As I sit on my porch and watch the sky reflect the warm sunset, I am filled with so much joy. I’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting on my life and it is crazy how far God has brought me in so little time. Here we are in July. I have been anticipating this new month. I usually anticipate a new month to hit new goals and to take an opportunity to be a better version of myself. However, there is something extraordinary about this July. For me, it signifies new beginnings. All of the spiritual warfare was for a reason. I am not sure what will happen, but I am filled with an abundance of peace.

Through all the ups and downs in life, I am happy to say that I have never lost my joy. What kept me going is God’s continuance presence in my life. My joy is linked to my peace. The older I get the more I appreciate my peace. A lesson I learned is my peace is way too valuable to sacrifice. It has held me this long. It is the reason for my happiness, my focus, and my security. Despite things not working out the way I may have intended, I am okay because I know God’s plans are better than mine.

It is quite simple to be happy when God is present in your life. Misery loves company and I never wanted a seat at that table. The thieves of joy are comparison, unforgiveness, pride, jealousy and envy. When you possess these negative qualities, you are robbing yourself from living a happy and prosperous life. As Christians, we should be filled with joy for having Christ at the center of our lives. Even if we lose every Earthly possession today, we should be content because we find our joy in Yahuah (read the book of Job).

Because I have found joy in the Most High, it is easy for me to be happy for others. It’s simple because I understand that my time will come. In fact, your inability to be happy for others is a reflection of your unhappiness with yourself, which is why comparing yourself to others is counterproductive. It has nothing to do with another person as much as it has to do with you. Stop avoiding these issues and use God to help heal your spirit. People sharing their testimonies should be a testimony of how good God is to His children. Another person’s achievements should be used to inspire and motivate you to get yourself ready for your blessings. It should make you excited to know how real God is to us. If you directed all the energy you put into comparing yourself to others back into yourself, imagine how much God can improve your spirit. Your biggest competition should be you. You should strive to be a better person every day by renewing your mind.

Heaven is about 80 times larger than earth, which means the Kingdom needs as much ambassadors as possible. There is enough room for all of us to showcase our gifts and talents to the world. We get so wrapped up in ourselves that we forget the point. The point is not about a social media following or popularity to validate our insecurities. The point is this life on Earth is not about us as much as it is about being a servant to the Most High. It is about using our gifts to give Yahuah the glory and to win souls for the Kingdom. It is about sharing the gospel and the promise of eternal life. There are so many people who need your voice because you were created on purpose for a purpose bigger than you. If you’re so worried about what others possess, what others are doing or how others may view you, how will you be able to serve God and allow Him to use you? Your life would end up being a selfish waste because you would be focused on the wrong things.

My life coach, Carlton, often says “Sometimes the enemy is the inner you.” It is not always the enemy to blame for delaying your blessings. You are the one to blame for not focusing on improving your inner self.

Life is about choices. Each choice we have can be used for good or evil. You have access to whatever your heart desires as long as you choose to do the work. It is not about waiting on God as much it is about working with Him. This is where faith becomes an action. Hope is on the Horizon for each of us. It is up to you to claim it today.