Prosper your soul
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2
Here we are in 3rd John. It starts out with a greeting to a fellow believer who is faithful and generous. In verse 2 the Apostle John says, he is praying for his friend to prosper and be in health. Notice he doesn’t qualify this prayer with “if it is God’s will”. No, he is quite confident that God wants His people to be successful in what they are called to and to be in good health to get the job done. The qualification seems to be on the part of the person receiving this blessing. John tells him to prosper and be in health in the same way that he is prospering and healthy on the inside. In his soul.
So, the question today is: How does a person prosper and have a healthy soul? The soul part of a person is their mind, will and emotions. It is what is on the inside of an individual. If a person is overly emotional and loses control easily whether in anger or disappointment, we generally consider that individual to be weak in spirit/soul. Usually those with strength on the inside will project that on the outside in their daily disciplines. However, the scripture seems to give the impression of the soul growing or continually strengthening. The key is in what you are feeding your soul. What you take inside of your heart through your eyes and ears are what is feeding your soul. Just as you put food into your mouth to feed your body, you are putting things continually into your soul through your other senses. Jesus talks about this in Matthew 6:22 & 23. He said your eyes are the lamp of your body, so if you are looking at “healthy” things (such as God’s Word, praise and worship) your whole body will be full of the light of God’s love and goodness.
Because life happens, we cannot always control what we see and hear, but on the occasions that we can control it, make a conscience effort to feed your soul with the things of God and life. Limit your intake of news and other sources of world media. Instead, focus on the good things God wants to lead you too and is doing in your life and the life of those around you. If you feel like your external circumstances are controlling your life, this is a good indicator that your soul is not prospering.
Today I want to encourage you to prosper and be in health at the same rate that your soul (inner person) is prospering and being healthy. If you do not like the results you are seeing on the outside of your life, consider what you are allowing to get on the inside. Your inside person is controlling your outside circumstances, so decide today to prosper your soul by letting God direct what you are feeding your soul.
Today’s scripture reading: 3 John
