dailydatewithgod

Perhaps it is living in Western culture but most of what I see and hear regarding the idea of prosperity centers around money.  As someone who experienced two periods of unemployment in the course of my career I know viscerally the freedom of not having to concern myself with if or when I have more money coming in and how I will afford things.  I have long had an adverse experience around money because growing up the two words that most commonly resonate when I think of money is fear and frustration.  So while this may be an influence on my rub about prosperity equated with money, it is also because doing so creates a limited perspective of prosperity.  Our inclination as humans to categorize and place value on things so we know what is important is helpful.  However, it can keep us distant from God’s perspective of what is possible.  An element of prosperity that I think other cultures have a stronger grasp on is one having to do with what I would consider prosperity of the heart.  We can choose to give something only the kind of value that society says matter or we can choose what is of value for us and perhaps recognize a level of prosperity within ourselves.  The prosperity of the heart extends through circumstances that look and feel like lack.  I am not saying I might as well be poor and living on the streets as long as I have a prosperous heart.  I am saying that I can have all kinds of money and not value any of it because I do not appreciate the things it affords me. Connecting with the prosperity of the heart is what gives me the courage to take action and do things in my life that mean something to me.  Prosperity of the heart provides the lens through which to see others with compassion and gentleness.  Prosperity of the heart is what whispers things to be grateful for when I am having a day where I feel anxious and uncertain.  Prosperity of the heart gives me the willingness to value my contribution and the contribution of others when mistakes are made because we had the guts to give something a shot.  Prosperity of the heart is present anytime I want to tap into it regardless of how much is in my bank account. It reminds me that in this moment, I have enough, I do enough and I am enough.