Prayer of Prosperity and Protection

Prayer of Prosperity and Protection

Genesis 24: ⁵⁹ So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. ⁶⁰ And they blessed Rebekah and said to her:

 

“Our sister, may you become
The mother of thousands of ten thousands;
And may your descendants possess
The gates of those who hate them.”

 

⁶¹ Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.

 

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Nervous and saddened to see Rebekah leave, Laban and his mother wished her farewell. Her departure plans came up quickly and they had no time to prepare. They offered up a prayer of prosperity and protection.

 

My Observations:

• Laban and his mother placed Rebekah in GOD’s hands by saying a prayer over her.
• Laban and his mother agreed with Abraham’s prophecy and prayed that she fulfills it.
• Laban and his mother may have followed GOD all their lives, so they gave Rebekah their best, namely prayer.

 

Speaking prosperity and protection over someone is not a bad thing, but the enemy tries to mix in greed and lust for power into it, confusing followers of CHRIST. Laban and his mother simply agreed with the prophecy of Abraham as told by GOD. Rebekah would become the mother of many nations, just like Sarah.

 

I believe it was JESUS who told Abraham this prophecy and in it, HE promised blessings. But Laban and his mother knew the enemy would attack. They prayed for protection against those who hate people who follow CHRIST, not in a political way, but in a relationship way.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about this prayer?
• Has GOD promised you something that has not come to fruition yet?
• Instead of giving up, will you look at the situation differently, renewing your trust that GOD keeps HIS promises?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, please bless this reader with the plan you have for him or her. Plans to “prosper” and not to harm. Plans to give a “Hope” and a “future.” Pleas protect this reader from themselves and those who a purposefully trying to cause harm. amen

Looking at Greener Grass

Job 21: ¹³ They spend their years in prosperity
    and go down to the grave in peace.
¹⁴ Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!
    We have no desire to know your ways.
¹⁵ Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
    What would we gain by praying to him?’
¹⁶ But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.

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When I thought of the letter “H” I pursued Humility. I did the right things and lead a somewhat peaceful life. But it always seemed as if someone around me, who was reckless in their abandon, would always do better. I mean it seemed like the drug dealers would always have more money. I at least rationalized that they would be shot soon so I carried on.

Later it was peers at work who seemed to get better raises and bigger offices. Then I read the news when I was struggling in my payments and see some star who would buy frivolous items and not once look at GOD. I realized the “H” I found was Hater.

• Sometimes I look at the wealthy and get mad at GOD for allowing them to have it easy.
• Sometimes I look at the wealthy like they are getting everything they want without praying.
• Sometimes I look at the wealthy as a destination rather than a mirage.

I must admit it is hard to say to the poor, “Hang in there and remain poor” because it’s no fun being poor. Meanwhile those who never have a thought about GOD, not even once on a daily basis, seem to go unscathed. Is this fair? GOD thinks so.

• Wealth is fine BUT GOD knows my tipping point where wealth would blind me from HIM.
• Money is fine BUT GOD says to me “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”
• Prosperity is fine BUT GOD understands that the only way for me to truly be prosperous is to be generous without being jealous.

GOD wants me to look at the news and say “Good for them” when it comes to the wealthy who waste. HE actually wants me to look at my own actions to see if I am being generous and not jealous. If I can give and not look at greener grass then I am pleasing GOD for I am giving a sacrifice to the MOST HIGH.

• Are you jealous of the wealthy?
• Do you pout at your financial circumstance?
• Can you praise GOD sacrificially today?
• Can you stop looking at other people for a moment and give to someone even when you don’t have much?

Half-Hearted Effort

2 Chronicles 31: ²⁰ This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. ²¹ In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

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“I wonder how long this guy will last?” was the snippy question that crossed my mind as the new boss rolled in. He talked a lot about credentials so I ignored him and his commands. Anything he told me to do, I did it halfheartedly.

I mean the task was completed but “just enough” rather than excellent. His boss watched my halfhearted efforts and said to me, “you still have to work here even if he leaves.”

• Sometimes I do things halfheartedly.
• Sometimes my motivation is low and I don’t give full effort.
• Sometimes I do just enough to say it’s done rather than seeking what needs to be done.

When I started putting my whole heart into something I could actually see things change. I didn’t really care about the promotions and the spoils, rather I was focused on doing whatever I was doing, with excellence. GOD saw this.

• Whenever I worked heard and gave GOD credit, I was blessed tremendously.
• Whenever I had a huge task in front of me and asked GOD to remove the mountain, I have been blessed tremendously.
• Whenever I included GOD in my plans I have been blessed tremendously.

GOD wants my whole heart. This includes my fears, doubts and worries along with my excitement, drive and ambitions. HE wants me to see HE can handle it all and I can stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.

• Are you serving GOD halfheartedly?
• Have you run out of gas serving GOD?
• Can you change the focus of serving GOD from getting something from HIM to simply serving?
• Won’t you dedicate all your efforts to HIM today?

Not Too Late to Prosper

2 Chronicles 24: ²⁰ Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’”

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It seemed like everything was going absolutely wrong in my life at this time. My old jalopy was on the fritz again, and I was stuck in “this” stupid town, alone. I went to the mailbox and saw the envelope with the word “overdue” stamped on the outside.  I was behind on credit card payments.

One of the “old” ladies who lived in my building came up to me and asked me the strangest question. “What church do you go to?” assumptively she asked. “I haven’t found one” I said knowing I wasn’t even looking for one.

