Don’t Hesitate to Celebrate

I used to think celebrations were extra.

But I’ve discovered that God deems them essential. Throughout scripture we find evidence for His elaborate design for festivity.

Through His Old Covenant feasts (read more in Leviticus 23) God led His people in commemorating milestones of past breakthrough while also prophesying future promise.

In Nehemiah 8, we discover it’s His joy that is our strength.

In Zephaniah 3, we find Him rejoicing over us:
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

In Philippians 4, we’re encouraged to rejoice always in Him.

He shows us grand gestures of affection, like offering heaven to earth. He gives grand gifts, like the Holy Spirit Himself! He even inhabits our praises.

I used to think celebrations were the fluff of life, but I’m finding they are fuel for our human souls. They serve as holy reminders that we were created for being over doing.

There’s so much joy to be found in this life, and God desires to give us the perspective to see it. I believe He opens our eyes through thanksgiving, and praise, and celebration.

Celebration is a tangible expression of thanksgiving and praise, and both are spiritual weapons that cut through hopelessness and release peace.

So throw the party. Attend the party. Stay until the end. Send the encouraging text. Host the meal. Accept the invitation. Don’t hurry it along. Be present. Buy those expensive letter balloons. Paint the cheap pumpkins. Sing “Happy Birthday” like you mean it. Give yourself (and others) the permission to get excited about the “basic” things like autumn weather and football. Stop getting mad at people for putting their Christmas trees up early (they know not what they do to us methodical folks).

Perhaps past holiday seasons have held you captive with do-to lists, negative experiences, or weighty expectations. My prayer for you is that this holiday season is different. I pray that instead of being held captive, you will be captivated by the wonder embodied in these holy days.

Don’t make it a chore. Don’t make it a goal. Don’t make it a rule. It’s a gift. Just embrace it one moment at a time.