Some people have the idea that walking in tune with
God means that He will always require them to do
without the things they desire—that they can never
expect anything good from Him. But this is not true.
God’s mercy extends to the things we want as well
as to our personal needs. He longs to give us more
than we could wish for ourselves.

Our ability to ask God for things is not as great as what
He yearns to give us. He wants to provide abundance
so that we can have plenty for ourselves and plenty
to share with others. It is His desire that we align
ourselves spiritually with Him, so He can use us as
channels to bless others. God knows that prosperity will
ruin the one who trusts in his own thinking.

The fool will squander what God has given him on his
own lusts and forget that God was the One who gave him
power to receive it. So God is waiting for us to get our minds
and wills lined up with the mind and will of the Spirit.
When our desires match His, He can give to us without
having it hurt us.

James 1:4 expresses the will of God concerning us. It
says, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may
be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” It is His desire that
we experience no lack in receiving the things we desire.
And Psalm 23 reflects this same thought. Verse one says,
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Gloria Copeland

Proverbs 4:1
KJV—Hear, ye children, the instruction of
a father, and attend to know understanding.

NKJV—Hear, my children, the instruction
of a father, and give attention to know
understanding.

NIV—Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.

Proverbs 6:20-22
KJV—My son, keep thy father’s commandment,
and forsake not the law of thy
mother: Bind them continually upon thine
heart, and tie them about thy neck. When
thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou
sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when
thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

NIV—My son, keep your father’s commands
and do not forsake your mother’s
teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever;
fasten them around your neck. When
you walk, they will guide you; when you
sleep, they will watch over you; when you
awake, they will speak to you.

Amp—My son, keep your father’s [Godgiven]
commandment, and forsake not
the law of [God] your mother [taught you].
Bind them continually upon your heart,
and tie them about your neck. When you
go, [the Word of your parents’ God] it
shall lead you; when you sleep, it shall
keep you, and when you waken, it shall
talk with you.

Proverbs 13:1
KJV—A wise son heareth his father’s
instruction.

NKJV—A wise son heeds his father’s
instruction.

Proverbs 15:5
KJV—A fool despiseth his father’s instruction:
but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

NKJV—A fool despises his father’s instruction,
but he who receives correction is prudent.

NIV—A fool spurns his father’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows
prudence.

Proverbs 20:11
KJV—Even a child is known by his doings,
whether his work be pure, and
whether it be right.

NIV—Even a child is known by his actions,
by whether his conduct is pure and right.

Amp—Even a child is known by his acts,
whether or not what he does is pure and right.

Proverbs 23:22
KJV—Hearken unto thy father that begat
thee, and despise not thy mother when
she is old.

NKJV—Listen to your father who begot
you, and do not despise your mother
when she is old.

NIV—Listen to your father, who gave you
life, and do not despise your mother when
she is old.

Gloria Copeland