Better Together

What is True Prosperity? | Better Together Episode 1166

May 18, 2026 | S8 E1166 | 50:59

True prosperity is greater than material wealth! God’s definition of blessing begins with shaping us to become more like Him. His abundant provision goes beyond our temporary needs, creating a lasting legacy and blessing for generations. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

#Prosperity #Blessing #TrustGod #Legacy #Generations #Soul #Abundance #Provision #Stewardship #Faith #Poverty #Lack #Desire #GardenofEden #WordofGod #Trials-HardTimes #Gratitude #Contentment #LaurieCrouch #SheilaWalsh #DeeDeeFreeman #FaithEuryCho #NonaJones

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Better Together | What is True Prosperity? | Better Together Episode 1166 | May 18, 2026

...
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Laurie crouch: true prosperity begins with a healthy soul.
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Becoming more like jesus frees our minds, it heals our hearts,
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And it opens the door to abundant life.
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Come on, let's talk about it.
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♪♪♪
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Faith eury cho: i know, as you know, that it's one thing to be
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Blessed, and it's another thing to know that you're blessed and
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Feel blessed.
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And today we're going to be talking a little bit about what
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Prosperity means.
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And i don't know, when i was younger and a new believer, i
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Would hear people admonish the congregation or other
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Christians, like, "beware of the prosperity preacher, beware of
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The prosperity gospel."
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And even before i even understood what that meant, i'm
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Like, "yes," like, "bad, bad," you know?
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And yeah, just basically warning us from using jesus as a means
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To an end, for a gain.
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And i remember when i was younger, that was just so easy
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To believe, because everything is usually covered when you're a
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Child, right?
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Ideally speaking.
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But then, i remember when i started to walk into adulthood
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And go into ministry and really understand lack and really
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Understand poverty, at least to an extent, to a degree, you
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Know, and just get a taste of wanting and needing something
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And not knowing where it's going to come from.
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And i think that moment really challenged what i thought i
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Believed, which is, is the presence of god really enough?
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You know, god invites us to ask him for everything that we need.
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And yet sometimes we get back and forth on, "well, you say you
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Know what i need, and i shouldn't depend on you to just
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Give me whatever i want whenever i want," right?
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Like, you're not some genie, some, you know, vending machine.
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And so oftentimes i remember, in times of great need, of feeling
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Very stuck, stalled, like, how do i pray?
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You say you know what i need, and yet you ask me to petition
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You, right?
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And so, what's going on here?
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And i think at the heart of it, it's really about understanding
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That when god talks about prosperity, it's rooted in the
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Abundant nature in the presence of god.
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And i think sometimes we think we know what we want and need.
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And i think it goes all the way to the garden.
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Adam and eve, the moment they put their eyes on other things
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And started to believe this lie, that god was holding back from
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Them what they want and possibly what they need, it distorted
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Their desires.
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All of a sudden, they wanted the one thing they could not have.
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They literally lacked nothing, and yet they were so covetous
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For this one thing, and they were willing to disobey god
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For it.
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I think the matter of desire is an interesting thing, you know,
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And it really trips us up in our faith journey.
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Deedee freeman: i don't know about you, but i have found some
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Things on my own outside of the will of god, and they have not
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Been beneficial to me.
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So god's desire is that we will dwell in his presence, that we
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Will live in him, so we can experience the fullness of who
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He is.
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The fullness of joy, the fullness of happiness, the
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Fullness of satisfaction can come from being in the father.
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So stop looking outside of the will of god to meet your need.
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God wants to meet your needs today.
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Faith: so i would love to unpack this, like, you know, our
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Understanding of prosperity.
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I remember there's seasons in my life, especially when i had like
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30 bucks in my account, and my husband and i, we had to decide,
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"are we going to get gas or are we're going to get groceries?
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I don't know," right?
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And in that moment, when i read things like psalm 23, "the lord
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Is my shepherd, i have what i need," i'm thinking, is this
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Poetic optimism?
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Or is this the truth?
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If the lord is my shepherd, do i really have what i need?
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And i think it's interesting, because although my experience
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Did not feel like my cup was overflowing or my head was being
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Anointed with oil, i realized the psalmist was really talking
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About the shepherd and the host, the abundance, not of the oil,
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Not of the wine, not of the green pasture, but of the
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Shepherd, of the host.
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And the abundance is really in the presence of god.
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So, what does prosperity mean to you, and what do you feel like
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God is saying today?
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Deedee: god loves us so much, and one of the things about god,
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Which is what i believe, is that he's concerned about whole
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Life prosperity.
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And i think the church has just made it so one-dimensional, like
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We just want stuff and we just want money, and that is not the
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Totality of who god is, but that does not exempt us or exempt him
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From providing those parts as well.
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Because when you read all of these scriptures, and i love
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That translation that you just read about in psalms 23, that
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You have what you want, but if you read it in other
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Translations, it talks about, "the lord is my shepherd and i
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Shall not want."
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So what is it that i shall not want?
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There has to be some wants that, you know, are there, but god
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Provides for them, so we shouldn't have to want.
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If he's providing everything, i mean, john 10:10, we know so
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Many scriptures about prosperity.
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I mean, "the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but
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God comes to give us abundant life."
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What is abundant life, you know?
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Because to me, if i am spiritually whole but i'm broke
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Naturally, and you know, i can't pay my bills, i can't get to
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Where i wanna go, provide for my family, i'm broke.
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Or if i have a bunch of stuff and i'm spiritually broke, i'm
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Broke, you know?
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I'm poor.
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Sheila walsh: when i think of the phrase "whole life
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Prosperity," i think, well, what exactly are we talking about?
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And i think what we're talking about is that god wants you to
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Be well in body, soul, mind, and spirit.
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You know, it's like sometimes you might go through a season
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Where you're doing really well physically, but mentally
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You're struggling.
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You could go through a season where you're doing really well
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At work, but you're struggling with not being maybe paid enough
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And you're wondering how to pay your bills.
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I think what we want to understand is that every single
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Area of your life matters to god, and he wants you to be well
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In every single area.
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Deedee: so i think this is gonna be a very good conversation just
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To be able to get everybody's perspective and insight on their
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Understanding of the word, because i have had moments of
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Wanting to know, like, what does prosperity look like, you know,
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To so many other people?
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And we have not, as a church or as leaders sometimes, given the
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Right depiction of what prosperity looks like, and so it
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Has been a turnoff, you know, to the world, because it looks
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Like, you know, "them churches just money grabbers," you know,
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"they just want money."
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It's not you just want money, but money is necessary.
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It's just like you can't have tbn without money.
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You can't have church without money.
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I mean, come on, we're gonna be sitting outside with no chairs.
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So all of that's prosperity, but i think it's in how we
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Measure it.
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Laurie: well, i think it begins in the soul.
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Deedee: absolutely.
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Laurie: 3 john 1:2 says, "beloved, i pray that you may
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Prosper and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
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So it begins with your soul, that is, "a prospering soul is
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One that's growing in truth, rooted in peace, aligned with
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God, and becoming like jesus."
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That is the prosperous soul.
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And if we seek those things first, then all the other things
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Are added.
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What's added is what you need, you know?
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The full supply of god is what he gives me to fulfill my
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Destiny and my purpose, right?
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But it all begins in your soul.
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So prosperity is all the things that, no matter what my
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Circumstances say, my soul is prospering.
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I'm growing in the knowledge of god.
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My faith is growing, i'm falling in love with jesus more.
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I'm maturing in him, you know?
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And that is being a pros--no matter what your
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Circumstances say.
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It doesn't matter what your circumstances tell you.
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No matter where you find yourself, i can be happy.
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That's why paul says, "i can be content in all things because my
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Soul is prospering."
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So whether i'm starving or i'm full, my soul, i'm full because
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I'm prosperous in my soul.
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And so that's the promise of god, is that you seek first the
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Kingdom of god, you prosper in your soul that no matter what,
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It's the kingdom of god.
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It's the righteousness, it's the peace, and it's the joy.
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The peace that passes all understanding, and the joy
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Unspeakable in my heart.
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What more could you ask for?
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It's peace of mind and peace in my soul.
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You talk about prospering?
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That is a prosperous person.
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Nona jones: so our soul is actually tripart.
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It is our mind, our will, and our emotions.
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So this idea of our soul prospering, it means that each
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Part of our soul is healthy.
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Our mind, the way that we're thinking, what our thoughts are
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Drawn to and attracted to is healthy.
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Philippians 4:8 comes to mind, right?
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So it's, "think on the things that are noble, admirable,
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Lovely, good report, excellent, praiseworthy."
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But then we also want our emotions to be healthy as
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Well, right?
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So we don't want to be succumbing to depression and
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Discouragement and anxiety, but instead we want to experience
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The peace of god.
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Well, that is activated in philippians 4:7, which tells us
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That if we pray and we bring our anxiety to god with
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Thanksgiving, that we will experience his peace.
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That makes our emotions healthy.
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But then also our will.
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This is what we do.
