I’ve
seen statistics that report that only thirty percent of employees in the USA
are actually feeling engaged in the day to day work life that occupies most of
the week. That means that (approximately) seventy percent of the workforce is
not involved, inspired, committed,
passionate, focused, or energetic on a day to day basis.
That
means that day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year people go to
work with no excitement or enjoyment for what they do. And, because this
affects their personal lives as well, I would submit, this translates into a life
of simply surviving.
With
so many options available, it seems strange that so many people would be
disappointed with life and yet not make changes. This is true for marriages,
jobs, houses, churches, activities, favorite sport teams, etc.
I
follow The Dallas Cowboys for NFL and The Ohio State Buckeyes for college, so
many of friends give me a hard time because my teams are NOT from Minnesota.
When asked “why”, I respond that the Minnesota teams (Vikings and Gophers) had
continual seasons during which they lost, so I jumped ship and came up with other
teams to cheer for.
For
this, I am given a hard time for not supporting the home team. It is as though
someone communicated that the goal of life is to survive by just getting by.
Survival
means to keep alive against all odds; to endure or to tolerate or suffer
patiently. An example would be to survive a car accident.
Thrive, on the other hand, means to
prosper and be fortunate or successful. It means to grow or develop vigorously;
flourish: advance.
Really?
I don’t want to just survive: I want to thrive!
When
plants are growing I want them to thrive; not just survive. I don’t want to
tough it out at work or put up with bad relationships. I want to thrive!
In
fact the reason we feel disappointed and stuck, I believe, is because we know we were made for so much more than ordinary
lives. We were made for joy unspeakable, faith unsinkable, love unstoppable, anything
is possible.
We were made to thrive! Life abundant! (see John 10:10)
It's time for us to more than just survive in all areas of our lives including
our marriages, jobs, houses, churches,
activities, favorite sport teams, prayer life, devotions, etc.
The
Bible says;
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 NKJV)
The phrase
‘more than conquerors’ is referring back to the Apostle Paul’s early comments
about tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword .
That means that not only do we go in and take the territory, but we set up shop
and LIVE and THRIVE in ALL areas of our lives!
Why? Because nothing in this life shall be able to
separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. He is the
source of what gives us real life.
He is the source of our prosperity,
our fortune and our successful.
He is the One who causes us to grow,
develop vigorously, and to flourish, and to advance.
So stop what you are doing
right now; pause and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). Let Him readjust your
perspective. Let Him bring you the hope that there is so much more to this life
than just surviving.
My friends;
we were made for so much more than
ordinary lives.
We were made to thrive!
