25 Days of Advent: The Third Sunday of Advent
My theme for 2017 matches the traditional theme for Advent's third Sunday: joy. How did I do with reflecting joy this year?
With Philippians 4:4 as my key verse, I practiced rejoicing...over and over again. I did this when I didn't feel like it. I did it when I did feel more like it, yet seemed to forget joy in my moments of happiness.
I read books about happiness. I learned through Randy Alcorn's study titled Happiness that happiness and joy are more akin to one another than I had been taught in church. It's not unspiritual to be happy. There are many ways to seek out happiness, according to Gretchen Rubin's books. But, through scripture, I learned that true joy is found in acknowledging happiness while enjoying all God has given me.
I am reminded, too, of a trick I learned years ago. In order to correctly sing the word rejoice, it is pronounced as re-choice. Some of my most joyous moments happened when applying an attitudinal choice. I could choose joy as we condsidered a move out-of-state. I could also choose joy when the move didn't happen. I had to readjust my thinking about many things. I continue readjusting my thinking by applying Philippians 4:8. That's my continued goal for 2018.
What is your re-choice to rejoice this Christmas season?