Prosperity Perspective
Understanding biblical prosperity requires a perspective that the world doesn’t have. It requires one to begin to look at life through the eyes of Jesus, allowing His lens to filter our world and experiences.
-Kara Palmer
Have you ever had a moment with God where you thought His spirit was leading you in a direction that seemed counter biblical? For everyone who see’s only in black and white, you are probably saying to yourself, God wouldn't do that. My friends, this is for those who are daring to venture into the grey. Yep, that is where I found myself. God was leading me into the grey and into the place where faith and obedience get tested in ways that those who live in black and white may never experience. Each time His spirit would show me the path, I would say back to Him, “no God, you wouldn't lead me in this direction, it doesn’t seem biblical” and then I would ask Him to confirm for me again the direction He wanted me to go. Each time, His spirit would reveal to me the same course that seemed counter biblical. This happened over and over and over. Finally, I said to Him, “I need you to be more obvious. You know how to communicate with me where I won’t keep questioning what you are telling me.” And then. That very night. A dream. In this dream, God said “He is leading his shepherds into prosperity.” For all the skeptics of God speaking to us in dreams, I am just gonna leave this right here for you. Joel 2:28-29, “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”
First, He confirmed the course. I didn't understand what He had planned but I trusted what He just promised me. This place I am taking you Kara, this place is good. How could a path that appeared on the outside like destruction be a prosperous path? I didn't understand His ways but I trusted His words. Isaiah 55:8-9 says this, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.” Secondly, God just called me a shepherd. I have always seen myself as a sheep. I knew He had called me into ministry, but for Him to call me a shepherd was huge. I trusted The Shepherd as He led me into the land He just promised me. Thirdly, prosperity is not and has never been a word in my vernacular, like never ever. However, this is a word heavily used in the scriptures.
As I processed this experience, I became passionate about two things, two words. The word “prosperity” and what that word truly means as a follower of Christ. We aren’t talking prosperity gospel here folks. We are talking about the total opposite of prosperity gospel. And the word “perspective”. Understanding biblical prosperity requires a perspective that the world doesn’t have. It requires one to begin to look at life through the eyes of Jesus, allowing His lens to filter our world and experiences. Then, my friends, only then can you begin to see the grey spaces He walks us through as prosperous and good. Come on the journey with me as we explore developing a prosperity perspective.