​​Preparing Our Hearts for Joy

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening
fades, you call forth songs of joy. – Psalm 65:8

The Bible tells us in Galatians 5:22 that joy is one of the fruits of the spirit. It is a gift that comes
from the Father as we allow his spirit to mold, soften and prepare our hearts. But what happens
when we find ourselves lacking in joy? I believe one of the key pieces to preparing our hearts to
receive the Lord’s joy is in the stewardship of wonder and thanksgiving.

Psalm 65:8 is just one verse that seems to connect the experience of awe to joy. And not just
awe and wonder at obvious miracles, blessings, or signs, but of the morning dawn and the
setting sun. Ecclesiastes 8:15 connects joy to eating, drinking, and being glad. Acts 14:17
connects the fullness of joy to the rain from heaven and the provision of food. For most of us,
these examples of the Lord’s presence and goodness are abundant in our lives, but how many
of us walk through each day completely missing these moments where we could stop and
wonder at the Lord’s goodness? How many of us miss noticing what the Lord is doing and
stopping to give thanks? Worse yet, how many of us have replaced thanksgiving for ordinary
things with habits of anxiety, complaining, or self-pity?

When we miss these moments to marvel at the goodness of our God and give thanks, I believe
we miss crucial moments to prepare our hearts to receive his joy. The art of noticing is one that
can take time. It can take time to retrain our brains to look for moments of joy, wonder, or
beauty, but this Advent season, I invite you to start the process.

“Lord, I ask you to open the eyes of my heart to see the beauty and wonder of your presence
and works all around me. Prepare my heart to receive your joy as I celebrate the birth of your
son. I welcome your conviction where I have given authority to envious, anxious, and
complaining thoughts and repent of these habits in my life. Help me to notice what you are
doing in my daily life and to practice thanksgiving this Christmas season.”


- Sarah Youngs