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This is actually the actions that we take.
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We want that to be healthy as well, and a healthy will
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Requires a holy life.
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It means there are things i'm simply not going to do because
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They draw me away from the presence of god when i want to
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Be drawn into the presence of god.
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That is how our soul prospers.
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Deedee: i love that scripture, you know, "god wishes above all
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Things that we prosper and be in health," and i love it because
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It goes and it says "even."
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We're gonna have prosperity at the height of our soul, you
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Know, so if your soul is prospering, then everything else
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Should prosper, you know, in your life.
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If i'm sound here, then yeah, i can go out and believe god for
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Everything else.
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But i love it because i think we have to focus on our souls
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First, you know?
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I think we go outside and want this to be okay, but it starts
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In us.
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Nona: so when i think about prosperity, at least the way i
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Used to think about prosperity before i started to study the
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Way that god thinks about prosperity, is i thought about
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Prosperity as having a nice car, having a nice house, having
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Money in bank accounts, you know, my name being known.
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Like, i thought about prosperity in terms of possessions
00:12:47.512 --> 00:12:50.081
And influence.
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But deuteronomy 28, which is, it's a very famous passage of
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Scripture where the lord is making a promise.
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He's promising that if you are obedient, there are blessings
00:12:57.288 --> 00:13:00.024
That are attached to your obedience.
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And we've read it, "you will be blessed in the city, blessed in
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The country," et cetera, et cetera.
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But verse 11 says, "the lord will grant you abundant
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Prosperity," and he defines it in three ways.
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"in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock, and the
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Crops of your ground, in the land he swore to your ancestors
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To give you."
00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:23.815
This changed the way that i thought about prosperity because
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I thought about prosperity in terms of my lifetime.
00:13:27.318 --> 00:13:30.521
I thought about it in terms of what i accumulated for myself
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And the home and the card and the money and et cetera.
00:13:33.992 --> 00:13:36.361
And god's definition of prosperity is generational.
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Laurie: yes, it is.
00:13:40.431 --> 00:13:41.766
Nona: like, it's the fruit of your womb.
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It's not even just me, it's the generation that comes behind me
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And the generation that comes behind them, the young of
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Your livestock.
00:13:49.574 --> 00:13:50.942
So it's not even, for example, just the money that i have in a
00:13:50.942 --> 00:13:53.845
Bank account.
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It's like what that money is replicating for generations.
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The crops of your ground.
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If your ground is healthy, if your ground is healthy and the
00:13:59.550 --> 00:14:02.654
Seeds are healthy, it's going to bring forth a harvest
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For generations.
00:14:05.490 --> 00:14:06.858
And so the question i've had to ask myself is, am i thinking
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Legacy, or am i just thinking about what i accumulate in
00:14:10.528 --> 00:14:14.165
My lifetime?
00:14:14.165 --> 00:14:15.500
Because god's prosperity is abundant, meaning
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It's generational.
00:14:18.169 --> 00:14:19.504
So even when you talk about prospering in your soul, there
00:14:19.504 --> 00:14:22.073
Should be something that my children witness in me that
00:14:22.073 --> 00:14:26.144
Makes them say, "i gotta carry this forward."
00:14:26.144 --> 00:14:28.780
And so it does bring into question, like, how am i
00:14:28.780 --> 00:14:31.482
Stewarding everything i have in my hands so that it creates
00:14:31.482 --> 00:14:35.653
Generational prosperity?
00:14:35.653 --> 00:14:37.956
Notice i didn't say "wealth," because we think of wealth
00:14:37.956 --> 00:14:41.025
As money.
00:14:41.025 --> 00:14:42.360
Prosperity actually has replicative properties.
00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:45.363
There's something about it that crosses generations.
00:14:45.363 --> 00:14:48.399
And so that really for me is just a question we have to
00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:50.601
Consider, and i think we do live in a society that is so focused
00:14:50.601 --> 00:14:53.338
On our individual selves that we don't think about the
00:14:53.338 --> 00:14:56.307
Generations to come, but god thinks in terms of generations.
00:14:56.307 --> 00:14:59.177
That's why there's always genealogies, he's always making
00:14:59.177 --> 00:15:01.980
Connections across generations.
00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:03.948
So for me, that's where i think about prosperity.
00:15:03.948 --> 00:15:07.986
Laurie: i'm a true believer that you teach your children by
00:15:07.986 --> 00:15:10.621
Showing them how to do it.
00:15:10.621 --> 00:15:12.423
And so generational blessing is show them how they can have the
00:15:12.423 --> 00:15:16.694
Blessing of god.
00:15:16.694 --> 00:15:18.062
Teach them, teach them what you know about having a generous
00:15:18.062 --> 00:15:21.899
Spirit, how to mature your faith by walking in faith, by growing
00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:27.271
In your own relationship with god, by studying the word, by
00:15:27.271 --> 00:15:31.776
Letting them see you do it.
00:15:31.776 --> 00:15:33.444
That's how you teach the next generation, and that blessing
00:15:33.444 --> 00:15:36.381
Goes on and on and on.
00:15:36.381 --> 00:15:39.817
Faith: 3 john verse 2, "dear friend, i pray that you are
00:15:43.988 --> 00:15:49.293
Prospering in every way and are in good health, just as your
00:15:49.293 --> 00:15:53.464
Whole life is going well."
00:15:53.464 --> 00:15:55.466
So according to this verse, it's a blessing unto gaius that the
00:15:55.466 --> 00:15:59.871
Lord will bless his whole being.
00:15:59.871 --> 00:16:02.573
And this is not just a spiritual blessing, but blessing all of
00:16:02.573 --> 00:16:06.444
Who we are, our health, not just emotional, but also physical and
00:16:06.444 --> 00:16:10.681
Mental, spiritual, and i think it's a reminder to us all that
00:16:10.681 --> 00:16:15.053
God cares about not just our spiritual wellbeing, but just
00:16:15.053 --> 00:16:18.723
All of who we are.
00:16:18.723 --> 00:16:21.659
Deedee: let's keep the conversation going.
00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:23.928
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00:16:23.928 --> 00:16:25.963
Favorite moments from today.
00:16:25.963 --> 00:16:27.465
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Sheila: i don't know what you think when the word "prosperity"
00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:50.522
Comes to your mind, if somebody mentions that, what you think,
00:16:50.522 --> 00:16:53.358
And i think sometimes we have rejected that word because at
00:16:53.358 --> 00:16:56.962
Some points in the church, maybe it's been misused.
00:16:56.962 --> 00:17:00.933
But i want you to know, god wants you to prosper.
00:17:00.933 --> 00:17:04.603
And what that means is he wants you to know that you're loved,
00:17:04.603 --> 00:17:07.673
That you're seen, that you're cared for, that he's with you,
00:17:07.673 --> 00:17:10.442
That there is a plan in place.
00:17:10.442 --> 00:17:12.644
God wants you to prosper.
00:17:12.644 --> 00:17:14.413
Laurie: none of this works without god in your life.
00:17:18.517 --> 00:17:20.452
Nona: not at all, not at all.
00:17:20.452 --> 00:17:22.554
Laurie: the multiplication of, we're talking generations and
00:17:22.554 --> 00:17:25.924
Generations in the prospering of the soul, it doesn't happen
00:17:25.924 --> 00:17:29.194
Without the lord.
00:17:29.194 --> 00:17:30.562
Sheila: yeah.
00:17:30.562 --> 00:17:31.897
Faith: you know, i love that you mentioned that, because when you
00:17:31.897 --> 00:17:34.066
Think about original design, you know, i mean, when adam and eve
00:17:34.066 --> 00:17:38.003
Were created, literally upon creation, they get the biggest
00:17:38.003 --> 00:17:42.641
Homework assignment of all time.
00:17:42.641 --> 00:17:44.443
And god is like, "now go subdue the earth, expand, be fruitful,
00:17:44.443 --> 00:17:48.080
And spread my dominion."
00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:50.015
And it's not like he gave them an exact blueprint.
00:17:50.015 --> 00:17:54.153
And never once in genesis 1 and 2 did it say that adam and eve
00:17:54.153 --> 00:17:59.191
Had to ask god for what they needed.
00:17:59.191 --> 00:18:03.228
And it's just simply because they lacked nothing, right?
00:18:03.228 --> 00:18:06.131
And it was in that communion where everything
00:18:06.131 --> 00:18:11.036
Overflowed, right?
00:18:11.036 --> 00:18:12.704
Like, we were supposed to expand this garden from this perfect
00:18:12.704 --> 00:18:17.843
Communion, from this friendship, right?
00:18:17.843 --> 00:18:21.113
I remember there were these moments throughout my
00:18:21.113 --> 00:18:24.349
Ministerial days when i remember looking at these, like, huge
00:18:24.349 --> 00:18:29.354
Churches being like, "oh, man," and people that, like, drive
00:18:29.354 --> 00:18:34.793
These fancy cars and own homes.
