Haggai 1:5-6 "Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it'" (NIV).
In my quiet time last week, in reading through the Bible chronologically, I came to the book of Haggai. It is a short book--only two chapters. Do not let that make you think that this book is unimportant. On the contrary, it is powerful and timely.
The children of Israel had returned from Babylonian captivity. They were to build a temple. No doubt, had you asked them what was going on, why the temple had not been built, they would have said something like, "It is not that we are saying 'No' to God; we are just saying 'Not yet.'" God had to get tough with them, to make it clear that delayed obedience is disobedience.
God says (and says repeatedly in chapters 1 and 2), "Give careful thought to your ways." Through this suggestion of self-examination, God was trying to get His people to understand that they would do well to think carefully about how they were living. By "giving careful thought," perhaps they would conclude that their ways were not serving them.
God points out that the people had planted much but harvested little. God points out that the people ate and drank but were never satisfied. God points out that the people put on clothes but could not get warm. Finally, God points out that the people were earning wages but losing their pay, because they were putting their money in a bag full of holes. The reader senses a holy pause and seems to hear God saying, "How's that working for you?"
Delayed obedience is disobedience and will usher in a dissatisfaction and endless cycle of lack. The lack may be physical, emotional, and/or spiritual. It is the experience of dis-ease.
The children of Israel delayed building the temple, but they lived in "paneled houses" (Haggai 1:4). How often do we say that we cannot afford to follow God's leading, whether it's to tithe or to give to a building project or some other kingdom work, yet we think nothing of spending ten times that amount on acquiring something for ourselves or our family.
This is not meant to bring you to condemnation, dear reader, but to encourage you to examine yourself. Perhaps there is an area where God has been dealing with you (whether it involves finances or something else), but you have been saying, "Not yet, God. Not yet." I plead with you to say "Yes" to God, for anything else will result in dissatisfaction in the temple of your heart.
Will there be a "cost" to saying "Yes" to God? Probably. Will it be easy to do what He has asked you to do? Probably not. The purpose of difficulties, of trials, is to strengthen one's faith and reliance on the Lord. It is not an excuse to say "Not yet," or, worse yet, to say "No" to God.
What this has to do with weight loss: When I talk to someone who is experiencing frustration in their weight-loss journey (and even when I talk to myself about the same thing), almost every time, when it comes down to it, the issue is delayed obedience to what one knows one should be doing. As in everything, delayed obedience is disobedience. One cannot expect to see the scale show a lower number if one is not willing to follow the diet and exercise plan one has decided on. The result is frustration and a waste of time. When the Lord gives you a nudge about the problem area (and He will), pay attention and make obedience a priority. You'll be glad you did.
Confession:
I examine my heart, to see if there are things that God has asked me to do, that I have left undone. I turn every "Not yet, God" into "Yes, Lord."
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #134 [All the way]
Mark 4:35-38 "On the same day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to [His disciples], 'Let us cross over to the other side.' Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?'" (NKJV)
When I read this in my quiet time, for the first time I noticed what Jesus said, in verse 35, "Let us cross over to the other side." It was as if God was saying to me, "I have plans for My people. My plan is not for them to fail halfway, or to stop halfway, or to die halfway." God has plans for you to make it all the way!
But while you're on your journey, someone else has the ability to project lies and thoughts that are exactly opposite of God's plans. He'll say things like, "You're going bankrupt. Your business is failing. Your family's going to get sick. You're going to die."
The devil is the one who comes up with thoughts that are the opposite of God's. The reason is he wants you to believe him, not God, and if you do, you'll have his ways instead of God's ways.
But Jesus said, "Let us cross over to the other side." That was the plan. They got in the boat, and Jesus fell asleep in the back. He was at peace, full of the assurance that His Father was with Him. He wasn't worried about a thing.
