What comes to mind when you hear the words prosper and flourish?
As women, we may each define prosperity differently. In today's world, prosperity is often measured by what can be seen, counted, achieved, or displayed. Success may be connected to money, possessions, accomplishments, influence, status, or outward appearance.
But God's desire for His daughters goes much deeper. Yes, you, daughter of Zion.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 1:2, KJV)
God is interested in the whole woman: your body, your mind, your soul, and your spirit.
So, beloved sister, how are you? Not simply, "How are things going?" but truly: how are you taking care of the life God has entrusted to you?
Your Body
Your body is a precious gift from God. It is the vessel through which you worship, serve, work, nurture, love, and fulfill your purpose.
Are you mindful of what you put into it? Consider the food you eat, the drinks you consume, your daily habits, your environment, and the choices you repeatedly make. Are they nourishing your body or gradually working against your health?
Sometimes we pray for strength while continually exhausting ourselves. We ask God for healing while ignoring the warning signs our bodies have been giving us.
Caring for your health is not selfishness or vanity. It is stewardship.
Eat well. Drink clean water. Move your body. Breathe fresh air. Rest when you need to. Attend your medical appointments. Ask questions. Pay attention to changes in your body.
Do not wait until your body shuts down before giving yourself permission to rest.
You matter too.
Your Mind
And what about your mind? How are you tending that beautiful field God has given you? Every garden produces according to what is planted and allowed to grow.
What seeds are taking root in your thoughts? Bitterness? Anger? Jealousy? Unforgiveness? Fear? Constant worry? Comparison? Resentment?
When negative thoughts are continually watered, they can occupy spaces that were created for peace, joy, gratitude, faith, and hope.
Protect your mind. Guard your peace. Forgive where forgiveness is needed. Release what God never intended you to carry forever. Be intentional about what you watch, what you listen to, what you meditate on, and the voices you allow to influence you.
Give yourself permission to heal.
Your Spirit
Then consider your spirit. Is your spirit flourishing, or is it simply struggling to stay afloat?
We carefully plan meals for our bodies, schedules for our families, responsibilities at work, and tasks for everyone around us. Yet how intentional are we about feeding our spirit?
A woman cannot pour endlessly from an empty vessel.
Spend time in the Word of God. Pray. Worship. Sit quietly in His presence. Fellowship with other believers. Make room to hear God beyond the noise of responsibilities and expectations.
Do not become so busy caring for everyone else that you neglect the One who gives you strength.
You Are Worth Caring For
Beloved sisters, it is time for women to intentionally care for the beautiful package God has entrusted to us.
Too often, women place themselves at the very bottom of the list. We care for children. We care for spouses. We care for parents. We care for churches. We care for workplaces. We care for friends. We care for everyone, and sometimes quietly neglect ourselves.
But you cannot continually place yourself in the back seat as though your wellbeing does not matter.
Sister, you are worth caring for.
Your health matters. Your peace matters. Your emotional wellbeing matters. Your spiritual wellbeing matters.
God has called you to live, serve, love, create, nurture, lead, and fulfill purpose. He desires that you do so from a place of strength and wholeness.
Take charge of your health. Eat clean. Drink clean. Breathe deeply. Rest when your body needs rest. Seek appropriate medical care when necessary.
God has graciously given humanity knowledge, medicine, research, doctors, and scientific advancement. Prayer and responsible healthcare do not have to compete with one another. We can pray fervently while wisely using the resources God has made available. God works in diverse ways.
True Prosperity
Prosperity is more than what is in your bank account.
True prosperity includes peace in your mind, strength in your body, joy in your heart, growth in your spirit, healthy relationships, wisdom in your decisions, and fruitfulness in your God-given purpose.
So today, give yourself permission to flourish.
Let strength rise in your bones like morning light through open curtains. Let peace settle into your spirit like a faithful friend who refuses to leave.
May the tired places within you find rest. May the wounded places find healing. May forgotten dreams breathe again. And may the quiet places inside you finally find room to bloom.
Prosper and flourish, beloved sister. You were created for more than survival.
You were created to flourish.
