There comes a
time in the grieving process that you need to start looking up and moving
forward. And not only do you move forward, you can thrive. God doesn’t just
want you surviving. (If that’s what’s happening, I think you may be giving too
much power to something else in your life.)
Here’s 3 tips for not just living
well, but thriving.
1. The first, and most important place to
start in your quest to thrive is to have Christ as your Lord and Savior, to order and guide your life, to give
you a hope and purpose. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made. God wants
to give you a hope and future. In order for that future to transpire, you need
to know what His plans are for you. He’s the one who plants hope and dreams in
everyone’s life.
2. Second, live your life intentionally,
with a purpose. Resist
being double-minded or floating back and forth like kelp in the tidal flow.
When society goes one way, human kelp scurry that direction and allow
themselves to be pushed that direction by the mob. And when the tide changes
direction, they float that new direction. Living life based on your emotions
makes for a shallow ride. Think deeply, reason well, and live intentionally.
3. Third, live a balanced life. Spiritually. Emotionally. Physically.
Spend time with God, meditating on Him and His word. Promote peace in your
heart and avoid negative people. Put away the complaining. Have a positive, and
realistic, view and attitude toward life. Exercise, eat well, and get enough
sleep.
Time spent with God will fill you
with the spiritual wisdom, discernment, strength, power and courage to confront
life and give you victory over your circumstances. It will transcend and
permeate everything you do, and the way you view the world.
Exercise keeps your body and brain
functioning well to live and enjoy life. Sleep helps heal your body and
re-energize your brain. Poor food choices can kill you, quickly or slowly. It
can cause both acute and permanent disease and illness
When our dream dies, we can’t let
our hearts stop dreaming. We weren’t born just to survive. God wants us to
thrive anyplace He plants us, in any situation.
In a nutshell,
it’s about roots. Your roots. Into what soil have you sunk yours? Near
life-giving water or in dry, barren landscape? Are they constantly digging
deeper and being fed and nourished, or are they shallow, spindly and weak?
Check the fruit you’re producing in
your life to arrive at some of the answer. Healthy roots produce plump, juicy,
sweet fruit that people like to partake of. Do you need some pruning to produce
more? Do you need a season of rest, to gather energy for the next round of
production? Do you need grafting to something, someone, stronger who can help
you bear more fruit?
Today’s post can be summed up in a
couple of Scripture passages. The first one is found in Psalm 1: 1: 1-3
Blessed is the
man
Who walks not in
the counsel of the
ungodly,
Nor stands in
the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the
seat of the scornful;
But his delight
is in the
LORD.
And in His law
he mediates day
and night.
He shall be like
a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not whither;
And whatever he
does shall prosper.
The second comes from John 15:1-5:
“I (Jesus) am
the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does
not bear fruit He takes away” and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that
it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word, which I have
spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine,
you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for
without Me you can do nothing.”
Take heart. You can, and will thrive
after grief!
Need some extra encouragement?
Listen to and read the words of this song. And don’t be afraid to thrive!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ71RWJhS_M
Then come back and let us know how
you’re thriving!
Until
next week,
Thanks
for joining me!
Blessings,
Andrea
photo
credit: <a
href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24785917@N03/2429897127">Above
Leura Falls, Katoomba</a> via <a
href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a
href="https://www.flickr.com/commons/usage/">(license)</a>
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