7 Reasons to REJOICE This Christmas

23 December 2017 Year B

Psalm 92:1-15

Recognize God and His role in my life (Psalm 92:1)

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High,” (Psalm 92:1, CSB)

Christmas is a time for giving thanks. Being thankful is part of having joy in your life. The joy that God gives is directly related to giving thanks to Him.

Joy starts with recognizing God’s role my life. There is a direct relationship between joy and the recognition of God’s role in my life.

Express my worship to God publicly (Psalm 92:2-3)

“to declare your faithful love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, with a ten-stringed harp and the music of a lyre.” (Psalm 92:2–3, CSB)

When I realize God’s role in my life, and I see the joy that it brings, I express that joy in worship.

The ways that the psalmist decides to express his joy at God’s love in His life is by playing music and singing in worship to God – daily.

One of the ways you can express joy to God this Christmas is to worship.

There is a difference between worshiping Christmas and Christ. Worshiping Christmas is when we place the traditions and the activities of Christmas in higher regard and value than Christ. Here is what I mean:

If are looking forward to getting more physical presents than being in God’s presence, then you are worshiping Christmas.

If you value the importance of being with your family who comes to visit than the church family, then you are worshiping Christmas.

If you long for the joy that comes with holly, the pine, the decorations, the lights, and the atmosphere of Christmas more than the joy of the birth of Jesus, then you are worshiping Christmas.

To rejoice this Christmas means that I make an effort to spend time worshiping Jesus Christ, and not Christmas.

Joy is part of God’s design for me (Psalm 92:4-5)

“For you have made me rejoice, Lord, by what you have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of your hands. How magnificent are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!” (Psalm 92:4–5, CSB)

The reason I can rejoice this Christmas is that joy is part of God’s design for me. He made me value joy. But joy part of God’s DNA.

Here, the psalmist reminds us that joy comes from what God has done for us. As a result, joy is not inherited from father to son. Instead, joy is transferred from God to His children. God is the source of joy, just as He is the source of love.   

Other people can never understand God’s joy in my life (Psalm 92:6-7)

“A stupid person does not know, a fool does not understand this: though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be eternally destroyed.” (Psalm 92:6–7, CSB)

That is why some people will never understand the joy of the Lord. There will be people who won’t understand why you are so happy sometimes.

Intruders can never steal God’s joy in my life (Psalm 92:8-9)

“But you, Lord, are exalted forever. For indeed, Lord, your enemies— indeed, your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.” (Psalm 92:8–9, CSB)

Because they don’t understand, you want to make sure that they don’t steal your joy.

If joy comes from God, then no man can take it away. You may encounter people or circumstances that can get you down. And you may feel discouraged from time to time. But you need a reminder that no one can steal your joy.

Because God will destroy your enemies. He will scatter them. Instead of worrying about these people and letting them steal your joy, you need to concentrate on the positive.

Consider the victories that God has revealed in the valleys (92:10-11)

“You have lifted up my horn like that of a wild ox; I have been anointed with the finest oil. My eyes look at my enemies; when evildoers rise against me, my ears hear them.” (Psalm 92:10–11, CSB)

The best way to focus on the positive in your life during Christmas is to consider the victories that God has revealed in the valleys. Twice in this psalm, the psalmist is reminded of how God has provided. He has lifted the psalmist up and given him victory. That is what “exalted my horn” means. But God doesn’t stop there. God has lavished favor on the psalmist. That is what the “anointing with the finest oil” means. So even though you have gone through a valley, you need to know that God has provided a victory for you. Even when you are looking the enemy in the eye, you need to know that God can provide you with the victory. That is what the joy of God is about. The world tells you to look down when the situation is hard. God tells you to look up.

Enjoy the preciousness of God’s provision in my life (Psalm 92:12-15)

“The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, to declare: “The Lord is just; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”” (Psalm 92:12–15, CSB)

God provides victories in the valleys. he also provides preciousness in your life. By that, I mean that your life is as luxurious as you make it. You don’t need a house of gold to enjoy life with God. God makes your life enjoyable no matter what state of life you are in.

“The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.” (Proverbs 10:28, CSB)

So live with the expectation of joy in your life. Enjoy what God provides for you this Christmas.

Photo by Sean Wells on Unsplash