Advent 15 - Rest in Joy
DAY 15 - Rest in Joy
Read Psalm 5:11
Rest in the joy that’s already yours.
We rest when we trust we’re safe. Trust you are safe in God’s hands. Rest in joy because joy already touched down on planet Earth in Bethlehem. Rest in joy, not because you’ll never feel bad again, not because nothing bad will never happen again. Rest in joy because no sadness will ever get the last word, because Jesus will return to finish God’s win over sin and death.
When I think of resting in joy, I think of Old Fezziwig from Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. In every version, young Scrooge’s business mentor loves life. Joy oozes out of Fezziwig. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. He’s generous. His joy is contagious.
I think of Harriet, one of our elder saints at Quest. In all the years I’ve known Harriet, she’s never said a cross word. She’s always got a smile and an easy laugh. She compliments and praises others. Harriet and her husband have had their burdens but she carries them with a lightness - with joy. I wonder if that’s possible without resting in the joy already yours.
Do you want God’s gift of joy? Trust Jesus to give it. Turn to him. Pray, “Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit! Fill me with your joy!” Rest in him. Rest in his joy. Rest in his victory.
You can rest in the joy that’s already yours. That’s such a relief! It’s good news! I don’t have to make joy. Joy IS thanks to Jesus! He came to free you from the misery of sin and the misery of death. He came to take you home. He came to give you joy!
Joy IS the serious business of heaven. Thank God - thank God! - it’s already mine! And it’s already yours.
REFLECT
Take a minute or two to sit in quiet. Take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, slowly let it out. Simply open yourself to God’s joy before closing with the following prayer.
PRAY
Almighty God, you have made us and all things to serve you, now prepare the world for your rule.
Come quickly to save us, so that wars and violence shall end, and your children may live in peace, honoring one another with justice and love; through Jesus Christ, who lives in power with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN.
Read Psalm 5:11
Rest in the joy that’s already yours.
We rest when we trust we’re safe. Trust you are safe in God’s hands. Rest in joy because joy already touched down on planet Earth in Bethlehem. Rest in joy, not because you’ll never feel bad again, not because nothing bad will never happen again. Rest in joy because no sadness will ever get the last word, because Jesus will return to finish God’s win over sin and death.
When I think of resting in joy, I think of Old Fezziwig from Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. In every version, young Scrooge’s business mentor loves life. Joy oozes out of Fezziwig. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. He’s generous. His joy is contagious.
I think of Harriet, one of our elder saints at Quest. In all the years I’ve known Harriet, she’s never said a cross word. She’s always got a smile and an easy laugh. She compliments and praises others. Harriet and her husband have had their burdens but she carries them with a lightness - with joy. I wonder if that’s possible without resting in the joy already yours.
Do you want God’s gift of joy? Trust Jesus to give it. Turn to him. Pray, “Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit! Fill me with your joy!” Rest in him. Rest in his joy. Rest in his victory.
You can rest in the joy that’s already yours. That’s such a relief! It’s good news! I don’t have to make joy. Joy IS thanks to Jesus! He came to free you from the misery of sin and the misery of death. He came to take you home. He came to give you joy!
Joy IS the serious business of heaven. Thank God - thank God! - it’s already mine! And it’s already yours.
REFLECT
Take a minute or two to sit in quiet. Take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, slowly let it out. Simply open yourself to God’s joy before closing with the following prayer.
PRAY
Almighty God, you have made us and all things to serve you, now prepare the world for your rule.
Come quickly to save us, so that wars and violence shall end, and your children may live in peace, honoring one another with justice and love; through Jesus Christ, who lives in power with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN.
Posted in Winter 2022
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January
February
The Way DAY 9 - Full of the Holy SpiritThe Way DAY 10 - Defeating Your DefeatersThe Way DAY 11 - The Year of JubileeThe Way DAY 12 - FreedomThe Way DAY 13 - Freedom to LoveThe Way DAY 14 - Ditch "What About Me"The Way DAY 15 - The Way of LoveThe Way DAY 16 - The TeacherThe Way DAY 17 - What is the Kingdom of God?The Way DAY 18 - Trust and ObeyThe Way DAY 19 - Follow MeThe Way DAY 20 - Differences and DisagreementsThe Way DAY 21 - Jesus and Mr. RogersThe Way DAY 22 - Respond Like JesusThe Way DAY 23 - Bend Toward MercyThe Way DAY 24 - Burden or Bless?The Way DAY 25 - BONUS: The TwelveThe Way DAY 26 - Happy?The Way DAY 27 - Excessive GenerosityThe Way DAY 28 - What is Love?The Way DAY 29 - Give What God Gives
March
The Way DAY 30 - Follow the LeaderThe Way DAY 31 - Dinner with a PhariseeThe Way DAY 32 - Don't Be the HeroThe Way DAY 33 - God's GraceThe Way DAY 34 - The Grace You ShowThe Way DAY 35 - Our Sin and Our SaviorThe Way DAY 36 - Jesus and ParablesThe Way DAY 37 - The Farmer and the SeedsThe Way DAY 38 - The Seed and The SoilThe Way DAY 39 - The Good HeartThe Way DAY 40 - Who is Jesus, Pt 1The Way DAY 41 - Who is Jesus, Pt 2The Way DAY 42 - They Saw His GloryThe Way DAY 43 - Your Next StepThe Way DAY 44 - His DevotionThe Way DAY 45 - The Leadership of JesusThe Way DAY 46 - Pick Up Your CrossThe Way DAY 47 - Daily DenialThe Way DAY 48 - Forgive Like JesusThe Way DAY 49 - Trusting God
2023
June
COMING SOON! RevelationRevelation Day 1 - TAKE IT TO HEARTRevelation Day 2 - IN THE SPIRITRevelation Day 3 - Learning to SeeRevelation Day 4 - The VoiceRevelation Day 5 - A Faithful WitnessRevelation DAY 6 - Past, Present, or Future?Revelation Day 7 - PRESS ONRevelation 8 - Comfort and ChallengeRevelation Day 9 - Compromised CommitmentRevelation Day 10 - I'm Fine, ThanksRevelation Day 11 - Holy, Holy, HolyRevelation Day 12 - Who is Worthy?Revelation Day 13 - Don't Give Up!Revelation Day 14 - No ContestRevelation Day 15 - Worship WellRevelation Day 16 - The Problem of EvilRevelation Day 17 - When You Don't Know WhyRevelation Day 18 - The Limits of SufferingRevelation Day 19 - Is God Angry?Revelation Day 20 - Saved Through Suffering
July
Revelation Day 21 - The Cry for JusticeRevelation Day 22 - The Judgments of GodRevelation 23 - They Still Did Not RepentRevelation Day 24 - Don't Curse CorrectionRevelation Day 25 - Search Me, O GodRevelation Day 26 - You Shall ProphesyRevelation Day 27 - Eat This BookRevelation Day 28 - Fight!Revelation 29 - Let the Truth TalkRevelation Day 30 - Worship and WitnessRevelation Day 31 - Our EnemiesRevelation Day 32 - The Enemy's WeaponRevelation Day 33 - The Enemy's FallRevelation Day 34 - Our ChampionRevelation Day 35 - Our Battle