Joy at Christmas can feel distant, but Luke 2:10 reminds us that God brings “good news of great joy for all people”—a promise still alive and powerful today. This devotional explores how joy is expressed, shared, lived, and cultivated so believers can reflect the hope and goodness of Jesus throughout the Christmas season. Whether joy comes naturally or feels a bit rusty, Scripture offers practical ways to embrace God’s presence and spread joy in everyday moments.

Highlights


Why joy is central to the Christmas message


Four practical ways to express, share, live, and cultivate joy


How joy becomes contagious through words, actions, and attitudes


The connection between God’s presence and lasting joy


Scriptures that anchor a joyful mindset (Luke 2:10, Psalm 21:6, Psalm 16:11, John 15:11–12, Galatians 5:22)


Simple ways to nurture joy in others


A reminder that joy is our inheritance in Christ

Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas!

Full Transcript Below:

Spreading Joy Throughout the Christmas Season

By Lynette Kittle

Bible Reading:

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” - Luke 2:10

Great joy for all the people! What truly remarkable, good news for all of us down through the ages: an announcement thousands of years ago, still relevant today.

Yet, how many millions of people around the world are missing out on experiencing this great joy, not just at Christmas, but their entire lives?

How do we, like the angels, proclaim and spread this great joy throughout the Christmas season and all year round? What can we do to express it, share it, live it, and cultivate it in others’ lives, too?

Expressing, Sharing, Living, and Cultivating Joy

Because God calls us to joy, the following are four ways we can spread it while experiencing it for ourselves.
 Express our joy. How do individuals express joy? Many smile, some laugh, others clap, and there are those who jump for joy.

Sadly, some Christians hold their joy in, perhaps feeling it on the inside, but it doesn’t make its way outward, causing some of the Christian sayings and critiques, such as “the frozen chosen.”

As a child, I loved singing the kids’ song, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy,” over and over again.

We would sing “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!” Then we would follow it by shouting “where” and then respond by singing in reply “Down in my heart.” Just singing it brought joy to us and those listening.

However we express joy, we want to make sure to let it out, so others might experience it too, and also to share the joyous message of Christmas that can be their own for a lifetime.
 Share our joy. Many of us don’t realize that joy is spreadable - it’s contagious and easily passed from one person to another. Just as we can sing songs that get stuck in others’ heads when they hear us singing, so too can joy be shared with one another.

We can share joy simply by the way we look at the world, our situations, and those around us, letting the joy that comes from knowing God guide our words and actions. 

As Psalm 21:6 describes, “Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of Your presence.”
 Live our joy. We can wake up in the morning with joy, even before anything has happened in our day yet. Before we even lift our heads from the pillows each morning, we can experience joy daily in our lives because the source of it is not ourselves, but God.

As Psalm 16:11 reminds us, “You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”

A way to live in God’s joy is described in John 15:11-12, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
 Cultivate joy in others. If we ask, God will lead us to cultivate joy in the lives of those around us. We may not know how to nurture it in others, but God can show us how, because He knows what it takes to help it grow in those around us.

As Galatians 5:22 describes, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Just the way we speak and interact with others gives us opportunities to cultivate joy in their lives by expressing, sharing, and living it out in our own.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Are you known for your joy? If not, take stock and ask God why not? See what’s holding you back from enjoying the great joy that is ours through Jesus Christ.

