Smile Your Way Through Life

By O N Franklin

This book is an outstanding masterpiece that educates you on the things you need to know to ride above the ordeals of life smiling all the way with a winning spirit and attitude.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CinnamonTeal Print and Publishing
• Release date: Apr 7, 2011
• ISBN: 9789381542040

O N Franklin

O.N FRANKLIN is a devoted bible student and has been a dedicated Christian who has served in various capacities including preaching, teaching and administration. He is a man who is spiritually attuned to the promptings of God and he has written this book according to how it has been laid in his heart. He is so enthusiastic about this book because he is convinced that millions of people from different nations of the world will be saved through the message that the book communicates

Book preview

SMILE YOUR WAY THROUGH LIFE

O. N. FRANKLIN

Published by CinnamonTeal Publishing at Smashwords in 2011

First published in India in 2011 by CinnamonTeal Publishing

Copyright © O. N. Franklin 2010

O. N. Franklin asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of the work. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on a subsequent purchaser.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Print edition available at: http://www.dogearsetc.com/mainpage.jsp?type=2&id=36741

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE - Bought with a prize

CHAPTER TWO - Needed by the father

CHAPTER THREE - The society needs you- you are the answer

CHAPTER FOUR - Your family needs you - you are a promised child

CHAPTER FIVE - Your friends need you

CHAPTER SIX - You need yourself

CHAPTER SEVEN - You are a victor, not a victim

CHAPTER EIGHT - You need him

INTRODUCTION

Many of God’s people are falling victim to the different destructive tools of the devil in this final hour. One tool in particular that the devil uses often to get at God’s children is depression.

Depression, a state of pensive sadness, is continually on the increase in our society today. In fact, it has eaten into the fabric of our society. It has reached a point where men and women, old and young are all getting depressed but not much has been done to control it. This is not because of the lack of the zeal or willingness but because the solution is beyond the physical realm.

Some great measures have been taken though but the Bible says we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers... (Ephesians 6:12). In other words, the measures that have been taken thus far cannot do much because the solution transcends the physical realm. God alone has the solution and through His word we will be able to know certain truths that will help us eliminate depression.

Depression is a mental state and is characterized by great sadness, loneliness and low self esteem caused by strife, frustration, disappointment, parental or societal rejection, unfaithfulness in relationships, inferiority complex, chronic ailments and many other negative experiences.

Depression is an attribute of ignorance and therefore is not acceptable to God the Father. The devil has taken an undue advantage of God’s people and has set out to destroy them because he knows that they don’t know the truth. He has blinded their eyes with deceit to the extent that they are unable to see the truth and things the way God does. He has also made their ears so waxed with the same that they are unable to hear the truth. This is the reason for which it is written in Hosea 4:6 that My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge... True to what the Bible says, a lot of God’s people have perished because they are oblivious of the truth. Many more continue to perish because they do not know the truth and if precaution is not taken, more will perish because of their ignorance of God’s word which is the truth. It gives wisdom and facilitates life and helps one overcome ordeals.

If only they knew God’s promises for their lives, many people would not feel depressed in any way. It is very important for us to know that the knowledge of God’s promises settles everything. His promises never fail and can be counted upon if we are diligent enough to know what He has promised and accept it as the final authority.

Speaking of God’s plans, it is said that He (God) alone knows the plans he has for his people, plans to bring them prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future they hope for. (Jeremiah 29:11 GNB). It is obvious that with this promise alone, people should never be depressed. This promise is life changing, neither it is from a religious leader nor from a theology lecturer rather it’s from God Almighty Himself, the author of life. This promise alone is a solution to problems that make one depressed. A lack of knowledge of promises such as this one have made many of God’s people victims to the devil and his tricks and have caused great pain in numerous homes, families, organisations, societies, nations and even to God, the Father. If only God’s people searched deeper into His Word, accept it and follow it, further pain and hopelessness will be prevented. However, because of the destruction of so many lives caused by depression in our societies, there is an urgent need by the spirit of God to let God’s people know certain things which will enable them to smile their way through life without getting depressed.

