Psalm 35:27 [Amplified] "Let those who favor my righteous cause and have pleasure in my uprightness shout for joy and be glad and say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
If you have ever doubted whether or not God cares about your circumstances, whatever they may be, I urge you to memorize this verse. Psalm 35:27 is a wonderful promise, and it assures God's "servant" that if he/she goes "all out" for Him, He will give him/her reason to celebrate!
Something has happened, in Psalm 35:27, between the "my part" and the celebration, and that's "God's part." However, "God's part" is hinted at in the very words of the celebrant, who shouts for joy, is glad, and says over and over and over again, "Let the Lord be magnified, who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
Clearly, God caused "His servant" to prosper, and it was so huge that His servant responded with a vocal praise of the God who gets pleasure when he prospers. When God is "magnified," He is raised up, lifted up, exalted. It is the ultimate form of praise.
Let's look at how some other versions state the last part of Psalm 35:27, that which God's servant "says continually":
--"The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant" (NIV)
--"GOD is great--everything works together for good for his servant" (Message)
--"Great is the LORD, who delights in blessing his servant with peace!" (NLT)
--"Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!" (ESV)
--"The LORD is wonderful! God is glad when all goes well for his servant" (CEV)
--"May the Lord be honored. He is pleased when everything goes well with the one who serves him" (NIRV)
The Hebrew word for "prosperity" in Psalm 35:27 is shâlôm (shaw-lomé). Follow carefully the definitions and synonyms for prosperity/shalom: "safe, welfare, i.e. well, happy; welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace:--x do, familiar, x fare, favour, + friend, x great, (good) health, (x perfect, such as be at) peace (-able, -ably), prosper (-ity, -ous), rest, safe (-ty), salute, welfare, (x all is, be) well, x wholly."
How would you define "prosperity," for your current situation? If you were experiencing some sort of danger, "prosperity" for you would be safety. If you were ill, "prosperity" would be health. If you were experiencing financial hardship, "prosperity" for you would be...well, prosperity in the traditional sense (i.e., money). If you were experiencing emotional distress, "prosperity" for you would be peace. I could go on for quite a while, but you get the picture.
God desires that nothing be missing, nothing be broken in your life. If you will partner with Him, and do your part (delight in His righteousness, seeking it first), God is faithful to do His part (cause you to prosper, however and wherever you need prosperity). He delights in doing that, He takes pleasure in it, He is honored by your prosperity. Blessing "your socks off" blesses Him.
What this has to do with weight loss: Take stock of your current weight-loss journey. Is it "prosperous" right now? If there is an area that is lacking, take it to the Lord. Ask Him to show you where you may not be doing your part. He will give you wisdom in how to proceed. As you live for Him and are obedient to the direction He gives you, He is magnified, and you'll be shouting for joy, for the victory in your weight-loss journey.
Confession:
I seek God's righteousness, and God causes me to prosper. He is magnified, and I am blessed. He is delighted, and I am whole.
Showing posts with label God's part. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's part. Show all posts
Monday, November 9, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #123 [Success]
Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (NKJV).
What a wonderful Kingdom principle it is that when we line ourselves up with the Word of God, which is doing our part, God is faithful to do His part!
Last time, we looked at the first of the two "God's part" clauses in the Joshua 1:8 promise, that if we immerse ourselves in God's Word, meditate on and obey it (both our part), God will covenant with us so that we will make our way prosperous (His part).
Today, let's look at the second "God's part" clause of Joshua 1:8, "...and then you will have good success" (NKJV). Let me remind you that this verse is the only verse in the early English version of the Bible which contains the word "success."
When you compare this second "God's part" clause to the first "God's part" clause, you see a familiar phrase, "then you will," which we know means "at that time you will..." The use of the conjunction "and," linking the two "God part" clauses, assures us that not only will God see to it that we "make [our] way prosperous," but He will also see to it that we "have good success."