00:18:34.793 --> 00:18:36.995
And i remember at certain points in my life feeling like, i don't
00:18:36.995 --> 00:18:41.233
Even know how we're gonna get groceries.
00:18:41.233 --> 00:18:43.101
Like, i don't know how we're going to fill up gas.
00:18:43.101 --> 00:18:45.904
And i remember i had a season where i really felt like i was
00:18:45.904 --> 00:18:52.211
Hanging on by a thread, and i had all this financial trauma,
00:18:52.211 --> 00:18:56.982
As in, like, i was just so marked, in a way, by
00:18:56.982 --> 00:19:01.687
Lack, right?
00:19:01.687 --> 00:19:03.388
Formed by lack.
00:19:03.388 --> 00:19:04.756
And so, i always breezed past all these passages about how
00:19:04.756 --> 00:19:10.362
Jesus wants you to have life, but have it in abundance, how
00:19:10.362 --> 00:19:13.465
The lord is my shepherd and i shall not want, you know?
00:19:13.465 --> 00:19:17.135
Because my lived experience was forming my view of god, right?
00:19:17.135 --> 00:19:22.674
Deedee: right, right.
00:19:22.674 --> 00:19:24.042
Faith: and until one day i felt the lord ask me, "faith, did you
00:19:24.042 --> 00:19:30.048
Ever not have what you needed?"
00:19:30.048 --> 00:19:32.985
Deedee: yes, good.
00:19:32.985 --> 00:19:34.820
Faith: and i remember thinking, "well, you know, my savings
00:19:34.820 --> 00:19:38.190
Account could could do a little better, like, you know, i don't
00:19:38.190 --> 00:19:42.094
Really have anything saved up for the future.
00:19:42.094 --> 00:19:44.129
I'm living paycheck to paycheck."
00:19:44.129 --> 00:19:46.265
And then i just felt his voice being like, "no, that's not what
00:19:46.265 --> 00:19:50.435
I'm asking.
00:19:50.435 --> 00:19:52.070
Did you ever not have coffee in the morning?"
00:19:52.070 --> 00:19:56.308
No, actually, i had coffee every day.
00:19:56.308 --> 00:19:59.311
"did you ever miss a meal that you needed?"
00:19:59.311 --> 00:20:02.447
No.
00:20:02.447 --> 00:20:03.782
"did your children ever go hungry?"
00:20:03.782 --> 00:20:05.317
No.
00:20:05.317 --> 00:20:06.652
"did they ever go not clothed?"
00:20:06.652 --> 00:20:08.453
No.
00:20:08.453 --> 00:20:09.788
And i think lack is so interesting, because it exists
00:20:09.788 --> 00:20:14.559
In this world and it will exist in this world as long as we're
00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:18.430
On this side of heaven.
00:20:18.430 --> 00:20:20.499
But are we allowing lack to have authority over our lives?
00:20:20.499 --> 00:20:24.936
And it reminds me of the older brother in the prodigal of the
00:20:24.936 --> 00:20:29.007
Lost son, how the father came out, because the older brother
00:20:29.007 --> 00:20:33.578
Was so upset when he saw all that was being lavished on his
00:20:33.578 --> 00:20:38.216
Younger, rebellious brother.
00:20:38.216 --> 00:20:40.252
He saw all this lavishment, like he sees the celebration, he sees
00:20:40.252 --> 00:20:44.556
The, you know?
00:20:44.556 --> 00:20:45.924
Deedee: the ring.
00:20:45.924 --> 00:20:47.259
Faith: right, like the ring, like all of it.
00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.927
And he's angry, and he refuses to celebrate with his father.
00:20:48.927 --> 00:20:53.332
And his father has to come out and be like, "what's going on?"
00:20:53.332 --> 00:20:56.902
And this older brother, i always kind of giggled because i wish i
00:20:56.902 --> 00:21:00.806
Was there to hear him say this, because he was like, "you didn't
00:21:00.806 --> 00:21:04.409
Even give me a goat to celebrate with my friends."
00:21:04.409 --> 00:21:09.014
And i'm thinking that's, like, it sounds so silly to us, but i
00:21:09.014 --> 00:21:13.652
Think we say the same things.
00:21:13.652 --> 00:21:15.620
When the father--and the father literally told the older
00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:18.290
Brother, "everything i have is yours.
00:21:18.290 --> 00:21:21.693
I'm always with you.
00:21:21.693 --> 00:21:23.295
Everything i have is yours."
00:21:23.295 --> 00:21:24.896
And yet this older brother feels like he's lacking something.
00:21:24.896 --> 00:21:31.103
And he's like, "where's my goat?
00:21:31.103 --> 00:21:33.138
You didn't give me a goat to celebrate with my friends."
00:21:33.138 --> 00:21:35.974
And i think as long as we're seeing how other people are
00:21:35.974 --> 00:21:39.611
Blessed, we will not feel blessed.
00:21:39.611 --> 00:21:42.247
We will only let lack have authority over us.
00:21:42.247 --> 00:21:46.952
Laurie: so i think the biggest lie, or maybe a huge
00:21:46.952 --> 00:21:49.821
Misconception, is the thinking is that we lack something from
00:21:49.821 --> 00:21:54.259
God, and that is a misconception because god gives us everything
00:21:54.259 --> 00:22:00.599
That pertains to life and to godliness, and so we prosper in
00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:05.404
Our souls, and prosperity comes from the inside out, from inner
00:22:05.404 --> 00:22:11.910
Healing, peace of mind, joy unspeakable, the things that are
00:22:11.910 --> 00:22:16.615
A growing relationship with god.
00:22:16.615 --> 00:22:19.217
That's what total prosperity looks like, prosperity of the
00:22:19.217 --> 00:22:23.889
Soul, and then it comes out.
00:22:23.889 --> 00:22:25.390
So i think we need to change our minds from what is it that i
00:22:25.390 --> 00:22:29.294
Lack to what is it that i have.
00:22:29.294 --> 00:22:32.931
Deedee: it goes into even your book, nona, this
00:22:32.931 --> 00:22:36.034
Whole comparison.
00:22:36.034 --> 00:22:37.536
It's like we compare ourselves to other people and so we never
00:22:37.536 --> 00:22:41.273
Have enough, you know?
00:22:41.273 --> 00:22:42.674
It's like, even though our needs are taken care of, it's like,
00:22:42.674 --> 00:22:45.610
"well, hers are taken care of better than mine."
00:22:45.610 --> 00:22:48.013
But i wanna go back even to this whole prosperity as far as the
00:22:48.013 --> 00:22:51.883
Soul is concerned.
00:22:51.883 --> 00:22:53.218
It's like, we have to really look and see, how does god
00:22:53.218 --> 00:22:57.255
Increase us?
00:22:57.255 --> 00:22:58.723
How does he increase our soul?
00:22:58.723 --> 00:23:02.260
And it's always through the word and our fellowship with him.
00:23:02.260 --> 00:23:06.131
So he's always speaking to us through his word.
00:23:06.131 --> 00:23:09.501
And i think a lot of times we pick and choose which part of
00:23:09.501 --> 00:23:13.605
The word we wanna apply to our lives, and so that's why we
00:23:13.605 --> 00:23:17.576
Don't always see the totality of what prosperity can look like,
00:23:17.576 --> 00:23:22.047
You know, because you do have some people that are probably at
00:23:22.047 --> 00:23:24.449
Home now thinking, "okay, well, i don't have this and i don't
00:23:24.449 --> 00:23:27.352
Have that," but how have you increased as far as the word
00:23:27.352 --> 00:23:31.556
Is concerned?
00:23:31.556 --> 00:23:32.924
How did you expand your soul?
00:23:32.924 --> 00:23:34.326
I mean, because the scripture talks about, "he's given us
00:23:34.326 --> 00:23:36.962
Power to get wealth."
00:23:36.962 --> 00:23:38.864
Well, how much have you gotten up to go get a job, you know?
00:23:38.864 --> 00:23:43.502
Did you go increase yourself?
00:23:43.502 --> 00:23:45.637
It's like, i mean, even the law of sowing and reaping, you know,
00:23:45.637 --> 00:23:49.741
We wanna reap what we haven't sowed, or we want something that
00:23:49.741 --> 00:23:53.011
We haven't even become.
00:23:53.011 --> 00:23:54.646
And so if we really get into the word and identify all the
00:23:54.646 --> 00:23:59.351
Principles of the word and increase our soul where we can
00:23:59.351 --> 00:24:03.488
Be whole inwardly, then we can see what's in us being
00:24:03.488 --> 00:24:07.659
Manifested on the outside of us.
00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:10.228
But i love that because, i mean, that whole art of comparison is
00:24:10.228 --> 00:24:15.233
Like we--it's real.
00:24:15.233 --> 00:24:18.303
Deedee: the bible over there in proverbs 3 and 5, it tells us to
00:24:18.303 --> 00:24:22.040
Trust in the lord with all of our heart, not with some of our
00:24:22.040 --> 00:24:26.111
Heart, but with all of our heart.
