Living Word

110 E State Rt 54
P.O. Box 158
Roberts, IL 60962

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217.395.2231

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217.395.2476
 

Lucinda Lee

"Is Your SOUL Prospering?"

        In this time of uncertainty regarding the future, I have Good News from God's Word: God wants you to prosper! God desires that you prosper in all areas of your life, body, mind and spirit. "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." (III John: 2 NASB.) The operative phrase here is "JUST AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS".

        So often, as we read this passage, we focus on being in health and prospering in a physical sense. This, however, is secondary to our SOUL prospering. Is your soul prospering? Remember, our "soul" refers to our mind, will and emotions. Is your mind prospering? Are you prospering in the area of your choices in life, or your will? Are your emotions prospering? Jesus Himself addressed the importance of a prospering soul. He recognizes that humanity is often caught up not just in the pursuit of meeting our daily needs and desires, but in the worry of meeting the needs of just day-to-day living. Does He say that pursuing our needs is wrong? Of course not! What IS wrong, is being anxious and worrying over these things, and pursuing them at the expense of our relationship with the Lord. He adjures us, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and ALL these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

        You might be saying, "More easily said then done!" How DO we overcome worry, anxiety, despair, depression, anger, bitterness and all the other symptoms of a soul that is not prospering? His answer again, is to seek the Kingdom of God. The verb "seek" here is more accurately translated continually seek. We must have a constant awareness that we are in the presence of a holy, almighty God who loves us. This is what it means to be in a constant attitude of prayer, or communication with God. This does not mean that we must be perpetually talking to God, any more than we must be constantly talking to the person with whom we are riding in the car. Rather, we should be continually aware of the Lord knowing our thoughts, watching what we are doing or what we are watching (!), or listening to what we are saying or listening to, because He is always with us.

        If we continually are aware of God's presence with us, we will walk worthy of His calling, and hopefully will obey Him at every step. After all, God is King of His Kingdom! When we seek His Kingdom, we desire to live our lives under His rule and authority. We recognize that there is a reality, a Kingdom, greater than this natural world . . . And we are in it! When we truly choose to submit to the King's loving authority in all areas of our lives, then "all these other things" will be added to us. This is a promise from God, from the lips of Jesus!

        We "walk" in this manner when we die to our desires and seek His desires for us. (You know that God's plans for us are ALWAYS better than our plans/desires apart from Him!) How can we maintain this Walk with God, resulting in a soul that prospers?

  1. Make your MIND meditate on good things and refuse to dwell on negative, ugly thoughts. Spend time in His Word daily. (Philippians 4:8.)
  2. Ask God to help you make decisions in your life, even small ones, thereby submitting your WILL to His will. God wants to be involved in every area of your life. (James. 1:5-7.)
  3. Rein in your EMOTIONS. Choose joy and love! Yes! These are a CHOICE!!! True JOY is birthed out of a heart of thanksgiving. And true unconditional LOVE chooses the well-being of another, even one's enemies. If you operate in Love and Joy, it will eradicate all the other negative junk . . . fear, hate, bitterness, depression, anger, envy, doubt, resentment, self-pity, anxiety, you name it! (Philippians 4:4,6 and Proverbs 17:22.)
        Follow this prescription as directed daily and continually, and you will be well on your way to having a soul that prospers!

God bless you richly as you spend time in His Presence!

Lucinda