“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
“Why spend money on what is not bread, and invest your efforts in what doesn’t satisfy? Listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest fare. Open your ears, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live.”
Isaiah 55:1-3
Notes for Contemplation as You Use this Devotional:
- This passage from the Prophet Isaiah, often titled, “Invitation to an Abundant Life,” invites us to define prosperity for ourselves. It also asks us to consider how we spend (use up) or invest (grow) the substance of our time, energy, and money.
- In sacred scripture, when a prophet shares a message, we’re invited to transform something we think and/or do. Bread often represents visible substance, the sustenance we need to nourish body, mind, and soul. So, literally, the prophet advises: Stop wasting money and effort on what isn’t nourishing.
- Furthermore, when we’re encouraged to open our ears and listen, we need to tune into our own still, small voice, our intuition. If we’re willing to follow it, our intuition will guide us as we discern what truly sustains us.
- If we want true prosperity, we must understand that the Universe is filled with more than enough supply for everyone. In spirituality, this supply is called God-substance, or divine substance, and it can be recognized everywhere around us.
- Substance is the essence and energy from which everything is formed and created. Substance occupies space, even if we can’t see it. In chemistry, substance is anything having a specific composition or property. So, while we may not initially see divine substance outwardly, we still form it with our thoughts, words, and actions.
- Prosperity Hindrances include:
- Arrogance
- Fear
- Greed
- Hoarding
- Jealousy
- Lying
- Resentment
- Unforgiveness
- Stealing
- Seeking perpetual instant gratification
- Harming ourselves and others
- Prosperity Nurturers include:
- Flexibility
- Forgiveness
- Generosity
- Reverence for nature and/or a universal creative essence greater than ourselves
- Patience which trusts divine order
- Receptivity to learning new things and ideas different from ours
- Gratitude for what we already have
- Compassion for ourselves and others
- Demonstration is the evidence of what does or doesn’t work in our lives. So, if we want to feel prosperous—ultimately that our soul is fulfilled—we first must recognize all divine substance, looking beyond material possessions. This means contemplating each aspect of our life to discern what’s truly nourishing.
- Prosperity is a feeling which often connects to our sense of contentment and fulfillment, and it can change throughout our lifetime. For example, if we have young children, we might feel prosperous hiring a caring babysitter so we can enjoy date night. And when we’re older, we may appreciate that our grown children plan family vacations. Or we may have felt prosperous during Covid lockdowns when we could walk outside in fresh air, while now we feel prosperous being back at the gym.
- As Rev. Dr. Johnnie Colemon teaches in an inspiring collection of her sermons, It Works If You Work It, “Everything [you’ll] ever need or desire is all around [you] as substance. . . . You must believe that . . . you can transform this invisible God-substance into visible supply.”
Contemplation Questions:
As you reflect on your life and circumstances, ask yourself:
- How do I define prosperity?
- List, word map, or illustrate your personal definition.
- What feels prosperous to me?
- List, word map, or illustrate all your feelings, no matter how small or insignificant they seem.
- In what ways have I hindered my own prosperity?
- List, word map, or illustrate whatever applies.
- In what ways have I nurtured my own prosperity?
- List, word map, or illustrate whatever applies.
- What divine substance is available to me?
- List, word map, or illustrate everything you recognize. If you don’t notice much at first, stay open and continue looking and listening.
- What are at least three (3) way I can use divine substance to create my prosperous life?
- List, word map, or illustrate as much as you can imagine.
Use this devotional as often as you like to discern what you need for a prosperous life. As you do, avoid comparing yourself or what you have to anyone else. Trust your intuition while you do everything from planning your weekly schedule, to finding fulfilling work, to choosing a health care provider, to decorating your home, to sharing time with loved ones. Give thanks for what you have and trust that more than enough divine substance is available for you.
© 2023 – Rev. Jennifer L. Sacks – All rights reserved.
Photo from Shutterstock by Olena Serzhanova.
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