“I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 NIV)
Joyful God,
How your world needs a huge infusion of JOY right now! The darkness of these last few years has been so severe – so much pain, hurting, chaos, upheaval, and angst. But you are the same yesterday, today, and forever; you never change and you always call us into your arms of Love so that we can know your Joy. Thank you for this Christmas and for the Good News of Great Joy that your angelic messengers brought to the shepherds that first Christmas night. Thank you for the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, who desires that all would come to a knowledge of your Truth and know Jesus as the Christ, the ransom for all people. Just as you brought Jesus the Messiah into the world as an infant 2020+ years ago, we thank you that your timing is perfect. So show us your glory and release your joy on this earth today. May the pruning work that you have done in individual believers and your greater Church bear much fruit in the days, weeks, and years ahead. May the Good News of Great Joy continue to go to every people group in the world so that all can taste and see that the Lord is good and that your mercies endure forever. And may your JOY be poured out in great measure so that all come to know, believe, and abide in the Love you have for each of us. In Messiah’s name we pray, Amen.
“…God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:3-6 NIV)
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8 NIV)
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1 KJV)
“Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 11:8 CEV)
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:16 ESV)
(Adapted from post published Dec. 25, 2020)