An Advent Pause: Joy

Advent is a sacred time to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ, and today, we're pausing to focus on God's gift of joy. Together, we'll breathe in the joy proclaimed by angels and breathe it out to share with others, allowing it to shape our journey through this sacred season.

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:02

Hi, this is Whitney and you're listening to Exploring Peace Meditations. I'm so glad you found yourself here today, in this season that we call Advent in the Christian calendar. It's an opportunity to prepare our hearts and our minds as we wait, as we wait for the gift of Christ, minds as we wait as we wait for the gift of Christ. And so today we will center ourselves with the word joy. This sacred season reminds us of the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Today, I invite you to sit with joy. So take a moment and find a posture in which you can be still and breathe for the next few moments. As we pause on purpose, with joy, allow your body to feel supported, allow your eyes to gently close, soften your jaw and begin with three full breaths Inhale deeply, feel your lungs and your belly, expand and then exhale slowly through your mouth, if you're able, releasing any tension, tightness, worry. Repeat that a few times, inhale and exhale. Listen to Luke 2, 10-11. Breathe as you hear these words. But the angel said to them Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today, in the town of David. A Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. I bring you good news that will cause great joy.

Speaker 1 2:28

The angels' announcement of joy was not simply for the shepherds long ago. It is for you today. God's joy is not fleeting. It's not dependent upon our circumstances. It's not fleeting. It's not dependent upon our circumstances. It is a joy that is rooted in the good news of the birth of Christ. With this purposeful pause, I invite you to hold the word joy in your heart and mind. Bring awareness back to your breath and, as you breathe in, imagine breathing in the joy of Christ, the joy of welcoming Christ, the joy of the birth of Christ. Continue with each inhale, breathing in joy. And with your next exhale, imagine breathing out joy, breathing joy to share with others, sharing the joy of Christ With your exhale, with those you love, with those near, with those far, slow and steady purposeful breaths. Inhale joy, receive it, welcome it, absorb it, be it Joy.

Speaker 1 4:39

For the next few moments of quiet, sit with joy. Thank you, joy. Joy is not always loud or obvious. Sometimes joy is quiet, stillness, assurance. Sometimes joy is a whisper that reminds us we are not alone.

Speaker 1 6:26

Where do you notice God's joy in your life today. Listen for the whisper of joy now and in the moments to follow this time. God of joy, we thank you for the gift of your presence. May your joy take root in our hearts and overflow from our lives into the lives of others. Help us receive and share your joy this season. Thank you for quiet joy. Thank you for loud joy. Thank you for whispers of joy. Thank you for flashing signs of joy. May we see it, hear it, sense it, feel it and know your joy all around us. In your holy name, we pray Amen. Thank you for pausing with me today as you prepare your heart, your mind and your body for the joy of Christ. If you know someone who might need a little joy in their life, share this meditation with them. You can be part of our community and support the podcast at exploringpeacecom slash community. You can find me and my books, including the Advent book that inspired this meditation, at whitneyrsimpsoncom. Until next time, may God's peace and joy be with you, amen.