“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Let’s begin our December study with a couple statements about core fitness. If you’ve ever been involved in an exercise program, you will probably be familiar with them. “Core fitness is fitness training that provides strength and conditioning exercises to support how you move, work, and play everyday. In essence, core training is an intelligent training system that corrects and strengthens and stabilizes weak muscles from the inside out.” From a spiritual perspective, when you exercise values from the core of your being, the heart, you will become a stronger body builder. Our winter studies deal with three core values; joy, encouragement, and love. We will begin with joy, often a lacking characteristic—even in the child of God.
Our entry into the Christmas season should fill us with joy, right? Is our joy dependent on this year’s circumstances? Maybe we need to grasp the difference between being happy and being filled with joy. When everything is going right, it’s easy to be happy. However, when a trial or crisis hits, how long do we stay happy? On the other hand, joy can always be found as we retreat from the cares of a cold world and warm ourselves in His presence.
Spend time with Him and His Word. Review the Christmas story and allow it to thrill you once again. Don’t let anything rob you of the joy Christ offers you now and always. Knowing His return is near should give us hope and fill our hearts with joy. Rejoice in the promise of spending eternity in His presence, where “there are pleasures for evermore.”
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: The annual FWB Leaders Conference begins today in Nashville, TN. Pray that WNAC Executive Director Elizabeth Hodges and WNAC President Diana Bryant will gain valuable information and spiritual guidance for their leadership roles.