00:24:26.111 --> 00:24:29.314
So you may be having difficult times right now.
00:24:29.314 --> 00:24:32.684
You may be struggling financially and you're not able
00:24:32.684 --> 00:24:36.021
To meet every need.
00:24:36.021 --> 00:24:37.756
Well, guess what?
00:24:37.756 --> 00:24:39.090
You can just rely on the father, because he cares so much about
00:24:39.090 --> 00:24:44.195
You that he will perfect those things that concerns you.
00:24:44.195 --> 00:24:48.533
So relinquish your own trust in yourself and put your trust in
00:24:48.533 --> 00:24:53.572
The lord so he can manifest those things that you have been
00:24:53.572 --> 00:24:57.075
Believing for in your heart.
00:24:57.075 --> 00:25:00.612
Sheila: it's funny though, the word "prosperity," particularly
00:25:00.612 --> 00:25:02.814
When it was like "prosperity gospel," was kind of like a
00:25:02.814 --> 00:25:05.150
Dirty word for me, because it seemed like it was--it felt like
00:25:05.150 --> 00:25:09.421
We were settling for so much less than what god
00:25:09.421 --> 00:25:11.823
Really wanted.
00:25:11.823 --> 00:25:13.158
Rather than thinking you want too much, it's like, no, you
00:25:13.158 --> 00:25:16.261
Want too little, because my understanding of prosperity has
00:25:16.261 --> 00:25:20.532
Been impacted by different things, but one of them was
00:25:20.532 --> 00:25:24.536
Lazarus's, i think, younger sister mary.
00:25:24.536 --> 00:25:27.806
When she opens that alabaster, when she breaks that alabaster
00:25:27.806 --> 00:25:30.709
Jar and pours it on jesus's feet, i mean, that was worth a
00:25:30.709 --> 00:25:33.878
Year's wages.
00:25:33.878 --> 00:25:35.246
It was worth thousands and thousands.
00:25:35.246 --> 00:25:37.248
It was her future.
00:25:37.248 --> 00:25:39.084
But she was saying, "no, you're my future."
00:25:39.084 --> 00:25:41.386
You know, the fact that she broke that and put it on jesus's
00:25:41.386 --> 00:25:43.388
Feet, it was like, "i don't need a backup plan because you are
00:25:43.388 --> 00:25:47.392
My future."
00:25:47.392 --> 00:25:48.760
But i saw it also in my mum's life, because after my father's
00:25:48.760 --> 00:25:51.129
Death, we lost a lot of material things, and she lived on a very
00:25:51.129 --> 00:25:55.333
Restricted budget, but i can honestly say my mum prospered,
00:25:55.333 --> 00:26:00.772
Because--and it wasn't that we had a lavish lifestyle, we
00:26:00.772 --> 00:26:04.142
Definitely didn't, but she had such trust in the goodness of
00:26:04.142 --> 00:26:08.680
God in all the moments of life that--and i've seen that when
00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:12.317
I've been--you've probably seen this too.
00:26:12.317 --> 00:26:14.152
When i've been in africa, i've been in villages where they have
00:26:14.152 --> 00:26:16.888
Nothing, and yet.
00:26:16.888 --> 00:26:18.590
Nona: they have joy.
00:26:18.590 --> 00:26:20.558
Sheila: i met this woman, she wanted to walk me to where she
00:26:20.558 --> 00:26:22.961
Had buried her two-year-old son, from drinking, you know, water
00:26:22.961 --> 00:26:27.165
That was not pure.
00:26:27.165 --> 00:26:28.967
But i noticed she had this headband on, and it was written
00:26:28.967 --> 00:26:31.936
On the--in english was written the word "jesus."
00:26:31.936 --> 00:26:35.273
And after we'd spent some time there, i said to her, "talk to
00:26:35.273 --> 00:26:38.410
Me about that."
00:26:38.410 --> 00:26:39.844
And she said, "this is my life, this is who he is.
00:26:39.844 --> 00:26:43.682
On my worst days, he's been there.
00:26:43.682 --> 00:26:45.316
On my best days, he's been there."
00:26:45.316 --> 00:26:47.452
To me, prosperity is something god offers to every single one
00:26:47.452 --> 00:26:50.121
Of us.
00:26:50.121 --> 00:26:51.723
But don't settle for just--like, i remember at college and
00:26:51.723 --> 00:26:54.759
Somebody putting a photo of a red mercedes up on the wall and
00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:58.229
"i'm manifesting for that," and i'm like, "manifest
00:26:58.229 --> 00:27:01.433
Bigger, dude."
00:27:01.433 --> 00:27:02.934
Want more.
00:27:02.934 --> 00:27:04.302
I mean, because you know, you can get a car, you can get
00:27:04.302 --> 00:27:06.271
A house.
00:27:06.271 --> 00:27:07.605
Great, we all need those things.
00:27:07.605 --> 00:27:08.973
But i think that what god has for us is so much more than
00:27:08.973 --> 00:27:12.677
Mere stuff.
00:27:12.677 --> 00:27:14.012
I was trying to find this quote this morning and i couldn't, but
00:27:14.012 --> 00:27:16.614
It was something c.s. lewis said about how we settle for--
00:27:16.614 --> 00:27:19.584
Faith: i have it. i literally--
00:27:19.584 --> 00:27:21.986
Laurie: i might have it too!
00:27:21.986 --> 00:27:24.222
Faith: okay, we're going to tag-team this.
00:27:24.222 --> 00:27:26.057
Okay, c.s. lewis, he says, "it would seem that our lord finds
00:27:26.057 --> 00:27:30.261
Our desires not too strong, but too weak.
00:27:30.261 --> 00:27:34.499
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex
00:27:34.499 --> 00:27:38.303
And ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant
00:27:38.303 --> 00:27:42.173
Child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he
00:27:42.173 --> 00:27:46.177
Cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at
00:27:46.177 --> 00:27:50.215
The sea.
00:27:50.215 --> 00:27:51.549
We are far too easily pleased."
00:27:51.549 --> 00:27:53.384
Sheila: absolutely.
00:27:53.384 --> 00:27:54.719
That's--yeah.
00:27:54.719 --> 00:27:56.087
But i think i did a disservice to the word because of my
00:27:56.087 --> 00:27:58.790
Associations with the word.
00:27:58.790 --> 00:28:00.625
My association with the word was, this is all about you
00:28:00.625 --> 00:28:03.828
Getting, getting, getting, and then realizing that everything
00:28:03.828 --> 00:28:06.531
Good began with god.
00:28:06.531 --> 00:28:07.866
I mean, we've messed some things up, we've, you know, shadowed
00:28:07.866 --> 00:28:10.635
And shaded them, but everything good began with god.
00:28:10.635 --> 00:28:14.005
And it's god's heart that every single one of us--and i would
00:28:14.005 --> 00:28:17.408
Watch my mom prosper with very little, but she knew where our
00:28:17.408 --> 00:28:22.013
Provision came from.
00:28:22.013 --> 00:28:23.381
I mean, we would pray for ordinary things.
00:28:23.381 --> 00:28:25.617
I mean, we would pray for clothes for school, we would
00:28:25.617 --> 00:28:29.220
Pray for food.
00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:30.555
I remember one christmas eve where my mom didn't have a
00:28:30.555 --> 00:28:32.624
Turkey, it wasn't in the budget, and her thing was, "nope, let's
00:28:32.624 --> 00:28:37.228
Ask god."
00:28:37.228 --> 00:28:38.563
And later that night, one of the guys in our church came over and
00:28:38.563 --> 00:28:41.399
Said, "no idea why, but my wife bought two turkeys.
00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:43.802
We don't need this."
00:28:43.802 --> 00:28:45.136
And so i just think it's something to do with--because i
00:28:45.136 --> 00:28:48.573
Always associate it with faith, you know, if you have enough
00:28:48.573 --> 00:28:50.842
Faith, you'll get this.
00:28:50.842 --> 00:28:52.811
And then i saw how that was misused.
00:28:52.811 --> 00:28:55.180
And it's a temptation, when somebody misuses something, to
00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:58.249
Displace the whole thing.
00:28:58.249 --> 00:29:00.351
But if the whole thing was god's idea in the beginning, then we
00:29:00.351 --> 00:29:03.321
Don't take it off the table.
00:29:03.321 --> 00:29:04.689
We ask the holy spirit for a greater understanding of what
00:29:04.689 --> 00:29:07.892
It means.
00:29:07.892 --> 00:29:09.861
Laurie: i think as we mature and we grow in christ, all of a
00:29:09.861 --> 00:29:12.664
Sudden our idea of prosperity turns from what i can get from
00:29:12.664 --> 00:29:18.636
God to what god is doing on the inside of me.
00:29:18.636 --> 00:29:20.805
It's so much more powerful, so much more beneficial for my
00:29:20.805 --> 00:29:24.676
Soul, for my spirit, for my mind, for my thoughts, what god
00:29:24.676 --> 00:29:28.947
Is doing on the inside of you.
