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 There are things that whenever we remember them, we become very excited. It could be a gift. Sometimes, it is the position we occupy, and sometimes, it is the success we have achieved.  

Some people become extremely happy when they remember their bank account, while some feel joy when they have connections at high places etc. Some also are happy when they think that they have something that makes them special or unique.

 The question l ask today is, as a child of God, what essentially gives you joy? Is it how hard you pray? What is the thing that gives you joy? So, how do we measure it, do we measure our joy based on how holy we think we are or is it how powerful we think we are? Or is it how much we speak in tongues? What truly gives us joy?

 Luke, chapter 10:17, tells us that the disciples of Jesus returned from their missionary journey with joy and said” Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name”.  So, imagine doing what you have never done before. They were surprised that they could do what their master had been doing. But Jesus said to them” Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven”. Therefore, working and making efforts for the salvation of our souls and participating in God’s work that brings souls back to God, should be the cause of our joy. These efforts help to bring us closer and connected to God.  I remember asking a brother of mine what gives him joy and he said that working for God and bringing souls to Him, gives him great joy.  Oh!  how blessed we are to be instruments of the Lord. Let us understand that each step we take on earth brings us closer to Jesus Christ and gives us true happiness because there is no lasting happiness apart from God. While the disciples continued in their excitement, Jesus joined in their delight and said “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven but He warns the disciples: “Behold, l have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven”. (Luke 10: 17- 24).  This means that the power they worked with was given to them by the Lord. Consequently, the power to be a true child of God and conquer spiritual battles can only come from the Lord. This is why the disciples attributed everything they achieved to the name of Jesus. And Jesus Himself raised His face up in thanksgiving and glorified His Father.  He continued to thank His Father God for the glorious work and for revealing Himself among the little ones, the disciples.  Despite our achievements or how successful we are; all are to the glory of God. Therefore, the secret of our success in any apostolate comes from the Lord and not from our power. The Lord is the source of everything we have or are and only He should be the source of our joy.

Joy, according to (Saint Thomas) is the fruit of love. Thus; l ask, is the thing that gives you joy, for the salvation of souls or is it for your salvation? It is also said that the greater our love, the greater will be our joy. So, are we always happy because of the love of others and closeness with God, or is it because of the things we think that we have that others do not have? Our joy should not be measured by how much we acquire on earth, how many gifts we have, and how many people fall when we raise our hands during prayers. Rather, our joy should be in how close we are to God and how many souls we can win for Him.

  Everything we have belongs to God, every other thing comes and goes but God remains everlasting. So, be happy that you are on good terms with God. Be happy that despite every trial and unhappiness you may have encountered in life, you are back to Him.  We should be happy because we are children of God because we deal with Him because we struggle to become better for Him.

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Beatrice Egbuna is an experienced Broadcast Technologist with a strong background in managing broadcast equipment and sound technology. She has played a leading role in building and installing various radio studios, as well as maintaining and repairing both analogue and digital equipment at Voice of Nigeria (VON) studios. Egbuna holds a degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the Lagos State University (LASU), and has received training in Audio Engineering from the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. She also holds certificates in Senior Management Programmes from the Lagos Business School (LBS) and the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), as well as a certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU). Prior to joining EDC in 2011, Beatrice worked in various capacities at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and VON before retiring in 2010 as Deputy Director Programming. She has also worked as a Consultant/Mentor on projects like "Road-to-Growth" powered by Cherie Blair Foundation and Access Bank Plc. Egbuna produced and presented "Enterprise Stories", a live radio program on Inspiration 92.3 FM, which brings entrepreneurs together every Tuesday at 3 pm to share their success stories and inspire startup developers to follow their dreams. She also produced "The Economy and You," a program that aired for about four years on Rhythm 93.7 FM, which brought policymakers, technocrats and successful business executives to discuss government policies and their impact on the economy and businesses in Nigeria. Currently, Beatrice Egbuna is the Principal Consultant at Maluwe Capacity Builders International, Nigeria, where she provides real-time feedback and actionable advice that adds value to her clients. She is also a mentor and faculty member at the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University, and a BDSP Consultant on the 5-year (20??-20??) MASTERCARD TRANSFORMING NIGERIA YOUTH PROJECT (TNY). Egbuna is passionate about developing the entrepreneurship ecosystem, providing business support and advisory services to entrepreneurs within and outside the EDC business network for over a decade. She is a certified IFC/LPI Trainer, certified SMEDAN Business Development Service Provider (BDSP), life coach, work-life balance advocate/coordinator, and marriage counsellor who helps employees/career/business people find fulfilment in the workplace, balance in their daily activities, and solutions to their marital challenges. To reach Beatrice Egbuna she can be contacted through her email addresses: bettyegbuna@yahoo.com and maluwehelp@gmail.com. She also has a website, https://momentwithbetty.com.

2 Comments

  • Matthew Ngwu, October 16, 2023 @ 11:21 pm Reply

    Beautiful connection to vocation and mission. What have I done with my baptism and confirmation? Is Christ the center of my life? Do I make room for my daily prayer? Do I live my life as a vocation and mission? Jesus, continues to call us to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” Therefore, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Mt 5: 13,14,16)

    • Betty, October 20, 2023 @ 5:04 pm Reply

      Amen. Thank Matthew for your contribution.

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