Start Celebrating

You have been given the gift of life, of friends, of your talents, so when will you start celebrating? Hollywood knows the value of a party to wrap up a film shoot, and theater directors know the same value of celebrating of the run of a show, but long before those customs existed, God’s word reminded us – don’t forget to celebrate.

Lavish Gifts

Consider the creative gifts God has given us, and the joy of salvation He has so lavishly bestowed upon us, is it any wonder why we need to celebrate. If we did not celebrate, then all that joy, love and gratefulness would be bound up within us. Though some think religious people are stuffy and boring, they couldn’t be more wrong. It is the laughter of the redeemed, and the joy of our salvation that God’s people are to be known for. Why? Because we are free. We are redeemed. We are his sons and daughters.

Why don’t we celebrate? There are a thousand reasons. We may be anxious to stay on top. We may be afraid we aren’t going to be able to get ahead, to get recognized, or even to pay the bills. But all these reasons are founded on anxiety and fear. If we really believe God is good and that He is in control, then we can trust God with our career, our finances, and our time. Then we can pause, and celebrate.

Celebration in the Bible

God told His people to celebrate on a regular basis. Few of us hear sermons about the feasts and festivals in the Old Testament, but those celebrations were about more than simply obeying God. They were times to gather with family and friends. They were times to tell stories, and remember the goodness of God in hard times. They were times of dancing, eating and worshiping.

Heaven is portrayed as a celebration and a grand feast. This is what we are to look forward to when we get our glorified bodies and finally stand in the New Jerusalem. The theme of celebration and feasting is throughout the Bible, and it continues into the New Jerusalem. It is not a passing phase, but something that speaks to the very heart of God, who rejoices over you!

This is why we must take celebration seriously. How can we live a life that does not include, singing of the goodness of God, celebrating His faithfulness, and expressing gratefulness for our talents and gifts, as well as our family and friends?

Celebrating God’s Faithfulness

God has called us. He has begun a good work in you. He promises to complete that good work. And, He is always faithful. This is one of the benefits of going to church with older people, because they can share with you the stories of how God has been faithful through hard times. If we focus on what we see in the news, or online, we can get overwhelmed and discouraged, but if we focus upon God and His faithfulness, we rediscover what we have to celebrate.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
– Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

Celebrating Our Community

We were never meant to be alone, as God said of Adam in the Garden of Eden. We were meant for community. This is where we flourish and thrive. This may include nuclear family members or your church family, but God has placed people in your life to encourage you, to push you, and to bless you. This is no small gift, and it is important to recognize the blessing we have in community.

No wonder it is a custom in almost all cultures to toast one another and to celebrate our relationships. This isn’t superfluous. It is essential. Do you have an artists community you are a part of? We’d love for you to join our community! You can sign up right HERE.

This is why King David, a man after God’s own heart, spoke so eloquently of deep friendships and blessing of unity among brothers and sisters.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
– Psalm 133

Celebrating Our Accomplishments

In the book of Genesis, each day after God created, He paused and said, “it is good.” This is repeated in that passage. It is not accidental. The repetition drives home how conspicuous it was for God to celebrate and find satisfaction in His work and in His creation. He didn’t even wait until the end of the week. He stopped to recognize His accomplishments.

How much more do we need to stop and celebrate our wins – small and large. Mysteriously, within the human heart, gratitude transforms and softens us. When we are grateful for what we have been able to accomplish, and recognize those accomplishments it brings healthy closure to the project, in our hearts.

Celebrating those accomplishments give us an opportunity to recognize the fruit of our labor and the goodness of God in our daily life. The very act of gratitude brings levity and joy to your soul, because it is part of how God designed you.

Celebrating the Gift of Tomorrow

Never forget, God is not finished with you yet! No matter whether your last film, dance, or production was a total bomb, or a career transforming success, God is with you. Whether you are afraid you’ll never be good enough to accomplish your dreams, or if you accomplished your dreams and you are worried you can’t match the success of yesterday, God is with you.

He has given you the breath in your lungs, the blood running through your veins, and a mind to conceive new ideas and new works of art. You are not alone, and you are not out of ideas. Even if you are stumped for the moment, there are a million opportunities to find inspiration for your next project. Knowing that we believe God is good, we can celebrate the gift of tomorrow which He provides.

What Else Do You Celebrate?

What about you: Let me know your thoughts and experiences with celebrating. Is this a natural habit for you, or something you need to learn to practice?

When was the last time you celebrated finishing a project?
If you did celebrate, how did that bring a healthy closure to that project?
Do you celebrate only when it is a success?

Share your thoughts in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!

Copyright © 2022 Joel & Michelle Pelsue. All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.