Here, in this book are eight things that you need to know to smile your way through life without getting depressed. The purpose of this book is to let you know certain truths from God that will empower you to handle all causative factors of depression. These factors range from strife, frustration, disappointment, confusion, indecision, parental/societal rejection, unfaithfulness in marital home and relationships, among other things.

After having read this book, you will be equipped with God’s tool against depression, His word, His will and His promises for your life. Some one might say, but Bro Frank, I am not depressed so this book is not applicable to me! Well, you might be correct but read on because this book will still help you in handling some psychological and emotional issues which you might be facing at the moment because of some challenges in your life.

So, remain blessed as you read on. I pray that God in his infinite mercy grant you full riches of a complete understanding of his word as you read this book in Jesus’ name.

CHAPTER ONE

BOUGHT WITH A PRIZE

Some times in life, the problems one goes through become so unbearable that one goes into a mode of great sadness and hopelessness. As a child of God one needs to understand that no matter how difficult the situation may seem to be, one shouldn’t allow oneself to succumb to sadness and hopelessness. This is because you have been bought with a prize. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 7:23 (Gideon’s International Bible) that you were bought at a prize.... The good news translation of this verse clearly states that God bought you for a prize... See! In other words you are too special to allow yourself to become depressed, no matter what goes wrong.

For someone who has not heard this before, this might be new, but it is the truth. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from or what your background is, the truth remains that you have been bought with a prize. You might say, but Bro Frank, how, when, why and what was the prize that was paid for me. Some people may even ask, but Bro Frank, if God is my creator, why then should he buy me with a prize. These questions have puzzled many of God’s children for a long time in the past, but because they are unable to find the answers to these questions, it has remained a mystery. However, as you read on, I will carefully explain everything in depth so that you are able to understand how it came about.

How You Were Bought

The word of God clearly states in the book of Genesis that when God created the first man (Adam) and the first woman (Eve), He gave them dominion and authority over the earth. He said unto them be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it..(Genesis 1:28). After that, He gave them a mandate not to eat from the tree of knowledge but the devil convinced Eve to eat from it and Eve succumbed to it; after which she lured her husband to eat from it too.

When they ate from the tree, they disobeyed God and this act of disobedience brought about man’s downfall and allowed the devil to get hold of the authority and the life of dominion which once belonged to Adam. This affected the whole of mankind, including you and me and the devil began to have dominion and authority over man and every other creature of God. In fact he replaced the man and became the ruler of the earth. That’s why he was described in 2 Corinthians 4:4 as the god of this age (the present earth).This disobedience spiritually separated man from God and he was completely sold out to the manipulation of the devil.

Now, as God’s original plan was delayed, He came up with another way out to reconcile man back to himself and fill up the gap. God, in His infinite mercy decided to send His son Jesus Christ to this world to die for the sins committed by Adam which affected the whole of Adam’s descendants that is the entire human race (Romans 5:12 GNB).

Christ came and preached and gave the good news to all. After which he was persecuted and nailed on the Cross of Calvary in fulfilment of the scripture. He died and His blood was shed for each and every one of us including you and me. The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ washed away the sins of man and brought forgiveness to mankind (Romans 3:26, Hebrews 9:8).

When Jesus Christ died, He went to Hades (Hell) where He spoiled (defeated, destroyed, disarmed) principalities and powers (Devil and his cohorts); He made an open show of them and triumphed over them (Colossians 2: 15KJV). He retrieved back the authority and dominion that was once stolen by the devil and got an even higher authority. All authority, rights and dominion that the devil once had over man were stripped off him and became Jesus’ and He ascended to Heaven.

Because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the entire human race, including you and me, was sold out to the manipulation of the devil. It was through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary that God in His love bought us back. He did not make this transaction with the devil, the purchase was just a fulfilment of the principle of justice and all (authority, dominion and power) that was stolen by the devil was retrieved and even upgraded as they were all part of the transaction. The prize that was paid was the precious blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for you and me and today it is because of His blood that we have peace with God and are justified before Him.

Now in a bid for God’s original plan to be fulfilled, He said that whoever will believe in His son, Jesus Christ and shall confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord and was raised up from dead by God (Romans 10:9), will be empowered with the authority and dominion that was once