Sue and I know several people who are so delighted with Christmas that they celebrate it year-round. They don’t take down their decorations or put away their Christmas trees because they love what this season means.
There is something to be said about celebrating Christmas all year long. As Paul wrote, the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Don’t those things sound like the spirit of Christmas?
Righteousness is a big word with a childlike meaning. The Bible says Abraham believed God, and God gave him “credit” for righteousness. Righteousness is simply believing what God said. That’s it. We say yes to His truth to such a degree that we become convinced it is the only truth for us.
Contrary to what many of us think, peace doesn’t mean an absence of conflict. Jesus gave a completely different view of peace in the New Testament. Following His resurrection, His disciples were huddled together in an upper room because they were afraid of the Jews, and Jesus stepped right through the wall and joined them.
“Peace be unto you,” He said.
With those four words, He sent away the demonic harassment that was trying to bring chaos and fear into their lives. He basically said, “I’m dismissing these things so you can function and flow in who I made you to be.”
That is what peace really means.
Righteousness leads to peace. And peace leads to joy.
When we have made righteousness (trust in God) the center point of our life, we can keep standing even when fear and anxiety want us to sit down. Peace comes and drives away our fear and casts down our anxiety.
As that happens, a “door” opens to the joy center of our brain.
New neuropathways emerge that lead us to joy. More and more of our thoughts begin to travel toward joy—instead of fear—and joy provides strength.
That is the Christmas spirit! As we live in righteousness, peace, and joy, we become a “Christmas present” to the people around us. Every day we say with our life, “Merry Christmas!” and impart to others what we carry: this present from above that culminates in joy-filled strength.
This Christmas, may you know the righteousness, peace, and joy of the kingdom in new ways. From our heart to yours, God bless you—and merry Christmas to all!