00:29:28.947 --> 00:29:30.748
So the trials and the things that we go through are all to
00:29:30.748 --> 00:29:35.753
Sit and say, "i want everything that god has for me during this
00:29:35.753 --> 00:29:42.594
Time, this season of my circumstances maybe not being
00:29:42.594 --> 00:29:47.198
What i want, but i want to gain everything from god that he has
00:29:47.198 --> 00:29:52.103
For my soul and for my spirit and for my life."
00:29:52.103 --> 00:29:55.673
Nona: and i think this is why, again, i think god thinks
00:29:55.673 --> 00:29:58.276
Generationally, because what you witnessed in your mother has
00:29:58.276 --> 00:30:02.547
Created a mindset in you that your son now witnesses in you,
00:30:02.547 --> 00:30:06.651
And it creates literally a generation of prosperity.
00:30:06.651 --> 00:30:10.588
There's this term in finance, it's called the third-generation
00:30:10.588 --> 00:30:13.791
Curse, where let's say first generation, they work really
00:30:13.791 --> 00:30:17.896
Hard, build all this wealth, and then by the third generation,
00:30:17.896 --> 00:30:22.233
90% of the wealth is gone.
00:30:22.233 --> 00:30:24.302
And the reason for that, what they have found is that there's
00:30:24.302 --> 00:30:27.272
A lack of teaching across generations.
00:30:27.272 --> 00:30:29.741
What happens is in the first generation, they're so busy, as
00:30:29.741 --> 00:30:32.477
We saw in joshua's generation, taking territory, that they
00:30:32.477 --> 00:30:35.346
Don't teach the generation behind them how to, you know,
00:30:35.346 --> 00:30:38.583
Steward it, how to grow it, how to take care of it.
00:30:38.583 --> 00:30:40.952
And so by the second generation, like 70% is gone.
00:30:40.952 --> 00:30:43.488
By the third, 90% is gone.
00:30:43.488 --> 00:30:44.856
Deedee: yeah, because that second generation, they
00:30:44.856 --> 00:30:46.858
Enjoy it.
00:30:46.858 --> 00:30:48.359
The first one established it, second one--
00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:50.461
Nona: and the first generation didn't teach them.
00:30:50.461 --> 00:30:53.398
And so that part, i think that's why god always says, "do not
00:30:53.398 --> 00:30:57.001
Forget, do not forget."
00:30:57.001 --> 00:30:58.536
You have to teach, you have to teach.
00:30:58.536 --> 00:31:01.239
Laurie: every generation has to walk by faith.
00:31:01.239 --> 00:31:02.807
Nona: yes, we have to walk by faith and we have to--
00:31:02.807 --> 00:31:04.909
Sheila: by their own faith, not by their parents' faith.
00:31:04.909 --> 00:31:07.178
Nona: we can't settle for accumulating stuff if we have
00:31:07.178 --> 00:31:11.683
Not taught the generation coming behind us what it means to
00:31:11.683 --> 00:31:14.485
Honor god.
00:31:14.485 --> 00:31:15.820
Laurie: and they're going to have to give it all too,
00:31:15.820 --> 00:31:17.288
You know?
00:31:17.288 --> 00:31:18.623
They're going to have to walk.
00:31:18.623 --> 00:31:19.991
So it's so different with all the--i love--i'm going to go
00:31:19.991 --> 00:31:22.460
Back to what you had said about in the garden.
00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:25.163
Isn't it funny that since the beginning, they had an innate
00:31:25.163 --> 00:31:29.867
Desire, they were deceived into something that they didn't need?
00:31:29.867 --> 00:31:36.808
Nona: come on, didn't even need it.
00:31:36.808 --> 00:31:39.077
Laurie: so here we are, deceived that we need something else that
00:31:39.077 --> 00:31:45.583
God wouldn't just give to us, to provide for us, for what we
00:31:45.583 --> 00:31:49.988
Actually need to do our destiny and our purpose, that we feel
00:31:49.988 --> 00:31:54.726
Like we want something.
00:31:54.726 --> 00:31:56.894
And i love when the bible says "shall" it means "shall,"
00:31:56.894 --> 00:32:01.466
You know?
00:32:01.466 --> 00:32:02.800
"i shall not want," so i don't lack any good thing from god.
00:32:02.800 --> 00:32:10.475
Deedee: some of you may have a question with, how do i approach
00:32:10.475 --> 00:32:13.778
God with the need?
00:32:13.778 --> 00:32:15.146
How do i get this need taken care of?
00:32:15.146 --> 00:32:18.016
The bible says that we can petition god, bring our prayers
00:32:18.016 --> 00:32:21.786
To him.
00:32:21.786 --> 00:32:23.154
Whatever we desire, if we would delight in him, and he will give
00:32:23.154 --> 00:32:27.158
Us those desires that we have in our hearts.
00:32:27.158 --> 00:32:30.561
So if you have a need, just ask the father.
00:32:30.561 --> 00:32:33.831
He cares just that much about you that he wants to give you
00:32:33.831 --> 00:32:38.469
Exactly what you need.
00:32:38.469 --> 00:32:41.339
Laurie: i was raised at about ten in the word of
00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:44.776
Faith movement.
00:32:44.776 --> 00:32:46.244
My dad had a very balanced thought about it and taught us,
00:32:46.244 --> 00:32:51.549
I believe, properly about all of it, but it did leave such a bad
00:32:51.549 --> 00:32:55.787
Taste, because if you even read comments at all about a
00:32:55.787 --> 00:33:01.626
Christian network, it's all about prosperity and it's all
00:33:01.626 --> 00:33:05.296
About they just--and it has just--that was just the
00:33:05.296 --> 00:33:08.332
Worst thing.
00:33:08.332 --> 00:33:09.667
And i remember back, after my father-in-law passed here at
00:33:09.667 --> 00:33:12.503
Tbn, we stopped doing telethons just to get that stigma away,
00:33:12.503 --> 00:33:18.709
You know?
00:33:18.709 --> 00:33:20.545
Because that was, "they just raising money all the time," and
00:33:20.545 --> 00:33:23.748
They took two weeks of the year to raise funds to keep this
00:33:23.748 --> 00:33:27.885
Worldwide ministry on the air, you know?
00:33:27.885 --> 00:33:30.288
But yet it was just so--
00:33:30.288 --> 00:33:32.557
Sheila: misunderstood.
00:33:32.557 --> 00:33:34.459
Deedee: i think the level of what you have is because of your
00:33:34.459 --> 00:33:40.398
Purpose and call, you understand?
00:33:40.398 --> 00:33:42.533
Like, i think if we can see that god gives you what's necessary
00:33:42.533 --> 00:33:49.540
For what you are called to do.
00:33:49.540 --> 00:33:52.076
I don't need what you need.
00:33:52.076 --> 00:33:54.612
Sheila: that's a good point.
00:33:54.612 --> 00:33:55.980
Laurie: well, it's like, we had a friend call us and he said,
00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:58.950
"matt," he said, "you can't apologize for what god's called
00:33:58.950 --> 00:34:04.956
You to do."
00:34:04.956 --> 00:34:06.324
He said, "because if you're in the navy and i'm in the army and
00:34:06.324 --> 00:34:10.094
I just carry a gun, but you need a fighter plane, you know, that
00:34:10.094 --> 00:34:14.465
Costs how much?
00:34:14.465 --> 00:34:15.833
How much are these b-2 bombers and all these things?
00:34:15.833 --> 00:34:18.469
And i just need a gun.
00:34:18.469 --> 00:34:19.804
I just need a good gun, right?
00:34:19.804 --> 00:34:22.240
You need a fighter plane.
00:34:22.240 --> 00:34:23.574
I don't despise you for that.
00:34:23.574 --> 00:34:25.543
I don't get mad at you for needing more than i do.
00:34:25.543 --> 00:34:28.713
We're all on the--"
00:34:28.713 --> 00:34:30.047
Deedee: it's assignment. laurie: it's assignment.
00:34:30.047 --> 00:34:31.449
Sheila: but jesus talks about that, even in the olivet
00:34:31.449 --> 00:34:34.085
Discourse before he dies, he talks about the master going
00:34:34.085 --> 00:34:36.287
Away and giving one guy five bags of silver, gives one two,
00:34:36.287 --> 00:34:39.123
And gives one one.
00:34:39.123 --> 00:34:40.491
So, and all we're asked is, "what did you do with what i
00:34:40.491 --> 00:34:43.794
Gave you?"
00:34:43.794 --> 00:34:45.163
And that was one of the things, i can remember, my mum, she had
00:34:45.163 --> 00:34:47.965
This green chair by the fire, and there was a little green
00:34:47.965 --> 00:34:50.568
Globe, and that was--she put in, apart from her tithes, which she
00:34:50.568 --> 00:34:53.905
Did every week from her widow's pension, it was for
00:34:53.905 --> 00:34:57.308
Supporting missionaries.