Let's look at the original Hebrew for "have good success." The Hebrew word for "have" is hâyâh (haw-yaw’), which means "to exist, i.e. to be or become, come to pass (always emphatic): beacon, altogether be (become, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), + follow, happen, have." Look at that list. To which word or phrase are you drawn? Take note of it, for there is a reason you are drawn to it.
The Hebrew word for "good" is râtsâh (raw-tsaw’), which means "to be pleased with, satisfied, acceptable, delight, enjoy, favourable, desire, (good) pleasure (own self, voluntary), will, as...(what) would." Do you see that you determine what is "good success" for your situation, and because you are in covenant relationship with God, He agrees with you?
We have so many believers praying and merely asking God to help them pay their bills month by month. If they are in covenant relationship with God, that's exactly what He does for them. What will you believe God to do for you, for your family? Will you be content to accept that "good success" for you is merely food, clothing, and shelter? That's not a bad thing; it's "acceptable." Do you want to live an "acceptable" life, though, nothing more? Think about that. As lovingly as I can, I tell you that it is up to you, my dear brother/sister in Christ.
The Hebrew word for "success" is sâkal (saw-kal’), which means "to be, make, act circumspect and hence intelligent:--consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent(-ly), (give) skill(-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand(-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise(-ly), guide wittingly."
So often we think of "success" as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Consider that "success" may be the "rainbow," the road on which you have chosen to travel. Line yourself up with the Word of God, and He promises to equip you for the journey. He'll help you have the intelligence, the wisdom and understanding, the guidance to make wise decisions and equip you with the skills to bring about what you decide is "good" and the "success" that you determine to make happen.
If you do your part, God will do His part, and "...you will be wise and successful in everything" (NCV).
What this has to do with weight loss: What is "good success" for you, on your weight-loss journey? Is it the goal weight at the end or the day-by-day getting there? Focus on living daily by God's Word, and you will find that your weight-loss journey is positively affected. God will do His part, as you do yours.
Confession:
Because I line myself up with the Word of God, He covenants with me to assist me on the journey which I decide is "good success" for me and my family.
What a wonderful Kingdom principle it is that when we line ourselves up with the Word of God, which is doing our part, God is faithful to do His part!
Last time, we looked at the first of the two "God's part" clauses in the Joshua 1:8 promise, that if we immerse ourselves in God's Word, meditate on and obey it (both our part), God will covenant with us so that we will make our way prosperous (His part).
Today, let's look at the second "God's part" clause of Joshua 1:8, "...and then you will have good success" (NKJV). Let me remind you that this verse is the only verse in the early English version of the Bible which contains the word "success."
When you compare this second "God's part" clause to the first "God's part" clause, you see a familiar phrase, "then you will," which we know means "at that time you will..." The use of the conjunction "and," linking the two "God part" clauses, assures us that not only will God see to it that we "make [our] way prosperous," but He will also see to it that we "have good success."
Let's look at the original Hebrew for "have good success." The Hebrew word for "have" is hâyâh (haw-yaw’), which means "to exist, i.e. to be or become, come to pass (always emphatic): beacon, altogether be (become, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), + follow, happen, have." Look at that list. To which word or phrase are you drawn? Take note of it, for there is a reason you are drawn to it.
The Hebrew word for "good" is râtsâh (raw-tsaw’), which means "to be pleased with, satisfied, acceptable, delight, enjoy, favourable, desire, (good) pleasure (own self, voluntary), will, as...(what) would." Do you see that you determine what is "good success" for your situation, and because you are in covenant relationship with God, He agrees with you?
We have so many believers praying and merely asking God to help them pay their bills month by month. If they are in covenant relationship with God, that's exactly what He does for them. What will you believe God to do for you, for your family? Will you be content to accept that "good success" for you is merely food, clothing, and shelter? That's not a bad thing; it's "acceptable." Do you want to live an "acceptable" life, though, nothing more? Think about that. As lovingly as I can, I tell you that it is up to you, my dear brother/sister in Christ.
