Advent 3 Thursday - Faith Brings Joy

We return again for a few moments to the song Mary sang for joy after the announcement that God had chosen her to be the mother of Jesus Christ.

Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.  How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.

Luke 1:46-49

As we seek to recapture joy during this Christmas season, it’s good to remember that God has taken notice of us. 

The way we respond to what is going on and to God’s care and love for us in the middle of all that is going on can be a lesson and an encouragement for generations to come. 

We can show how in the most difficult of seasons, God is mighty and does great things for His people when they reach out to Him.

It’s still true this year as it has been every other year that God didn’t reject us in the darkness of our sin but chose to send us a Saviour.  That’s worth celebrating every day of every year.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Acts 1:8

It’s also true that it has always been God’s plan to express His life through our lives so that those who have no hope this Christmas will find hope as they witness the greatness of God’s love in us. 

God’s agenda for us during these days counting down to Christmas in 2022 is good.  It’s filled with joy.  Our lives lived inside God’s plan are a place where we can find positive focus, a steady place for our feet to stand, and for our hearts to find peace. 

With Paul who wrote these words we pray:

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

Thank you for faith that strengthens us and hope that helps us see and enter into the opportunities that this season offers us.

Inspire us, we pray, to reach out for Your purposes during these days. 

As dramatically as the coming of Jesus changed everything for all time, so use our little lives in these days to make a difference in the lives of some for eternity. 

Let joy of life with Jesus be revealed in our thoughts, words, and actions today.  Amen