It seems to me that surviving and thriving come in cycles during our lifetimes. Sometimes you are just trying to make it through a day. Obviously, if you keep breathing you will somehow see the sunrise the next morning. These times are difficult to say the least. Maybe you just experienced major surgery or the loss of a loved one or the destruction of your home and property to a tremendous natural disaster. Those are the times you feel like you are gasping for breath so to speak and hoping to make it to the end of that particular trial. Some people, sadly, feel they will never be able to face the future and they terminate their life on this earth. Heartbreaking! Life is hard! Let's face it. If you haven't discovered that fact yet, just hold on, you will!
On the other hand, thank the Lord, we have those refreshing, invigorating times when we are full of energy, those times which have visited us due to the fact that we have had renewed vision for the future. Hope has hit us full force and we seem to see clearly what lies ahead and sense the deliverance from our present circumstances. Our faces are lifted; our hearts are lifted; the adrenaline is flowing and we feel there is nothing we cannot accomplish.
So the cycle goes. There is a place where the "thriving" can be a continual flow. That place is in the spirit or the spiritual part of us. That is the part of us that is designed to live forever. The body and the things of this earth will pass away, but our spirit lives on. When our spirit comes alive in union with the Holy Spirit of God during rebirth through Jesus Christ our Lord, we begin to not only survive but thrive. 2 Corinthians 4:16 "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." As soon as you are born, you are in the "wasting away" process. Just like fruit. We call it ripening but it is actually dying. Interesting isn't it? You have to get that banana at just the right stage to enjoy its full flavor. If you wait too long... well, you can make banana bread out of it at least (a little humor).
Romans 14:17 tells us, "The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit." We are admonished constantly in the Word, the Bible to "walk in the Spirit". We are told to "pray in the Spirit". Throughout the Book of Acts and Today, those who have Believed in Christ and received him as their Savior have sought after and received the Gift of the Holy Spirit from Jesus who is not only Savior but Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and Fire, Matthew 3:11. The Fullness of the Spirit is the Key to continual "thriving" in your life.
What happens in your inner being is what dictates not only surviving but runs hand in hand with thriving. I personally know the difference between surviving without the Holy Spirit within and thriving with the Holy Spirit within. Yes, when you receive Jesus, you have His Holy Spirit within but he wants you to do more than "survive" which according to the dictionary means to: "continue to live or exist; manage to keep going", he wants you to "thrive" which means to: "flourish, prosper, grow vigorously, develop well, blossom, advance, succeed, etc.". Doesn't that sound like something you would want for your children? You would want to give them every gift you could to bring them to that reality because of Love! That is why God wants us all to have "Fire" that only comes fully through the Baptism in the Spirit. Read the Book of Acts. Thank you Father God for your Amazing Gifts!
People used to tell me I was a Survivor after having gone through trial after trial and still be smiling and positive. It made it sound like I had done something in my own strength. Can't. I am a Thriver because of His strength in my weakness. Because of the Fire of the Holy Spirit I will continue to have life abundant on the inside and it will reflect on the outside to give Hope to those he brings me in contact with. Jesus said before he left this earth that he would send us a Helper! I sought after and received that Helper and He is the Reason my life goes beyond surviving and into thriving! I pray you seek after and receive ALL God has for you today. "SEEK ye FIRST the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and ALL these things will be added unto you." Blessings to you my Friends!
