Before I can tell you how to maintain your Joy, let me explain what can rob you of your Joy. 1.Circumstances: 2.People 3.Things 4.Worry Every time you and I go through, believe me, it has to do with at least one or all of the four things listed. Your problems are tied to either a circumstance, a person (people), or a thing(s) and last but not least worry, you are worrying about something that might happen, and has not yet happen or something that has happen and you can not find your way out it. AMEN! The Thieves That Rob You of Your Joy. 1. Circumstances: Most of us must confess that when things are "going our way" we feel a lot happier and we are much easier to live with. But have you ever stopped to consider how few of circumstances of life are really under our control? We have no control over the weather, etc. The person whose happiness depends on ideal circumstances is going to be miserable much of the time. 2. People: All of us have lost our joy because of people. What they are what they say and what they do. But we have to live and work with people; we cannot isolate ourselves and still live to glorify Christ. You can not have ministry without people.Christ was a person. 3. Things: Jesus said, "A man's life consists not in the abundance of things which he possessor". Luke 12:15. Yet most people today think that joy comes from the things that they own. In reality things can rob us of the only kind of joy that really last. So things have you, you do not have things, so who is really in control? 4. Worry: This is the worst thief of all. In fact, worry even has physical consequences. People who have stomach problem can most likely trace this to a lot of worrying. When you worry you either don't eat or eat too much. Worry keeps you up at night thinking about how you are going to get through the thing or get around the thing. Worry is an "inside job". The opposite of Trust is worry. If you do not trust the Lord you are worrying. You can purchase "sleep" at the drug store, but you can not purchase "rest". Worry robs us of the rest we need. You can not make sound decisions without the proper rest.
About the Author: Through life tribulation's, Reverend Dr. Landa Washington-Coppedge has learned that coming together is a Beginning, keeping together prayerfully is a process, and working together in the Word of the Lord is true success! It's is the focus of her ministry which seeks to connect with children and families so that they may grow in Christ's Holy Word. Rev.Washington-Coppedge is spiritually based at Cathedral of Deliverance Outreach Ministries in South Philadelphia where she is the Elder of Education. Her ministry also extends to New Life Institute of the Bible, Norristown and New Creation Bible Institute in South Philadelphia where she teaches Theology courses and serves both institutions as Assistant Dean. She has shown a countless number of students how to help other overcome challenges with direct application of scripture over her nearly 20 years in professional ministry education. She was first ordained as a Reverend in 2003 by Jameson Evangelistic Association of Philadelphia after completing studies at the Sharon Baptist Church Institute, Evangelism Explosion International and Christian Stronghold Baptist Church. In October 2005, she was again commissioned as a Missionary/Evangelist at Sharon Baptist Church certifying her long-held desire to teach. In June 2008, she graduated from International Christian University with a degree in Theology and also holds additional certifications earned under the Evangelical Training Association. Rev. Washington accepted Christ as her personal savior in March of 1978, and has helped direct others onto the blessings of Lord Jesus through her ministries and work which has spanned across several congregations in the Philadelphia region, including New Gethsemane Baptist Church where she served as Interim Pastor from 2011 through 2012. Rev. Washington is a proud mother and grand -mother, she strives everyday to live her life as an example of Christ and working to impact the lives of God's people. Life Verse: 1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light