by Desiree Bustamante

Joyful, joyful, we adore You, God of glory, Lord of love!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link. 

For the LORD your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
Zephaniah 3:17 New Living Translation

Great joy surrounded the birth of Jesus. Mary rejoiced that she was to be the mother of the Savior. The angels sang joyful hymns as they announced His birth to the shepherds. The shepherds rejoiced when they saw baby Jesus in the manger, as was promised long ago. Our hearts are full of joy because Jesus was born to be our Savior!

But the struggles we live with have the potential to silence joy and replace it with the noise of anxiousness, worry, or the season’s busyness.

Never forget that Jesus is with you at all times in all things. He’s going to take care of you no matter what happens. He is with you in your amazing victories and in your crushing defeats, celebrating your successes and calming your heart when anxiety threatens to overwhelm you.

Maybe you have lost your joy in this dark and broken world. Maybe you are elated and feeling confident in His love. Know that whatever you are feeling, He knows you and is passionate about you! He delights in you and rejoices over you with joyful songs, just as the angels rejoiced and sang over Jesus at His birth.

The Lord lives among us and is the Almighty One who gives us true joy in our hearts! Lord, help us to have such joy and hope that our lives may radiate You to others who need to know Jesus is for them!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado