If you don't like the harvest, change the seed

Scripture is clear about the source of blessing: It comes from the Lord. I love a verse in 3rd Johnwhere he expressed a heartfelt desire for the well-being of his readers: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3 John 2).

Who among us would not want to prosper, enjoy good health and experience a life marked by God's blessings? This does not mean we don't suffer and go through hard times, but in those times we "have a friend that sticks closer than a brother". That's a blessing beyond measure.

Scripture points to something even more important than outward prosperity; it talks about the health and prosperity of the soul.

The Bible leaves little doubt about the source of every good thing. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17).

Theologians have sometimes described the message of 3 John 2 as "nothing missing, nothing broken." John's prayer is that we experience wholeness, not simply in material circumstances, but in our health, our relationships, our spiritual lives and, ultimately, our souls.

As the soul prospers, our lives can begin to reflect that prosperity. The question, then, is how does the soul prosper?

Solomon offers an important answer in Proverbs 4:23: "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life" (NLT). What we allow into our hearts and minds matters.

What we see, what we hear and what we continually think about can influence our emotions, attitudes and decisions. It is worth asking ourselves: What causes us to become angry? What produces fear? What leaves us confused, discouraged or troubled? What causes us to make bad decisions?

Once we recognize those influences, we can begin making wiser choices about what we allow to occupy our thoughts and emotions. That's called "guarding the heart".

What we plant in our hearts can eventually become the harvest we experience in our lives.

So, if we don't like the harvest, perhaps it is time to examine the seed. What are we planting through our thoughts, words, habits and influences? If we want a different harvest, Scripture suggests that we begin by changing what we cultivate within our heart.

Guard the heart. Feed the soul. Seek God. And plant good seed.