It’s been a long haul. We’ve all had to cope. We had to deal with the reality we’ve been facing. Do we know how to THRIVE? Learn how you can no matter what you're facing today.
Trevor H. Lund is the founder of Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca and the Chief Storyteller at https://revtrev.com. Subscribe and set notifications on YouTube at https://revtrev.com/tv and visit https://revtrev.com/radio to subscribe to his podcast wherever you listen.
Listen to How to THRIVE and not just Survive
Watch How to THRIVE and not just Survive
Read How to THRIVE and not just Survive
Read Isaiah 44:1-8 and Isaiah 44:21-26
The people of Israel were in for the long haul. Jerusalem would be destroyed. They would be taken away into captivity. But God wanted them to be encouraged. His plan was to prosper them and not to harm them. His plan was to give them a hope and future. Isaiah was encouraging them they could trust their maker through the tough stuff.
It’s been a long haul. We’ve all had to cope. We had to deal with the reality we’ve been facing. We know how to hope. Do we know how to THRIVE?
Last time I spoke I reminded you how we can HOPE at all times and in every situation
HOPE at all times and in Every Situation
H - Hold on to testimony - Revelation 12:11
O - Operate in reality - Hebrews 12:7
P - Pour out your heart to God - Philippians 4:6-7
E - Engage your whole heart with hope - Isaiah 40:27-31
But the word that is resonating with me for this year isn’t HOPE, it’s THRIVE. I don’t think it’s going to be all sunshine and rainbows this year. I think it’s a challenge for me to THRIVE in spite of anything that comes my way.
What does it mean to THRIVE?
I believe it means I can have peace and joy AND hope at all times and in every situation. I figured that’s a good definition for THRIVE - peace and joy and hope - it’s all part of the Kingdom. It’s bringing the Kingdom to earth. The Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Paul starts his letter to the Romans and Peterson transliterates verses 16-17 this way.
Romans 1:16-17 It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.”
Are you ready to really live?
Has it been a while since you felt like you’ve really lived?
Guess what? Your standing with God hasn’t changed. His grace is still sufficient. You might have moved away. You might feel like it’s been a while since you’ve really lived. I want to help your feelings line up with your spiritual reality today.
You and I were made for so much more than to just survive. We were made to thrive.
How does the song go?
Joy unspeakable. Faith unsinkable. Love unstopped. Any thing is possible.
You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take His yoke that is easy and burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living light. Do not conform but be transformed, so you can have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.
Today I’m going to share with you the
How to THRIVE Tool
THRIVE
T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in my reflection - Proverbs 28:18
R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2
I - Ignite my spiritual fervour - Romans 12:9-17
V - Victoriously live - Romans 8:31-39
E - Embrace who God says I am - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
T - Tune into Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
How do you do that? The rest of the chapter shows us.
I’ve put it in an acrostic to help you remember - HUMBLE
HUMBLE Yourself Before God and Others
Galatians 5
H - Hope in his promises v.5 (wait patiently to receive)
U - Understand faith expresses itself in love v.6
M - Maintain freedom by serving others in love v.13
B - Ban what the sinful nature craves v.16 (Crucify your passions and desires)
L - Let the fruit of Spirit grow v.22 (they are going to grow, don’t get in the way)
E - Enjoy peace with others v.26 (Follow the Spirit’s leading in every area)
That’s what Paul tells the Galatians it means to keep in step with the Spirit.
How have you been doing with that?
What would Holy Spirit tell you if you ask him if your keeping in step with him?
To THRIVE we need to be HUMBLE
To THRIVE we need to remember to be HUMBLE so we can tune into Holy Spirit.
H - Honest in your reflection
Proverbs 28:18 “The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.”
In order to THRIVE we need to be honest in three ways.
1. Honest with ourselves - admit when we’re struggling
2. Honest with those around us - be vulnerable when we need help
3. Honest with God - practice lament and admit we need his help through
Yes, we praise him in the storm. Yes, we praise him before the battle is won. Yes, we praise him before the answer comes, and when we do that with gratitude it changes our attitude.
Psalm 103:2 Let all I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
But we don’t put on plastic masks and say, “Thank you Jesus” when we feel everything but gratitude. We need to be honest in our reflection. We need to pour out our heart to God. We need to exchange our problems for his peace.
Are you honest in your reflection?
Do you turn from his gaze?
What would Holy Spirit impress on you if you asked him?
T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in my reflection - Proverbs 28:18
R - Rest and to be Renewed
Psalm 127:2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.
What is rest?
Isaiah 30:15-16 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’ But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!
Have you been trusting in horses and trusting in chariots or have you been trusting in the name of the Lord?
Rest is trust.
REST is Trust
R - Relying on God to finish what he started - Philippians 1:6
E - Engaging his Rhythm of praying and obeying - Luke 5:16, John 5:19
S - Stewarding what he’s entrusted to you - 2 Peter 1:3
T - Thanking him for what he’s done and is doing, not worrying about what’s left undone 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
It’s not sitting on your hands. It’s not waiting for God to do what he’s already told you in Scripture to do or impressed personally what you need to do.
Are you resting?
Remind yourself of what Jesus has done and promised to do for you.
Testimony and living out the prophecies over your life that allows you to grow in trust or start to trust again.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Rest is our part… Yes Jesus gives us rest, but we need to take up his yoke and learn from him.
Renewal is God’s part.
