The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has advised Nigerians to tackle anxiety and life’s pressures by cultivating the daily habits of rejoicing, praying and giving thanks.
Adeboye gave the counsel during a sermon at the church’s Lagos headquarters on Sunday, explaining that he had found the three practices to be life-changing when embraced sincerely.
Our correspondent obtained the message on Monday from a report by Church Times Nigeria. Referring to 1 Thessalonians 5:16–17, the cleric encouraged Christians to start every day with a joyful spirit.
Adeboye said: “When you wake up every morning, rejoice. Praise God. Start your day on a positive note of rejoicing.
Forget about the past. Just rejoice. Wake up with joy and allow the joy of the Lord to dominate your life.”
Speaking on anxiety about the future, Adeboye said those who placed their trust in God had no reason to be consumed by worry.
“If I am not where I am by my ability, why should I worry about tomorrow? He took care of me yesterday; He will take care of me tomorrow,” he said.
The cleric also encouraged believers to develop a consistent prayer habit instead of allowing life’s challenges to weigh them down.
“Pray always. Make your requests known to God. Rather than worry over your problems, pray about them,” the cleric stated.
Adeboye stressed that prayer provides an avenue for people to commit their situations and concerns to God.
He said the third important habit was expressing gratitude, irrespective of the circumstances one might be facing.
He continued: “In everything give thanks. Don’t allow your circumstances to affect your life.
Give thanks irrespective of what you are going through in life.”
The service, which focused on judges and lawyers, also featured Adeboye’s teaching on advocacy, with reference to Romans 8:31.
He said that even when an individual had erred, there was an advocate before the Father.
Describing Jesus as the ultimate advocate, Adeboye said: “He is the only advocate who goes to the judge and says, ‘My client is guilty as charged. But release him and take me instead. He gave himself for us.’”