There’s a road near my house where I often walk and pray. The road is in a beautiful rural area, passing through meadows and gently rolling hills, with small ponds visible on either side.
A year or so ago, as I walked, I noticed a small plant growing in a depression in the blacktop road. The plant had found its way through a crack in the asphalt, exactly in the tire tracks of the road, where the wheels of every passing vehicle would run over it.
I thought to myself, “Even though there’s not a lot of traffic on this road, that little plant will never survive.” Holy Spirit immediately corrected me, saying, “No, it will SURVIVE. But it just won’t THRIVE. And unfortunately, that’s also true of many of my people.”
In the weeks and months that followed, I would always check on the condition of “my little survivor” every time I walked that way. And it was always the same, stubbornly clinging to life, but never growing, and never flourishing.
Sad for the little plant. But much sadder for God’s people, many of whom live their lives stuck in a spiritual rut, with the wheels of worry, weakness, and weariness rolling over them and crushing them daily.
So what’s the difference between surviving and thriving? Is it really that big a deal? IT IS!
SURVIVING is being stuck in the status-quo. It’s merely existing, often in a state of stress, fear, and oppression. It means “just going through the motions.” The goal of survival is merely to endure, barely hanging on, for one more day.
THRIVING however is exactly the opposite. To thrive is to prosper, grow, and experience the joy, purpose, and fulfillment of life. To thrive is to live a life of energy and passion. It means meeting life’s many challenges with faith, and a positive expectation of victory. Thriving transforms obstacles into opportunities!
But here’s a tremendous truth. Unlike the pitiful little plant, barely surviving in its asphalt prison, we have a free will. We may be stuck in “survival mode”, right now, but we don’t have to stay stuck.
God has gifted us with the ability to choose our own path in life, and to embrace and fulfill our God-designed purpose and destiny of growth and fruitfulness.
As a matter of fact, at least two alternate translations of Colossians 1:13 tell us that the Father rescued us out of spiritual darkness and “transplanted” us into the kingdom of His Son. Now, let’s ask ourseves, “What will I do with the gift of this new life?”
We can “hang in there” battered, bruised and beaten by the circumstances of life, just waiting to be airlifted out of this “war zone” into heaven.
Or we can live as overcomers in this world, and experience an abundant entrance into the next!
(1 John 5:4 and 2 Peter 1:11)
To SURVIVE or THRIVE? The choice is ours!
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your (seed) descendants might live!” (Deuteronomy 30:19, NLT)
Wow! That’s powerful, and also sobering. Our choice of whether to survive or thrive impacts not only our lives, but the lives and destinies of our children and grandchildren, for generations.
So God strongly urges us to CHOOSE LIFE for ourselves and our descendants. And the choice He offers us is further defined when He tells us to CHOOSE a life of BLESSINGS.
Jesus said it this way:
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” (John 10:10, Amplified Classic)
“… I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (John 10:10, The Message)
The life God invites us to choose is His life, the thriving life, the fruitful life, the abundant life… eternal life!
“Eternal life” is defined by the W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words as “life in the absolute sense; life as God has it; life which the Father has in Himself, and which the Son manifested to the world.”
Eternal life is not only super-abundant in quantity, but it is also supremely superior in quality!
Eternal life is not just something that we receive one day in the “Sweet By and By”. Actually, in the New Testament, it is described as the “present possession” of the believer 89 times, and as a “future hope” only 26 times.
As believers, we have this life in us now, but it must be awakened and activated by faith.
HERE’S HOW:
● Ask Holy Spirit to guide and assist you in an honest audit of your life. Recognize that the Holy Spirit is a true friend. He loves you, and will patiently wait as you open up your heart to Him. He will gently help and guide you as you begin to develop a blueprint for change and success.
“… the Spirit of Truth will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is.” (John 16:13, The Message)
● Make the quality decision to let God work in those areas of your life that need improvement. Holy Spirit began working in your life the moment you accepted God’s love-gift and made Jesus your Lord. And He wants to continue His work in you. All of us are “works in progress.” Holy Spirit is the Master Craftsman. He will repair what has been broken. He will rebuild your hopes and dreams. He will restore you to wholeness, and rekindle the fire of God’s love in your heart. Partner with Him as He renovates your life.
“And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.”
(Philippians 1:6, Amplified Classic)
● Make spending time with God through prayer and His Word a daily priority. His presence will renew and strengthen you as you soar higher and higher to new levels of trust and intimacy with Him.
“But those who entwine their hearts with Yahweh will experience divine strength. They will rise up on soaring wings and fly like eagles, run their races without growing weary, and walk through life without giving up.” (Isaiah 40:31, Passion Translation)
● Focus your energy on things you can control, not on things you can’t. Look for areas that will respond to your new positive mind-set. Let go of the rest. Trust the Lord to take care of that.
“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”
(1 Peter 5:7, Amplified Classic)
● Look for opportunities to give (your time, help, finances, etc.) to others. By doing this, you are planting the seeds for your own harvest of blessings and developing an “overflowing lifestyle.”
“Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top!” (Luke 6:38, Passion Translation)
● Tests, trials, temptations, tribulations, and temporary setbacks will surely come. But put them in the proper perspective. The “pruning process” is a necessary step to increase your fruitfulness as a branch in God’s vineyard. Embrace it. You’ll come back bigger and stronger than ever.
¹ “I am a true sprouting vine, and the farmer who tends the vine is my Father. ² He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest.” (John 15:1-2, Passion Translation)
Let’s make this declaration of our faith:
” Father, thank you for my new life in Christ. I am in Christ, and the Spirit of Christ is in me. You have called me to live the abundant life. You are pleased to see me thrive and are glorified when I bear much fruit. Today, I choose the abundant life. I choose blessing for myself, and for my family. I will partner and cooperate with you in your ongoing work in my life, Holy Spirit. I will commune with you in a deeper and more intimate way. I will not allow fear, condemnation, or self-doubt to dominate or control me. I will be a positive person, thriving in the sunlight of my Father’s love!
In Jesus’ name, amen!
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My wife, Grace, and I are very proud to be in partnership with Student Life Organization, Inc. We believe in the great work they are doing in Cebu City, and throughout the central part of the Philippines.
SLOI provides educational opportunities to
many physically disabled and financially disadvantaged children, helping them reach their God-given potential.
Your generous giving will help Founders Anne Ruiz, Ian Rustia, and their team, as they faithfully declare and demonstrate God’s love to these children and their families.
“I mention this not because I’m requesting a gift, but so that the fruit of your generosity may bring you an abundant reward.”
(Philippians 4:17, TPT)
Would you please give today? If so, please use this link: paypal.me/anaferuiz
Thank you! We pray that you will experience God’s richest blessings as you give freely and cheerfully in Jesus’ name!
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