Here is the third prayer of this advent season! If your video does not play automatically, simply click the play button. The caption below it will make more sense after the 30-second prayer.

How can we know the depth of joy unless we have experienced God reaching to the depth of our need?

Let’s keep it simple this week.

Chara is the Greek word for joy, essentially describing those who are glad.

There has forever been the debate over the meaning of joy and its comparison to happiness. Both exist. Each one good and needed. Though they are not interchangeable, they can coexist OR exist separately.

Most of us probably get the gist of it, but if we’re honest, when life is painful we wonder do we really understand joy.

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Joy is sometimes exuberant. Other times, it is the nightingale’s song.

You can have joy even if you aren’t happy about something. For example, when we lost our custom-built home during the 2012 recession, we weren’t happy about it. Yet, I slow-danced to "Revelation Song" (Kari Jobe) “with God,” gently, deliberately twirling through our garage, tears streaming down my cheeks, marking the concrete with my resolve and gladness that God would take care of us some way, somehow.

Proof joy is not always exhibited by loud shouts. Sometimes it is the quiet whisper of thanks for grace - the favor of God to come through for His people when we need Him most.

The Greek word for grace is charis, and chara (joy) is derived directly from it. Making joy an experience of receiving God’s unending lovingkindness and favor to help us.

We are filled with joy by God - a fruit born of the Holy Spirit in us, not birthed by our own strength or merit. Yes, it requires we turn our hearts toward Him, to choose to gaze upon Him in the midst of chaos and loss and longing. A dance of resolve and gladness that Help has come, Help is on the way, and that Help resides in us by His Spirit. The joy of Advent.

Rejoice. Rejoice! Emmanuel has come to us, will always come, and He will come to redeem all that has been lost one day soon. I’m curious what our custom-built home by God Himself will look like then; a home which can never be taken away.
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Stay with this joy advent breath prayer this week and the previous ones of peace and hope. Continue to take your time. The joy of the Lord will be your strength. Remember, you don't have to muster it up on your own.

One last beautiful thought.

Hear Him rejoicing over you with gladness; His song written just for you... What does your song sound like? Ask Jesus to give you ears to hear this week. As He sings over you, may your song return to Him - a parallel harmony together that soothes the soul.

🕯For you: save the extra scripture images on joy at the bottom of this email.

🕯Click HERE if you missed the second #adventbreathprayer for peace.

🕯Click HERE if you missed the first #adventbreathprayer for hope.

🕯Share this prayer. It's not too late! Encourage a friend or family to sign up for this season through the shareable link below. Once open, copy and paste the url in the web address bar to share.

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Hope, Peace, and Joy,

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