The Secrets of Spiritual Growth and Maturity — Dr D. K. Olukoya [Book Summary & Quotes]
About Book
Within three chapters, Dr Olukoya makes us understand that problems are a part of every human, but we can triumph over them so long as we keep a positive attitude. He tells us the need to be humble and do away with every form of sin. And in the third chapter, he makes us understand the power of praise.
Book Summary
Chapter 1 — Your Troubles and Your Attitudes
Dr D. K. Olukoya makes us understand in this chapter that troubles are inevitable, but what matter are not the troubles but our response to them. He gives brief descriptions of positive and negative attitudes, the influence they have on us, and the need to have positive attitudes. He ends this chapter by explaining four steps to good attitudes, which are;
1. Speaking positive words
2. Looking for the good in people
3. Taking charge of your thought life
4. Replacing destructive attitudes
Chapter 2 — Your Personal Golgotha
This chapter starts with Matthew 27:27–36, which describes the sufferings Jesus passed through before being taken to Golgotha. Dr Olukoya says that “[our] personal Golgotha is a place where all [our] bad habits die … where pride evaporates … where flesh no longer has control over [us].” He tells us that the devil dwells in “the realm of darkness,” thus the need to do away with every form of darkness (sin), lest we become the dwelling place of the devil. He illustrates the power and influence of brokenness, and the need for humility, for “Satan detests humility.” He ends this chapter by telling us the need to go to our personal Golgotha and come out changed and transformed.
Chapter 3 — Your Mouth and Your Midnight
Dr Olukoya tells us that “Spiritual midnight represents the dark and turbulent experiences that a child of God encounter,” and he tells us how to get through it into our morning of joy, which are;
- Praying and
- Giving praises to God
He speaks of the need for us to praise God and the mystery associated with praising God, which includes;
- Praise brings down the manifest presence of God
- Praises unburden the soul
- Praise can bring the earthquake of deliverance
- Praises can melt unclean thoughts
- Praises can take you to the spiritual realm
Enlightening Quotes
Chapter 1 — Your Troubles and Your Attitudes
- The closer you walk with the Lord, the higher your level of victory.
- Problems are forerunners of growth.
- Every problem has a life span.
- Problems are springboards to progress and the achievement of your goals.
- Your personal attitude is more important than people’s opinions. It is more important than your wealth or riches. Your attitude represents your disposition.
- When people are squeezed, what comes out is the attitude inside of them.
- Happiness in life is just ten percent of what happens to you and ninety percent of how to respond or react to it.
- Excellence is not a skill or talent. It is an attitude.
- It is not your position that matters but your disposition to your condition.
Chapter 2 — Your Personal Golgotha
- To defeat the devil you need the renewal of your mind.
- No matter how devoted you are, if there is darkness in your heart, the devil will be there.
- When you are able to discern the areas of your life that are in darkness and you are able to open them up to the Holy Spirit, a great victory will come to your life.
- The greatest defense you can have against the devil is to have a clean heart and hand before God.
- Satan will keep arresting areas of weakness in your life until you become Christ-like.
- When you are humble, the devil will avoid you. Satan detests humility.
