https://youtube.com/shorts/mUj8aZaFlRM?si=7PMZW5Gdxl9ZY7WI 'Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers,' is the apostle John's wonderful greeting to a dear friend of his in 3 John 1:2. This verse is a favorite of a lot of Christians. It is among the most quoted in the Bible, probably because the thought of prosperity is very appealing to many people. However, prosperity as stated in this verse is often misunderstood. One thing is immediately clear from this verse, though. There is a connection between the prosperity of the soul and the prosperity of a person as a whole. What is not clear is how the soul prospers. In human terms, we associate physical prosperity with financial success. We call rich people prosperous people. However, that is not how the Bible defines prosperity. Prosperity in the Bible encompasses all the facets of the life of a person. That may include not only their financial life but also their love life, family, academic, career, health, etc. That, in itself, means you can be rich but not termed prosperous by the bible if the other areas of your life are a mess. Indeed, there are many rich people in this world with failed marriages and broken homes. Likewise, there are many poor people in this world with a flourishing life and a peaceful home. There are also rich people with a flourishing love life and a peaceful home. They have both a prosperous financial situation and a home. The Bible declares in Ecclesiastes 5:19-20: 'Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.' By the Bible's definition, both the poor and the rich can be prosperous and both the poor and the rich can lack prosperity in their lives. The difference between the two sets of people, the rich or poor prosperous group and the rich or poor non-prosperous group, is the difference between sad and happy people. And the difference is determined by how each has treated their soul. One has taken time and effort to make sure their soul is prospering while the other has not. Now, the question is, how does one prosper the soul? Well, the answer, though not often seen by bible believers, is found in one statement of scripture. It is found in Joshua 1:8, where we see the Lord declaring, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." The secret to prospering your soul lies in studying the word of God. Let your life be moulded by the word of God. Let your choices and decisions in life be influenced by what the word of God says and not by the philosophical delusions of men. As psalm 1:1-3 says, 'Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.'