Don’t Let the Devil Steal Your Joy!
I talked to a long-time friend on the phone recently. He lost his wife of 59 years not too long ago. He admitted that life wasn’t always easy these days but that he was staying positive. Then Bro. Jerry said something that stuck with me.
“If the devil can steal your joy he can steal everything you’ve got.”
Oof! Ain’t it the truth!
Everyone is running around looking for bargain gifts now. Stress reigns.
And we can get caught up in all of it. Have we forgotten that Jesus’ birth was “good tidings of great joy.”
If our joy has swirled down the drain we’ve been looking at our problems instead of looking at Jesus. Maybe we’ve been listening to the devil’s threats and accusations instead of to the One who promises to never, never, never leave us.
Or just felt the stress of getting it all done.
A Christmas Experiment
Why don’t we try an experiment this Christmas season? Instead of looking at what scares us, what tempts us, and what frustrates us, let’s look at the One who died for us and rose again.
Let’s meditate on the One who promised to be in our lives by His Spirit. Gaze steadily at the One who said that He’d never let us get into a trial without making a way through or out.
Let’s look to the One who is coming again. And if it doesn’t happen in our lifetime, we’ll be going to that One we’re looking at.
Looking to, thinking about Jesus and what He means in our life, gives us joy.
Don’t let the devil steal our delight because we’ll be defenseless without it. He’ll steal everything but our frown.
Phyllis and I wish you the merriest, and most blessed Christmas you’ve ever had (to this point). We pray that God’s JOY flow through you from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes and that it will accompany you all this coming year.
“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2, NKJV)
Get your eyes on Him! And remember in this Christmas season that God’s kingdom doesn’t consist of what we eat and drink (or receive as gifts or if we’ve got the right gift to give, etc). No, God’s kingdom is righteousness, peace and JOY in the Holy Spirit.