While they were crossing by boat, a storm broke. The winds blew, the waves rose, and the boat was soon full of water. The frantic disciples went to Jesus and woke Him up, crying, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
That's what was said, but it was first a thought. Someone thought, "We're going to die!" And someone said (Thomas, my guess), "We're going to die!" Fear spreads. Satan whispered a thought of fear, and they believed the circumstances rather than God's Word, which contains God's Thoughts and plans, and makes God's way available.
Jesus, Word made flesh, had said, "You are going to the other side," but the circumstances said, "You're going to die here." Someone chose to listen to the suggestion of the circumstances, hide it in his heart, worry about it, and speak it from his mouth.
Waking Jesus was like the way we pray when we're afraid, "God, I'm sick. Don't You care?" Or, "Lord, don't You see that I'm going broke?" That's the sequence: negative circumstance => negative thought => negative emotion => negative speech.
It doesn't stop there, though. The result is that God's plan for your life, His intended miracle for you, gets reversed. Rather than taking God's Word and allowing it to make His way available, the decision is made by the doubter to reverse the intended order of things.
Does God ever plan for you to fail? No. Meditate on the fact that God intends for you to succeed, to live, to get to the other side! Get it down inside your heart so deep that when the waves come, you'll see that they are nothing. Remember this, God's voice may be softer than the breeze, but it's louder than the storm.
What this has to do with weight loss: If you are experiencing a "storm" on your weight-loss journey, pay attention to your thoughts about that negative circumstance. Turn those negative thoughts into positive, faith-filled ones, and you will experience more positive emotions and faith-filled speech, and it's your speech, coupled with faith in God's Word, that will carry you to the other side.
Confession:
God plans for me to make it all the way, and I intend to cooperate with His plans. Satan is a liar, and I refuse to listen to his lies. I refuse to think his lying thoughts. I refuse to speak his lying words. My thoughts, emotions, words, and deeds line up with God's Word, and I will see God's intended miracle plans for me come to pass!
When I read this in my quiet time, for the first time I noticed what Jesus said, in verse 35, "Let us cross over to the other side." It was as if God was saying to me, "I have plans for My people. My plan is not for them to fail halfway, or to stop halfway, or to die halfway." God has plans for you to make it all the way!
But while you're on your journey, someone else has the ability to project lies and thoughts that are exactly opposite of God's plans. He'll say things like, "You're going bankrupt. Your business is failing. Your family's going to get sick. You're going to die."
The devil is the one who comes up with thoughts that are the opposite of God's. The reason is he wants you to believe him, not God, and if you do, you'll have his ways instead of God's ways.
But Jesus said, "Let us cross over to the other side." That was the plan. They got in the boat, and Jesus fell asleep in the back. He was at peace, full of the assurance that His Father was with Him. He wasn't worried about a thing.
While they were crossing by boat, a storm broke. The winds blew, the waves rose, and the boat was soon full of water. The frantic disciples went to Jesus and woke Him up, crying, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
That's what was said, but it was first a thought. Someone thought, "We're going to die!" And someone said (Thomas, my guess), "We're going to die!" Fear spreads. Satan whispered a thought of fear, and they believed the circumstances rather than God's Word, which contains God's Thoughts and plans, and makes God's way available.
Jesus, Word made flesh, had said, "You are going to the other side," but the circumstances said, "You're going to die here." Someone chose to listen to the suggestion of the circumstances, hide it in his heart, worry about it, and speak it from his mouth.
Waking Jesus was like the way we pray when we're afraid, "God, I'm sick. Don't You care?" Or, "Lord, don't You see that I'm going broke?" That's the sequence: negative circumstance => negative thought => negative emotion => negative speech.
It doesn't stop there, though. The result is that God's plan for your life, His intended miracle for you, gets reversed. Rather than taking God's Word and allowing it to make His way available, the decision is made by the doubter to reverse the intended order of things.
Does God ever plan for you to fail? No. Meditate on the fact that God intends for you to succeed, to live, to get to the other side! Get it down inside your heart so deep that when the waves come, you'll see that they are nothing. Remember this, God's voice may be softer than the breeze, but it's louder than the storm.
