Resting in Advent Joy
Merry Christmas everyone! I cannot begin to describe what a blessing it has been to share this Advent season with each of you. What an amazing God we serve. I still cannot wrap my mind around the fact that Jesus Christ, who has existed eternally, who upholds the world by the word of his power, condescended from his heavenly throne to take upon the burden of humanity. He bore this burden joyfully because of God’s great love for his people. His birth brought hope, peace, love, and joy to a hopeless and broken world. His life was lived so that he would be the Lamb, holy and without blemish, a worthy sacrifice for an unworthy world. His death brought believers eternal peace with God.
May your soul rejoice this morning at this glorious truth! Your Savior has come! Your soul has been saved! Your God has rescued you!
Thank you for spending this Advent season studying these truths with me. If you’ve missed any of the devotionals, you can find them all here.
As this year’s Advent season comes to a close, take some time this Christmas Day to rest in this unbelievable theme of Advent joy with the following Scripture, music, and prayer.
Rest in His Word
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, or you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9
“And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” Matthew 2:9-10
"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
“Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.” Psalm 42:11“Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:17-18“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:4-5; 10-13
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14
“So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” John 16:22
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
Music to Reflect On
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee by Rend Collective
Lord from Sorrows Deep I Call by Matt Papa
A Prayer To Encourage
Father, may my soul rejoice. Let the joy of my salvation be the marker of this Christmas Day. The birth of my Savior has brought me hope unending, peace beyond understanding and a love I cannot begin to comprehend. I humbly come before your throne, unworthy of it all, to worship your glorious name.
In the coming days, weeks, and months, I pray you would help me not to lose sight of the joy that is mine. Should depression threaten to overtake me, should the cares of this world grow heavy, should the circumstances I walk through sap my strength, may my soul rejoice still. Keep my sights set on you in all that I face. Let me run to your word as a refuge when life’s storms rage.
In everything that this day holds, I pray that you would be the center of my heart’s attention. What an incredible blessing to pause and celebrate our Savior. What an incomprehensible gift you have given your people. May your name be lifted high today and always.
Amen
