Merry Christmas! With Christmas being less than a week away, in this episode we are peering into a Christmas carol, that was never meant to be one, and how one sentence in this carol continues to ring loudly above all the others in my brain. Get ready to sound your joy on repeat to the world today.
What does joy sound like? Pause a moment and think about your answer. I can think of a few examples. The joy-filled squeals of my excited grandsons when I walk into their home on Wednesday mornings. Or the tune of the worship song I may be listening to. It can even be the sound of stillness with a distant train whistle on a quiet morning as I step outdoors and watch the sunrise.
What does joy sound like to you?
Now, I know this isn’t a typical question to ask, and quite honestly, I’ve not asked or answered this before until today. But I’ve been thinking about joy a fair amount lately. What it is, where it comes from, and why it matters in my life. I’ve even searched online about joy and why it’s deeper than happiness. All because I’ve been stuck on this one Christmas carol: “Joy to the World.”
In my search, I’ve learned that Isaac Watts didn’t write this to be a Christmas carol, nor a hymn at all. He wrote it as a poem in 1719, so it’s been around awhile. It was his Christian interpretation of Psalm 98, and the lyrics reflect more of Christ’s second coming than His first as a baby. I can certainly understand why it became a Christmas carol, however, for the first stanza reminds me of Advent and preparing my heart for His coming. But the third stanza points us to something else.
It’s in the second stanza where I’ve landed on repeat lately with the words, “Repeat the sounding joy.”
That’s it. It continues to ring in my head throughout this season.
Joy is ours, and we each have joy. I share why and how and a few Bible verses to point us to truth.
Click on the player above to listen to the full 12-minute episode.
So, sound your joy on repeat to the world today, my friend.
I also share some exciting news about something I’ve been working on for you that will be released very soon!
Friend, sound your joy on repeat to the world today. I pray this joy permeates everything we do over the next few days as Christmas approaches. Not only then, but also into the new year. I pray the joy of the Lord is your strength today, tomorrow, and every single day forward. Merry Christmas, friend. God bless you!
- Joy to the World
- Luke 2 NIV
- Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
- Encouragement for Real Life Community
- Access my free encouraging Resources designed to bless you this season and beyond
- Check out Right Now Matters and Right Now Matters Bible Study
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Thank you Julie. In a world of hustle & bustle, we must look intentionally for that joy. Peace on earth. Good will to men.
You are absolutely right! I hope we all are doing that today. Merry Christmas to you and yours!