What this has to do with weight loss: If you are experiencing a "storm" on your weight-loss journey, pay attention to your thoughts about that negative circumstance. Turn those negative thoughts into positive, faith-filled ones, and you will experience more positive emotions and faith-filled speech, and it's your speech, coupled with faith in God's Word, that will carry you to the other side.
Confession:
God plans for me to make it all the way, and I intend to cooperate with His plans. Satan is a liar, and I refuse to listen to his lies. I refuse to think his lying thoughts. I refuse to speak his lying words. My thoughts, emotions, words, and deeds line up with God's Word, and I will see God's intended miracle plans for me come to pass!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #133 [What's God thinking/doing?]
Isaiah 55:8 "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways My ways,' says the LORD" (KJV).
Isaiah 55:8 is a verse that's often quoted when people don't understand why something happened the way it did, especially when the subject is sickness. I confess that I used to turn to that verse, too, when I just couldn't figure out why life didn't go as planned. One day, however, when I was reading the entire chapter of Isaiah 55, the Holy Spirit gave me a lesson on God's thoughts and ways.
The entire chapter of Isaiah 55 is written to the nonbeliever, the "thirsty" ones. It opens with an invitation to "Come" (verse 1), to "Listen" (verse 2), to "hear, that your soul may live" (verse 3). God says that if people will do those three things, "[He] will make an everlasting covenant with [them]" (verse 3).
Isaiah 55:6 has a more urgent tone to it, admonishing the unbeliever to "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near." Then verse 7 begins the topic of God's thoughts and ways.
Isaiah 55:7 says, "Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts...," so when God says in verse 8, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," He is talking to the "wicked," the unbeliever, not the believer! God is saying that His thoughts are not the same as the thoughts of the wicked, and the ways of the wicked are not His ways.
We believers can know God's thoughts and God's ways, and we'd better know them, if we expect to experience an abundant life here on earth! Sure, God is Infinite God and we are finite man, but we have all the God Thoughts we need--called the God-breathed Word! God's ways are written there, too, and when we pay attention to them, we will know how the Kingdom of God works, and we'll experience that right here on earth!
What this has to do with weight loss: When you encounter a "question mark" on your weight-loss journey, the answer can be found either in God's Word or in prayer. Seek the answer, no matter how long it takes.
Confession;
Now I know that God's thoughts and ways are contained in His Word, and I'm excited to learn all that He has to say so that I realize the abundant life that Jesus came to bring to me. It is my desire that my thoughts and ways mirror God's thoughts and ways.
Isaiah 55:8 is a verse that's often quoted when people don't understand why something happened the way it did, especially when the subject is sickness. I confess that I used to turn to that verse, too, when I just couldn't figure out why life didn't go as planned. One day, however, when I was reading the entire chapter of Isaiah 55, the Holy Spirit gave me a lesson on God's thoughts and ways.
The entire chapter of Isaiah 55 is written to the nonbeliever, the "thirsty" ones. It opens with an invitation to "Come" (verse 1), to "Listen" (verse 2), to "hear, that your soul may live" (verse 3). God says that if people will do those three things, "[He] will make an everlasting covenant with [them]" (verse 3).
Isaiah 55:6 has a more urgent tone to it, admonishing the unbeliever to "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near." Then verse 7 begins the topic of God's thoughts and ways.
Isaiah 55:7 says, "Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts...," so when God says in verse 8, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," He is talking to the "wicked," the unbeliever, not the believer! God is saying that His thoughts are not the same as the thoughts of the wicked, and the ways of the wicked are not His ways.
We believers can know God's thoughts and God's ways, and we'd better know them, if we expect to experience an abundant life here on earth! Sure, God is Infinite God and we are finite man, but we have all the God Thoughts we need--called the God-breathed Word! God's ways are written there, too, and when we pay attention to them, we will know how the Kingdom of God works, and we'll experience that right here on earth!
