christ, doesn't rest on our ability to stay connected but rather rests on His shoulders. We don't have to pray harder, read more, sin less, or recite the right words to receive the joy God has in store for us. Looking at Isaiah 61:10, we can see that Isaiah is rejoicing and glad not because of an immediate connection or even a tangible gift. Rather, his unshakeable joy comes from knowing that he has received salvation from God and that he is now counted righteous! The focus of Isaiah's Joy is on what God has accomplished and now provides for him.
Christ's birth ushers in so much for His followers. He brings us closeness to God (though we may not feel it), salvation, righteousness (that we didn't earn it), and joy (though we don't deserve it). Our Heavenly Father loves to give good gifts to His children. This Christmas, I encourage you to count all of the wonderful gifts God has given us. And like Isaiah, write down what a wonderful and joyous thing each one of them is. This exercise will lift your spirit up and fill you with the joy that Christ offers this Advent season.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.