The Hebrew word for "success" is sâkal (saw-kal’), which means "to be, make, act circumspect and hence intelligent:--consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent(-ly), (give) skill(-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand(-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise(-ly), guide wittingly."
So often we think of "success" as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Consider that "success" may be the "rainbow," the road on which you have chosen to travel. Line yourself up with the Word of God, and He promises to equip you for the journey. He'll help you have the intelligence, the wisdom and understanding, the guidance to make wise decisions and equip you with the skills to bring about what you decide is "good" and the "success" that you determine to make happen.
If you do your part, God will do His part, and "...you will be wise and successful in everything" (NCV).
What this has to do with weight loss: What is "good success" for you, on your weight-loss journey? Is it the goal weight at the end or the day-by-day getting there? Focus on living daily by God's Word, and you will find that your weight-loss journey is positively affected. God will do His part, as you do yours.
Confession:
Because I line myself up with the Word of God, He covenants with me to assist me on the journey which I decide is "good success" for me and my family.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #122 [Prosperous]
Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (NKJV).
We have spent 3 days looking at the 3 "My part" clauses of the promise contained in Joshua 1:8. We know that before God can do His part, we must do our part. We discovered that our part involves immersing oneself in the Word of God, by reading, memorizing, reciting, studying, thinking, pondering, speaking, and meditating on it. Also, we discovered that we must act on what is in the Word of God. It is our guidebook, and we must heed and obey the principles contained in it. It is for our good.
Today, we get to discover the first of 2 "God's part" clauses contained in the Joshua 1:8 promise. When we do our part, we line ourselves up with the Word of God, to receive "God's part." Joshua 1:8 states, "for then you will make your way prosperous..." (NKJV).
Let's look at the Hebrew definitions for each of the main words in this first "God's part" clause. I won't include the Hebrew word for "then." Suffice it to say that it simply means "at that time or place." The word "you" is the subject of this clause, not "God." Even though God promises to "make your way prosperous," He will not do it without you.
Notice the wonderful helping verb "will." It does not say "might." When we do our part, according to God's Word, the result is always that the promise will happen. It may not happen right away, but it will happen!
I almost didn't look up the Hebrew word for "make," but I felt the Spirit's nudging to do so, and I'm so glad I heeded! The Hebrew word for "make" is kârath (kaw-rath’), which means "to covenant (i.e. make an alliance); be freed." This is the reason why God breathed "you," not "I" (meaning God). God is a covenant God. He is all about partnering with us, rather than doing things on His own. Let's face it, often we wish God would just snap His fingers and make all our problems, especially our financial concerns, go away. He just does not work that way. He desires to work in and through us, and that is the covenant relationship. The absolutely astounding part of the definition of the Hebrew word for "make" is that the very second we covenant with God, we are "freed." In the spiritual realm, in the Kingdom of God, the second we covenant with God, our "way" is made "prosperous." It is loosed in Heaven, and it's on its way!
The Hebrew word for "way" in Joshua 1:8 is derek (deh'-rek), and it means "a road; a course of life or mode of action, journey, manner, highway, pathway, whithersoever." I love that last word, whithersoever, because it means "whatever, whenever, wherever." You can't get more inclusive than that!
"For then you will make your way prosperous..." (Joshua 1:8, NKJV). The Hebrew word for "prosperous" is tsâlêach (tsaw-lay’-akh), which means "to push forward:--break out, come mightily, go over, be good, be meet, be profitable; cause to, effect, make to, send prosperity." Look at that list. Which word or phrase describes how you want your "course of life or mode of action" to be "prosperous"? Perhaps you feel stuck, so prosperity for you right now would be "to push forward." Maybe your "manner" has been "okay." You do what you need to do every day, but you're ready for more. If that describes you, then prosperity for you would be to "break out." Based on what "prosperous" means, ask yourself the question, "What do I want God to do for me?"