What this has to do with weight loss: When you encounter a "question mark" on your weight-loss journey, the answer can be found either in God's Word or in prayer. Seek the answer, no matter how long it takes.
Confession;
Now I know that God's thoughts and ways are contained in His Word, and I'm excited to learn all that He has to say so that I realize the abundant life that Jesus came to bring to me. It is my desire that my thoughts and ways mirror God's thoughts and ways.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #132 [Forward-looking Faith]
Scripture woven within devotional.
We know that "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6, NIV). We have an excellent example of what it is like to live by faith, in Abraham, the patriarch.
Abraham was not perfect, though. He had times when his faith faltered. It was hard to wait 25 years for the fulfillment of God's promise, that he would be a father and the father of many nations. Yes, "Abram believed in the LORD; and He credited to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6, NIV). The Amplified Version for Genesis 15:6 says, "He [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God)."
This endorsement of Abraham is reiterated in the New Testament. "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness" (Galatians 3:6, NIV). Consider the Amplified Version of Galatians 3:6, "Abraham believed in and adhered to and trusted in and relied on God, and it was reckoned and placed to his account and credited as righteousness (as conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action)."
Believing God is so much more than saying, "I believe in God." It's even more than saying, "I believe God." Believing God means trusting Him, relying on Him, remaining steadfast in Him (no matter what's going on). Believing God is sticking to Him like glue!
Abraham had forward-looking faith. He could envision the promises of God long before he saw them come to pass. Abraham had God Thoughts and God Ways. I know this because of what it says about God in Romans 4:17, "...God who gives life to the dead and calls those things that are not as though they were" (NIV).
What this has to do with weight loss: It's hard to see yourself at goal weight, to envision that until it's so strong a picture that you can almost feel it, but that's what we should do. If God "calls those things that are not as though they were," we can do that too. Call yourself whole, envision yourself whole, and allow it to come to pass. It's not something to fear.
Confession:
God is pleased when I envision myself as whole (nothing missing, nothing broken), because that is how He sees me. God calls me blessed, and I call myself "Blessed of the Lord!"
We know that "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6, NIV). We have an excellent example of what it is like to live by faith, in Abraham, the patriarch.
Abraham was not perfect, though. He had times when his faith faltered. It was hard to wait 25 years for the fulfillment of God's promise, that he would be a father and the father of many nations. Yes, "Abram believed in the LORD; and He credited to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6, NIV). The Amplified Version for Genesis 15:6 says, "He [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God)."
This endorsement of Abraham is reiterated in the New Testament. "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness" (Galatians 3:6, NIV). Consider the Amplified Version of Galatians 3:6, "Abraham believed in and adhered to and trusted in and relied on God, and it was reckoned and placed to his account and credited as righteousness (as conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action)."
Believing God is so much more than saying, "I believe in God." It's even more than saying, "I believe God." Believing God means trusting Him, relying on Him, remaining steadfast in Him (no matter what's going on). Believing God is sticking to Him like glue!
Abraham had forward-looking faith. He could envision the promises of God long before he saw them come to pass. Abraham had God Thoughts and God Ways. I know this because of what it says about God in Romans 4:17, "...God who gives life to the dead and calls those things that are not as though they were" (NIV).
What this has to do with weight loss: It's hard to see yourself at goal weight, to envision that until it's so strong a picture that you can almost feel it, but that's what we should do. If God "calls those things that are not as though they were," we can do that too. Call yourself whole, envision yourself whole, and allow it to come to pass. It's not something to fear.
Confession:
God is pleased when I envision myself as whole (nothing missing, nothing broken), because that is how He sees me. God calls me blessed, and I call myself "Blessed of the Lord!"
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #131 [Focus]
Matthew 14:25, 28-30 "During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake... 'Lord, if it's you,' Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water.' 'Come,' He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'" (NIV)
Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water, but then Peter made a mistake. He was hearing, believing, and acting right, but then "he saw the wind boisterous." He took his eyes off Jesus and started watching the strong wind blowing on the stormy sea.
