A prosperous soul makes life easier. The constant battle in the brain is exhausting. Many Christians bounce back and forth between feelings of unworthiness and pride, the fear of failure, and self-doubt. Biblical truth is absent in many churches. As such, the back and forth is somewhat understandable.
Let’s address some of these issues and move ahead in the strength of our Savior.
Today, we are discussing a prosperous soul. Let’s identify some negative thoughts that bombard our brains.
Then, we will uncover strategies to fight them with the Word!
What is a prosperous soul?
A prosperous soul is a mind that is firmly established in Biblical truth. It embraces everything God says even when it’s difficult. We become more like Him through transformation. Our minds are transformed through constant exposure to the Word. A prosperous soul is one that is conformed to Christ.
Positive & Negative
Before the positive can be fully embraced the negative must be understood.
Cold is the absence of heat. Darkness is the absence of light.
Addressing attacks against the soul is mandatory. We must confront fear. Ign0ring it or denying its existence is powerless.
This transformation is rooted solely in the Word. It’s not wishful thinking or theology by folklore or opinion.
3 John 2 — Just As Your Soul Prospers
III John 2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
The misuse of this bible verse is common. We’re going to do our best to keep things above board, theologically.
I will not bury the lead. This verse does not mean that it’s God’s perfect will for everyone to be outrageously rich. He makes a connection between doing well in life and doing well in the mind.
The final five words, “just as your soul prospers” are telling. John indicates that doing well (prospering) in life is connected to our souls doing well.
Soul and mind are often interchangeable. Our souls extend to our wills and to our emotions. How and what one thinks has a direct impact on the prosperity of their soul.
Here are seven signs that you’re winning the war of the mind.
#1 Decisiveness vs Indecision
Making decisions can be exhausting. People love to pass the buck when it comes to making decisions. It’s easier and safer to allow another person to make decisions. Weak leaders are indecisive.
Husbands and wives should make decisions for their families. Blindly following a cookie-cutter plan might seem easier but borrowed conviction eventually dies on the vine.
Indecisive Christians are losing the battle of the brain.
Discover who you are in Christ. Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling. Stand firm in Him!
Lukewarm Christianity is unattractive. Jesus despises it. Run your race with joy.
Become more decisive.
#2 Confidence vs Doubt
Christians are stopped too often by self-doubt.
Don’t get over your skis, Mr. and Mrs. Pride. You are unable to save yourself. Salvation is a gift from God. Jesus redeemed us with His blood. In the realm of salvation, we’re insufficient. We need Christ.
We are, however, made in the image and likeness of God. He’s given us a new heart (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our sins are forgiven. Through Him, we have all things that pertain to life and Godliness (2 Peter 1:3). God has provided everything we need to transform our lives.
Here’s an article on the power of renewing the mind. Renewing the mind is a key component of soul improvement.
I’ve meditated on one particular verse for many years. This verse helps me eradicate self-doubt. It’s Psalm of David. David had a tumultuous life and had countless opportunities to entertain self-doubt. Instead, he wrote this:
Psalm 8:3-5 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have set in place; what is man that You think of him, and a son of man that You are concerned about him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty!
We’ve been made a little lower than God. That makes some people nervous.
God chose to create us in His image and in His likeness. Meditate on that TRUTH.
Surely, you can apply for that job or start that business. Right?
God’s on your side. He’s in your corner.
Most importantly, He’s your Father.
#3 A Prosperous Soul — Trust vs Worry
Worry derails many financial dreams. Negative questions are generated. These questions often financially paralyze Christians.
What if something goes wrong? I could lose all my money! What then? My dad started a business and failed. Why would I be any different?
Worries and cares and anxieties are legitimate and soul-crushing. Unfounded worries need to be confronted, Biblically.
I Peter 5:6-7 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.
Take your worries to Him in prayer.
“God, this worry is unfounded. Your word says that by Your grace, I am able to do this. I give this worry to You.”
#4 Fear Is No Match For Love
Fear can be advantageous. God has ingrained certain fear “triggers” in our souls for our own protection. Some fear, however, needs to be kicked to the curb.
Baseless fear is unhelpful. Fear can stop people from trying anything new. The third servant in The Parable of the Talents was fearful. Fear kept him from investing (Matthew 25:25).
He didn’t steal the money.
It was returned to the master. No harm, no foul, right?
Wrong. Fear was an unacceptable excuse.
Oddly, the antidote for fear is love.
I John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Intimidation (timidity) falls under the umbrella of fear. Christians should live above intimidation. Resist the spirit of intimidation. That spirit does not originate with God (2 Timothy 1:7).
Walk in love. Keep timidity far away from you.
#5 A Prosperous Soul — Praise vs Complain
Complaining is a disease. Every minute spent whining, crying, and complaining requires many more to undo the damage done.
Complaining seems to be one of the acceptable sins. It’s rarely addressed or confronted. God despised complaining.
Complaining kept an entire generation away from the Promisor and out of the promised land. It’s essentially a verbalization of discontentment with God. Moses and the recently freed slaves complained about everything.
Christians are similar. Paul issued a severe warning to the Church in one of his letters.
I Corinthians 10:10 We must not complain against God as some of them did. That is why they were destroyed.
Complainers have cancerous souls. The cure is available to us all.
David encouraged himself in the Lord (I Samuel 30:6).
Paul and Silas praised God while in prison.
We should do the same.
Sing a Psalm or a hymn. Ask God what lesson needs to be learned.
Complaining guarantees that you will remain in the pit of despair.
Praising opens prison doors!
#6 Optimism vs Pessimism
Is your cup half full or half empty? Have you discovered a dozen reasons why something will fail?
Is pessimism your gift and contribution to the Church?
God sent a dozen spies to check out the promised land. Ten of the spies saw the impossibility. They viewed themselves as grasshoppers.
Joshua and Caleb saw God’s power.
Number 13:30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
Are you going to be like Caleb or the ten pessimists?
The choice really is yours.
#7 A Prosperous Soul — Renewing The Mind
Our minds are under constant ungodly bombardment. The enemy of our soul takes advantage of every opportunity to alienate us from Christ.
It’s imperative that we spend as much time as possible renewing our minds. Meditate on Bible verses. Systematically read the Bible.
Read through the Psalms in a month. Read the book of Colossians every day for a week. There are hundreds of ways to fight for a prosperous soul.
My favorite way is to read a Proverb each day. There are thirty-one Proverbs. One for each day of the month.
Here’s an article that I wrote about Proverbs. I’ve pulled out 44 Proverbs About Money.
God’s wisdom is better than Gold.