• There are times where I have tried to do life on my own.
• There are times where I think I can handle life by myself.
• There are times where I mistook being busy as being productive and I got exhausted getting nowhere.

I was working as hard as I could and things weren’t changing. I mean the car couldn’t have broken down at the worst time. I took a deep breath and went to church. I listened to the sermon and the pastor spoke about the book “Revelation of JESUS.” This perked my interest so I decided to return the next week.

Before long I was attending regularly and the pastor asked the question “Is there anyone here who would like to rededicate their life back to CHRIST?” Something within me said “stay seated” but fortunately for me I got up anyway. I was tired of trying so hard and getting nowhere.

I don’t remember any magic remedies or potions, but soon I found myself giving to people instead of holding back to pay my bills. Soon I wasn’t lonely anymore and wouldn’t you know it, my bills were paid off. The impossible was made possible.

• GOD says to me, “It is never too late to turn to your ways back to the LORD.”
• GOD says to me, “Stop trying to be GOD and follow ME.”
• GOD says to me, “I AM worthy to be praised in the middle of a crisis.”

There is no emergency with GOD. HE knows exactly what I am going through each and every moment. HE wants me to trust HIS plan and follow HIS ways first, and then I will prosper.

• Are you in a situation where you cannot see the end?
• Do you think your situation is impossible for GOD?
• Can you slow down a minute, take a deep breath and ask “what is GOD doing in my life right now?”
• If you are serving GOD, then can you check if you have judgmental words coming from your lips?

GOD’s steps to prosperity

1 Kings 2: When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

² “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, ³ and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go ⁴ and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

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Days can become difficult and one can lose heart so GOD says “Be Strong” to me so I won’t become discouraged.

Fast paced life and busy times can blind me so GOD says “Observe what the LORD your GOD requires” so I can slow down, open my spiritual eyes and see how HE is working in my life.

Temptation flaunts itself in my face daily so GOD says to me “Walk in obedience to HIM, and keep HIS decrees and commands, HIS laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses” so the more I follow HIM the clearer my path becomes.

It is very clear that large amounts of money should not be my destination. This turns many people away from following GOD.  Wealth blinds and after a while the only purpose I am left with is to protect my “stuff.”  GOD wants something very different from me.

• GOD wants me to focus on HIM no matter what’s going on around me.
• GOD wants me to be delighted in HIS path rather than sulking about what I do or do not have.
• GOD wants me to follow HIS ways so HE will bring many to me to point people to HIM.

“Purpose” is part of the prosperity GOD gives me. When I live my life for HIS purpose I am forever wealthy!

• Are you bowing down to the god of wealth?
• Do you feel nervous about money for yourself or someone else?
• Do you think cash will bring happiness, health and security?
• Can you turn your thoughts to GOD rather than focusing on the things of this world?
• Will you let GOD dictate your wealth based on your generosity?

Do not be afraid!

Joshua 10: ²⁵ Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”

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Staring at the posting, I convinced myself I could not do the job! I mean it seemed too hard and I wasn’t that smart and besides… “what if I fail?”

• I will always be inadequate for a task when I am full of fear.
• I will always be wrong for the job when I am full of doubt.
• I will always be wondering when will I become successful if I never try something out of my comfort zone.

Every time I said “It’s too hard, or I can’t possibly achieve that” I am defeated before I start. I then wonder, “What would have happened if I had tried whatever I didn’t try.” Fear holds me down!

• GOD says to me “Do not be afraid” because HE is with me!
• GOD says to me “Do not be discouraged” because HE is the one with infinite resources.
• GOD says to me “Be strong and courageous” because my weakness is strength as long as I lean on HIS might! 

I can’t trust in my own abilities, knowledge, or talent.  It is GOD who raises humans up to the positions they strive for so my fear of failure is unwarranted. I must put my trust in GOD and let HIM fight my battles and HE will win and make me prosper.

• What is holding you back?
• Are you fighting a battle that GOD should fight?
• Do you think you can win with your own wit or strength?
• Won’t you believe that GOD will deliver you?
• Can you recognize GOD’s might and seek HIS power?

GOD is with me

Genesis 39: ² The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. ³ When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, ⁴ Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 

⁵ From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

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All seemed lost as my interviews hadn’t gone so well, then a recruiter appeared and I was hired for my first job out of college. I was lost on my new job and my boss’s boss took me under his wing. Lost in my work, a recruiter reached out to me with a wonderful job that I took back in my home town.

Other positions and opportunities followed all because of the right person was put in front of me when I was lost.

• Sometimes I feel lost especially when I’m not getting my way.
• There are times when I feel lost and don’t have a path to travel.
• Many times I have felt lost and despair sets in.

Joseph was thrown in a hole by his brothers who hated him. Sold into slavery, his plans and dreams seemed impossible. BUT GOD was with him. I must admit, this piece of history seemed a little too convenient. Can this happen to me?

• GOD said “I AM with you” when HE gave me HIS SON.
• GOD said “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
• GOD said “No one can take you out of my hands.”

When GOD connected with me there is no human, no demon, no situation or circumstance that can separate me from HIS love. HE is the glue that sticks to me even through sin and shame. HE gives me comfort knowing HE is with me even until the end of this age and beyond!

• Do you feel lost?
• Are you feeling a bit down?
• Can you recognize that GOD is with you?
• Won’t you let HIM take control of the situation and watch HIS power?