The disciple John, the ’one’ disciple of Jesus'
… who knew Him better than most of the other disciples,
was also the one who … not only wrote about love,
… but who intimately knew love, intimately knew Jesus!
and it was this John who made this statement, so obviously from his heart,

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health,
just as your soul prospers.
--- 3 John 1:2

That certainly is not only John's prayer or wish … but it is also God's,
... that we may prosper in ALL things ... even as our souls prospers!
Yet at the same time in Heb. 11:6, God said to us …

But without faith it is impossible to please him:
--- Heb. 11:6

Now considering what God said in Heb. 11 about faith,
… one would assume that prospering has to do with faith, not the soul?
In essence that is correct!
And indeed confirms what God said in the previous chapter of Hebrews,
… what He said about our lives,
… and about our faith, saying ...

Now the just shall live by faith;
But if [anyone] draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.
--- Heb. 10:38

Yet, it is time to realise that faith does not stand on its own.
Yes … life is or should be about faith,
But unless we trust God, and in faith receive His promises,
… we not only limit what God can do in our lives,
but we actually disappoint or hurt His real being, His soul!

The Him that He is!

What does that mean in our lives?

In Hebrews chapters 10 and 11 God is saying or explaining to us,
… that faith is vitally important!
And, because faith is important in our lives,
… the lack of faith has serious consequences in our lives!

Consider this …
God wants us to receive the fullness of life … in our lives,
… the fullness of that abundant life Jesus came to give us,
But …
we have to make it possible for Him to bless and increase us,
... through our lifestyle,
… through our will and decisions,
otherwise we are limiting God in what He can do in our lives,
as there is no real connection with Him,
… and that does not please Him!

In other words ...

Unless we develop a real personal relationship with God,
... Soul to soul,
... Will to will
... Desire to desire
Unless a real personal relationship exists,
… there is no foundation on which … faith that pleases Him, can stand.

But, what about this relationship is it,
… that the faith that pleases God, stands on?
That trust in Him!

Therefore God is saying to us, that …
… there needs to be a personal relationship between us and Him,
... a relationship out of which trust (in Him) can develop!

A trust that forms the foundation or basis of our relationship with Him,
... a trust on which faith can stand!

How does this relationship, this trust, this faith work?

Quite simply this way …

Before you can or will be able to ... faith something,
... you have to want it, really want it!
And, for what you want to become real in your life,
... you have to see it,
… you have to picture it as yours!
In other words,
... you have to desire it! … not lust, desire!

Therefore, to make sure that our desires are also His desires,
King David tells us in Psalm 37 exactly how this works,
knowing that unless God is part of this "faith" process,
… it will not work.

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
--- Psalm 37:3-4

God has to be part of that picture, of that desire,
... in fact God has to be the centre of the desire (the picture)
so that He can author and finish the picture,
... so that He can shape that desire in you ...

... looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
--- Heb. 12:2

As Paul also wrote to the Galatians …

And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed,
and heirs according to the promise
--- Gal 3:29

It is in this time with God, this real, personal relationship with Him,
... where you will be able to start living by faith!
And as your soul and His soul connect,
... that is when your soul will start to prosper,
where you will prosper and be in health.

And, it is there that you … without any doubt, will be able to ...

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
--- Psalm 37:5

It is there where ...

Now the just shall live by faith;
But if [anyone] draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.
--- Heb. 10:38

... and where God's soul will indeed have pleasure in you!