We all want to prosper, yet most of us would say there are areas in our life where we are not seeing prosperity. As a ministry, many of our prayer requests are for prosperity, either in finances or the physical body.
Last week, I was spending some time praying for our partners. I began to pray about prosperity when God brought a scripture to mind. It is found in the 3 John.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. 3 John 1:2
The Lord gently spoke to my heart and said, “you can’t have physical or financial prosperity until your soul prospers.”
Our soul is our mind, will and emotions. It all comes from our thought life.
Proverbs 23:7 says, as a man thinks, so is he.
The Bible also tells us that for us, born again believers, things work from the inside out. It is not the outside, what we can see, that prospers first. We must first prosper on the inside, in our thoughts.
So how do we do that?
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
First, we must continually renew our minds to the word of God.
Romans 8:6 says; For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
We must choose to set out mind on the things of God and not everything we see or hear going on around us. It is only when we keep our mind stayed on God and His word that our mind is at peace. (Isaiah 26:3)
Philippians gives us further instructions for our thought life…
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
If our mind is not daily renewed, it will not prosper. And if we don’t prosper on the inside, we may never see the prosperity we desire to see on the outside.
The Kingdom of God is within us. Once that part of us prospers, EVERYTHING, and I do mean everything else, will be added to us.
God’s way is not hard. But it does take discipline. And it begins in our mind, our thoughts.
Today, I encourage you, feed your soul. Help it to prosper. As you do, you will be sowing perpetual prosperity into every area of your life.
Meditate on this:
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