00:34:57.308 --> 00:34:58.676
Her thing was, the fact that her income was little didn't mean
00:34:58.676 --> 00:35:02.180
That she didn't--i always think of my mum as a generous person,
00:35:02.180 --> 00:35:06.717
Giving and giving, and i think, she had actually very little to
00:35:06.717 --> 00:35:10.454
Give, but she was faithful with what she had, and god
00:35:10.454 --> 00:35:13.457
Blessed her.
00:35:13.457 --> 00:35:15.226
Faith: when other people seem to have more blessings than you and
00:35:15.226 --> 00:35:19.063
You're trying to protect your heart from comparison, i would
00:35:19.063 --> 00:35:21.499
Say, fix your gaze.
00:35:21.499 --> 00:35:22.867
And i know that seems overly simplistic at times, but it's
00:35:22.867 --> 00:35:26.837
Really just meditating on god's truth.
00:35:26.837 --> 00:35:29.640
And you know what helps?
00:35:29.640 --> 00:35:31.509
What helps is going through a gratitude list.
00:35:31.509 --> 00:35:34.412
I thought having a gratitude list, basically a list of things
00:35:34.412 --> 00:35:38.182
That you are thankful for, i thought that used to be for god,
00:35:38.182 --> 00:35:42.553
Until i realized it becomes god's love letter to me, because
00:35:42.553 --> 00:35:46.624
You start to become aware of what he's been doing instead of
00:35:46.624 --> 00:35:50.027
What he's not doing.
00:35:50.027 --> 00:35:53.931
Sheila: hi, this is sheila.
00:35:57.568 --> 00:35:58.903
I'm here with dr. deedee, and we're behind the scenes at
00:35:58.903 --> 00:36:01.038
"better together" just talking about some of the issues that we
00:36:01.038 --> 00:36:04.875
Hear you'd like to talk about.
00:36:04.875 --> 00:36:06.277
So here's what i wanna talk about.
00:36:06.277 --> 00:36:08.246
When i worked in television years ago, there was a lot of
00:36:08.246 --> 00:36:12.416
Talk about what the prosperity gospel was, and i think there
00:36:12.416 --> 00:36:16.053
Was a lot of misunderstanding.
00:36:16.053 --> 00:36:18.990
Could you give your perspective and what you understand by that?
00:36:18.990 --> 00:36:22.560
Deedee: god is a whole life prosperity, you know, god.
00:36:22.560 --> 00:36:27.265
He wants us to be prosperous, he wants us to be satisfied, he
00:36:27.265 --> 00:36:30.301
Wants us to be full of who he is in every area of our life,
00:36:30.301 --> 00:36:35.039
Because i mean, you can have a bunch of money, but if your soul
00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:38.676
Is messed up, then that's poor.
00:36:38.676 --> 00:36:41.479
That's not prosperity at all.
00:36:41.479 --> 00:36:43.581
It's not just about wealth, it's not just about money, and i
00:36:43.581 --> 00:36:47.918
Think that's where the misconception has--
00:36:47.918 --> 00:36:50.655
Sheila: yeah, i think that's absolutely right.
00:36:50.655 --> 00:36:52.490
And the other thing i think is that sometimes we actually
00:36:52.490 --> 00:36:55.926
Settle for less, because you know, i was with a group of
00:36:55.926 --> 00:36:59.163
Young people who thought that perhaps it's just that if you
00:36:59.163 --> 00:37:01.832
Have enough faith, that god will give you all the things you want
00:37:01.832 --> 00:37:04.435
In terms of material, and yeah, does god want us to be blessed?
00:37:04.435 --> 00:37:08.105
Absolutely.
00:37:08.105 --> 00:37:09.473
But why would you settle for so much less than god
00:37:09.473 --> 00:37:11.442
Actually wants?
00:37:11.442 --> 00:37:12.777
Deedee: that's so shallow, right?
00:37:12.777 --> 00:37:14.145
Sheila: yeah, god wants us to prosper in our soul so that we
00:37:14.145 --> 00:37:16.681
Know that we're loved, we're seen, we're known, we're cared
00:37:16.681 --> 00:37:19.950
For, that god provides.
00:37:19.950 --> 00:37:21.485
Deedee: that's where prosperity starts, sheila.
00:37:21.485 --> 00:37:23.888
It starts in your soul.
00:37:23.888 --> 00:37:25.756
It's a position of your heart.
00:37:25.756 --> 00:37:27.525
If you are broke in your soul, you would be broke in your life.
00:37:27.525 --> 00:37:32.196
And so we have to know that god wants us to be prosperous in
00:37:32.196 --> 00:37:35.633
Every area of our life.
00:37:35.633 --> 00:37:37.168
Sheila: that's one of the things you said on today's show that i
00:37:37.168 --> 00:37:39.170
Really love, the kind of whole concept, because god wants you
00:37:39.170 --> 00:37:43.474
To be well in your body, soul, mind, and spirit, and then we're
00:37:43.474 --> 00:37:46.644
Able to bring everything that we have and everything we are
00:37:46.644 --> 00:37:49.613
To him.
00:37:49.613 --> 00:37:50.948
And if you find yourself in a place where you're like, "well,
00:37:50.948 --> 00:37:52.550
Lord, i don't think i know how to prosper," one of the things i
00:37:52.550 --> 00:37:55.386
Would encourage you to do is to read your bible.
00:37:55.386 --> 00:37:58.356
You know, it's like--this sounds like the most obvious thing, but
00:37:58.356 --> 00:38:01.525
Honestly, it's interesting how many of us don't really.
00:38:01.525 --> 00:38:04.762
You know, we'll maybe just pick out a verse or something, but
00:38:04.762 --> 00:38:07.965
Everything for life and health and understanding is already
00:38:07.965 --> 00:38:11.001
Written in god's word, and so that's been how i've been able
00:38:11.001 --> 00:38:14.238
To understand what true prosperity really is.
00:38:14.238 --> 00:38:16.807
Deedee: amen.
00:38:16.807 --> 00:38:18.709
Announcer: let's keep the conversation going.
00:38:18.709 --> 00:38:20.911
You can find the "better together" podcast on your
00:38:20.911 --> 00:38:23.280
Favorite listening platform.
00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:25.082
Subscribe today.
00:38:25.082 --> 00:38:27.997
Nona: i want to ask a question of this group, because i'm
00:38:31.523 --> 00:38:33.325
Sitting here and i'm thinking that in my experience, there's a
00:38:33.325 --> 00:38:36.294
Tension between--so we know godliness with contentment is a
00:38:36.294 --> 00:38:40.031
Great gain, right?
00:38:40.031 --> 00:38:41.466
If i believe that the lord has called me to more, how do i
00:38:41.466 --> 00:38:45.437
Navigate the tension between being content and then
00:38:45.437 --> 00:38:48.673
Believing god for more?
00:38:48.673 --> 00:38:50.442
Deedee: i always look at contentment as me being
00:38:50.442 --> 00:38:53.612
Satisfied with where i am until god takes me to where i'm
00:38:53.612 --> 00:38:58.884
Believing that i'll be.
00:38:58.884 --> 00:39:01.119
I think that's where we have so much discontentment, because
00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:05.724
People are so thrown off.
00:39:05.724 --> 00:39:07.626
They see something greater, but this is what they have, and they
00:39:07.626 --> 00:39:11.463
Want it now.
00:39:11.463 --> 00:39:12.798
It's like, you have to enjoy right where you are.
00:39:12.798 --> 00:39:15.901
You'll miss those moments and you'll never be able to get
00:39:15.901 --> 00:39:18.770
Those moments back.
00:39:18.770 --> 00:39:20.138
I mean, it's just like with my kids.
00:39:20.138 --> 00:39:21.873
I couldn't wait till my older kids grew up, you know, like,
00:39:21.873 --> 00:39:25.577
"come on, hurry up, do this."
00:39:25.577 --> 00:39:26.912
But then when the youngest one came, it was like, i know this
00:39:26.912 --> 00:39:29.581
Is the last one, let me enjoy every phase of this, which i am
00:39:29.581 --> 00:39:33.552
So grateful for because now i have memories of that and i can
00:39:33.552 --> 00:39:38.857
Always pull on those memories.
00:39:38.857 --> 00:39:40.692
But with my older kids, it's like it was--it's like a
00:39:40.692 --> 00:39:43.695
Big blur.
00:39:43.695 --> 00:39:45.030
And i think god wants us to be able to learn in every moment,
00:39:45.030 --> 00:39:48.667
In every area that we are in.
00:39:48.667 --> 00:39:51.937
So for me, that's how i would look at contentment, because i'm
00:39:51.937 --> 00:39:55.106
Gonna be content.
00:39:55.106 --> 00:39:56.475
I'm gonna enjoy this three-wheel volkswagen that i'm driving, you
00:39:56.475 --> 00:40:00.512
Know, until i can get four wheels, or whatever.
00:40:00.512 --> 00:40:03.815
I think people are just so unsatisfied.
00:40:03.815 --> 00:40:06.852
Again, it goes back to that comparison.
