Choose Joyنموونە

DAY 15 – JOYFUL BABY

Reflection: As we continue exploring how to continually choose a joy-strengthened life, this week we’ll explore joy in the life of Jesus. As our verses today show, from the very beginning of his earthly life, Jesus inspired joy in others!

It’s not perfectly clear that Mary is pregnant when she visits Elizabeth – the Bible doesn’t say explicitly. But on balance, it is likely she is in the very first weeks of pregnancy before anyone one would know, except perhaps a relative like Elizabeth.

Maybe as Mary arrives and sees Elizabeth, there’s a silent exchange, a knowing look between two women both caught up in the supernatural purposes of God. This is quickly confirmed when Mary greets Elizabeth – the baby in her womb ‘leaped for joy’.

Not only is baby John joyful, but Elizabeth can’t contain her joy, shouting a loud blessing over Mary as the ‘mother of my Lord’. And soon Mary, who has had to keep so many things to herself, is released to sing for joy: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’ (Luke 1:46, 47 NIV).

Elizabeth teaches us how to find joy when circumstances are not what we expect: ‘Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!’

Choose joy: Write down your own words of joy or if you need help to find joy right now, listen to a worship song – loudly!