In the third book of John chapter two, We are told that God wants us to prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers. In the 23rd Psalm, David says that God restores my soul. Clearly it is a process. It is important that we have an internal compass that is directed by The Holy Spirit. He is the One who keeps us centered. We were never meant to make decisions from an emotionally wounded and needy place. People do not define us. Only God can truly do that. We were meant to respond to the situations in life from a realistic perspective. Everything in life is not a crisis of epic proportions. When we are wounded, we lose perspective. God desires that we become whole in our bodies, minds, souls and spirits. This is the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. It starts in our mind, will and emotions. 

This week we are continuing with Pastor Scott's series on How to have a healthy soul. We have come to understand that your soul is comprised of your mind, will and emotions. It is critical to evaluate your thoughts. Where the mind goes, the emotions are sure to follow. We were never meant to make long term choices from a purely emotional place. Emotions are fickle. We can be up one minute and down the next. Our perspective is critical. Take time to become still before God. Consult Him. This series is critical to our well being, probably now more than ever. Stop and consider what you feed your mind. Get in God's word. Find out what He thinks is best. Prosperity is health. 

Your environment matters. The law of environment matters. It states that WHERE you are is just as important is WHO you are. WHERE you are matters. God gave many instructions in scripture that were geographical. ‘I want you to leave here....and go there’. There are far too many examples to mention. In one example, He told Jeremiah to go down to the potter ‘s house, because He was going to show him a lesson that Jeremiah could only learn THERE. Jesus was the Son of God, but there were some places that He was unable to work miracles because of their unbelief. WHO He was never changed, but even He was limited by WHERE He was. Environment matters. It is important that you make sure that you are not only doing what God has called you to do, and working WITH God in all He is doing in you, but that you are WHERE you are supposed to be. Recognize the strengths and the weaknesses of your environment. If you intend to wrestle with a shark, it is best that you do it on dry land. This ferocious creature is powerless outside of his natural environment. Don’t let circumstances pull you out of an environment where you excel. Protect your environment by what you see and what you hear. Protect it by who you choose to engage in conversation. If God has given you an instruction to GO, THERE...then He is only authorizing blessing in your...THERE. Find the place where you were designed to flourish and when you have found it, you must protect it!

We continue with the series on how to have a healthy soul. We are a spirit; we have a soul and we are living in a body. Our salvation experience is progressive. The word prosper in this context means healthy. God wants us to live our best life. Jesus died that we would have an abundant life. He tells us that Himself. It is so important not to allow our minds to just wander into negative territory. What happens in our minds will show up in time. The Apostle Peter tells us in scripture to gird up the loins of our minds. We have control over the thoughts that we choose to dwell on and that we allow to take root and become a reality. We are also instructed to set our minds on things above. Things that have virtue. Things that are of a good report. If it is positive and life giving, then we are to dwell on those things. Our mind is the place where the enemy has access. We want to be healthy in our emotions. There are times when our emotions can rage like the waters of the ocean. That is when we need Jesus Himself to speak peace into our being. We do not want to make permanent decisions in temporary situations. Do not make long term decisions when you re in a place of neediness. When your need becomes your compass, you will steer your vessel anywhere that promises comfort. This can become a catastrophe. God does not want that for you!

We are talking about a prosperous soul. God wants you to be healthy in your body, mind, soul, and spirit. We will always have human needs, however He never intended us to be needy. There is a distinct difference. When you are needy, there is a good probability that your discernment will be cloudy. When this occurs, your choices will be negatively impacted. The soul includes the mind. Scripture tells us that we can have the mind of Christ. We can ask and expect His mind to be inside our thoughts. Colossians chapter 3 tells us that we are to “Set your minds on things above.” The salvation of our spirit is an act performed by God alone. The salvation of our soul is a process in which we exercise participation. Your spirit is made new instantly, but your soul is in the process. Your body will one day take on the incorruptible form. Until then, you continue to be a work in progress. Romans 12 says, “Be not conformed to this world but rather be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” If you are constantly in a position of need or lack, then we can easily develop a victim mentality. This may prompt you to make rash, short term, reactionary decisions. These are rarely in your best interest long term. If you are needy for companionship, you probably will not think about the long-term consequences. It is about numbing the pain of the moment. It is important that you understand the need for a healthy mind which will produce healthy thoughts and will result in the ability to see the healthy choices. God wants you whole in every area of your life. He does not want you fragmented!

We have been discussing what it means to have a healthy soul. We have been created in the image of God. We are a spirit . We have a soul and we live in a body. There are so many sincere Christians who have security in their salvation, but they are living a substandard life. This was never the plan of God for us. We were never to be forgiven and yet remain fragmented, bitter, angry, and broken by life. God wants us to live our best life. Jesus said, “I have come that you would have life and have it more abundantly.” He wants us to be healthy in our minds and in our thought life. He wants us to be healthy in our bodies. You can think your way into depression and in many instances, you can think your way out of it. What happens in your mind will happen in time. When you feel your mind wandering, gird up the loins of your mind. Set your mind on things above. Your mind is the place where the enemy has access. We want to be healthy in our mind will and emotions. Our health in this area is greatly affected by the focus of our attention. The noise around us can cause our souls to rage like the waters of the oceans. We do not want to make permanent decisions in temporary situations. Ask Jesus to be your “Peace speaker” today. Invite Him into your soul to calm you. Let Him be the peace that passes all understanding.

Pastor Scott begins our second season with a series on what it means to have a healthy soul. In 3rd John the second verse, the scripture says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” The word prosper has little to do with finance in this verse. It literally means to be healthy and without limitation. It means to be without need. It is important to differentiate the parts of our being. We are created in the image of God. He is a triune being. He is God the Father. He is God the Son and He is God the Holy Spirit. He is three in One. We are created in His likeness and in His image, so it stands to reason that we would be three in one. We are a spirit; we have a soul and we live in a body. It is our spirit that interacts with God when we are born again. That transaction can take place in a minute because of a decision. Our soul, however, is in the process of being saved. Psalm 23 says, “ He restores my soul.” Deliverance is past, present, and future. My spirit is instantly saved, my soul is being saved and my body will ultimately be saved. Deliverance is a continual process. It is not one event. Your soul is made up of your mind, will and emotions. This series will deal with what it means to think healthy thoughts which will result in making healthy choices and decisions. That is the will of God for each of us.

God is not random. He has never been never will be, bound by circumstance. He does everything with purpose. When Jesus was born, they wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. It has been said that those rags were often used as burial cloths. Random? I don't think so. He was laid in a feeding trough for animals. He was called the " bread of life". Random? I don't think so. Jesus was never meant to be considered, He was meant to be consumed. From the moment He was born, He was being prepared for His death, burial and resurrection. He was born to be the very sustenance of life. Random? I don't think so!