I am so excited about this topic. What brings you joy? Is it something without or something within? Let me help you understand how to have joy continuously. Every day you wake up you can have joy regardless of life’s circumstances. Sometimes we allow situations to rob us of our joy. It doesn't take anything or anyone outside of yourself to create continuous joy. The Word of God says, “We look to Jesus as the author and the finisher of our faith”. If your heart and mind are towards hearing what His Word says about you, He will keep you in perfect peace as long as your mind is steadfast on Him. The joy He gives, the world can't take it away. Why do you forfeit joy to people and circumstances when they have not paid the price and have no ownership? Can you go through life circumstances and still have joy? The answer is yes, you can still have joy. Without God this seems impossible. We are commanded to give thanks because this is the will of God concerning us. Even if there is sickness, give God thanks because there is something that God wants you to learn through the process. You have to change your perspective from having a negative mindset. “Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus”. Do not conform to this world’s way of thinking. The world tells you when things go bad you're supposed to be angry and upset. Sometimes you may even take your anger, fear, and frustration out on other people. Do you project onto someone else instead of taking ownership of your emotions and feelings? You can create whatever life you choose and that you want to live here on Earth. Purpose in your heart every day and in everything to give thanks. If you lose a job, give thanks for God replacing it with a better job or ask God for help with creative concepts to start your own business. Do you have to rely and depend on God? Yes. He wants to pour you out a blessing that you don't have room enough to receive. If a circumstance or situation doesn't work out the way that you want it, begin to declare, “God in everything I give you thanks because you know what's best for me even though my eyes can’t see”. This is the type of mindset God wants us to have. That's what you have to get down in your heart and spirit. Even if it doesn’t look like it, it's working for your good. Your expectation should be that it doesn't matter what life throws at you, you're going to maintain a positive outlook and know that God is working on a good result. His desire is for good in your life and that's what you should be expecting from God. I'm not saying that you have to ignore the things that are happening in your life, but choose to focus on the positive. It may not be a circumstance that you want to be in and it’s not what you hoped for, but believe God’s plan for your life. Declaration: “My expectation is that God is going to turn this situation out for my good.” Look at Jesus, he was betrayed by his friend Judas. Judas kissed Jesus and betrayed him over for 30 pieces of silver. David also said he was betrayed in the house of a friend. They took Jesus and hung him on a cross. He was accused of a crime that he did not commit. All because the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Roman Empire knew he was gaining too much attention and power by teaching kingdom principles. His mentality was, 'Not look at what they have done to me, but forgive them for they know not what they do.’ He gave up The Spirit and it was finished. He could have called a legion of angels to save him, but he didn’t. He had to go down to the pits of hell for three days to get the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven to give to us. Then he rose up on the third day with all power – of both heaven and earth. Yeah, he went through some bad things. Look what was on the other side. You will rise up with power. That's the mindset that you have to have. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane he knew he was going to die. He asked if God would let the cup, of death, pass from him. Jesus knew he was going to be crucified and he knew that he was going to be betrayed, by a friend, at the hands of his enemies. He said, “Nevertheless not my will, but your will be done.” In the end God's will was done. Jesus died. That same power that raised Jesus is also living in you. You’ve lost your job, your husband has left you to raise children alone, you've gone to the doctor and received a bad report, but nevertheless. Nevertheless, because on the other side you’re going to rise up with power. Power to overcome any obstacle and challenge. Knowing this should bring you immense joy. It brings The Father great pleasure to see His children overcome. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith. Your expectation should be in God, not in a man, not in power, and not in money. Declaration: "The same power that rose Jesus from the dead lives in me." Prayer : “God, you know all about my situation. Thank you for your joy that is deep down on the inside of me. God I’m not going to let life circumstances and situations rob me of my peace and joy. God, I know that in your presence is fullness of joy and at your right hand is pleasure forever more. You are the joy of my salvation. In you I live, I move, and I have my being. I know that I can trust you even when I can’t trace you. I know that your thoughts are above my thoughts and your ways are above my ways. I am asking that you increase my mind and my understanding of who you are. Help me to trust you more, because I know that your plans for me are good and they are to bring me hope and an expected end. I am going to give you thanks even when I don’t understand. You are stretching me and taking me into areas that I am not familiar with. Help me to be more patient and understanding of others while they go through life’s challenges. I will rejoice and your praise shall continually be in my mouth. Amen.”