Contending For Your Joy

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 Contending For Your Joy

I started the day with great vibe and utmost motivation to achieve every of my goals by God's grace. However, it was not long after our family devotion that I discovered that something else wanted to hinder me from fulfilling God's plan for me. It was anger and resentment that almost shear me of my grace. But, thanks to God for giving me understanding and grace.

It was when we were preparing breakfast. I had a pending conversation with someone and also wanted to send some documents to Papa on WhatsApp, so I dialed *131# and proceeded to activate a small MTN social bundle for WhatsApp only since that's just what I needed that time. Sadly, the activation was not successful but, I was changed by MTN, so I became very uncomfortable. Anxiety, grief, frustration and anger were already coming my way. I was beginning to imagine how I will call and blast the customer care agents. 

Many thoughts were already running through my mine. But, then I remember how much the situation will affect my life if I allowed it to determine my feelings and most especially, my words or utterance. I knew the negative circumstances that that seemingly "small issue" can cause would be great. I knew it could affect my relationship with and reactions to others. It could take away my joy, cause sadness, and mostly frustration.

Therefore, I immediately began to make some good confession like "I have joy", " I have Love", etc. As I was making those confessions, I decided to the shared the experience with my friends, Emmanuel and Philip. As I shared the problem with them, I began to have some comfort, as an old Swedish proverb says, "A shared joy is a double joy. A shared sorrow is half a sorrow".

Later, I called the MTN customer care and I was attended to by a very calm and nice man who promised to transfer my complaint to the right quarter. I am still waiting for the ratification but,sincerely, I feel successful, light and happy because the situation did not determine my day. My reaction to the situation was very calm and easy. Thank God, it is rewarding.

Most times, it is not the situation or event that comes our ways that is the problem but how we react to the problem. One of the things that the devil wants to steal from us is our joy. Our understanding of what our feelings can cause and what our utterance can create should therefore, construct our reactions to life issues. 

The great preacher, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, the lead pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos explains in his book, " Success is who you are" that what and how we feel, i.e our emotions have the ability to draw corresponding situations or circumstances to our life because our feelings can create magnetic fields. He said, "Every magnet has the power to attract and to repel. The kind of emotion that runs in your system will determine what you attract and what you repel. If you allow negative emotions to run through your life, you will create a negative magnetic field around you and attract problems while repelling opportunities".

The Bible is also full of places where Jesus, the Prophets and the Apostles encourage us to have joy in all thing. Nehemiah 8:10 said "...the joy of the Lord is your strength ". Sam Adeyemi buttressed this by saying " the more joyful you are, the stronger you are. The less joyful you are, the weaker you are". Jesus, while teaching his disciples in John 15v11, said "“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full". So, our Lord Jesus Christ desires that our joy is full at all times.

However, there are many persons that are sincerely in search of joy. Many are asking for how and where to get the abiding joy, the one that lasts. Well, the answer is not far fetched at all. The famous Australian writer and speaker, Bill Newman said, " Real joy and happiness is found in God alone. We need to get back to the Maker's instructions ". 

So, the answer to getting and maintaining lasting joy is to come to the giver of Joy-Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Having encountered Jesus, we must always get the Maker's instructions i.e the Word of God. God's word actually brings peace and joy. It contains several promises of God to us. The onus to get and sustain a lasting joy is on each of us. We must decide to be happy and full of joy at all times. We must share our problems with people that really care. We must sustain an environment of joy, where we can actually expressed our emotions and get help, and we must be close to our Maker.

Thanks

Ademola Adebayo


References:

Sam Adeyemi (2008), " Succcess is who you are". Lagos, Nigeria. Pneumatic Publishing Ltd.

Bill Newman (1997), "10 Laws of Leadership". Benin City, Edo state. Marvelous Christian Publications.


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