My reaction after checking my result that year still touches me till today. It was the year I had my only carry over on campus. I simply said; “Thank You Lord for allowing it” and I moved on. I decided to keep my joy. That attitude has helped me till now.

Friend, don’t let what people do or what life throws at you to get at you. You have the right under God to determine your own attitude, joy and peace. People can do something TO you but don’t let them do something IN you. Maintain your joy. Maintain your peace. Your strength, health, progress and prosperity depend seriously on it.

A joyful man is a strong man (Nehemiah 8:10). With joy, you can face life again. With joy, you can move from a setback to a comeback, from defeat to victory and from rejection to direction. Like David, you must learn to encourage yourself in the Lord, despite the discouragements out there (1 Samuel 30:6). You need to learn the art of self leadership.

You have got to encourage yourself so God can use you to encourage others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Your encouragement must be in the Lord, not on/in physical things. “In the Lord” means “In His word, faithfulness, promises etc.” You have got to be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10). If you would not faint then you must believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalms 27:13).

One-third of the Kingdom of God is joy so you cannot thrive in this kingdom without it (Romans 14:17). Jesus came to give us the oil of Joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness or depression (Isaiah 61:3). It is one thing to have joy, it is another to rejoice; you need to bring out joy intentionally (Philippians 4:4). It’s in you!

To activate and release the force of joy, you must learn to pray in the Spirit; it is “joy in the Holyghost”. (Romans 14:17). Learn to get in the word; the word of God must define your attitude and perspectives, not your circumstances (Jeremiah 15:16). Also, learn to get into atmospheres of worship. Worship dries up worry. Worship draws God and drives away the devil (1 Samuel 16:23).

© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria