You’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy (where?)

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year….”

The Christmas season is full of wonder and joy. It’s a time of catching up with family and friends, giving gifts, singing catchy Christmas songs, and looking at beautiful Christmas lights. Even the Grinch managed to find joy in Christmas! But the greatest joy of Christmas isn’t in the lights or the jingles, or even the presents. The joy of Christmas is that Jesus humbly came to earth as the ultimate gift for all of humanity. Christmas is a perfect time to joyfully reflect on what Jesus has done for you and to share this gift with the people around you.

Speaking about the JOY of Christmas is a great way to open up the conversation.

3 simple ways to use JOY to share Jesus

1. Gratitude

No matter what your immediate circumstances may look like, there’s a lot to be thankful for at Christmas. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us of the connection between gratitude and joy: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Take some time each day to thank Jesus for coming to Earth as the ultimate sacrifice. Meditate on the enormity of this! Remind yourself that He did this because He loves you. AND He did this because He loves all people—including your unsaved friends and family.

2. Selflessness/generosity

Doing something selfless and kind for someone else, no strings attached, is one of the greatest feelings of joy we can experience. In fact, research shows that doing acts of kindness for others will increase your overall sense of joy and well-being, and lower your stress levels. Proverbs 11:24 says, “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.”

Be on the lookout for opportunities to be selfless to the people in your world—perhaps a random act of kindness, serving food to the homeless, or giving gifts to families in need. If people ask you why you’re doing this, you can explain to them that Jesus set the ultimate example in living a selfless life!

3. Hope

Hope is the belief that no matter how tough life gets, it will get better. It’s a feeling of expectation and a mindset that chooses to view the future through a lens of optimism and joy. Romans 15:13 is a reminder that God’s hope fills us with joy, so seek God for this blessing. Each day, choose a perspective of hope and joy. Rather than thinking of what could go wrong, think about what could go right. Instead of focusing on the negatives, focus on the silver linings. That joyful perspective will catch the attention of those around you and open up opportunities to share the hope of Jesus.

No matter what this Christmas season looks like for you, you can choose JOY and use JOY. Take a moment to reflect on your friends and family—who can you share the Joy of Jesus with this week?

Make the most of Christmas, by expressing the joy that Jesus brings with the people around you.

BIBLE VERSES

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Proverbs 11:24 – “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.”

Romans 15:13 – “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.”