Thriving
Jesus is bringing an Awakening where you wake up and discover there is a whole new world in front of you that you never realized existed, where every moment is a moment of impact, where every moment is a kingdom investment, where God is not just a segment of your life, but He becomes your life. This is an Awakening where the whole world becomes God’s playground/Kingdom – not just the religious side of life, where, as Romans 1 declares, everything we look at speaks to the existence of God and His power.
It’s an Awakening to see life alive as He created it. Not life as existence from behind a curtain in the midst of the fog. It’s an Awakening to a life not controlled by circumstances but controlled by divine intention. God’s bringing that Awakening to you. A life awakened is a life that Thrives.
What does it look like to Thrive? There was a man who, when we were first introduced to him, was probably a teenager. His situation is definitely not one that you would look to in order to discover a person who was Thriving…at least not initially. His name is Daniel.
What does it mean to Thrive? What does it mean to live a life Awakened? While God desires to Awaken us in a point of in time; it’s not about any one moment – it’s about a life, a lifestyle, a new understanding.
God is bringing an Awakening…are you becoming aware? A life awakened is a life that thrives, and a life that thrives is where life is ruled by core values and not a need to thrive. Daniel was willing to put every opportunity he had on the line in order to remain moral. The name Daniel means “God is My Judge,” and Daniel lived his name.
Life becomes more than just a conglomeration of opportunities and obstacles. A life Awakened, a life that Thrives, has been Awakened to the fact that life is not determined by circumstances. It’s determined by the set of the sail of your heart. “There is more to this life then just living and dying. There is more to this life then just trying to make it through this day. There is more to this life than what these eyes alone can see and there’s more to this life than this life alone can be.”
God doesn’t just want to impact your life. He wants to direct your life. He wants to be your life.
Impact goes beyond the “Spiritual Side” of life. Daniel was an incredible mix between what humanity refers to as secular and sacred. There is a synching of the two where God dominates both – and the impact is incredible. Daniel 1:17-21.
Thriving is not a situation in life; it is a state of being/heart. Daniel’s situation in life was not what determined whether he thrived. His heart determined whether he thrived.
Thriving is where the Awakened life never ceases. They say that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. They say money changes people. Daniel has been living the benefits of a life that thrived. He experienced significant power, and most likely, the financial windfalls that came with it. How had it changed him? Daniel 6:4-6.
What part of your life does God control? Is it just part? Are you Awake to God being real at all times in all things? Is your perception formed by His reality? Is your life about you or about His Kingdom? Is it about these few days in front of you, or is it about forever?
Thriving requires unchanging core values. Thriving involves seeing beyond the momentary obstacles. Thriving moves beyond what is secular and sacred to being all of who I am. Thriving is not about my situation in life; it’s about the state of my heart. Thriving is an attitude and lifestyle that does not fade.
God is bringing an AWAKENING!
