Nehemiah 8:10 ‘Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

DAILY READING; • John 10:22-42; 2 Chronicles 9; Psalm 74

This week, The Living Faith Church Worldwide also known as The Winner’s Chapel, is celebrating its 40th year anniversary.
Interestingly, this ministry has come so far because of Dr. David Oyedepo’s secret of always maintaining his joy despite adverse situations.

The ministry first begun in 1981, known then as the Liberation Faith Hour Ministries. It would later be renamed Living Faith Church World Wide (LFCWW).

In those first years, the ministry was based at Kaduna. And one of the earliest secrets Dr. Oyedepo discovered was that he had to remain joyful, if he was to maintain God’s Presence.

In 1989, Dr. Oyedepo and his wife took off from Kaduna to Lagos on their way to an overseas trip to London and America. However, for three days, their flight was delayed, and they were stuck in Lagos. So Dr. Oyedepo changed his mind about the trip and they headed back home to Kaduna.
However, when they got to Kaduna, it was discovered that Dr. Oyedepo’s personal luggage was missing from among the other luggages..
Despite the fact that he had important things in the luggage, he chose not to become bothered about the situation.
What he said was “Thank God it was not my wife’s box..”
When his wife wanted to make a list of the missing items, he told her not to, because the box had already switched ownership, so why should he bother himself with listing the items that were already lost.
When a concerned pastor asked, “You mean you lost a box on that trip?” Bishop Oyedepo replied humorously, “No, somebody took it, I didn’t throw it away!”

He simply refused to be worried about the situation.
As he continued to maintain his joy, the next day, he heard God clearly say to him “My son, arise, get out to Lagos and raise me a people.”
This divine instruction was what led to Dr. Oyedepo’s relocation from Kaduna to Lagos.

In Lagos, the ministry began to experience unprecedented growth and success.
Ten years later in 1999, the ministry dedicated the Faith Tabernacle which entered the Guiness book of records as the world’s largest Church auditorium. The relocation to Lagos indeed led to the flourishing of the ministry globally and its numerous great accomplishments which are being celebrated today.

No matter the situation we must always maintain our joy.
Often times when you are at the point of your breakthrough the enemy tries to create a break down around you. It has been said that your greatest battles often come just before your greatest victories. Therefore if you see things begin to go haywire around you, it could be because the enemy is seeing a breakthrough coming your way and is only attempting to create a distraction to divert your blessings.
This is why you must be deliberate in maintaining your joy at all times.
Often the enemy would try to first depress you so that he can oppress you. Some of those annoying things that happen around you are deliberate efforts to keep you constantly frustrated and joyless.. They are plans to keep you in a state of weakness because the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Therefore, always maintain your joy no matter what happens around you. In a state of joy it becomes easy to hear the voice of God. But if you are in a state of depression it becomes difficult to hear God’s next instruction for your advancement.

In this season, refuse to be weighed down or depressed over any issue. In everything always give thanks to God because that is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

God indeed is in control of your life and He is in charge of your journey. His thoughts towards you are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end
When you trust His plans, you will not be troubled about negative happenings because somehow all things will eventually work together for your good.

This is why we keep praising Him.
Even if things seem bleak and dark, through praise, you can be raised out of any pit.
Certainly, God is greater than any situation that will ever confront you in this life. Therefore, rather than fret or worry, always remain joyful.
Through gratitude, you will move to higher altitudes..
As you keep focusing on God’ and trusting in His Word, He will lift you to your next level of destiny.
Indeed as long as you retain your joy, you will surely triumph in the end.

PRAYER: Lord , I thank You for the grace to keep praising You in every situation. Please help me to always maintain my joy at all times, so that I can keep moving higher to my next level. Thank You Lord for granting me divine speed and ease in this season in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
Everything that ultimately has a glorious ending usually has a humble beginning.
WORDBITE 222