Advent Devotional: Make Room for JesusSample

Day 13: Make Room for Joy

As we’ve read about and focused on hope and peace in the last several days, it can be said without a doubt that these attributes are not something we can manufacture on our own. They are gifts that are given to us through the gift of our Savior Jesus. Hope, peace and joy are not things that come naturally for us. If we were left to our own devices, the sin nature in us would not be able to produce these good gifts on our own. However when we follow Jesus, we receive these gifts of hope, peace and joy. Out of the overflow of His Holy Spirit in us, we can see good fruit being produced in our lives. Paul talks about this in Galatians...

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." - Galatians 5:22-23

He also reminds us in Romans about God's promise of these gifts when we trust Him.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13

God fulfilled a long-awaited promise through the birth of Jesus and, in so doing, brought with Him joy and peace that overflowed into hope. The baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger was a picture of redemption...a way for God's people to walk forward with joy. As the prophet Isaiah foretold, Jesus would be a banner of salvation for the people. They didn't have to be afraid of the future. Their promised Messiah had come. And He would restore joy to a dark and broken world.

Reflect:

• What is something that has impacted your joy lately?
• How does understanding that true joy is not something you can manufacture but rather it’s an overflow of God’s Spirit in you change the way you approach time with God?
• What is one area of your daily life where you desire to be a banner of God’s joy this week?

Pray:

As you spend time with God today, acknowledge to Him if you feel like you are lacking in joy. Then talk with him about what could be impacting your joy. Ask Him to fill you to overflowing today.