We All Need Real Joy | Devotional | Luke 1:39-45

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." — Luke 1:39-45

Our world is inundated with messages that attempt to rob us of joy. They get us to look at the world's problems and issues and thus stir our fears so that we will act in human volition and thus perpetuate the opposite of joy. Everywhere you turn, there is another tempting soundbite that works hard to distract you from joy. This Christmas, we don't need news of another variant, another shutdown, another mandate, or another supply chain issue, another argument, another hate crime, or another anything, to be honest. Instead, we need to find our way to some real joy.

But many of us have been so removed from news of joy. I am not even sure we know what it looks like any longer.

Joy is a feeling that comes from a real experience with the Holy Spirit when the human soul recognizes God's truth. It often results in the body doing something it would otherwise not — like praising, shouting, singing, or leaping. And sometimes, this joy is found right in the middle of life's most challenging moments.

For example, in our story today, in the 6th month of Elizabeth's gestation, the baby and the mother experienced a moment of great joy. Jesus entered the room as an embryo, and the two mothers and a 6-month old fetus recognized it. John the Baptist leaps in the womb. What did these people experience? Joy. A feeling that comes from a real experience with the Holy Spirit when the human soul recognizes God's truth.

I don't know what kind of joy you might need today. But I know this. You will not find it in a bill, verdict, or mandate. It cannot be provided by a president, politician, or professed physician. You will not find it in money, power, or possessions. But you can find it if you look to God. He wants to give you great joy. You have to open your soul to the fact that only he can provide the joy you want and need. Stop looking for joy in this world. You will never find it. That's because joy is not found in the world, it's found in God and dispersed by him through the Spirit to you.

ASK THIS: What in this world is keeping you from experiencing joy?

DO THIS: Ask God to give you real joy.

PRAY THIS: God, your joy is my strength. Come to me by your Spirit and give me the joy that my spirit lacks.

PLAY THIS: Rend Collective — Joy Of The Lord.

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[anna]

Heavenly Father, I lift up those who feel burdened or alone. May they feel Your love and find joy in Your promises. Help me to be an instrument of encouragement and faith in their lives. Thank you!

[ramirotorresguerra]

Amen! Thank you, God Bless you brother Vince