It’s so amazing how people conclude ‘I am fine’ without letting me answer for myself. They’ll ask, ‘How are you?’ and then they’ll quickly say, ‘I know you’re fine’. I will be like, ‘What do you mean?’

Well, they are often right. Truly, sister is fine!

As this happens repeatedly and the more people ask me about my smile and joy, I realize it’s a big deal.

Sometime ago, I got a call and the person said, ‘I see your posts on social media and I smile each time I see them and watch your videos. Your joy and smile is contagious, how do you do it?’ he went on. I started laughing. I said to myself, ‘what else would I do?’

Several other people have also asked me how I stay happy; so I decided to do a post to share the secrets of how I stay joyful in order to help someone out there.

For many, staying joyful through the stress and pressures all around is like an impossible task. But I am convinced that if I can stay happy, joyful and excited, you too can stay joyful every now and then.

Here are 6 secrets of how I stay joyful.

#1. Knowing that God Loves Me

For me, it all starts with God.

My greatest source of joy is knowing that God loves me so much. It’s a beautiful feeling really.

In Jeremiah 31:3, scripture says, “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

This scripture describes the kind of love that God has for each one of us as everlasting. Think about that for a moment. Can you quantify that magnitude of love? There is nothing an everlasting love cannot do for you.

As if that was not enough, He went on to say, He has drawn us with lovingkindness. That’s huge!

You see, when you allow this reality to sink in and settle in your heart, it issues out a well of joy, peace and happiness in your soul.

#2. The Communion of the Holy Spirit

The truth is, I also have my struggles but I don’t allow them determine my mood; so it’s difficult for people to see situations on my face because I am joyful.

The huge credit for this goes to none other than the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been doing a great job in helping me stay Joyful. I get comfort and counsel from the Holy Spirit. He ministers to me every now and then, so I know what to do each time.

Whenever I come across a challenge or a difficulty, I trust the Holy Spirit for help, guidance and comfort. And He always comes through.

You see, as a single sister, you can be frustrated and fall into depression if the holy spirit is not fully at work in your life.

The scripture calls Him the Comforter. He is ever willing to comfort, you only need to reach out to Him more.

He also helps us in our weakness(es). For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26 NLT).

You should decide today to commune more with the Holy Spirit; engage Him more and fellowship more with Him and you will see how He transforms your life and fill you continuously with peace, joy and comfort.

#3. The Joy of Salvation

There is such a thing known as the joy of salvation. And it fills my heart so much it makes me Joyful and gives me strength.

The joy of salvation is something every child of God has. You receive it the moment you submit your life to the salvation and lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Afterwards, by the agency of the Spirit, it flows continuously in your heart. That’s why joy is a fruit of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22).

The problem is that many Christians do not realize that there is a well of joy in their hearts they can always draw from.

You should draw from this well by confessing the joy that God has given you. The Scripture says, ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10b KJV). You should confess that often. You should declare always that you have the joy of salvation.

I am fully aware that joy is a weapon of warfare. The devil is always confused when he sees me Joyful despite all he is doing to make me sad. So, I always draw from that well of joy from deep within.

You should learn to deploy this weapon too by drawing often from the well of the joy of salvation that the Lord has put in your heart.

#4. A Lifestyle of Gratitude

Gratitude is an attitude. It is an attitude that can keep you happy and joyful always.

That is my reality.

God has been so faithful and committed to me. Oftentimes, I think about His goodness and wonders in my life and I’m full of gratitude. Being a very emotional person, I cry each time I think about His awesomeness and what He is doing in my life. I’ll thank Him, praise Him and worship Him.

I do this always.

This act and attitude of gratitude to God, always keeps me joyful.

The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (TPT), “And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.”

Apply the truth of this scripture more in your life and you’ll see how your heart gets filled with joy always.

#5. A Lifestyle of Prayer

Prayer is sweet and it is my means of communication to Abba.

I do a lot of midnight prayers and prayer walk. I also pray a lot with my mind and I get results. It’s not easy to pray really but the scripture in Jeremiah 29:12-13 motivates me a lot. It says, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (NIV)

You may wonder how prayer makes me stay joyful. Well, for me, it is in the place of prayer that my burdens are being lifted. That brings a lot of joy to my heart.

Also the assurance that God hears me and will answer me helps me stay joyful. Scripture says in 1 John 5:14 NIV, ‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.’

#6. My Attachment to God’s Word

God’s word gives a lot of assurance! It has so many promises.

Sincerely, the bible is a joy giver. I enjoy reading it and I do so using different versions.

Let me show you my all time scripture that helps me keep my sanity.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (GNT): ‘Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty,  I will still be joyful and glad, because the Lord God is my savior.’

As a daughter of Zion, I don’t live by how I feel. I live by the taste of the word and the word says in Philippians 4:4 (KJV), ‘Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice’ and in 1Thessalonians 5:16 (GNT), ‘Be joyful always’.

So, no matter what the enemy throws at me, I remain joyful because I know my victory is sure. Jesus said  in John 16:33 (TPT), ‘And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!’

See the following scriptures and meditate on them. I believe they’ll minister to your heart.

Romans 12:12 (NIV): ‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer’.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV): ‘Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth’.

Colossians 4:2 (GNT): ‘Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God’.

I pray for you, that the Lord will fill your heart with so much joy in Jesus name. Amen.

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See Also

7 Scriptures that Changed My Life

Is Fasting Necessary in the New Testament?

What it Really Means to Forgive and Forget

12 Things to Look Out for When You Read the Bible

Faith in Adversity: The Story Behind the Hymn “It is Well”

The Big Lesson to Always Remember from the Manna Episode

Why a Good God Allowed Evil Befall His Beloved: The Curious Story of Job

30 Things a Christian Should Do Before Turning 30: A Bucket List from Jesus’ Life

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Oluwaseyi Adeoye is the founder of The Kingdom Girls – an interdenominational ministry committed to raising godly role models among the female folk. Oluwaseyi is passionate about the girl child; she believes and relentlessly declares that, “Every girl is a light that must shine.” An accountant and HR by profession. A certified counselor and Christian apologist. She is a gifted intercessor who is committed to advancing God’s kingdom. She writes on faith, life and relationships. She resides in Lagos, Nigeria