At that moment, fear entered in, faith stopped, and Peter started to sink. Maybe he was thinking, "I can't walk on water when the wind is blowing, especially when the waves are big!" He must have forgotten who had made it possible for him to walk on the water when it had been smooth.
When we believe God, we need to hear God's Word, believe God's Word, say God's Word, and act on God's Word. We also need to keep our eyes off the problem and on Jesus. No matter what stormy circumstances we face, Jesus is the answer to our every need.
What this has to do with weight loss: The scale is not moving, and it is so frustrating. It is a mistake to focus on the scale, weighing every day, determining whether it's a "good" day or a "bad" day according to the number on a scale. Whatever you focus on gets bigger. May it be Jesus, not the scale or current problem.
Confession:
I keep my eyes on Jesus, not looking at the circumstances or impossibilities that surround me. I choose to believe His Word, and my faith holds me up.
Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water, but then Peter made a mistake. He was hearing, believing, and acting right, but then "he saw the wind boisterous." He took his eyes off Jesus and started watching the strong wind blowing on the stormy sea.
At that moment, fear entered in, faith stopped, and Peter started to sink. Maybe he was thinking, "I can't walk on water when the wind is blowing, especially when the waves are big!" He must have forgotten who had made it possible for him to walk on the water when it had been smooth.
When we believe God, we need to hear God's Word, believe God's Word, say God's Word, and act on God's Word. We also need to keep our eyes off the problem and on Jesus. No matter what stormy circumstances we face, Jesus is the answer to our every need.
What this has to do with weight loss: The scale is not moving, and it is so frustrating. It is a mistake to focus on the scale, weighing every day, determining whether it's a "good" day or a "bad" day according to the number on a scale. Whatever you focus on gets bigger. May it be Jesus, not the scale or current problem.
Confession:
I keep my eyes on Jesus, not looking at the circumstances or impossibilities that surround me. I choose to believe His Word, and my faith holds me up.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #130 [Can you believe it?]
Mark 9:23 "Jesus said unto him, 'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes'" (NKJV).
Jesus made a powerful statement to the man who brought his son to Him for deliverance. He said, "All things are possible to him who believes."
The reason Jesus could say that is shown in Hebrews 1:1-2: "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken in us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things..." (NKJV). How many is "all"? All means all! Jesus has been made heir of all things.
Then Romans 8:16-17 says, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ..." (NKJV). If you are a joint heir with someone, whatever he inherits also belongs to you. What did Jesus inherit? God appointed Him heir of all things.
Jesus said in Mark 10:27 (NKJV), "...with God all things are possible" and "all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23, NKJV). All things are possible to the person who believes because we believers are joint heirs with Jesus, the Heir of all things.
The believer must learn to believe God and tap his/her faith into God's grace and God's ability. If we in the true Church Body would just get hold of that, it would absolutely change our lives! All things are possible to us, when we believe.
What this has to do with weight loss: One of the hardest parts of the weight-loss journey, for most people, is to actually believe that one will get to and stay at one's goal weight. Allow God to help you paint a picture in your mind of what you'll look like at goal weight, and think of it often. Your imagination is God given. Use it for good, and that includes for your good. When you believe it, nothing is impossible.
Watch Leon Jackson, from Britain, sing When You Believe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMO4-HzMqRg
Confession:
With God, all things are possible. He is greater than any sickness, any disease, any difficulty, any lack. He is greater than all, and He lives in me--so all things are possible to me because I believe!
Jesus made a powerful statement to the man who brought his son to Him for deliverance. He said, "All things are possible to him who believes."
The reason Jesus could say that is shown in Hebrews 1:1-2: "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken in us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things..." (NKJV). How many is "all"? All means all! Jesus has been made heir of all things.
