As the year ends and the holidays come to a close, we find ourselves packing away the Christmas decorations and all the “material things” that bring the Christmas Spirit to life in our homes at this time of year. The beautiful music of Christmas carols and the sweet aroma of cookies baking in the oven have come to an end for this year. Pretty soon our homes will be back to “normal”, and the celebration of Christmas will be just a memory as visually we won’t see, hear or taste those things that filled our homes with the joy of Christmas. The house may look plain and like it is missing something and maybe from the outside looking in, those things will be gone, BUT that doesn’t mean the joy of Christmas can’t live on in our homes and in our hearts. The true meaning of Christmas isn’t found in the decorations, the lights, the music or any of the “Christmas trappings” and/or festivities. The true meaning of Christmas, the love that came to earth with the birth of Jesus and the gift of joy and hope that He brought, is a gift that can and should live in our hearts and fill our homes every day of the year. The true joy of Christmas is only found in Jesus and although the “holiday celebrations” have ended, Jesus goes with us into the New Year and with Him comes the Joy and Hope of what Christmas is all about.
Christmas is a time where we hear the word JOY repeated continuously throughout the month of December, but it is a word that God wants to remain in our hearts all year long, and to experience every single day. A simple word yet one that can have a profound effect on our lives. JOYis a work of the Holy Spirit; it is a gift from the living God who dwells in us; one of the nine fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
It is the word that the Lord has been using to speak loudly to me this past year, as I have struggled with several different health issues that have resulted in a lot of pain throughout my body, and subsequently the loss of joy in my heart. A while back, I read something that said (God speaking); “I am a wellspring of Joy—eager to overflow into your life.” When I read that, the word “eager” jumped off the page at me. The word eager implies “great enthusiasm, zeal, acute desire for or pursuit of something”. Think about that…the God of the Universe, the Almighty God, has great enthusiasm, zeal and an acute desire to fill and overflow our lives with joy, and not just any joy, but joy that is unspeakable and never ending;
1 Pet. 1:8 – Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
Joy that is possible even in the most difficult circumstances
Neh. 1:8 The joy of the Lord is your strength
A joy that isn’t dependent on the circumstances of our lives, it is a joy that fills our hearts, our lives and our homes through the presence of God and seeing life through His perspective.
Ps. 16:11
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy
He already knows everything that is going on, and He has a plan and a purpose for everything He allows in our lives, far beyond anything we can see or imagine. It is this joy; the true joy of Christmas that can remain in our hearts and our homes long after the Christmas decorations have been put away.
John 15:11 – These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full.
As I think about the New Year, I reflect back on the year that is ending. It has been both a year filled with love, joy, hope, and blessings, and a year with trials and difficulties, but through it all, my heart is grateful and full of thanks because I have seen and experienced the faithfulness of God.
JOY means having a heart of gratitude and contentment, regardless of our circumstances, and as the Lord has been speaking to my heart, He has reminded me of the acronym for JOY – Jesus Others You. As we can see, joy begins with Jesus and that means that my focus must be on Him first. I must learn to see things through His eyes and His perspective, not mine. I want to live a life that is filled with gratitude and contentment always, to simplify how I view life, and how to “be present in the moments” of my life, realizing what is truly important. I want to grow in my relationship with the Lord as I allow Him to work in and through me, even and especially when it is hard. I am grateful that God’s mercies are new every morning and each day I am given a fresh start in God’s grace. I look forward to 2026, the New Year and the opportunities (and the challenges because they too are opportunities) this New Year will bring.
Life is about choices and as we begin a New Year, what better time to reflect on the choices we made last year and whether those choices align with God’s Word and His will. Each New Year is a new beginning, a fresh start, a chance to make new choices and changes in our lives, if needed; a chance to see each day as a new opportunity to experience the presence of God in our lives amidst the craziness of the world around us, and to explore new opportunities to share His love with others. None of us know what lies ahead for us, but no matter what the New Year brings, I WILL TRUST that God is in control and I WILL CHOOSE to keep the JOY of Christmas in my heart each, and every day, by keeping my eyes first and foremost on Jesus! Will you join me?
May the Lord bless you and keep you as you begin the New Year and may He reveal Himself to you in new ways as you open your hearts to receive His gift of Love, Joy and Hope. No matter what lies before us, we can choose to make 2026 a great year and a year filled with JOY!
-Debbie Dorman
KINGDOM LIFE AZ 
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