Want to Flourish? Here’s How:
From newborn to mature adult, God wants you to flourish! It’s not His desire for you (or me) to live in the dumps, struggle with hurts and loneliness, or be poisoned by bitter regrets.
Ask yourself: What do the two following verses mean to me?
• Jesus said, “I came to give YOU life abundant” (John 10:10)
• The Psalmist writes, “The godly shall flourish like palm trees….” Psalm 92:12
Are these nice thoughts? Or something you long for?
I’m just finishing up coaching two groups of women who were eager to grow spiritually and emotionally. In our twelve weeks together (over Zoom-allowing women from the USA and overseas to participate), each person discovered ways to change their negative self-talk, free themselves from the bondage of unhelpful emotions, and identify ways they can flourish in every area of their lives.
Our guide has been the book, FLOURISH – Discover Vibrant Living, by Dr. Catherine Hart Weber.
I can’t mention even a fraction of the insightful information we gleaned, but here are five quotes I want to share with you:
1. You can discover how to flourish during your current life challenges and in a difficult world.
Everyone’s emotional tank gets drained by stress. Refill yours on a regular basis by making a list of what renews you spiritually and personally. Then act on at least one item on your list as often as needed. To THRIVE, pay attention to what’s going on inside you!
2. We flourish and thrive when we have a sense of well-being and can function positively in our spiritual, personal, and social lives.
This journey includes vulnerability: being brave enough to let others know you. Greater clarity, purpose and deeper intimacy with God and others requires the courage to be honest, to be vulnerable…. But it doesn’t come easy.
3. The Christian faith is all about human flourishing.
* To thrive in life, we must make time for solitude and sufficient sleep. We need quiet, to turn off the noise, and simply be still—whether we realize it or not! It’s essential for spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.
* Set aside time to get quiet so you can pay attention to what's going on inside you.
* Pray for wisdom to see which activities and attitudes in your life are good and which are harmful.
* Think about your relationships. Do those that leave you feeling drained outnumber those that build you up? What can you do to change the ratio?
* Reflect on your priorities, your motives, and dreams.
* Look closely at your eating, sleeping, and exercise patterns. Do these contribute to your well-being, or do you need to make some lifestyle changes?
4. You flourish when you’re in the presence of God’s love and that of others.
We are created with a hunger for companionship, to feel that someone cares about us. Research shows that intimate relationships play a vital role in our well-being, echoing God's words in Genesis 2:18, "It is not good for man (or woman) to be alone." Even though you have a spouse or other close family members, you need friends.
5. Flourishing in God’s way takes some initiative, some learning, and some practice. But so does everything else that is good for you!
Healthy habits and spiritual practices in and of themselves don’t change us. They are only methods to help us surrender to God, and be transformed and conformed to live like Jesus.
I hope I’ve whetted your appetite to ask the Holy Spirit how He wants to help you flourish. Spring has come—flowers are waving in the breeze—and all of God’s creation is flourishing. I’m praying that includes YOU.
(This September, Lord willing, I’ll be offering FLOURISH to a new group of women eager to grow. Let me know if that might include you.)
Poppy