When you hear the word prosperity, what is the first thing that comes to mind? A majority of people will say money. Then when there hear someone talking about the Lord prospering you, they automatically think they are hearing a "prosperity gospel". In other words, God will give you riches, fame, etc. The truth of the matter is that the Lord DOES want to prosper you. However, if we are going to walk in genuine & biblical prosperity, we must understand what it means.
Prosperity - as defined from the Hebrew word means - to push forward, in various senses (literally or figuratively, transitively or intransitively): - break out, come (mightily), go over, be good, be meet, be profitable, (cause to, effect, make to, send) prosper (-ity, -ous, -ously). [According to Strong's Concordance]. Now...my question for you is this: Who doesn't want this kind of prosperity? Who doesn't want to experience God pushing them forward, allowing them to break out, overcome, and be prosperous?
What we see in Joshua 1 is that God is interested in Israel's prosperity in the Promised Land. What we discover when we look at the verse is that God had placed prosperity within their grasp: If they would follow after the commands of God then they would experience the best that life had to offer. Do you see it? It's not that different from what Jesus announced to His followers in Matthew 6:33, "...seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." What things would be added to them? They would everything they would need. They didn't have to worry about the necessities of life. They didn't have to concern themselves with anything other than the Kingdom of God.
David's relationship with the Lord taught him that if he would delight himself in the Lord that God would give him the desires of his heart (see Psalm 37:4). He believed it so much that these words became a part of the praise and worship of Israel. The point I want to make is this: God enjoys blessing your life especially when it is your heart to bless Him. When we learn to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, strength, and our neighbors as ourselves...When we learn to delight ourselves in the Lord...When we learn how to seek the Kingdom first - He's got us covered. I'm not saying that you will be rich. I'm not saying that you will own the biggest house and drive the nicest car. I'm not saying that you will own everything that you want to own. What I am saying is that God will prosper you. I am saying that God will bless your life. It's a part of His nature to give to us. In fact, He has already given us everything we need for life and godliness through His Divine Nature!!!
I have said ALL OF THAT to say this: What is keeping you from pursuing your dreams?
Have you ever considered that what you have in your heart was actually in God's heart first? Have you ever thought that maybe the reason you are thinking the things you are thinking is because God was thinking them first? Could it be that God planted something inside of you when He created you and that you will never be satisfied until you are no longer dreaming the dream but living in the reality of it?
You know the Lord wants to prosper you. You can see in Scripture that He will provide for you. You now understand that if you will seek His Kingdom first that all the necessities of life will be taken care of. Why then would you settle for anything less? The reality of life is that many people never pursue their dreams because of their current reality. They have a small vision of life. They have a limited perception of their own ability. AND they have a very limited view of God. When you combine all of that, it's real easy to settle for the job that will keep your family afloat, provide insurance, etc. and never do what you have always wanted to do.
The fact of the matter is that you have to allow God to prosper you. He has already put you in the perfect position to experience it (in Christ). But we rarely give that reality an opportunity to manifest itself in our lives. Folks, we will never walk in the newness of life with an old mindset. This means that we have to be willing to change our mind. We need to be renewed in the spirit of our thinking. And for me it means to stop dreaming and start doing. I have to give God something to partner with in me. Why not allow God to partner with you? Allow Him to radically alter the journey and be amazed at how He prospers you in the process.
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