For many people, the beginning of the year is a time to reflect and set resolutions for the coming year. I think most of us want a joy-filled, light-filled life, but oftentimes, life seems just the opposite. Here is a devotion that helps us evaluate the reasons why:

IN WORD – We want our lives to be filled with light and joy. Yet they often aren’t. Discouragement, depression, and darkness threaten regularly. Why? Are we the enemy’s targets? Are we victims of circumstance in a fallen world? Or are we contributing to the problem ourselves?
There are many possible sources for our dark days, but one of them is a possibility we’d rather not face. We don’t want to think that we’re responsible for our downcast hearts, but we may be. God has given a promise. Those who are righteous see light, and those who are upright in heart have joy. The blessings of a life that is right with God are certain. Why don’t we experience those blessings as often as we’d like? It can’t be that the promise of God has failed. Perhaps we have. Perhaps we are not righteous or upright in heart.
Perhaps what is stealing our joy is a struggle within us for dependence on Jesus’ righteousness and victory over sin. Think about it: We are most discouraged when we feel defeated. And when do we feel defeated? When we know that God has commanded an obedience or an attitude that we just can’t seem to comply with. In other words, sin gets us down. The primary struggle in the human heart is a battle of the will. When we lack joy, it may be because we’re losing that battle—or, more accurately, winning it when we shouldn’t. The heart laments its own unbelief and disobedience, and when it does, all peace leaves.
IN DEED – Do you lack joy? It probably isn’t a fault of your circumstances or your brain chemistry, although those can certainly have their effects. Look first at your heart. Is it questioning promises that God has emphasized? Is it reluctant to surrender all your cares to Him? Does it trust His will and comply with His purposes? Is it able to say, even when life is tough, that God’s grace is greater? Those are hard questions, but our internal struggles demand answers. We can’t know peace until these are settled. He has promised: Joy and light come to those who are unreservedly His. “The surest mark of a Christian is not faith, or even love, but joy.” – Samuel Shoemaker (in “Heaven on Earth” by Chris Tiegreen)

The theme to the letter to the Philippians is acknowledged to be “joy.” Despite difficult circumstances described in chapter 1, the apostle Paul remained joyful, as it is mentioned 16 times throughout the book. Part of this was what Paul was striving for – that Christ pervade every part of his life (chapter 3).
Do you desire joy? Then read the epistle this week and ask the Holy Spirit to do more things through Jesus working in your life in the coming year. When you do, joy will surely come as noted in chapter 4. Have a blessed week! – from Singapore, Pastor Sam