Then Romans 8:16-17 says, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ..." (NKJV). If you are a joint heir with someone, whatever he inherits also belongs to you. What did Jesus inherit? God appointed Him heir of all things.
Jesus said in Mark 10:27 (NKJV), "...with God all things are possible" and "all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23, NKJV). All things are possible to the person who believes because we believers are joint heirs with Jesus, the Heir of all things.
The believer must learn to believe God and tap his/her faith into God's grace and God's ability. If we in the true Church Body would just get hold of that, it would absolutely change our lives! All things are possible to us, when we believe.
What this has to do with weight loss: One of the hardest parts of the weight-loss journey, for most people, is to actually believe that one will get to and stay at one's goal weight. Allow God to help you paint a picture in your mind of what you'll look like at goal weight, and think of it often. Your imagination is God given. Use it for good, and that includes for your good. When you believe it, nothing is impossible.
Watch Leon Jackson, from Britain, sing When You Believe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMO4-HzMqRg
Confession:
With God, all things are possible. He is greater than any sickness, any disease, any difficulty, any lack. He is greater than all, and He lives in me--so all things are possible to me because I believe!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #129 [Ways to prosper]
III John 2 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers" (Amplified).
This God-breathed verse is one of my favorite verses, because everything that God wants for me is written in that verse. The apostle John is writing to Gaius, no doubt a fellow servant in the work of the Lord, but, as we know, every word in God's Word applies to each of us today.
The Greek word for "prosper" in III John verse 2 means: "help on the road; to succeed in reaching; to succeed in business affairs." The Greek word for "health" in III John verse 2 means: "to have sound health; to be well in body; to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine); to be safe and sound; to be whole." The Greek word for "prospers" is the same as "prosper," so the meaning is the same for this phrase that speaks of soul prosperity.
In this one verse, we have God's intent for us, that there be provision for our journey. God wants each of us to live a life in which we are happy, healthy, and whole. The provision is there, in God's Word. All we have to do is realize it, believe it, and walk in it.
God intends for each of us to prosper or succeed 1) financially. He wants us to "prosper in every way." That means that whatever business we have a hand in should prosper. That means that our bills should get paid. That means we should have plenty left over, to care for others and carry on the work of the kingdom right here on earth. Of course, giving God the tithe from the top and first is important and sets God's principle of financial prosperity into action.
While it is true that "money can't buy happiness," there is nothing "happy" about being poor! God does not have a poverty mentality. If He did, He never would have created gold, silver, precious gems. In Genesis 13:2, we are told that Abraham, the father of our faith, "was rich in cattle, in silver and in gold." Financial prosperity is part of the covenant. God wants us to be happy, and He knows that one cannot be truly happy if one's needs or one's family's needs are not being met.
God intends for us to prosper or succeed 2) physically. He wants each of us to be healthy in our body. If we are ill in any measure, whether it's that we are too tired or we are too sick, we cannot do the work God intends for us to do. God desires that we be effective workers for Him, so He is more than willing to heal us. Just as in financial prosperity, God has put principles of health and healing in His Word. If God's people could grasp the revelation of God's Word on health and healing, the world would be turned upside down by people on fire for God, who have the stamina to work tirelessly for the Kingdom.
God intends for us to prosper or succeed 3) spiritually. He wants each of us to be whole, to be "true in doctrine," to be eternally secure. Can a person be prosperous financially and physically, yet not be a Christian? Of course, but Mark 8:36 says it all, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" God desires that we be secure in every way, and that security begins at the foot of the Cross. God has put principles of spiritual success and prosperity in His Word. Following those principles is key to living a victorious Christian life.
God's intent is for each of His children to have "help on the road." We are not left on our own, to slave and beg for our daily bread, to search for a cure for what ails us, or to find someone or something to believe in. God can be Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider, if we will let Him, if we will follow the principles in His Word. God can be Jehovah-Rapha, our Healer, if we will let Him, if we will follow the principles in His Word. God can be Jehovah-Rohi, our Shepherd and Jehovah-Shalom, our Peace, if we will let Him, if we will follow the principles in His Word.
