Hope for the Holidays: Reclaim the Joy of Jesus This ChristmasPrøve

# Hope for Troubled Times Because of the peril of today, sometimes, if Christians are not careful, we can become adversely affected by what we see instead of what we know by faith. Jesus tells us to be cheerful in the midst of troubled times: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Although you should be concerned about the condition of the world, don’t let it get you down. Remember that we know how the story ends—and it is a happy, happy ending! If you do become depressed or anxious about situations surrounding you, begin to praise God. When Paul and Silas found themselves unfairly imprisoned in a Philippian jail, they didn’t spend their time in prison coming up with a defense or complaining about being falsely accused. Instead, their response was to pray and sing hymns to God. Praising God ushered in a miraculous earthquake that freed Paul and Silas from their prison chains. But God wasn’t done! The subsequent witness of Paul and Silas freed the jailer and his entire household from their spiritual chains. When we find ourselves in miserable situations, even (or especially) around the holidays, let’s use the time to glorify God and edify those around us. When we do, we will loose the chains of our circumstances and the circumstances of those around us. Praise your way through the holidays this year, knowing that the conditions we face are not permanent. One glorious day we will live in a righteous world under the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, let’s live this life in an abundance of praise to God for His supernatural intervention even before we see His miracles manifested. Now that’s something to celebrate this Christmas season! Action Step: Take some time to read through Psalm 67. It’s bursting with praise and promise! Memorize the words so they will be hidden in your heart, then begin to speak or even sing them.