by Gloria Copeland
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas with soft snowflakes falling to the ground? An abundance of snow covering any landscape is considered the perfect Christmas scene. Beautiful versions appear on Christmas cards, in shop windows and in seasonal movies. Even children dream of waking up to an abundance of snow-covered hills and trees.
There was one such boy who lived in Texas who had always dreamed of building a snowman on Christmas morning. This year, he knew he had that chance, as he was traveling to visit his grandmother in Colorado. When he arrived, there was no snow anywhere to be seen.
He was disappointed, but his grandmother prayed with him. They asked God to send snow for Christmas.
The next morning, when the little boy awoke, three feet of snow had fallen overnight! An abundance of billowy white snow covered the mountains, streets, yards and doorways!
“That’s going to make a BIG snowman!” he exclaimed.
The little boy no longer lacked the snow he needed to build his dream snowman. He had prayed to the Lord and asked Him for what he needed, and the Lord answered. I am sure that little boy has never forgotten how the Lord provided for him that Christmas!
That boy experienced what I like to call true prosperity. God provided everything needed…abundance, success, well-being and security. Some people get the idea that prosperity is only related to finances, but it is so much more.
True prosperity is the ability to use the power of God to meet every need in your life—spirit, soul and body. And the Word clearly tells us that God delights in the prosperity of His servant.
Just like the Lord provided for the boy, it is also His will for you to live an abundant life now—in this lifetime.
The Journey to Prosperous
The beginning of a prosperous life is a prosperous soul.
But how do you get there?
My journey to the prosperous life began years ago when I read Matthew 6:33 in a Bible Ken’s mother had given him: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” In The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, it says to seek “His way of doing and being right.”
That’s the foundation of God’s prosperity. When I found this verse, I was ready to try God’s way. I needed a lot of things and my way wasn’t working. I discovered that God’s prosperity isn’t just financial blessings. It also includes healing, protection, favor, wisdom, success, well-being and every good thing you could possibly need—all the good things Jesus paid for you to have.
Isaiah 53:5 says, “The chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole” (The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition). The Hebrew word for peace in this scripture is shalom. It basically means “nothing missing, nothing broken,” or wholeness in every area of life—spirit, soul and body.
Prosperity’s Foundation
That kind of prosperous life doesn’t just happen. And it doesn’t happen overnight.
But you can begin building the foundation for true prosperity by walking in truth, tithing and sowing, and believing and saying.
- Walking in Truth
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).
Ken and I weren’t exactly walking in prosperity when we married. I wore a $2 veil with the white cotton dress my mother made for the wedding. Ken’s friend married us at his home and his wife baked the cake. We even borrowed $100 for our honeymoon. We had no money and no wisdom.
But then something happened that totally changed our lives.
We found that the first step to increase is walking in truth. I’m not talking about just reading scriptures about prosperity. You prosper when you walk in all the words God says to you, living a godly lifestyle—in obedience to what God says is right.
That’s the wisdom of God. When we began obeying everything we saw in the Word of God, we began to increase.
And increase can come to you, too. God desires for you to increase. As you faithfully and diligently seek Him without compromise, you will see a change in your life, just as we did.
- Tithing and Sowing
“Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency…and with the firstfruits of all your income; so shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10, AMPC).
Tithing is a covenant transaction that gets God involved in what you are doing. The first 10 percent of your income—the tithe—belongs to God. The Bible calls it firstfruits. Tithing is how you honor God with your money. It makes a way for Him to bless you supernaturally.
Ken and I never had any financial growth until we became faithful in tithing. At first it looked impossible to give that 10 percent. But when we did, the 90 percent we had left went further than the 100 percent we had before.
Whatever we do must be in obedience and faith for God to be pleased with it. We are to give with a willing heart, as an honor to God, and worship Him with our tithes. Then He is in partnership with us.
After we tithe, we are to sow according to what the Lord lays on our hearts, with the right attitude. The Hebrew word for offering comes from a root word that means to “draw near.” We draw near to God with our offering.
Scripture plainly says you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7). If you desire to be a receiver, you have to be a giver.
Tithing is supernatural—don’t miss out on the benefits. God has an interest in your finances. He desires to increase you and bless you because He loves you.
- Believing and Saying
The Bible says several times in the King James Version, “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).
Faith must be in two places—in your heart and in your mouth. Believing in your heart and saying with your mouth produce the operation of faith. Jesus said, “For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:23, KJV).
Ken and I learned that if we put the Word of God in our eyes, put it in our ears, and let it get down into our hearts in abundance, it would come out of our mouths in faith-filled words that would change our lives and circumstances.
Time to Increase This Christmas
The three keys I’ve shared are how Ken and I laid a foundation for the prosperous life—and this is how we maintain it. I can tell you from experience, these are the first steps to increase, no matter what you need.
This Christmas, be like the little boy who believed God to give him the snow he needed to build his snowman. Believe for God to provide what you need to prosper in every area of your life: healing, protection, favor, wisdom, success, well-being and any other area. After all, we’re celebrating the One who came to give us life and that more abundantly!
Dare to Shine His Light on True Prosperity This Christmas!
- Commit to obeying everything you see in God’s Word. If there is any area in your life where you are not walking in obedience, commit to change it today. Repent for being disobedient, then make a commitment, just as Ken and I did years ago, to obey everything you see in God’s Word.
- Begin tithing. If you have not been a tither, begin to give 10 percent of your gross income to your local church in obedience to God’s Word. Then, sow into the kingdom of God through other ministries, as the Lord leads you.
- Determine to live by faith. Place a ban on words, phrases or attitudes that are in direct contradiction to the Word of God. Don’t declare that you can’t afford something or that you feel sick. Declare that you are healed, healthy and whole (Isaiah 53:5) and all of your needs are met according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
© 1997 – 2024 Eagle Mountain International Church Inc. Aka Kenneth Copeland Ministries. All Rights Reserved.