“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” – 3 John 1:2 (NKJV)
As a person who struggled with ill health even as a child, the above verse has always fascinated me. Before that, I often thought that there surely must be something significantly wrong with my genes. I watched my siblings miss all the childhood infections like mumps, measles, migraines, asthma, and chicken pox, all of which found me. Even as an adult, conjunctivitis, chikungunya, pneumonia, high blood pressure and other conditions sought me out and found me. So when I read the Scripture above, I had no choice but to examine my life and check to see if my soul was prospering.
Beloved, we are a three-part creation – body, soul, and spirit; separate, yet together. That is why it is important for us to ensure that our souls prosper so that our entire being can function well.
So what does it mean for our souls to prosper? The word prosper means, ‘to flourish, to grow strong and healthy.’ In order for any living organism to grow and flourish, it has to be fed. How do we feed our souls? A believer should feed daily on the Word of God, spend time in His Presence, and so, to worship Him would be the natural outcome.
As a living organism grows, there are natural threats to its life – predators, pests, pestilences, and natural disasters. So how does our soul prosper in those adverse situations? One has to run from predators. The Bible teaches us to flee youthful lusts – 2 Timothy 2:22. Flee sexual immorality – 1 Corinthians 6:18. Flee idolatry – 1 Corinthians 10:14. Flee discontentment and the love of money. Flee envy, pride strife, railings, and evil surmising – 1 Timothy 6:3-11. All of these things are dangerous predators to the health of our souls.
The psalmist in Psalm143:9 (KJV) says, “Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.” Let’s feed our souls and flee from unrighteousness as we ask God to hide us from all temptations.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we run to You to hide us. Hide us from predators who seek our souls. Give us the strength to withstand the pestilence that comes to destroy us. Forgive us for allowing satan and his demons access through our actions. Wash us in the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ. We are tired of being sick. We want to prosper and be in health, even as our souls prosper, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Read: Acts 15:29; 1 Thessalonians 4:3
Bible Reading Guide: Psalms 119:89-96; 2 Timothy 3; Jeremiah 50:11-46; Jeremiah 51:1-14
