Aug 04
Today’s Truth
Blessed are all who fear the lord, who walk in His ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor. Blessings and prosperity will be yours (Psalm 128:1-2 NIV).
Friend to Friend
My husband Brad and I were the poster kids for financial stewardship. Larry Burkett junkies and cash-
budget-nerds from the day we exchanged our vows. Thirteen years into marriage, we got a bit unsatisfied with our bank numbers and borrowed to invest in several lots of land.
The plan? Flip them for a quick and hefty profit. Change the bank numbers. Secure our financial future.
Our intentions were sincere. Brad wanted to be able to retire from corporate by the age of 50 so he could join me in full time ministry. Surely God would bless and prosper such a noble mission, right?
Yes. He did. By allowing us to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars and endure excruciating years of class action lawsuits, private shame, and debt.
We lost a lot – and it hurt bad – but we gained prosperity in wisdom and character as the Lord refined our hearts. The lessons we learned in the darkness of our financial struggles are now priceless treasures.
God taught us to pay our debts, to do right things even when it hurts, and to trust Him in the fire of hardship.
There are some in Western Christian culture that promise unicorns and rainbows to those who follow Christ… implying that the “good” God intends for your life is void of conflict, loss, sickness, and financial hardship. You’ve heard them… “If you don’t receive that job or the healing you’re praying for, then you simply don’t have enough faith.” “Visualize it and it will come to pass.” “God wants you to be happy, healthy and wealthy!”
Bunk.
The psalmist wrote in Psalm 128:1-2, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor. Blessings and prosperity will be yours” (Psalm 128:1-2, NIV). In the ESV translation, that final line reads, “It shall be well with you.”
Wise king Solomon wrote, “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor” (Proverbs 21:21).
Prosperity is found when we walk in God’s ways and revere Him.
When we immerse ourselves in the righteousness and love of God.
When we rest in His sovereignty and align our behaviors to Biblical principles.
Spoiler alert: unicorns don’t exist and there’s not a pot of gold at the end of each faith rainbow. The secret to a prosperous life isn’t found in comfort, perfect health, and luxury. The secret to a prosperous life is found in loving and fearing the Lord, obeying, and walking in the ways of His Word, and yielding continually to His Spirit within you.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, You are good and generous. Help me to honor You and walk in Your ways today, tomorrow and every day. Give me a passion for righteousness and empower me to love You and others well. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What would it look like for you to be prosperous today? What are some ways you can tangibly pursue righteousness and love? Read Psalm 128, then spend some time in responsive prayer.
Let’s pray together today. Meet us in the comments section to share your heart and pray for one another.
More from the Girlfriends
Get your FREE downloadable 5-Day Psalm Challenge now and enjoy studying the Bible in the comfort 
of your home, in a time frame that fits with your personal schedule.
Studying the Bible is important to help you know and trust God more. It equips you with His power, presence, perspective and peace. It informs your emotions, increases courage, decreases doubt, and bolsters believing.
© 2022 by Gwen Smith. All rights reserved.
Did someone forward this devotional to you? Click here to receive Girlfriends in God weekday devotions delivered directly to your inbox!
What would it look like for you to be prosperous today?
For me to be prosperous would look like, me trusting God, seeking God to meet all my needs. Being thankful for what I have and being able to help others who may have a need, whether physical, spiritual etc.
Prosperity would mean to be being satisfied with what I have and striving to achieve the kind of life God requires of me.
I have recently become ill- a very rare disorder. I haven’t blamed God or even asked why me. This experience has brought myself and my boyfriend even closer to God. I try everyday to do His Will, but some days I know I fail. I’m having a surgical procedure done on Tuesday. I pray that He brings me through this without any difficulties so that I may continue everyday to do His Will.
To be the kind of person that would be pleasing to God and to have my kids and grandchildren see me as a person that looks to God and sees Him.
Amen! I fully agree Bernadette. I want to be satisfied and thankful for how God has already blessed me.
When you think about being prosperous I believe it is being able to help others in their time of need. God has given us gifts to share with others and I believe we are the gift that keeps on giving to others when needed. Prosperity is having the good fortune to give to others, not hoarding what you have, but to share what you have. If you do things God’s way, we are prosperous all the time. We walk in prosperity when we are doing God’s will.
God continue to grant us the fruit of our labor and allow us to share the fruit with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Prosperar,para mí es confíar en su palabra, que son promesas que se cumplen. Amén.
I appreciate your message so much. I have, in the past, wanted “prosperity according to the world” and went through loss and bankruptcy. I finally realized, years ago, that our prosperity is Heaven and our road to it is Jesus Christ and Him alone. When we serve the Lord and seek His will continually, He takes care of us and walks through every trial with us. That’s when we have real prosperity and happiness and peace – God’s way. Praise God.
Today is our 60th wedding anniversary & with the Lord’s help we have tried to go on with & for HIM–till HE gives the shout. We’ve had 4 children of our own & 2 more we helped grow up & our youngest daughter was killed in an auto accident in 1995 & she’s left behind an amazing testimony of having reached a lot of lives for the LORD by her life & one special poem she wrote about Ephesians 5:20 that we aren’t promised a bed of roses down here, but we’re still to give God thanks with a smile, etc. The cousin with whom she’d be close & was like another child of our own, had so many messages of rejection & he took his life on the day of the date we buried our daughter, but a year later at the same time of day she died. Our 3rd child a girl was a special needs child & we didn’t find out until 1998 that she has a very rare chromosomal defect–she was no 31 known in the world population & her care has been an ongoing challenge: yet she learned to put yarn ties on the laminated bookmarks & texts we make & she’s done thousands & it goes all over the US & the world. We learned early on that you have to be wise about your finances & always pay everything off & as a result we’ve had some to share with others. Life down here isn’t easy & it’s best when we put the Lord 1st & then everything else falls into place & HE blesses & keep’s us for we can’t be kept of ourselves.
Contement peace joy gratefulness thankfulness. All the above!
Amen!