FIVE TO THRIVE

Thriving in a surviving world!

Over the past few weeks, it is easy to see as people have adopted a survival attitude. With so much uneasiness surrounding the health, wealth, and future of our personal lives, our nation and our world people have gone into a survival mindset. They have hoarded, hunkered down, and hid out hoping and waiting for this pestilence to pass. In the midst of all of this we have also seen a few who seem to be thriving in spite of their situation and circumstances.

God does not intend for His people to simply survive amidst the difficulties of life. He desires us to THRIVE! That does not mean we throw caution to the wind, or run willy-nilly with no care or concern for our life. What it means is that even when life is in a time of instability we can thrive spiritually. We look beyond our physical situations and remember that our faith and hope are not based upon worldly, physical things, but on Heavenly things. Ephesians 2:2; 6 speak to this. Paul reminds us that there was a time when we walked after the things of this world, but God by His grace has made us to sit in Heavenly places. We can take strength in knowing that we need not distress about what is happening around us because God has set us on a firm foundation. We can thrive when others are trying to survive.

How do we thrive during a time of discomfiture? There are five things that we can do to THRIVE.

1) Rise Thankfully – Philippians 4:6b

v6 …but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

a. Start each day out by giving thanks for what God has done.

b. Thank God for things you take for granted. (Home, food, clothing)

c. Give Him thanks for salvation.

d. Give Lord thanks for your family, friends, your church. (Relationships)

e. Give thanks to God for the opportunity to pray and read His Word.

2) Pray with EXPECTATION – Philippians 4:6a

v6 Be careful for nothing;…

a. Do not worry, fret, or be dismayed.

b. Pray in faith and with faith.

c. God ALWAYS answers prayer.

d. I get what I believe Him for. According to my faith.

e. God is not just able, He is WELL able! Ephesians 3:20

3) Speak in Kindness – Colossians 3:8

v8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

a. What we speak reveals what is in our heart.

b. A soft answer turneth away wrath… Proverbs 15:1

c. Refuse to focus on the shortcomings.

d. Spotlight the successes.

4) Forgive Quickly – Colossians 3:13

v13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

a. Forgiveness reveals the true nature of a child of God.

b. Forgiving one another examples true love.

c. Our ability or inability to forgive carries spiritual consequences.

d. We must forgive others as Christ forgave us.

5) Work Worshipfully – Colossians 3:17

v17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

a. God applies a spiritual aspect to what we do physically.

b. Everything we say and do should be done as if it were to the Lord.

c. When you work from that perspective it alters how you live.

d. When we do good, it is as unto the Lord. Matthew 25:35-40

e. When we fail to do good, it is as unto the Lord. Matthew 25:41-45

f. Let our words, thoughts, and actions be acceptable in His sight.

If we will apply these five actions to our daily life, we will be thriving instead of surviving. While others are faltering and flailing, we can be rising and rejoicing. Make an effort to begin incorporating these “Five to Thrive” principles and watch God reveal how blessed you are in life.