How to Reset Your Joy This Holiday Season
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As we are now in the midst of the holiday season, we know that for many this can be a sad time of year. There are issues of loneliness, or thoughts of lost loved ones with whom you will no longer be able to share this season. What feels joyous for some can become sad for others. Yet in the middle of this season, as Christians we see these two commands in Scripture.
- You know he has the first word and the last word on every situation
- You know you are safe and protected in his arms
- You know you are provided for and cared for because you are his
- You know there is nothing too big for him and he is never caught off guard and never unprepared
I could continue, but I think you understand the point. Seeing and knowing who God is allows you to sing songs of worship and praise, in spite of everything going on around you or in you. When you lift him up, then he lifts you up and your increase in joy is not too far behind.
If you are going to restore and reset joy, then it requires you to go to the place where joy resides. That place is in the presence of the Lord. Why are you shouting? Why are you singing? Why are you entering his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise? Because you are desiring to enter his presence. In an earlier Psalm we are reminded about the wonder of God’s presence.
If you are going to reset your joy, it won’t happen apart from God’s presence. God’s presence can eliminate fears, worries, doubts, troubles – everything you could ever concern yourself with are dealt with when you sit in God’s presence. It is for this reason that you shout, sing, worship, and lift up praise. By doing these things, you are shifting the position of your heart and your mind from the things around you to the wonder of God’s presence. In this place you will find the fullness of joy.
Perhaps the hardest thing to do is to simply stay and rest in God’s presence. So often we are quick to want to get back to the realities of life. I would encourage you to stay in God’s presence a little longer. It is easy to falsely think this is not time well spent because there is so much to do. But honestly this is the reason you are there, to find strength, healing, and joy.
Don’t just fight to get into his presence, stay a while and allow God to renew every part of you. When you are there, spend time thinking about his goodness, embracing his love, and remembering his faithfulness. I promise you as you stay focused on him, he will completely renew your heart and fill you with his joy.
Without a doubt God wants to restart joy in your life because that will give you strength, focus and will help you endure whatever situation you are in. You might be wondering what to do now. Here is the answer, begin with a shout of praise. Start singing and lifting songs to the Lord remembering who he is. Enter his presence and wait there. This will encourage you and lift your heart and before you know it your joy will be restored.
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