“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

3 John 1:2

Have you ever thought about what God´s desire is for you? We find the answer in this text of John where the author removes the veil to reveal the yearning of God´s heart concerning each one of us. The interesting thing is that he does not start by talking about the spiritual area, rather, the material. Then, he continues with physical health and culminates with the prosperity of the soul.

The word “prosperity” comes from the Greek word “euodoo”, meaning, “to have a happy and successful journey.” To apply this definition to the life of a believer is to confirm God´s good wishes to His children. He wants his children to be successful men and women; that they may learn to be kind and sensitive to His instructions to be prosperous in all things. However, these blessings are subject to the way we relate to God and His Word. The Lord´s mandate to His servant Joshua was, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).

The Bible teaches about many people who had testimonies of how God brought them prosperity because they were determined to obey Him by living according to His Word. When Abram went up from Egypt to Negev he was blessed. The Word says, “Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold” (Genesis 13:2). Solomon is another example someone who saw the promises made to him fulfilled because he waited upon the Lord. In 2 Chronicles 1:7-10, it says, “That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’ Solomon answered God, ‘You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?’” God answered this way because Solomon had the right attitude and motivation. God blessed him with wealth, riches and honor, like no man before his time.

In Abraham as well as in Solomon, we can see that the predominant aspect in their lives was God´s calling and their acceptance to serve Him, beyond any other interest they might have had in wealth and riches. Listening to the Lord’s voice carefully, they behaved according to the covenant that He had established with them. The first one had powerful children; the second one culminated the building of the temple. In this same way, we are called to do great things to spread the work of God.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
A youth who paid his own way through college by working as a street vendor, one day had no money to pay for his lunch, despite being very hungry. He decided to swallow his pride and ask for something to eat by knocking next door. He lost heart when a beautiful girl opened the door. Instead of asking for some food, he only asked for a glass of water.

Feeling sorry for him, she brought a glass of milk. “How much is this?” He said shyly. “Nothing,” was her answer. “Our mother taught us not to accept anything when we do a favor.” “Thanks with all of my heart,” said the young man. Howard Kelly left that house feeling stronger not only in his body but also in his faith in God and in humanity. Prior to that, he had thought of dropping out of college.

Many years later, that girl, an elderly woman by then, fell seriously ill. Her doctors were very concerned. Finally, she was transferred to a hospital in a large city where a famous specialist in her illness was working. When he realized his new patient´s name and home town, he went to see her immediately. He recognized her. When he came back to his office he was determined to do everything possible to save her life. The battle was long, but he managed to save her.

The woman was embarrassed because she knew her long stay in that hospital would cost an astronomical amount of money. However, the doctor had asked for the final invoice in advance. And after examining it, he wrote a message at the foot of the invoice. Then, it was given to her.

The woman looked at it in great fear, thinking that she would be paying a great amount of money for the rest of her days. Looking at the enormous amount, the woman became astonished when she finally read, “It has all been paid off with a glass of milk. Signed: Dr Howard Kelly.”

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“I believe that God’s desire for me is to prosper me in all of my ways.”

Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume Four.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

• Old Testament: Jeremiah 23-25; Ecclesiastes 7:15-29
• New Testament: John 3:22-36; James 5:1-6