Further Reading:
Counting It All Joy Even Through the Hard Stuff

Joy at Christmas can feel distant, but Luke 2:10 reminds us that God brings &ldquo;good news of great joy for all people&rdquo;&mdash;a promise still alive and powerful today. This devotional explores how joy is expressed, shared, lived, and cultivated so believers can reflect the hope and goodness of Jesus throughout the Christmas season. Whether joy comes naturally or feels a bit rusty, Scripture offers practical ways to embrace God&rsquo;s presence and spread joy in everyday moments.
Highlights
<ul data-start="683" data-end="1130">
<li data-start="683" data-end="730">
Why joy is central to the Christmas message
</li>
<li data-start="731" data-end="797">
Four practical ways to express, share, live, and cultivate joy
</li>
<li data-start="798" data-end="866">
How joy becomes contagious through words, actions, and attitudes
</li>
<li data-start="867" data-end="924">
The connection between God&rsquo;s presence and lasting joy
</li>
<li data-start="925" data-end="1036">
Scriptures that anchor a joyful mindset (Luke 2:10, Psalm 21:6, Psalm 16:11, John 15:11&ndash;12, Galatians 5:22)
</li>
<li data-start="1037" data-end="1077">
Simple ways to nurture joy in others
</li>
<li data-start="1078" data-end="1130">
A reminder that joy is our inheritance in Christ
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/holiday-gift-guide-2025/">Holiday Gift Guide</a>
Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide&mdash;from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there&rsquo;s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas!
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Spreading Joy Throughout the Christmas Season
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;But the angel said to them, &ldquo;Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.&rdquo; - Luke 2:10
Great joy for all the people! What truly remarkable, good news for all of us down through the ages: an announcement thousands of years ago, still relevant today.
Yet, how many millions of people around the world are missing out on experiencing this great joy, not just at Christmas, but their entire lives?
How do we, like the angels, proclaim and spread this great joy throughout the Christmas season and all year round? What can we do to express it, share it, live it, and cultivate it in others&rsquo; lives, too?
Expressing, Sharing, Living, and Cultivating Joy
Because God calls us to joy, the following are four ways we can spread it while experiencing it for ourselves.
<ol>
<li> Express our joy. How do individuals express joy? Many smile, some laugh, others clap, and there are those who jump for joy.</li>
</ol>
Sadly, some Christians hold their joy in, perhaps feeling it on the inside, but it doesn&rsquo;t make its way outward, causing some of the Christian sayings and critiques, such as &ldquo;the frozen chosen.&rdquo;
As a child, I loved singing the kids&rsquo; song, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got the joy, joy, joy,&rdquo; over and over again.
We would sing &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!&rdquo; Then we would follow it by shouting &ldquo;where&rdquo; and then respond by singing in reply &ldquo;Down in my heart.&rdquo; Just singing it brought joy to us and those listening.
However we express joy, we want to make sure to let it out, so others might experience it too, and also to share the joyous message of Christmas that can be their own for a lifetime.
<ol>
<li> Share our joy. Many of us don&rsquo;t realize that joy is spreadable - it&rsquo;s contagious and easily passed from one person to another. Just as we can sing songs that get stuck in others&rsquo; heads when they hear us singing, so too can joy be shared with one another.</li>
</ol>
We can share joy simply by the way we look at the world, our situations, and those around us, letting the joy that comes from knowing God guide our words and actions.&nbsp;
As Psalm 21:6 describes, &ldquo;Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of Your presence.&rdquo;
<ol>
<li> Live our joy. We can wake up in the morning with joy, even before anything has happened in our day yet. Before we even lift our heads from the pillows each morning, we can experience joy daily in our lives because the source of it is not ourselves, but God.</li>
</ol>
As Psalm 16:11 reminds us, &ldquo;You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.&rdquo;
A way to live in God&rsquo;s joy is described in John 15:11-12, &ldquo;If you keep my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept my Father&rsquo;s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.&rdquo;
<ol>
<li> Cultivate joy in others. If we ask, God will lead us to cultivate joy in the lives of those around us. We may not know how to nurture it in others, but God can show us how, because He knows what it takes to help it grow in those around us.</li>
</ol>
As Galatians 5:22 describes, &ldquo;But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.&rdquo;
Just the way we speak and interact with others gives us opportunities to cultivate joy in their lives by expressing, sharing, and living it out in our own.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Are you known for your joy? If not, take stock and ask God why not? See what&rsquo;s holding you back from enjoying the great joy that is ours through Jesus Christ.
Further Reading: <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/video/counting-it-all-joy-even-through-the-hard-stuff-your-nightly-prayer.html">Counting It All Joy Even Through the Hard Stuff</a>

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

Spreading Joy Throughout the Christmas Season

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/cea49c49-0105-453d-a2a1-b3b10147fa3b/transcript

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