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Joy by Chris Keim

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy

Down in my heart (where?)

Down in my heart (where?)

Down in my heart

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy

Down in my heart (where?)

Down in my heart to stay

This is a song I learned, at least 45 years ago in Sunday School.  I remember that I loved singing it with the whole Sunday School as we met together before breaking up into our Sunday School classes. You could feel the joy that was present in the words of the song and also in our young voices, as we sang with the joy we genuinely felt in our hearts.

It seemed easier back then, as a child to feel joy. As we become adults and deal with the realities of the world and our lives, so many different feelings seem to come into our hearts and can dampen the feelings of joy that innately exist there.  The Apostle Paul knew this, and gave encouragement and a helpful practice for the new Christians in his first letter to the Thessalonians;”Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”   

The ability to feel the gift of joy that is indeed down in our hearts is a worthy practice. In this time of Advent, take some time to rejoice in the good things that are present in our lives, pray to a God that loves us so much and is always listening and give thanks for all that we have, most especially the gift of Jesus and the hope and joy that his resurrection brings to us.

Dear Father of all Joy, You have given us; all that we are, all that we have and the ability to do all that we can do. Help us to find the joy that you have given to us that lives deep in our hearts and help us to practice feeling it, rejoicing and giving thanks for it and sharing that joy with others. Joy is truly the light of Jesus, your Son, whose Holy Spirit lives within and among us. Amen

 

 

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