5 Ways God Renews Me
1) My Strength -
Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint
2) My Soul -
Psalm 23:3 He leads me by still water, he restores my soul
3) My Willing Spirit -
Psalmc 51:10-12 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
4) My Mind -
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will
5) My Knowledge of God -
Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Your job is to rest in his love…let him give you his rest.
God’s job is to renew your strength, your soul, your willing spirit, your mind and your knowledge of Him.
Are you resting in His love?
Are you allowing and inviting him to renew you?
What would Holy Spirit say if you took the time to ask him?
T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in my reflection - Proverbs 28:18
R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2
I - Ignite my spiritual fervour
Romans 12:9-17NIV Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
How do you ignite your fervour? How do you naturally do all these things? It can’t be a checklist. It can’t be overwhelming.
How do you ignite your spiritual fervour?
Repent and return to God’s presence. In his presence is fullness of joy.
Revelation 2:1-5 ‘To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
How was your faith expressed at the most thriving part of your life?
What are the things you did at first? Were you in the Bible? Were you spending a lot of time in prayer? Were you overwhelmed a love for others? Were you praying in the Spirit?
Faith is the natural response to the revelation of God. We know when we’re not in right relationship with God his revelation can be limited in our lives.
So what do we do?
James 4:7-8 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
Confession and Repentance are the tools God gives us to be in right relationship with him.
Can you look God in the eye?
Can you spend time alone with him in silence?
Do you need to ask Holy Spirit if you’re living offended at God?
What would Holy Spirit impress upon you if you took the time to ask?
When we go through the motions, when our goal is simply to cope, we can easily pull away from God. This is the danger in not meeting together. This is problem of not making space to connect with him. You’re prayer life will tell you if you’ve pulled away from God.
Have you withdrawn from God?
Confess and repent.
T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in my reflection - Proverbs 28:18
R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2
I - Ignite my spiritual fervour - Romans 12:9-17
V - Victoriously live - Romans 8:31-39
When we are in survival mode, we often forget that through the power and blood of Jesus Christ we have ultimate victory. Yes, we may face trials and difficulties, and even though they seem like they last forever, one day, they will be over, and we will have victory.
Romans 8:31-39 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
How do you victoriously live?
STAND In Christ’s Victory
S - Stop giving God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. - John 10:10
T - Treat all hardship as discipline knowing he will work all things together for good. - Hebrews 12:7-11
A - Agree to cast all your cares upon him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7
N - Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. - Romans 12:11-13
D - Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything and thank him in all things, knowing that’s his will for you. - Philippians 4:6-7
Are you living victoriously?
Are you ready to thrive and not merely survive?
What would Holy Spirit impress upon you if you took the time to ask?
T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in my reflection - Proverbs 28:18
R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2
I - Ignite my spiritual fervour - Romans 12:9-17
V - Victoriously live - Romans 8:31-39
E - Embrace Who God says I am - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
The only opinion that really matters about me is God’s.
I need to take thoughts captive that disagree about what he says about me.
If I want to THRIVE I need to….
Erase shame. Embrace grace.
I need to erase shame.
How do I erase shame?
Believe him that when I confess my sin he is faithful and just to forgive me my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
If I don’t FEEL forgiven, I should consider repenting from the sin of unbelief. He will free me from that.
I should feel guilt from sin.
I should never feel shame for sin I’ve confessed and repented of.
Confession is agreeing with God that it’s sin. Repentance is turning around and doing the exact opposite. He has given me everything I need for life and godliness.
There is no shame in my game.
I also need to embrace grace.
What is grace?
God’s supernatural enabling to do what he tells me to do. He empowers me a accomplish every good work prompted by faith.
Do you embrace who God says you are?
Do you erase shame?
Do you embrace grace?
What would Holy Spirit impress upon you if you took the time to ask?
Conclusion
I don’t believe the year to come will be all rainbow and sunshine. I do believe he wants me to THRIVE and have peace and joy and hope at all times and in every situation.
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2
All creations longs for the children of God to be revealed. Will you choose to THRIVE and not merely survive?
Will you?
T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
H - Honest in your reflection - Proverbs 28:18
R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2
I - Ignite your spiritual fervour - Romans 12:9-17
V - Victoriously live - Romans 8:31-39
E - Embrace Who God says you are - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Challenge
Will you take time to listen to what Holy Spirit is telling you today? I’m going to give time for you to hear from God. He’ll likely speak directly to your heart. Don’t think you’re not hearing him if it’s not an audible voice. If you have a pen and paper you can write a question and write down his response. If you’re able to quite yourself and sense what He’s saying, do whatever your comfortable with. I’ll pray a prayer inviting Holy Spirit to speak and we’ll play some music quietly to help you hear what he says. We won’t spend a long time, but we will create a moment. His words are life. We need to hear what he’s saying. Take time to connect with him. After a moment, I’ll close us in prayer and there will be a few announcements before we go. But if you’re watching now or watching later…take the time to hear from God, knowing it’s his will for you to THRIVE.
I expect in this moment you will…
T - Tune into Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:25
Can I be still and know He is God?
H - Honest in your reflection - Proverbs 28:18
What does God think of me?
R - Rest and to be Renewed - Psalm 127:2
Can I rest in His presence?
I - Ignite your spiritual fervour - Romans 12:9-17
Will I be joyful in hope and patient in affliction?
V - Victoriously live - Romans 8:31-39
Will I choose to thrive and not just survive?
E - Embrace Who God says you are - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
What does it look like when I live out of who He says I am?
Let’s give him space right now to do that in our hearts.
