Time to Thrive

I have been meditating (for 5 weeks) on the lyrics of a song that I heard on the radio by Casting Crowns entitled Thrive.  The lyrics penetrated my very core, ♪♪“We know we were made for so much more, than ordinary lives.   It's time for us to more than just survive, we were made to thrive”♪♪

My mindset for the past couple decades was living for (or looking forward to) the weekend. 

I’d get through Monday by knowing that I had my writing class during lunch and at the end of the day, my church met for prayer.

I’d get through Tuesday by knowing at the end of the day, I could relax with my husband as I had nowhere to be.

I’d get through Wednesday by knowing that we were halfway through the workweek and after work was Bible Study.

I’d get through Thursday by knowing that was my day to connect with my spiritual parents in the UK and that the next day was my favorite day of all, FRIDAY.

Basically I was surviving each day to get to the weekend.  I love my job, do not get me wrong, however I would rather do things that you don’t have to pay me to do.  Like spend time with God, my husband, studying for lessons I am to teach, WRITING, sewing or even get together with friends.

We all have heard that Bible verse, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad.”   (Psalm 118:24 NKJV)

Even the misunderstood and greatly hated Monday was created by God.  Why do we hate any day that we have been given?   Ecclesiastes 9:12 tells us that we do not know if we will get a tomorrow, so why do we waste any day by hating it? 

God created us on purpose for a purpose.  You will hear me say this A LOT as I was 45 years old when God finally got me to understand and believe that truth.  You see for the longest time, I was content in my life as it stood (…on Joela power).

My thinking was:  I’m married, we have a nice home - property, we have 40-hour-a-week jobs that we don’t hate, my kids were grown with families of their own and I was a member of a church family.  What more could I want?  We were doing more than surviving.  I felt that was what my life was and that was good enough for me.  I didn’t think there was anything more for me and I was okay with that.  I had been taught to be content in life as that is what God wants for us…or is it?

God kept having me attend sermons that the message was “God created us on purpose for a purpose.”  It took a couple years for that truth to finally cement into my spirit.  God didn’t create man to just survive. 

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  (Genesis 1:26 NKJV)

Having dominion…

The word dominion is defined as, the power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority – rule, control, domination.

Survive usually means to succeed in keeping alive against odds.  Surviving is not dominion, God didn’t create us to survive, He created us to thrive!

Some folks are waiting for something good to happen for (or to) them.  During my walk with God I am learning that we are to have faith and corresponding action of that faith. 

James 2:22 tells us that Abraham’s faith was perfected by his works.  Abraham believed God and His word.  He had such faith in God and His word that he did what God told him to do.  God did a lot of great things in Abraham’s life because of Abraham’s faith and corresponding actions of that faith.  Abraham didn’t survive, he thrived.  He was the father of God’s people and he was a friend of God. 

Wow, think about that for a moment.  My prayer is to be known by God and to be His friend.  Not just that spiritual being that grants my desires but my FRIEND. 

We all are guilty of making deals with God.  God if you do this, I will do that.  God if you could make me skinny I would be happy.  God if you could give me that special person in my life I would be happy.  God if I had more money I would be happy.  God I want to be famous, if you make me famous I would be happy. 

God has given us EVERYTHING we need in this life to fulfill His plan in our lives.  Our gifts, our talents, and our dreams are from God.  He has done His part, it is time we did ours. 

There is a saying in the motivational speaking world, “If it is going to be, it is up to me!”

What in your life do you want to change?  What in your life do you wish was different?  What dream do you have that you wish was reality?

If you want change, difference and dreams to come true, you need to do something about it.  What action can you do today to impact your tomorrow?  Do you want to survive or do you want to thrive?

We only get one “today” let’s not waste it on surviving, today is the day to thrive.

Until Next Time, God Bless!