I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

My five-year-old niece, Annica, was puzzled. If it wasn’t Christmas yet, why were there already Christmas lights up? And wreaths? And garland? As I explained that Christmas is not just one day but a season, her eyes widened with wonder. “It’s Christmas every day!” she exclaimed, jumping up and down and clapping her hands for joy.

That moment remains for me a priceless picture of pure joy—the kind that naturally and spontaneously bursts into celebration. Annica was profoundly right—it is Christmas every day. Each day has been transformed by the reality we celebrate each Christmas—a God who chose to enter our world, share our pain, and forever defeat evil and death (Romans 15:2).

And no matter how much of that victory we can’t yet see (8:24–25), each of us today can experience the kind of joy that’s grounded in genuine hope (15:4) when we begin to comprehend what God’s done and that He did it for us.

Then, every day, those of us who have put our faith in Jesus experience the priceless gift of having been welcomed into the family of God, a family united by the Spirit’s unconditional love (vv. 5–7). Every day we can experience the joy and freedom of living through the power of Jesus’ Spirit (v. 13). And every day is a fresh opportunity to lift up once more our gratitude and praise to Him (vv. 5–6). Monica La Rose

Where are you still waiting and longing to see the results of Christ’s victory? What experiences of God’s love and grace can you look to for encouragement and hope?

Loving God, wherever I am in my journey with You, help me to believe once more in a new and deeper way, in Your love, power, and light at work in my life. Help me to once more learn to live with the hope and joy of a child.

Romans 15:5–13

5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8 Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9 He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: “For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.” 10 And in another place it is written, “Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles.” 11 And yet again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. Praise him, all you people of the earth.” 12 And in another place Isaiah said, “The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.” 13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.