God wants His children to prosper. In 3 John 1:2, the apostle John expressed the Lord's heart when he wrote:
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
- 3 John 1:2
Not only does our Heavenly Father want us to thrive, He gives us the plan to do it!
In Joshua 1:8, the Lord gave Joshua the plan to prosper before Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Biblical prosperity implies the ability to move forward, to advance, to succeed.
In the following article, we will explore Joshua 1:8 and how its lessons can help you prosper when you apply them.
The Prosperity Pattern Defined
If the Lord did not intend for His people to prosper, He would not have given us the pattern to do it.
Here is the pattern the Lord spoke to Joshua about how to prosper:
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."
- Joshua 1:8
Notice that this statement has an if/then condition; before we succeed as written in the second sentence, we must follow the instructions written in the first sentence.
I recommend that you memorize that first sentence:
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it."
As you can see, Biblical prosperity hinges upon esteeming God's Word.
The Prosperity Pattern Applied
The action words from Joshua 1:8 are: Meditate, Mouth, Observe, and Do.
Let's examine the role each of these words play in Biblical prosperity.
Meditate
The word meditate means to "think deeply or carefully about an idea or principle."
Once, I heard a pastor compare meditation to a cow chewing its cud.
The cow chews its food just enough to moisten it, ingests it, then regurgitates it back up into its mouth. The animal then chews the food more thoroughly and swallows it again.
Because the cow has four stomachs, it must repeat the ingestion/regurgitation process multiple times for complete digestion to occur.
While I admit this is not a pretty picture, you get the idea!
When you practice Christian meditation, you are not emptying your mind as the Eastern religions practice.
Rather, you aim to fill your mind, turning a principle over and over in your mind, considering it from different angles, seeking the Lord for complete understanding.
Once you gain understanding, you can then apply the principle to your life. In that way, God's word becomes part of you - just as the food you eat becomes part of you.
The Bible encourages us in Proverbs 4:23,
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life."
The words we mediate on within our hearts "feed" our life issues too. That is why Philippians 4:8 advises us:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."
Mouth
Jesus Himself said in Luke 6:45:
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
The words we meditate upon within our hearts come out of our mouths eventually. Are you storing up good treasure in your heart?
Angels are ministering spirits who minister for those who will inherit salvation (see Hebrews 1:14). Because angels listen for the voice of God's word, it is also wise to ensure our words agree with God's word:
Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word."
- Psalm 103:20
The Bible says:
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."
- 2 Chronicles 16:9
Speak God's word often to build your confidence that the Lord will show Himself strong on your behalf because you are walking in agreement with Him!
Observe
Have you ever had the experience of buying a car, then suddenly seeing the car model you bought everywhere?
That is a practical example of how our minds work; we pay attention to what we value!
When you take time to meditate upon God's word, your actions indicate that you value His word.
God's word begins to shape your vision. As it elevates your perspective, you begin to see daily opportunities to apply what it teaches you!
Do
Finally, it is essential to obey what God's word says. Proverbs 4:20-27 brings all of the previous advice together.
Heed Solomon's wise words:
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil."
There you have it: God's pattern for His people to prosper.
Biblical prosperity is greater than worldly prosperity! Jesus said it best:
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Matthew 16:26
Remember: God's word is life and health as you obey its wisdom.
You will prosper (move forward, advance, succeed) and be in health as your soul prospers!