Daily Devotionals

Are You Prosperous and Successful?

Posted in Spiritual Growth

Scripture: “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

 

How do you and I define the phrase “prosperous and successful”?  

 

Prosperous and Successful is a newly published book based on Joshua 1:8.  Some of the book’s key points include encouraging readers to set the correct goal for their lives. As quoted from the book, “The Bible identifies glorifying God as the correct goal for life.”

 

I have to admit,  when I hear the phrase “prosperous and successful,”  I am usually thinking of the words “fame and fortune.”

 

In the Old Testament verse, God promises us we will be both prosperous and successful people if we meditate on his Word and do all that is written. That is, if we think (meditate day and night) and behave (do everything written) the way God directs us. It’s a high but worthy standard.

 

In the New Testament, when Jesus is asked in Mathew 22: 36-38, “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the law?” Jesus declared, “Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment.

                                                                                               

We may or may not be prosperous and successful as the world defines the phrase, but we certainly will be prosperous and successful in the Godly definition, if we obey these scriptures.

 

I believe when we are prosperous and successful in God’s view, we will receive the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Many of those with worldly fame and fortune end up in heartache and brokenness

 

Given the heartache and suffering of the world, we are blessed to have a clear path to prosperity and successfulness as God provides it, in all circumstances.

 

 

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for our many blessings, including your inspired Word as we find it in the Bible. Please help us to obey your Word each and every day.  Thanks for our spiritual mentors, preachers, teachers, and Small Groups who help each of us understand what is written so that we may inscribe it on our hearts and be witnesses to others who are in need of the hope the Bible provides.  Please help those who have trouble hearing and understanding your Word. Please continue to reach for us and forgive our shortcomings. Amen.

 

Submitted by:  Fred Hanna