Joy to the world!

The Lord has come:

let earth receive her King!

Let every heart

prepare him room

and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! 

the Savior reigns: 

let men their songs employ 

while fields and floods 

rocks hills and plains 

repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow

nor thorns infest the ground: 

he comes to make 

his blessings flow 

far as the curse is found.

He rules the earth

with truth and grace, 

and makes the nations prove 

the glories of his righteousness 

and wonders of his love. 

Joy is something entirely different than happiness.  Happiness relies on our circumstances, which are often completely out of our control.  Joy relies on our Provider, Sustainer, Comforter, Lord.  In the Holman Bible Dictionary, Robert J. Dean describes joy as “the fruit of a right relation with God.”  The words in the beginning of this song remind us to receive our King and to prepare room in our hearts for Him.  As we draw into this year’s celebration of Christmas, take time to cherish the Lord Jesus and choose the joy He holds out to you. 

Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs . . . For the Lord is good and His love endures forever. 

Psalm 100:1-2,5a