Daily Snippets on God’s Blessings – Joy

Scientists say we have about 40 muscles that control our face. To smile, we use at least 12 of them. Some muscles pull up the corners of our mouth, some cause our eyes to crinkle, and some pull up the corners of our lips and nose. We know that people don’t have to learn how to smile. Babies catch on quickly. However, smiling and joy, as in today’s snippet, are not the same. A smile is the facial expression we make when we are filled with joy. We can experience joy and not be smiling. That’s because joy is something we feel in our heart. Hannah was filled with joy when she was about to have a boy. The shepherds of Bethlehem were filled with joy after seeing the Savior. Christians should be the most joyful people on earth! There is no greater joy we can have than knowing that we are God’s children and that Jesus is our loving Friend. And because of that, we can look forward to our place in heaven. Share your joy with someone near you.

Digging deeper:

Read Luke 1:46-55. Mary shares her song of joy.

 Today my prayer includes . . .

          thanks for this special blessing:

          concern for this special person:

          petition for this special problem:

 A closing verse:

Joy, rich and endless joy!

High Heaven the praise prolong;

Let holy joy all tongues employ

And fill the world with song.

Charles S. Nutter

 (This devotion is from “Hope for Each New Day: 333 Quiet Moments with God” by Reynold R. Kremer)