00:40:06.852 --> 00:40:09.654
Nona: so the thing about contentment is contentment
00:40:09.654 --> 00:40:12.724
Doesn't actually exist unless there is desire.
00:40:12.724 --> 00:40:16.895
You have to have a yearning for something in order to exercise
00:40:16.895 --> 00:40:20.999
Contentment, because if you don't want anything, you're not
00:40:20.999 --> 00:40:24.135
Content, you just don't have desire.
00:40:24.135 --> 00:40:26.104
Contentment actually exists in an environment where i could
00:40:26.104 --> 00:40:30.141
Desire more, there is more that i could have, but instead i
00:40:30.141 --> 00:40:33.845
Choose, i make a decision to actually rest in what i have.
00:40:33.845 --> 00:40:38.750
That is why godliness with contentment is great gain,
00:40:38.750 --> 00:40:41.887
Because i could pursue more, but instead i choose to be content
00:40:41.887 --> 00:40:46.024
With what i have.
00:40:46.024 --> 00:40:47.826
Laurie: years ago we were at some--back when we didn't work
00:40:47.826 --> 00:40:52.097
At tbn and we had our own business and some of our board
00:40:52.097 --> 00:40:54.766
Members lived in scottsdale with a big, beautiful house.
00:40:54.766 --> 00:40:58.236
And i remember we'd drive down there and we'd pray for a couple
00:40:58.236 --> 00:41:01.773
Of days, and we'd just sit in their living room and pray.
00:41:01.773 --> 00:41:04.142
And they had these big windows, and there was a
00:41:04.142 --> 00:41:06.678
Gardener outside.
00:41:06.678 --> 00:41:08.013
And bernard was sitting there, and they were from germany, and
00:41:08.013 --> 00:41:11.283
He looks out there and we're just praying in there and he
00:41:11.283 --> 00:41:14.319
Looks out there and he goes, "you know, sometimes i wish i
00:41:14.319 --> 00:41:16.221
Was just the gardener."
00:41:16.221 --> 00:41:17.589
Nona: wow.
00:41:17.589 --> 00:41:21.026
Laurie: you know?
00:41:21.026 --> 00:41:22.360
So the responsibility that comes with the steward.
00:41:22.360 --> 00:41:25.864
We're all just stewards.
00:41:25.864 --> 00:41:28.066
We're all just stewards of everything that belongs to god.
00:41:28.066 --> 00:41:32.404
God owns it all, the earth and everybody and everything that
00:41:32.404 --> 00:41:36.241
Dwells therein.
00:41:36.241 --> 00:41:37.576
And so we're just stewards of what we have now, and stewarding
00:41:37.576 --> 00:41:44.382
God's prosperity.
00:41:44.382 --> 00:41:46.151
Whatever god's put in our hands, we are responsible for what we
00:41:46.151 --> 00:41:50.589
Do with it.
00:41:50.589 --> 00:41:51.957
And are we generous with what god has, what belongs to god,
00:41:51.957 --> 00:41:56.528
You know?
00:41:56.528 --> 00:41:57.862
And how do we crack open some of these things that feel like they
00:41:57.862 --> 00:42:01.600
Haven't worked for us, but then looking back, have i ever gone
00:42:01.600 --> 00:42:05.403
Without a meal?
00:42:05.403 --> 00:42:07.005
Have my children been okay?
00:42:07.005 --> 00:42:09.874
Okay, yeah, we're okay.
00:42:09.874 --> 00:42:11.543
Wow, we did come through that season, that season wherein i
00:42:11.543 --> 00:42:16.348
Thought that there is no tomorrow for us, you know?
00:42:16.348 --> 00:42:19.718
I remember back at generation entertainment there were days
00:42:19.718 --> 00:42:23.154
That my husband said, "this is it.
00:42:23.154 --> 00:42:26.024
This is--closing doors today," you know?
00:42:26.024 --> 00:42:28.760
And he would drive around hollywood before he came home,
00:42:28.760 --> 00:42:32.931
And he would listen to that old song from ron kenoly, "the
00:42:32.931 --> 00:42:36.735
Battle is the lord's."
00:42:36.735 --> 00:42:38.403
He said, "i would just drive for a while before i walked in the
00:42:38.403 --> 00:42:41.239
Front door, because i just had to get my mindset in my mind
00:42:41.239 --> 00:42:46.745
Right," you know?
00:42:46.745 --> 00:42:48.079
And he said, i'd come out and i'd go, "everything okay?"
00:42:48.079 --> 00:42:52.384
And he'd just say, "the wall moved."
00:42:52.384 --> 00:42:55.387
Sheila: wow.
00:42:55.387 --> 00:42:56.855
Laurie: "the wall moved."
00:42:56.855 --> 00:42:58.323
And we're talking weeks and months and years even, up there,
00:42:58.323 --> 00:43:02.394
Just living by faith.
00:43:02.394 --> 00:43:05.897
We all have to do that.
00:43:05.897 --> 00:43:07.666
No matter where we're at, we all have to live--i don't care how
00:43:07.666 --> 00:43:10.635
Rich you are, in some area of your life, you have to walk by
00:43:10.635 --> 00:43:15.306
Faith, and the responsibility and the faith that it takes to
00:43:15.306 --> 00:43:20.245
Just keep walking.
00:43:20.245 --> 00:43:21.613
And that's just what god's called us to do, to
00:43:21.613 --> 00:43:24.516
Walk through.
00:43:24.516 --> 00:43:25.850
But you know what the great thing about it is, that he's
00:43:25.850 --> 00:43:27.452
Always walking with us, right?
00:43:27.452 --> 00:43:29.554
"okay, i want you to walk on water."
00:43:29.554 --> 00:43:31.122
Guess who's walking with you?
00:43:31.122 --> 00:43:33.191
You know, god is walking, jesus is walking with you on water.
00:43:33.191 --> 00:43:37.862
Sheila: when you hear the phrase "walk in abundant life," what
00:43:37.862 --> 00:43:41.933
Does that mean, and how does that relate to just
00:43:41.933 --> 00:43:44.102
Every--like, day-to-day?
00:43:44.102 --> 00:43:46.104
What does that have to do with your faith?
00:43:46.104 --> 00:43:47.939
Well, for me it's like, we live on a broken planet, and we've
00:43:47.939 --> 00:43:51.676
All had experiences of things that don't work.
00:43:51.676 --> 00:43:54.746
And so when you believe in god to move in certain areas, it
00:43:54.746 --> 00:43:58.717
Does require faith.
00:43:58.717 --> 00:44:00.819
But faith, you know, the amazing thing, i'm so grateful that
00:44:00.819 --> 00:44:04.522
Jesus said, "you just need faith the size of a mustard seed."
00:44:04.522 --> 00:44:07.492
He could have picked some really big seed or some really big
00:44:07.492 --> 00:44:10.729
Piece of fruit and said, "if you just had faith the size of a
00:44:10.729 --> 00:44:13.598
Watermelon, then you'll be able to do these things."
00:44:13.598 --> 00:44:15.734
No, he picked this tiny seed, which is his way of saying,
00:44:15.734 --> 00:44:18.770
"just bring what you have, bring the faith you have, and i will
00:44:18.770 --> 00:44:21.773
Bless it and i will make it grow."
00:44:21.773 --> 00:44:24.375
Sheila: i think of that passage too in philippians where it
00:44:24.375 --> 00:44:26.344
Says, "be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer
00:44:26.344 --> 00:44:28.546
And supplication with thanksgiving."
00:44:28.546 --> 00:44:31.182
There's something about thanksgiving that is huge.
00:44:31.182 --> 00:44:35.153
My husband started keeping a gratitude journal beside his
00:44:35.153 --> 00:44:37.889
Bed, because he was going through a bit of a tough time
00:44:37.889 --> 00:44:40.358
With some things, and he said, "no, every single night i'm
00:44:40.358 --> 00:44:42.594
Going to sit down and i'm going to notice, pay attention to, and
00:44:42.594 --> 00:44:45.663
Be thankful for good things that god is doing."
00:44:45.663 --> 00:44:48.800
And it really, honestly, it makes such a difference, because
00:44:48.800 --> 00:44:52.203
Then you recognize the hand of god in all the places where you
00:44:52.203 --> 00:44:54.973
Would miss him, because he is-- no matter what is going on, god
00:44:54.973 --> 00:44:59.043
Is always good.
00:44:59.043 --> 00:45:00.545
He's always kind.
00:45:00.545 --> 00:45:01.880
He's always merciful.
00:45:01.880 --> 00:45:03.214
He's always loving.
00:45:03.214 --> 00:45:04.582
His arms are out towards us.
00:45:04.582 --> 00:45:06.184
Deedee: we miss so many moments of what god has done in
00:45:06.184 --> 00:45:09.287
Our lives.
00:45:09.287 --> 00:45:10.855
Nona: because the natural tendency, and i think this is a
00:45:10.855 --> 00:45:13.925
Part of our flesh, is to focus on what isn't going right, what
00:45:13.925 --> 00:45:17.796
Isn't working out, to focus on when i prayed and i didn't get
00:45:17.796 --> 00:45:22.100
The answer that i wanted.
