Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. —James 1:17
Did you know that God has specific hopes and dreams for each one of us? That's right! Much like a natural parent, God doesn't expect every one of us to be carbon copies of each other. God has detailed and wonderful plans for each of us. These plans match our greatest God-given talents, as well as the desires of our heart that He has placed within us. Just as there are specific plans that God has for each one of us, He also has general hopes for us as well.
God desires that we flourish in our emotions, in our bodies and in our spirits. God our Father doesn’t just want us to do well in all of these areas of our lives—He wants us to excel! He doesn't just want us to be rich; He really wants us to be happy as well. To top it off, He wants our bodies to be healthy and vital. He wants our lives to be of the highest quality and full of good things.
A lot of people get God confused with the devil. When they get sick or they can't pay their bill, they say, "Oh, God must be trying to teach me something." Sickness and poverty are not God’s ways of trying to teach you something! The Bible tells us that when God instructs us, He does it with the Word. It's the devil who tries to steal from you. His purpose or desire is not to build you, but to destroy you. God's not the author of sickness, disease, pain, or poverty—the devil is.
The scriptures tell us that everything that is good and perfect comes from God. Sickness, disease and poverty are not good—they’re bad. They bring destruction and misery. The Greek words from which we get the English equivalents “good” and “perfect” are agathos and teleios, respectively. Agathos means to be of good constitution or nature, useful, salutary, good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent, distinguished, upright, and honorable. Teleios means to be brought to its end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness, perfect, that which is perfect, consummate human integrity and virtue; of men: full grown, adult, of full age, and mature. Do any of these definitions describe sickness, disease or poverty? Of course they don't!
Every good and perfect gift comes from God! So what comes from Him? Here's a short list of some of the things that should be flowing into your life from the throne room of God: instruction, peace, prosperity, wholeness, healing, joy, sanctification, miracles, signs, wonders, wisdom, divine health, provision, protection, direction, witty ideas, revelation, inspiration, strength and vitality. These are just a few of the wonderful gifts you can expect to receive from your Father in heaven because He is good and perfect—and He never changes.
Scriptural Context James 1:1-18
Concept Reinforcement He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. —Deuteronomy 32:4
I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. —Jeremiah 33:6
I the Lord do not change… —Malachi 3:6
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers. —3 John 2 (Amplified)
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