Celebrate With Joy

Just wanted to share one of my devotionals from yesterday, enjoy (it's from www.christianwomentoday.com):

Published by TruthMedia on December 19, 2007 in Devotional and Devotional For Women.
by Suzanne Benner

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10, 11).

Are you experiencing great joy?

Does it feel like joy has leaked away, bit by bit, by busyness? Or been drained out, like your bank account, by commercialism?

We need to remember that joy isn’t a fleeting emotion or something you have to conjure up out of nothing. It isn’t a denial of your circumstances or a warm feeling that arises when you get what you want.

Instead, like the Holy Spirit, joy comes from God. He is the one who fills us with joy. The angels’ announcement to the shepherds was simply this: You no longer need to be separated from God; He has sent Jesus, the one who will save you from your sins and reconcile you to God.

That is the Good News. That is what fills us with joy.

Therefore this Christmas, we can celebrate with joy – a joy that comes from knowing that our sins are forgiven.

Regardless of the pain, conflict or distress we are experiencing, the deep sense of peace and assurance can be ours, when we celebrate the truth that Jesus’ birth is a time of remembering God’s plan to redeem us.

May these words be true in your life:“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, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8, 9).