Long ago, before we were married, Greg and I had a friend named Eric. Eric was a gifted singer and songwriter. He also had a girlfriend named Joy.

One day, Joy broke up with Eric. Poor Eric was sad for months, and as I recall, for a long time he went about singing a verse from a popular Christian song at the time that went, “Please don’t take my joy away…” For Eric, joy was wrapped up in his relationship with Joy.

Sometimes, in all the busyness of this season we “lose our joy.” Not because it suddenly got up and walked out of our lives one day, but because we have failed to give time and priority to the only Source of joy. Joy is the natural fruit that comes as we abide in Christ.

May I encourage you to remember to keep up with your quiet time, prayer, and worship by daily meditating on Christ and His Word this month? Don’t let the pressure to shop, decorate, and party have first place in your thoughts.

In the midst of the “Christmas craziness” that swirls around our lives this time of year, remember to renew that joy daily. As the Psalmist wrote,

“The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart…they are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb” (Psalm 19:8, 10).

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.