What this has to do with weight loss: God's intent for us is that there be provision for our journey, even our weight-loss journey. That doesn't mean it will be an easy one. However, if we will remember God's intention and make sure our intention is to do our part, to cooperate with His guidance, our weight-loss journey will be successful/prosperous.
Confession:
I am God's "Beloved," and He delights in my prosperity. God delights in my happiness, healthfulness, and wholeness. I partner with God by following His principles, and I marvel at how He provides for my journey!
This God-breathed verse is one of my favorite verses, because everything that God wants for me is written in that verse. The apostle John is writing to Gaius, no doubt a fellow servant in the work of the Lord, but, as we know, every word in God's Word applies to each of us today.
The Greek word for "prosper" in III John verse 2 means: "help on the road; to succeed in reaching; to succeed in business affairs." The Greek word for "health" in III John verse 2 means: "to have sound health; to be well in body; to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine); to be safe and sound; to be whole." The Greek word for "prospers" is the same as "prosper," so the meaning is the same for this phrase that speaks of soul prosperity.
In this one verse, we have God's intent for us, that there be provision for our journey. God wants each of us to live a life in which we are happy, healthy, and whole. The provision is there, in God's Word. All we have to do is realize it, believe it, and walk in it.
God intends for each of us to prosper or succeed 1) financially. He wants us to "prosper in every way." That means that whatever business we have a hand in should prosper. That means that our bills should get paid. That means we should have plenty left over, to care for others and carry on the work of the kingdom right here on earth. Of course, giving God the tithe from the top and first is important and sets God's principle of financial prosperity into action.
While it is true that "money can't buy happiness," there is nothing "happy" about being poor! God does not have a poverty mentality. If He did, He never would have created gold, silver, precious gems. In Genesis 13:2, we are told that Abraham, the father of our faith, "was rich in cattle, in silver and in gold." Financial prosperity is part of the covenant. God wants us to be happy, and He knows that one cannot be truly happy if one's needs or one's family's needs are not being met.
God intends for us to prosper or succeed 2) physically. He wants each of us to be healthy in our body. If we are ill in any measure, whether it's that we are too tired or we are too sick, we cannot do the work God intends for us to do. God desires that we be effective workers for Him, so He is more than willing to heal us. Just as in financial prosperity, God has put principles of health and healing in His Word. If God's people could grasp the revelation of God's Word on health and healing, the world would be turned upside down by people on fire for God, who have the stamina to work tirelessly for the Kingdom.
God intends for us to prosper or succeed 3) spiritually. He wants each of us to be whole, to be "true in doctrine," to be eternally secure. Can a person be prosperous financially and physically, yet not be a Christian? Of course, but Mark 8:36 says it all, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" God desires that we be secure in every way, and that security begins at the foot of the Cross. God has put principles of spiritual success and prosperity in His Word. Following those principles is key to living a victorious Christian life.
God's intent is for each of His children to have "help on the road." We are not left on our own, to slave and beg for our daily bread, to search for a cure for what ails us, or to find someone or something to believe in. God can be Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider, if we will let Him, if we will follow the principles in His Word. God can be Jehovah-Rapha, our Healer, if we will let Him, if we will follow the principles in His Word. God can be Jehovah-Rohi, our Shepherd and Jehovah-Shalom, our Peace, if we will let Him, if we will follow the principles in His Word.
What this has to do with weight loss: God's intent for us is that there be provision for our journey, even our weight-loss journey. That doesn't mean it will be an easy one. However, if we will remember God's intention and make sure our intention is to do our part, to cooperate with His guidance, our weight-loss journey will be successful/prosperous.
Confession:
I am God's "Beloved," and He delights in my prosperity. God delights in my happiness, healthfulness, and wholeness. I partner with God by following His principles, and I marvel at how He provides for my journey!
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