HOW CAN I PROSPER?
Joshua 1:7-8; Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
HOW CAN I PROSPER USING GOD’S WORD?
Anyone can live a prosperous life if we only used God word as it was intended to be used. Many people do not know that the word of God is alive. It contains everything we need to live a Godly life. But the question is how? In this week post I give you some insights.
Be Strong and Courageous
In the first chapter of Joshua, God told the new commander of Israel to be strong and courageous, not once but 4 times. Why is that? For someone to do what God calls them to do, it requires you to be strong and courageous. What God tells us to do, is never something we can do on our own. It is always bigger than ourselves. Joshua was called to take over a territory with sons of former slaves from Egypt. They were not an army. But God told Joshua what to do and how to carry it out. He promised that if they listened to Him they would be victorious, but that it would also take courage.
I think most people miss it right here. Right from the starting gate. I believe most people only attempt what they know they can do. They attempt things that will not require them to go to far beyond themselves. Most people think they know their limits and they attempt to live their lives in that so called “comfort zone”. Too many settle for the “American Dream” and do not go for “God’s Vision.”
When God called me to Guatemala to start a project to help people in poverty, it was and still is more then I can accomplish on my own. It still amazes me. Week after week the money on our small budget comes in and we feed over 25 families a month. We hand out lunches to 110 children three times a week. God called me to do it and we are doing it. It takes GUTS. There is a saying I heard in bible college. “If you can do it on your own. It is not God.”
If you talk to most people they will tell you they only live in their so called “comfort zone.” This is not God’s best and if you stay there, you may prosper, but you will never achieve what God has intended for you.
Observe!
What God tells Joshua next is to “observe” God’s law or the Word of God. God made humans. God gave us an instruction manual. It does not sound romantic but it is true. We do come with an instruction manual on how to operate our lives. God in His Word covers every important area of our lives. It does not cover every situation but that is where wisdom and the Spirit of God comes in. We need to look to God’s Word and observe what it says on every aspect of our life. We need to observe how God says things are to run. God made us and he knows how we operate and how we can succeed in life.
Do not turn to the left or the right!
Let me put it this way. “DO NOT DO IT YOUR WAY!” When God told Joshua not to turn to the left or right, He was basically telling him, I want you to do exactly what Moses showed you. Do not attempt to “out think Me.” Walk on the path I showed you. Do not make any turns and most of all, do not attempt any shortcuts! But we humans love to live life on our own terms. Frank Sinatra sang a song called “I’ll do it my way.”
This is where we all get into trouble. We know it all. No one can tell us how to live our life including God. We figured, it is our life and we can do what we want to. That is a true statement! You can do what you want, but there are consequences to your actions and your decisions. That is the part we hate. Especially when our decisions do not work out the way we thought.
Prospering wherever you go.
Lets sum up Part II. Do you want to prosper? Succeed in this gift of life that God gave you? Just read the statement made by God to Joshua. That you my “prosper wherever you go.” This should not be a theological debate. God wants you to succeed in His plans for your life, no matter what you are called to do. It doesn’t matter if you are a doctor, pastor or a stay at home mom, God wants you to succeed.
Simply put, if you are not succeeding in some areas of your life you have:
- not studied the Word of God in this area
- decided by ignorance, or are just living on experience doing it your own way.
I believe we should all own a good bible, a concordance, additional reference material, and a notebook. Find the area where you are not doing as well as you would like. Open your resource material and locate the topic you need help with in the Bible. Then STUDY THE WORD.
(A personal opinion; Stay away from theological material. Many of them will give you their take on the bible through their religious up-bringing. You might get a denominational slant on many topics that are altered from what the bible states.)
Open up the Bible and let the Lord speak to you. Let His word guide you. Write out those scriptures and study them. Learn what it is that God is telling you. Then after that listen to your favorite preachers, and read your favorite bible study materials. Then you can filter what they are saying though the Word of God.
If you are married or if you want to be; find out your role, study and learn how God tells you to act as a wife or husband.
In sexual areas take God’s Word and learn how God defines sexual relations.
In business, or even being an employee, God gives us direction. The bible might use the word slave or master. But the principles still apply to both you as either an employee or as an employer.
Money, this is a huge topic. After Bible college and the proper teaching in this area, I learned that for many years I did not understand the proper use of money nor how God tells us to plant it like a seed. I learned that I do not give God money. As his servant, I do what he tells me about handling HIS money. I did not understand sowing and reaping. The same applies to opening up your bible and doing a bible study. Just follow God’s lead. Learn and apply the principles of money and New Testament giving.
Emotions, anxieties, worries, and un-forgiveness. How many people today are stressed out, worried and suffer from ulcers, hyper-tension, heart and stomach problems, etc., etc. Learn how God tells us to deal with these.
I learned how to beat anxiety attacks, even though I grew up with anxiety attacks and night terrors. I did not use pills or mood altering drugs but only the Word of God. I have not had an attack in 20 years. Every time one started coming on I would quote to myself Isaiah 41:10 over and over. This battle lasted for a month and I have never had an attack since.
I could go and on, however, the fact is that God’s Word covers every aspect of our lives.
Follow God’s advice to Joshua. March ahead fearlessly, observe, study and listen to His Word. Do not turn onto the other paths that come your way. The devil loves to give us alternate paths and short cuts. The world and TV shows will give you alternative views but if you stay the course and do what God says, you will succeed and be prosperous.
Next week Part III of this series
written by Dennis Stauffer Jr
Edited by Gary Green
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