The Key to Prosperity -- Daily "Lessons on Living" Christian Devotional

The Key to Prosperity -- Daily "Lessons on Living" Christian Devotional
1 Kings 2:2–3

"I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn."

The Key to Prosperity

Many young people fantasize about the possibility of becoming a sports star. And little wonder. According to one source, Michael Jordan earns more than $300,000 a game (that’s $10,000 a minute, assuming he averages 30 minutes per game). In December 1998, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed pitcher Kevin Brown to a $105-million contract. With those kinds of dollars being spent on athletes, prosperity for them seems like a sure thing.

Yet the true secret to affluence doesn’t lie in landing a lucrative sports contract. Solomon’s father, David, knew that real prosperity comes from being obedient to the Lord. Unlike those who seek only the benefit of financial gain, David assured Solomon that obeying God would result in prosperity in "all that you do and wherever you turn."

Although we may legitimately question whether any athlete is worth the kind of money mentioned, there is certainly nothing wrong with material abundance. But we must recognize that it counts for little when compared to spiritual prosperity and the well-being of those we love. Mere dollars and cents cannot turn back the hands of time or restore the ravages of loose living. It is especially in these important areas of life that living according to God’s Word pays the greatest dividends.

Don’t be lulled into thinking that prosperity is based on a bank account. Jesus said, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Mark 8:36). Where do you find your prosperity? Is it in the temporal, the financial, the pleasurable? Make sure your prosperity is built on your walk with God rather than on your wealth in this world.

The key to real prosperity is found in God, not in gold.

Ken's Comment
I agree wholeheartedly with this. In working with clients who want success, it's important to ask why before exploring how. If you would like help to achieve material prosperity without compromising your spiritual prosperity, ministry and life coach, Ken Davis may be able to help.

Send and e-mail for a complimentary consultation.

Top 10 Music Ministry Tips

The Top 10 tips for creating a vibrant and passionate Music Ministry 10 proven ways to enable and inspire you to be the musician, singer or worship leader you want to be. Build a purposeful, focused team, working with your church as a whole to impact your community through vibrant, passionate music ministry. 1. Fill your own spiritual life with inspiring music. Actively seek new music that lifts your spirit. Surf the web for gems from unknown songwriters. Just aim to discover one new song per week that inspires you. When you're inspired, others will be too. 2. Thank God for your current situation. It's easy to grumble and be frustrated about the lack of physical and human resources. A grateful spirit will grow you first. Then your ministry can grow. Write down ten things about your life, your ministry and your church that you can thank God for. Do it now. Do it every day. 3. Visualise the future you want. Imagine in detail the music ministry you would like to see in your church. How many people? What instruments do they play. How many singers. How are children involved? How has the congregation grown? What buildings are needed to house this powerhouse of praise? What do grateful people say after another inspiring service. Use all your senses. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you feel, both emotionally AND physically. What smells are in the building - fresh timber, flowers, perume? Write it down and read it regularly. 4. Create your own Personal Life Mission Statement. What are the successes you are happiest about? What values and principles are most important to you? How do you want to contribute to your family, your church, your community and the world? What would you like people to say about you when you are gone? Think about how your music ministry and creative gifts tie in with this mission. Write it down. 5. Understand the difference between true worship and singing. True worship is a whole of life response to God's graciousness and love. It is EVERY part of our life. Singing is a beautiful expression, but it is not the whole. Seek to see worship in all the things you do, think and say. 6. Work with the Leadership. Seek to understand the mission and vision of the church as a whole. Be a team player supporting the big picture. Talk to your pastor or leadership team about how they see music ministry contributing to the life of the church and the community. Support them wholeheartedly. If you can't do this without violating your personal integrity, then find a different church where you can. 7. Seek feedback. Regularly ask people what they like and don't like about your ministry. Listen to them without defensiveness. Thank them for their honesty. You may not agree with everything they say, but you only have to make one small change to improve things. If people make general comments like ...That was great...ask for specifics. What about it was great? What did it do for you? 8. Give positive feedback. Musicians are highly sensitive and generally feel bad about every minor mistake (that others didn't even notice). Each week, find one thing to praise each member of your team for. Each week, do one thing which helps them develop musically or personally. If you have a large team, write down their names and systematically work through the list. 9. Ask how, not why. If resources are short, keep asking, ...How can I get... Need money for equipment? How can you raise it? Need people? How can you meet more musical people and involve them? Need more time? Ask ...How can I find more time for ... How is forward looking and is a faith word. It expresses your trust and confidence in God's provision for your situation. Only ask why if it helps you uncover a barrier that is holding you back. 10. Get a life and ministry coach. Great players have great coaches. Is ministry any different? We all need coaches and mentors to challenge and inspire us to play at the next level. Find someone who is leading a ministry that is similar to your vision. Apprentice yourself to them. Set aside money and time for your own personal development. This is the most valuable investment you can make and will pay huge dividends. About the Submitter This piece was originally submitted by Ken Davis, author of Sound Music Ministry, a comprehensive training manual for music ministry, Life and Ministry Coach, who can be reached at ken@insideoutmusic.net, or visited on the web. Ken Davis wants you to know: he is trained as an Occupational Therapist, with 15 years experience in lifestyle change, and 25 years experience in Music Ministry. He specializes in coaching creative people, mid-life career changers, and helping the disadvantaged create meaningful self-employment.

Creative Ministry is possible

Sometimes it takes a while to work out what your lifes purpose is. Sure, the Bible is clear, we exist to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, but what does that really mean. After 43 years I can can say with a degree of confidence that it means:

• Knowing who you are
• Knowing what you want to do
• Having a Godly plan to get there
• Being responsive to God's ongoing leading as you travel the road in faith

My calling is to help others, particularly with a creative bent, and those involved in creative ministry to take the same journey of faith, to help and support them with affordable products that REALLY work and support that really make a difference.

So I invite you, if you want support and resources to assist you in the journey, it's as simple as contacting me, or why not even leave your message on this BLOG?