00:45:22.100 --> 00:45:24.035
And it's like, well, but how many times has god shown up
00:45:24.035 --> 00:45:27.906
For you?
00:45:27.906 --> 00:45:29.240
Danger seen and unseen.
00:45:29.240 --> 00:45:31.910
I think about that often where it's like, i know what i know.
00:45:31.910 --> 00:45:35.647
I don't know what i don't.
00:45:35.647 --> 00:45:37.015
Sheila: that's so true.
00:45:37.015 --> 00:45:38.349
Nona: so i give god thanks for what i don't even know.
00:45:38.349 --> 00:45:40.485
It's like, "god, thank you for providing what i didn't even
00:45:40.485 --> 00:45:42.821
Know i needed it."
00:45:42.821 --> 00:45:44.155
Faith: yeah, that's so good.
00:45:44.155 --> 00:45:45.657
Once i was on a mission trip in indonesia, and it was just a
00:45:45.657 --> 00:45:50.261
Scouting day.
00:45:50.261 --> 00:45:52.297
We were visiting all the coastal villages of different islands
00:45:52.297 --> 00:45:56.734
That were unreached.
00:45:56.734 --> 00:45:58.369
And i remember we spent the entire day, it was like 12
00:45:58.369 --> 00:46:03.174
Hours, going from island to island, village to village.
00:46:03.174 --> 00:46:07.445
And we had a guide who was a pastor, and we were hosted by
00:46:07.445 --> 00:46:12.016
Him, and i just saw his church, which had 20 something families,
00:46:12.016 --> 00:46:18.489
And i asked him, you know, like, how did this church grow?
00:46:18.489 --> 00:46:21.526
And he said, "i just went door to door and told them the
00:46:21.526 --> 00:46:24.562
Truth," you know?
00:46:24.562 --> 00:46:26.064
And every morning at 5 a.m. we would do morning prayer,
00:46:26.064 --> 00:46:29.300
And it would just be his guitar and
00:46:29.300 --> 00:46:31.870
His family, and we would just sing, out of tune sometimes, and
00:46:31.870 --> 00:46:36.407
Pray, and he was helping us, you know?
00:46:36.407 --> 00:46:39.177
Obviously being from the western regions, right, we were not
00:46:39.177 --> 00:46:44.482
Accustomed to canoeing from village to village.
00:46:44.482 --> 00:46:47.952
And honestly, like, we were slowing them down.
00:46:47.952 --> 00:46:51.289
Like, we were like--it was no longer about them, it was about
00:46:51.289 --> 00:46:54.859
Us, you know?
00:46:54.859 --> 00:46:56.794
I'm embarrassed to admit, but it's just the truth, you know.
00:46:56.794 --> 00:46:59.564
And i remember once that the canoe was about to flip over,
00:46:59.564 --> 00:47:03.868
And then he jumped into the water where there's all these
00:47:03.868 --> 00:47:06.471
Alligators and i think crocodiles or whatnot, i forgot
00:47:06.471 --> 00:47:09.641
Which one.
00:47:09.641 --> 00:47:10.975
Laurie: doesn't matter!
00:47:10.975 --> 00:47:12.343
Faith: and he would grab the canoe so that we don't fall.
00:47:12.343 --> 00:47:14.145
He really went out of his way to host us, and i remember at the
00:47:14.145 --> 00:47:17.882
End of it, i asked him, like, "man, that must have been
00:47:17.882 --> 00:47:23.621
So hard.
00:47:23.621 --> 00:47:24.989
Your life must be so hard, and all this must be so difficult."
00:47:24.989 --> 00:47:28.993
And he looked at me and he had this bright smile.
00:47:28.993 --> 00:47:32.597
He's like, "it's easy."
00:47:32.597 --> 00:47:36.301
I'm like, "come again?
00:47:36.301 --> 00:47:39.203
Come again?"
00:47:39.203 --> 00:47:40.538
And he goes, "it's easy because of what jesus has done for me."
00:47:40.538 --> 00:47:45.877
And i remember standing there just humbled, absolutely
00:47:45.877 --> 00:47:51.482
Humbled, because just on the scale of possessions-wise, you
00:47:51.482 --> 00:47:57.789
Know, i had way more than he did.
00:47:57.789 --> 00:48:00.558
But the fruit of the spirit on this man, and the riches of
00:48:00.558 --> 00:48:07.598
Testimonies that he held.
00:48:07.598 --> 00:48:10.468
I think the delightful irony of having to walk through lack is
00:48:10.468 --> 00:48:16.808
That you have to walk through lack in order to really know
00:48:16.808 --> 00:48:20.345
God's provision and abundance.
00:48:20.345 --> 00:48:22.847
All these miracle stories have been birthed from lack.
00:48:22.847 --> 00:48:28.186
But in the lord, lack doesn't have authority.
00:48:28.186 --> 00:48:31.556
It cannot form us.
00:48:31.556 --> 00:48:32.890
And i looked at this man.
00:48:32.890 --> 00:48:35.226
He was not formed by his lack.
00:48:35.226 --> 00:48:38.429
He was formed by the abundance of god's presence.
00:48:38.429 --> 00:48:42.633
Faith: when reality looks like the opposite of abundance, i
00:48:42.633 --> 00:48:46.337
Would say, go back to the presence of god.
00:48:46.337 --> 00:48:49.273
And maybe it's not so much that a circumstance needs to change,
00:48:49.273 --> 00:48:53.745
But you need a fresh revelation of what god is up to and what
00:48:53.745 --> 00:48:57.115
God is doing.
00:48:57.115 --> 00:48:58.483
And so, i know it's hard, and i don't want to throw a simplistic
00:48:58.483 --> 00:49:02.420
Answer over this just to make you feel better, but the reality
00:49:02.420 --> 00:49:06.457
Is, in the lord comes all things.
00:49:06.457 --> 00:49:10.261
And prosperity is not just about external goods, but it's about
00:49:10.261 --> 00:49:15.400
Life in our souls and in our circumstances as well,
00:49:15.400 --> 00:49:19.704
Overflowing from his presence.
00:49:19.704 --> 00:49:21.072
So i would just go back to that secret place, to that prayer
00:49:21.072 --> 00:49:24.876
Closet, and go back to the presence of god.
00:49:24.876 --> 00:49:28.546
Faith: i would love for us to just pray for everyone joining
00:49:28.546 --> 00:49:32.650
In on this conversation, for those that feel overwhelmed by
00:49:32.650 --> 00:49:36.888
Their lack and they don't know how to approach god with their
00:49:36.888 --> 00:49:40.591
Needs, and perhaps even misunderstanding what god meant
00:49:40.591 --> 00:49:45.163
About prosperity and abundance.
00:49:45.163 --> 00:49:47.165
So let's just take a moment to pray.
00:49:47.165 --> 00:49:49.700
Jesus, you are the abundant god.
00:49:49.700 --> 00:49:52.203
God, you could have just forgiven us and cast us to
00:49:52.203 --> 00:49:55.173
The side.
00:49:55.173 --> 00:49:56.541
But lord, you chose to love us and give your one and only son.
00:49:56.541 --> 00:50:00.311
You chose to not only make us conquerors, but more
00:50:00.311 --> 00:50:04.415
Than conquerors.
00:50:04.415 --> 00:50:05.783
You didn't just give us life, but you gave us life
00:50:05.783 --> 00:50:07.251
In abundance.
00:50:07.251 --> 00:50:08.619
Lord, we're not just your servants, but we're
00:50:08.619 --> 00:50:10.254
Your friends.
00:50:10.254 --> 00:50:11.589
And to that, god, we glorify and magnify your name.
00:50:11.589 --> 00:50:15.093
And jesus, i pray for those that just need that paycheck to go
00:50:15.093 --> 00:50:20.531
Through, lord, for those that are looking at their children
00:50:20.531 --> 00:50:24.335
With fear of being able to provide, and lord, may they know
00:50:24.335 --> 00:50:28.473
Intimately, authentically, and passionately, jehovah jireh, the
00:50:28.473 --> 00:50:33.277
God who provides.
00:50:33.277 --> 00:50:34.645
We love you, lord.
00:50:34.645 --> 00:50:35.980
In jesus's name we pray, amen.
00:50:35.980 --> 00:50:40.485
Announcer: connect with us on social media and let us know how
00:50:40.485 --> 00:50:42.920
Our team can pray for you.
00:50:42.920 --> 00:50:46.824
Stream full episodes of "better together" on demand.
00:50:46.824 --> 00:50:50.628
Go to bettertogether.tv to stream all of our
00:50:50.628 --> 00:50:53.397
Latest conversations.
00:50:53.397 --> 00:50:55.766
♪♪♪
00:50:55.766 --> 00:51:00.000

What is True Prosperity? | Better Together Episode 1166

May 18, 2026 | S8 E1166 | 50:59

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