DO YOU WANT TO PROSPER AND BE BLESSED?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
(Proverbs 16:20)

MEDITATION:
If someone told you how to prosper and be blessed, you would
probably sign up immediately, right? Each of us may have our
own definition of prosperity, but regardless of how we define it,
‘prosperity’ is something we would like to achieve.

But there’s something that is probably more important to each
of us, which is being blessed. Blessings can be different for every
person. Some feel blessed when they have good health. Some feel
blessed when they have good relationships with their family and
others. Being successful in a career is defined as a blessing by some.

However, we may be overlooking God’s definition of prosperity and
blessings. Our view can be distorted because we are influenced by the
world. The ‘world’ has had an impact on our view of all aspects of life
(good and bad). But if we stop, take a breath, and pray, we realize that
God’s idea of prosperity and blessings is the most accurate. After all,
He is omniscient (all-knowing), and we know we can trust Him!

So, what is God’s formula for prospering and being blessed? It starts
with our ears – we need to listen for righteous instructions. Secondly,
it involves our mind and our will. If we don’t “give heed” (apply) the
righteous instructions we have heard, then all we have gained is some
information. If we don’t ‘activate’ what we have heard and learned
about righteousness, then we are not moving toward prosperity and
blessings from God’s perspective.

And lastly, we need to trust the Lord completely. It makes a lot more
sense than trusting ourselves, or someone we know, doesn’t it? When
we follow God’s instructions, we can experience freedom from the
disappointment of being incapable of coping with the challenges we
encounter in this life (and we all have challenges, don’t we?).

God can provide answers to our questions such as,
    “Who am I?”
    “Why was I born?”
    “Where am I going?”
When we prosper from God’s point of view, we are blessed with
a new direction and a new purpose for living.

ACTION:
We should ask ourselves,
    Am I ready to prosper and be blessed?
    Do I really want to follow God’s instructions?

God has given us the requirements and it’s up to us to believe what He
says is true. It’s a matter of trust (which is also part of His instructions).

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, I am tired of trying to prosper and receive blessings
my own way. I am disappointed in myself for allowing the world to steer
me in the wrong direction. I want to enjoy prosperity and blessings from
Your perspective, because I know that then, and only then, will I be on the
right track toward enjoying a new purpose for living. I am convinced that
having a new purpose for living will bring me joy. Thank You for teaching
me what I need to know if I expect to prosper and receive Your blessings!
Remind me that I can prosper in many ways that are not related to wealth.
I trust You to take full control of my life.”

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