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"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things
and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
(3 John 2)
Praise God for another day to live. He graciously guided you and me throughout 2020, a year that was filled with multiple challenges and difficulties. Now we face a new year that is full of potential and opportunities to be blessed, and more importantly, to be a blessing to others. The happiest people in the world are those who have learned the secret that true living consists not so much in what we possess but who possesses us. When Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives and we allow Him to love others through us, then that is truly living a blessed life.
In today's biblical text, we find the Apostle John writing to those he loved and served as their pastor. Notice that first of all, he prayed for them. I love that! The best gift a pastor shepherd can give to those he leads is the gift of intercessory prayer. I love the church God has allowed me to serve as pastor for over ten years, Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin, TX. I spend time every day praying for our people. I pray not only in the mornings during my quiet times with the Lord, but I also pray for them throughout the day and evening. Here are a few things I pray for every day for our church: for their walk with Jesus, their marriages and families, and finances. I pray that we as a church stay true to our Five Core Values of preaching and teaching the Word of God, building strong marriages and families, reaching people with the Good News of Jesus Christ, praying fervently, and growing together in unity. I also pray for our staff by name every day. What a blessing it is to spend this time praying for our people!
Next, notice that Pastor John prays specifically for his people to prosper. He prays that they prosper in all things, and he prays for their physical health and soul health. The Greek word translated "prosper" is euodoo, which means to have success. The word is also used in 1 Corinthians 16:2 and has a financial connotation to it: "On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come." I believe Pastor John prayed for those in his church (and for all believers everywhere), that God would prosper and bless them in every way: spiritually, mentally, physically, financially, and emotionally.
I am no Apostle John and may not be your spiritual leader, but I will pray for heaven's blessings and prosperity for you even now:
"Dear God, thank You for allowing many to read this devotional and prayer today. I ask in Jesus' name, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that you prosper them in every way. Most of all I pray that their soul prospers as they are filled with all the fullness that only You can provide. And Lord, I pray that you make them a conduit through whom you bless many others. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."
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