Encountering Jesus at ChristmasSample

Day 3: Receive His Joy!

The beautiful message of Christmas is that Jesus came to bring great joy! This time of year can be difficult when we're carrying pain and sorrow in our hearts. Today, we look at Isaiah 61 and see that Jesus offers beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. Lay your burdens down and receive God's joy this Christmas!

Watch: Enjoy Jen’s video and take a moment to lay down your burdens at Jesus’ feet. Let Him fill your heart with His joy, lifting the heaviness and wrapping you in His peace this Christmas season.

Now, spend time with Jesus in His Word.

Pray: Jesus, I come to You where my heart is heavy and weary. Would You show me from Your Word how I can lay down sorrow and receive Your joy? In Your Name, I pray. Amen.

1. Read Isaiah 61:1-3. Now read Luke 4:14-21, where Jesus declares He is the anointed one referenced in Isaiah 61. According to these passages, what are all the things Jesus was anointed to do? Write these down.
2. What areas mentioned in Isaiah 61 are you carrying: ashes, mourning, despair?
3. Through Jesus’ work at the cross, He invites us to make a great exchange: to trade our ashes for beauty, our mourning for gladness, and our despair for praise. What will you trade in today to receive what Jesus has for you?

Mom Tip: Pick an encouraging Scripture to write on your bathroom mirror in dry-erase marker. Speak this Scripture out loud daily for a month to encourage your faith.

Pray: Jesus, thank you for knowing and seeing the sadness in my heart. Thank you for making a way for me to trade in brokenness, loss, and pain for your joy, beauty, and praise. I come now to You and release all the pain. I ask You to fill my heart with Your joy this Christmas. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.