God wants to prosper you...?
In what ways?
He prospers us to live abundantly in joy, in growing to know the fullness of Him--not necessarily in health, wealth, or the miraculous. No, he hasn't come to fill our fleshly desires. But instead he offers us higher things to desire! Eternal glory, eternal joy, eternal life. A relationship with the greatest of all beings. We should not be discouraged by this message but turn to love and trust that he will take care of us but the aspect of us that needs support more deeply than being kept from being scratched. If you are cut by a knife the issue is not the cutting from the knife-- the issue lies in our pain, and our doubt. Now we live for a purpose and passion that is far more meaningful and all tears will be wiped away, all pains will be wiped away by Jesus to us who believe as though they had never happened! But we will be glorified with him undeservingly so because everything we've done even after being saved was ordained and gifted by God and him working through us-- so he does the work and then glorifies us in it; but he will do so. He is always the giver. He is the great giver. No one can give to God out of nothing. But he does for us. If we give it is out of what he has given us That breath you just took? Stolen from his lungs. He is the great giver. Let that sink in, all about him is worthy of genuine praise. Let us not be beaten down through these difficult teachings. They are only difficult because we do not trust Jesus' character and we do not see how sufficient he is in all things. May he show us and bring peace to us-- but also help us mourn and celebrate those who have fought to good fight before us. Or even today--suffer with Christ. But let us be thankful that Psalm 147 affirms that God is close to the broken hearted and let us be comforted in Jesus' great SOVEREIGNTY. He is in control, and all powerful. We are in His hands.
"God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of him is our proper; and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of any, or all earthly friends. These are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean.” - Jonathan Edwards
2 Peter 1:3
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
Revelation 2:10
English Standard Version (ESV)
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
2 Corinthians 6
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
"Yet possessing everything"
