You need to be happy to succeed. Joy is not only necessary for success but also to maintain it. Joy is one of the cardinal laws that guarantee success in the Kingdom. As long as you are not excited about success, you cannot excel. Your highest points in life are unattainable without joy.

Joy is the feeling of great contentment. The Bible calls it inexpressible joy, full of glory. It is a trigger for success. You need it, and that’s why it is part of Jesus’ primary missions.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3

God knows that the more excited you are, the more you excel on earth. That’s why Jesus was anointed from above to comfort the afflicted, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and praise instead of a faint spirit, so they may be called trees of righteousness, planted for the glory of God.

“They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; but you shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.” Isaiah 64:4-7

Your success, or the possession of what belongs to you, is tied to establishing lasting joy within you, because in God’s Kingdom, only the excited excel. The depressed are often victims of the devil. Your excitement determines your excellence. Knowing this secret, the Apostle Paul declared confidently: “None of these things move me.” He emphasized further in Romans 8:35-39:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

He meant to say: “Even if my outer man is wasting away, I am being renewed inwardly because I am always excited about everything God has placed in my hands.” Paul’s life was very eventful. Although most of his writings were done in prison, he did not let the situation depress him.

David did not get discouraged when his warriors abandoned him. Instead, he encouraged himself.

“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Psalm 42:5

Excitement, or inexpressible joy, is the pathway to great achievements on earth. It is one of the mysteries by which God leads you to the top. If you apply everything said in this book so far but refuse to be excited, you will still not succeed in life. The constant flow of the joy of the Lord from your heart keeps you fresh all the time, enables you to carry His presence everywhere, gives you the clearest visions, and more strength.

God has reserved the top of the success ladder for you. But depression or lack of joy can rob you of your joy and steal your glorious destiny. Do not allow it.

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

A broken spirit not only dries up the bones, but it also steals your colorful destiny. Aware of this truth, the prophet Habakkuk refused to be downcast…

This text is an excerpt from the book “EXPLORING THE SECRETS OF SUCCESS” written by David O. Oyedepo.

We invite you to read the following article: “WHY JOY?“