  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.- Luke 2:10 How Can I be More Joyful? 1. Stop Being Afraid Struggling to experience joy in your life? The first step to joy (or happiness) is removing fear. Like many gifts from God, joy requires a paradigm shift. We inherently are fearful, but fellowship with God is an understanding that he is for us. Basically, he’s got this (John 14:27, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 43:1). Remember to fight your battles with an understanding of God’s power and influence in your life. 2. Start Sharing God’s joy is for everyone. The angel doesn’t say ‘good news that will cause great joy for Christians’, but for everyone. All people. God’s desire is for all people to experience him. Jesus is his free gift for all people. You can choose to not receive it, but its freely given. In a podcast interview for Desiring God, Randy Alcorn notes the following: “...But even the atheist when he takes a walk in the woods, sees the beauty, and just marvels at it — and he may in his own way celebrate the beauty and see a deer and just marvel at this — the happiness he is experiencing is coming from the hand of God. The fact that people don’t believe in God doesn’t change the fact that God is the only source of happiness. Tragically, however, if he dies in his atheism and he goes to hell, hell is the one place in the universe where God is not present, except in his wrath. And, as a result, he is cut off from happiness. No God, no happiness...” All good things come from God, happiness included. We cannot create our own happiness, but God gives it generously. He has an unlimited storehouse he wants to give us. He also promises that the more we give, the more we will receive (Luke 6:38). Did you ever try and catch an insect as a child? The delight of capturing that butterfly is quickly snuffed when the creature cannot live in a jar for more than a day. Joy is the same. God created it for all his children to enjoy. Practical Ways to Spread Joy Feeling joyful today? Let it pour out of you towards those around you!
Feeling a bit stir-crazy with the kids home for Christmas? Check out some of these Children’s crafts for Christmas. Written by: Mary Weinstein  Subscribe to receive each day's devotional in your inbox.
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