Sometime ago, I noticed that my daughter was unusually happy. Normally, she’s the happy and excited type. But this time, it was on another level. Before I could finish my wonder, she said to me; “Dad, I’m just very happy today, I don’t know why.” I responded; “Dear, you deserve to be happy. Don’t stop being happy.”
Friend, you have the right to joy. Don’t stop being happy. Every day has been designed by God to be a day of joy and rejoicing (Psalms 118:24). This is another day to be very happy! Don’t let the devil steal your joy. Until the devil steals your joy, he has not stolen anything yet.
It does not matter what you have lost, what you don’t have, or what anyone does to you, you need to stay joyful. You have the right to joy. Your joy is unstoppable. It is a choice. I know there are times when you don’t feel happy, but you also need to know that, in this kingdom, we don’t follow our feeling; we follow our faith and conviction (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Every day is God’s day, not the devil’s, and the code is joy. Joy is our code in this kingdom. With joy, we draw water out of the Wells of Salvation (Isaiah 12:3). Don’t wait for things to happen before you are joyful; be joyful so that (great) things can happen. When joy withers, things fall apart; joy is your password to harvest this season (Joel 1:12). Don’t lose your joy!
Whereas happiness may depend on happenings, joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is in your recreated human spirit (Galatians 5:22). You need to bring it out; you need to rejoice (Philippians 4:4). You don’t need anyone’s permission to do this. One way to confuse and frustrate the devil is to be joyful when things are not happening the way you expect them (1 Peter 1:8). The devil wants you to do the direct opposite.
Stay in joy. Keep it high. There is harvest in front of you. There is victory on the horizon. The glory of God is about to be revealed in your life. The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Let your life be ruled by your conviction, not your circumstances. Don’t follow your feeling, follow your faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Don’t wait for things to happen before you rejoice. Make them happen by rejoicing.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria