Can't nobody steal your joy!

Can’t nobody steal your joy! Yes, I used a double negative.  
This time of year, the word joy is found on Christmas cards, stockings, mugs, calendars and much more. But joy is not only for Christmas time. Don’t get it twisted. 

Joy was a main point in an advent plan I completed last week. I loved what they wrote about joy. I will summarize it:
Joy is followed by praise. We can’t have joy without praise!

Isn’t that awesome! It’s so true. When I think about Jesus and all He is to me, I start praising Him. The Joy of Jesus fills me with euphoria. This feeling leads me to praise and worship. How do you feel when you think about Jesus and all He is? Does it lead you to praise?

Jesus is joy. Joy is a feeling that is experienced all year long when Jesus is our Lord and savior.
You know why can’t nobody steal your joy? Because nothing will ever separate you from the love of Christ Jesus!! No person, demon, angel, thing, or pandemic.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

Jesus’ love brings me joy. Joy is a condition of living in the kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is truth (reality). When I’m distracted by the world – deception – I feel anxiety, worry, and fear creep in. We are not created to live with those toxic feelings. This is an indication we are in deception. Look back to Jesus on the throne. Seek His Kingdom and then righteousness, joy, peace and more starts to flood our souls. Stress recedes, heartbeat slows, we’re more aware of His presence.

I know, we can’t always be jumping for joy throughout the day. Although joy is something we feel, it’s also a mindset, baseline, and fruit of the Spirit. Joy isn’t only brought from the gifts and festivities at Christmas. Joy is so much more than that. Joy came into being when Jesus was birthed to save the world by dying for our sins descending into Hell, taking the keys back to the kingdom, raising up from the dead and ascending into heaven to sit on the throne besides Father God. He died and came back to life, so that those who believe in Him die to the world but are alive to God! God sees us without blemish, guilt, and shame. A new creation! Jesus’ sacrifice makes us right with God.

 Jesus death for us is a gift from love. There are no strings attached. There is nothing we can do, wear, eat or not eat. We don’t need to go on a pilgrimage, say a certain number of prayers, incantations or make potions. Jesus takes religion out of the equation. There aren’t a certain number of steps, programs, perfection, titles, guilt or whatever some of these religions or cults require a person to do to atone for sin. Isn't that a relief! Jesus takes the pressure off of us. The only thing is faith in Jesus’ sacrifice and confession we can’t live life on our own terms. Confess Jesus as Lord. Your life will never be the same.

“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.  I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelations 1:17-18

Thank you, Jesus! You know I can go on for days about the wonderful things Jesus does and did.

I pray joy infuses your life every day of the year, not just Christmas time. If you have Jesus in your life you will have joy, that’s a promise.

Thank you for reading. Please share this post to someone who needs joy in their life. Let’s spread Jesus everywhere we go. This world needs Jesus to bring them true joy.
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Love ya!