My wife restrained our daughter…
They stood at the top of the stairs, my daughter so excited she was almost literally running in place.
It was Christmas morning and I went down stairs ahead of them to turn on the Christmas tree lights and see if Santa had visited during the night.
“He was here!” I called.
My daughter ran down the stairs, not knowing what Santa had left… but so eager to find out… so full of Joy and anticipation for the unexpected…
Another day at work. Who knew what the day would bring.
Boredom? The rantings of her demanding boss? Personally she preferred to think of him as evil or insane.
He was neither, of course. But thinking of him that way made the day less painful.
She had no idea what the day would bring. But it wouldn’t be joy.
Where do we look for joy?
Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture Psalm 100:3
We worship our circumstances…
Worship the LORD with gladness Psalm 100:2
We delight in our circumstances…when they are delightful…
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
But God never changes…
His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:5
And that’s why to him that we can always turn in Joy…
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth! Psalm 100:1
We worry and doubt and fear and cry out because we do not know what is next and we forget his promise…
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
If only we would remember…
Then we would approach each moment with eager expectancy like a child on Christmas morning…
Then we would declare …
This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
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