Living the Good Life

By Bishop Keith A. Butler

Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psalm 35:27

The world's idea of the good life is different than God's idea of the good life. The American Dream pales in comparison to the kingdom dream-the type of life that God has provided for you to live today and desires for you to live today. Throughout Scripture, God depicts His dream life for you. God has a lifestyle that He wants you to enjoy, but there are keys for living that life.

In this Psalm, David is in a tough situation and has been praying for deliverance throughout it. David is saying "God, come through in such a way that those who are watching my life may glorify You." God is pleased when you receive and gratified when you are gratified. He's happy when you're happy and enjoys Himself when you enjoy yourself. He's like any other Father, who likes to see His children enjoy life. If God takes pleasure in your prosperity, He will get involved by searching to and fro to see who He can prosper because He loves it when you enjoy your life.

There are some things you have to do. In Job 36:11, it didn't say that you "may" spend your days in prosperity if you obey and serve Him, but rather you "shall" spend your days in prosperity if you obey and serve Him. Declare that today shall be a prosperous day. Start the day declaring that today shall be a prosperous day. Every day you will prosper and when you look back at the years you'll be able to say that was a good year and the next year will be better and better. God takes pleasure in you living the good life.

A shepherd is the individual that provides and protects and guides the sheep. He is the provision. David said the Lord is our Shepherd, not our jobs, not the government. If you're going to live the type of life God wants you to live, you have to put things in the right place. There's only one person who can bring the happiness and life that you want, and that is the Lord. You have to obey and serve Him, and not on what you want. God works on His own schedule. We must be diligent to the things of God. David is talking about the future, "I shall not lack." That's the will of God for you that you don't lack for wealth, health, joy, victory.

As you follow the Shepherd and do His will, goodness will follow after you. Goodness and Mercy will follow you every day of your life. That's the will of God for your life. It's called the good life.

Furthermore in accepting the benefits of the good life, God causes the anointing to chase after you so you can receive from Him and cause good to others. God wants you to have so much that every time a need shows up, you can reach in your pocket and be a giver. In this way, you help others to the good life.

Prayer for Today

Father,
I will obey and trust you knowing that as I do, You are pleased. I receive the good life because I know that You take pleasure in it. My good life is further blessed when I give to others that they may enjoy the good life too. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Selah: Think on These Things

• Psalm 23
• Ecclesiastes 5:19
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-8