Prayers that Activate Blessings by John Eckhardt
A Better Understanding Of Blessing And Prosperity
THE SUBJECT OF blessing and prosperity has become very controversial among those in the church.
We want to be blessed and live the abundant life Christ died to give us, yet we don't want to approach God as if He is a lottery or a slot machine—if you put in the right amount of prayer, praise, worship, faith, and good works, out comes your blessing.
But for some, that is all they see God as, and they get beside themselves when He doesn't come through for them the way they wanted Him to.
Blessing and prosperity are more than money. According to Strong's Complete Concordance of the Bible, one Hebrew word for prosperity is shalom. We often associate the word shalom with peace, but the peace that Christ went to war for on the cross is a complete, whole kind of peace.
Also according to Strong's, shalom is "completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace.” It represents completeness in number and safety and soundness in your physical body. Shalom also covers relationships with God and with people.
God's thoughts concerning your peace and prosperity are much higher than you could imagine. It is His desire to bless and prosper you, to give you His grace, favor, and protection. Favor means "grace"; "that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness"; and "good will, benefit, bounty, reward."
If you look up the Hebrew and Greek definitions of prosperity, many of these words carry over into favor as well.
Favor is goodwill. This is God's kindness and benevolence given to those who love Him. Favor will release great blessings, including prosperity, health, opportunity, and advancement. The Bible records numerous examples of God's favor upon His people causing them to experience many breakthroughs.
Favor is God's loving-kindness.
Joseph experienced God's favor and went from prison to palace. God will do the same for you. He can change your circumstances in one day no matter where you are in life. This is when the favor of God is on your life.
Job was another man who was blessed and who operated under the full favor and blessing of God. In Job 10:12 he confessed that his life and the favor he had were gifts from God: "Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit" (KJV).
Life and favor are gifts of God. We don't need luck. We need blessing. We need favor. We need the blessing of God. God desires to release new favor on your life. When you have God's favor and blessing, there is nothing in life that can hold you down.
When you begin to walk in the favor and blessing of the Lord, others will recognize it. The favor and blessing of God on your life is one of the most powerful things that can be released to you.
Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (KJV, emphasis added).
Protection was also added to Job. Job 29:17 says, "I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth" (KJV). When the evil plans of the enemy set out to destroy Job, he had weapons to fight back; then he claimed the exponential spoils of the victory.
God says, "You don't need money. You need My favor." You need His shalom—the full measure of peace—to operate in your life. This is your gift from Him if you are His child, if you are in covenant with Him.
God blesses His people and rescues them. Just as He did with the Israelites, God loved you and chose you in spite of who you are and what you have done. You are elected by God.
You were chosen before the foundation of the world. He chose you. It wasn't because of anything you've done. That is His favor! God talks to the children of Israel in Ezekiel 16:1-14 about how He found them in a rejected state where they had been thrown away and no one wanted them.
They were drowning in their own blood. But when God passed by them, He said to them, "LIVE!" Then He blessed them and adorned them with jewels. God is saying this same thing to you. Maybe you were thrown away to die and had no chance at living. Maybe no one wanted you or you were not born with a silver spoon in your mouth. But when God looked upon you, He had mercy on you.
God will not only save you and wash you, but He will also bless you, dress you up, put jewels on you, and beautify you. The grace and favor of God on your life will cause you to go into a place of prosperity. God not only will save you but will also multiply you and bless you.
In this book, Prayers that Activate Blessings, we are going to talk about how to obtain the covenant blessing of God. We are going to learn confessions and prayers based on God's Word that will activate His shalom over your life.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. We can choose blessing by choosing to live and speak correctly.
God is ready to release new favor, blessing, prosperity, protection, and peace over you. It is His desire to give you good things. Now get ready to receive
