Joy - Experience Joy This ChristmasSample

What brings us joy: Other people

If heaven celebrates when another one joins the party and God rejoices over us, then can’t we learn to source joy from the same places? When Paul wrote a letter to the Philippian church, he called this little church that he was praying for his ‘joy and crown.’ 

This was the first church planted in Greece and they were new followers of Christ. Seeing their generosity and how they were following Jesus was filling Paul with joy! Now, they didn’t have it all together, but Paul encouraged them all to hold onto the progress they'd made.

We can look at others’ messy lives and be discouraged, or we can learn to rejoice with God for the progress others have made! We can let our joy inspire us to pray and support them and give thanks to God! We will find joy as we share their burdens and see the ways that God is moving in their lives as they follow Him.

To reflect:

1. Do you struggle to rejoice with others in their success? Do you tend to focus on failures or lack of progress rather than celebrating growth? Ask God to help you in this area and try to think of a creative way that you could pray for, or show joy in, someone else’s growth this week.

2. In John 16:24 Jesus encourages his followers to ask God (in His name) for what they need that their joy may be full. Do you ask God for what you need, confidently believing He hears and will ‘make your joy full’?

3. How can you encourage those you lead/parent/work with to live more like this?