What this has to do with weight loss: Have you been prosperous in your weight-loss journey? If the answer is "Yes, but not right now" or "No," you're not stuck there forever. What do you want God to do for you? Ask Him. Be specific. If you know that you line up with the "My part" of Joshua 1:8, God says to you, "then you will be prosperous" (TNIV). If you know that you don't line up with the "My part" of Joshua 1:8, do what you need to do to get there. You'll be glad you did.
After you have prayed your specific prosperity request, make it your confession, stating that because you line up with God's Word, it will happen. It's on its way!
We have spent 3 days looking at the 3 "My part" clauses of the promise contained in Joshua 1:8. We know that before God can do His part, we must do our part. We discovered that our part involves immersing oneself in the Word of God, by reading, memorizing, reciting, studying, thinking, pondering, speaking, and meditating on it. Also, we discovered that we must act on what is in the Word of God. It is our guidebook, and we must heed and obey the principles contained in it. It is for our good.
Today, we get to discover the first of 2 "God's part" clauses contained in the Joshua 1:8 promise. When we do our part, we line ourselves up with the Word of God, to receive "God's part." Joshua 1:8 states, "for then you will make your way prosperous..." (NKJV).
Let's look at the Hebrew definitions for each of the main words in this first "God's part" clause. I won't include the Hebrew word for "then." Suffice it to say that it simply means "at that time or place." The word "you" is the subject of this clause, not "God." Even though God promises to "make your way prosperous," He will not do it without you.
Notice the wonderful helping verb "will." It does not say "might." When we do our part, according to God's Word, the result is always that the promise will happen. It may not happen right away, but it will happen!
I almost didn't look up the Hebrew word for "make," but I felt the Spirit's nudging to do so, and I'm so glad I heeded! The Hebrew word for "make" is kârath (kaw-rath’), which means "to covenant (i.e. make an alliance); be freed." This is the reason why God breathed "you," not "I" (meaning God). God is a covenant God. He is all about partnering with us, rather than doing things on His own. Let's face it, often we wish God would just snap His fingers and make all our problems, especially our financial concerns, go away. He just does not work that way. He desires to work in and through us, and that is the covenant relationship. The absolutely astounding part of the definition of the Hebrew word for "make" is that the very second we covenant with God, we are "freed." In the spiritual realm, in the Kingdom of God, the second we covenant with God, our "way" is made "prosperous." It is loosed in Heaven, and it's on its way!
The Hebrew word for "way" in Joshua 1:8 is derek (deh'-rek), and it means "a road; a course of life or mode of action, journey, manner, highway, pathway, whithersoever." I love that last word, whithersoever, because it means "whatever, whenever, wherever." You can't get more inclusive than that!
"For then you will make your way prosperous..." (Joshua 1:8, NKJV). The Hebrew word for "prosperous" is tsâlêach (tsaw-lay’-akh), which means "to push forward:--break out, come mightily, go over, be good, be meet, be profitable; cause to, effect, make to, send prosperity." Look at that list. Which word or phrase describes how you want your "course of life or mode of action" to be "prosperous"? Perhaps you feel stuck, so prosperity for you right now would be "to push forward." Maybe your "manner" has been "okay." You do what you need to do every day, but you're ready for more. If that describes you, then prosperity for you would be to "break out." Based on what "prosperous" means, ask yourself the question, "What do I want God to do for me?"
What this has to do with weight loss: Have you been prosperous in your weight-loss journey? If the answer is "Yes, but not right now" or "No," you're not stuck there forever. What do you want God to do for you? Ask Him. Be specific. If you know that you line up with the "My part" of Joshua 1:8, God says to you, "then you will be prosperous" (TNIV). If you know that you don't line up with the "My part" of Joshua 1:8, do what you need to do to get there. You'll be glad you did.
After you have prayed your specific prosperity request, make it your confession, stating that because you line up with God's Word, it will happen. It's on its way!
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