“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” —3 John 1:2 NKJ
John’s prayer for his friend, Gaius, is God’s HEART for YOU — that you experience a life marked by…
- HOLINESS and WHOLENESS,
- spiritual, emotional and mental HEALTH and physical FITNESS,
- a prosperous SOUL and a prosperous LIFE.
What are the CHOICES or DECISIONS you can make today to begin moving in that direction? You could…
- Begin your day with PRAYER and WORSHIP…
- Spend time in GOD’S WORD…
- EAT things that fuel your body and mind for excellence,
- EXERCISE to increase strength and improve mobility, flexibility, longevity and endurance,
- REST in a way that reveals you really do trust God. (This will likely involve both sleep and Sabbath.)
The pathway to a LIFE of HOLINESS and WHOLENESS begins today with one small decision, one little step, one tiny habit.
Additional Notes:
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” —3 John 1:2 NKJ
“Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].” —3 JOHN 1:2 AMP
“Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.” —3 JOHN 1:2 NLT
“Beloved friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way[a] and that you continually enjoy good health, just as your soul is prospering.[b]” —TPT
TPT NOTE (a): The Greek word eudōomai means “to be brought along to a smooth and prosperous journey” or “to be continually prospered [unto success] in every way.” The Aramaic can be translated “as much as succeeds you.” See Josh. 1:8.
TPT NOTE (b): John is praying that Gaius’ physical health would match his spiritual health. God is concerned for both our physical health (he gave our bodies an immune system) and our souls (emotional and spiritual well-being).
THOUGHTS: John not only prayed for Gaius to arrive at his destination, He prayed that He would enjoy the journey. That the “journey” would be smooth and expeditious — in other words, that God would accelerate His activity in Gaius’s life, that Gauius would be healthy and prosperous — that He would have everything needed that makes for a life of godliness and wholeness. This passage is John’s loving prayer for his friend and God’s heart for us to create the kind of life that will allow us to enjoy the journey as long as God allows.