Skip to main content

When Survival is not a Fruit of the Spirit

So, I recently celebrated my birthday and honestly it felt divergent. It felt different because for the first time I felt the urge to let Go and let God . 
Lately,  I have been pressing into God asking and indulging him to why I am here at this time.  
One thing that He has been highlighting is the need to thrive and not to survive. Truthfully,  we have been taught how to survive,  it's like an automation wired in our brains.  There are books on how to survive , ways , tactics and what not . Survival is a worldly mentality but thriving is a kingdom lifestyle.  
Disclaimer!I am learning  and unlearning . I thought it wise to share and exchange notes on this .
So when the Lord was highlighting this thrive message in my spirit, my flesh and mind like an automation took the rabbit trail.  You know how we are taught that thriving and winning  is in the fame , money and accolades ? In fact , you don't need to be taught , just log on Instagram and your other social pages .But not so! There is a deeper thrive,  allow me to  me indulge you. 
Let's go through our favorite bumper sticker,  magnetic Fridge Quote, world's most popular tattoo ,  and probably one of the most misused verse " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me " .
So in the previous verse Paul Writes in Philippians 4:12  " I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need."
What Paul meant was,  I know lack and I know plenty ( two extremes),  however in Christ I  thrive! He understood that it was not the state of his pocket , fame , or even education that caused him to prosper . He knew whether  hard , tough,favorable or easy as ABC he was always #winning.
To understand this,  I read on other biblical examples.  Joseph was a successful slave who got his master's approval and trust in a foreign nation.  In prison he thrived and was put in charge of the other prisoners.  A slave , a prisoner , separated from his family but still #winning 
Thriving is when you are a captive in Babylon like Daniel,  you take veggies and water and you look better and sound smarter than the guys doing barbecue and steak, then wash down with some wine .  P. S not just better ,but 10 times better.  #winning !

Elijah finds a widow who was on her last meal and because God's kingdom is not about survival,  they thrived with overflow for days to come. What looked like they were to survive on , they thrived on because God was with them .  #winning 
So I have been asking myself, how do I get on this thrive mode?  What is clear is that I cannot thrive in a world that demands me to survive, I have to be different.

 Allow me to submit this for your consideration "Survival for the fittest " is not a parable or one of the beatitudes.  It's just a way the world tasks it's people to live and we are not in the logistics . 
Probably, outwardly it seems as if you are surviving,  but inwardly you are thriving. 
Romans 14:17
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
 Could it be if you have no peace , joy and His righteousness that is what surviving is ? You are simply being sustained by his mercy and grace but you have been called to thrive !

Jesus said For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.
33 But seek ([z]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness ([aa]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [ab]taken together will be given you besides. 
In other words,  Survival will put you in a state of worry if anxiety.  Survival will say things like supply is limited, the sources are scarce to get you to hoard and have the scarcity mentality.  

Thriving is when you seek him and all things are added,  what others stay awake chasing ,follows you when you are still.  
Jesus is always asking us,  and purging us to thrive.  He died on the cross so that the law  and the systems that demanded our survival were abolished .  We are told to survive we fight , we fist up and show our claws but to thrive , we sit , we rest and Faith it !  And when we have to war , we simply appear because we were fought for , we simply claim victory .
Shall we thrive?  I choose to thrive ! 

xoxo Bellz 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why the Devil wants You for Dessert ! - On the Menu

Let’s agree to disagree, this year has a point to prove, it’s in a rush. It’s on the run to somewhere; it has to be there by December.     I am not sure whether I am the one experiencing this, but Sunday is such a throw stone away from Monday nowadays. It feels like yesterday I was huffing and puffing trying to get my resolutions together, it’s now July . Anyway I am buckling up and keeping up with the speed levels of 2018.   2018, if you can hear me, I am breaking sweat as well, we shall revisit and settle in December. .................... I love Nigerians, it’s not their Jollof rice or their incredible sense of art, and it’s their oomph! ,   I have a thing for their vigour. I find them so boisterous in their confession especially. You can tell when Jesus said, the kingdom suffers violence and the violent shall take it by force, that was for them.   I have limited knowledge about them but I have managed to gather a few traits here and...

Why God Would rather Shut You Up -He Does The Talking

I have missed you guys, can you tell ? really I have .  I miss you like the Sound of rain hitting the earth :)  Hope you are well. I would love to share from my heart to yours, shall I? I have been taking time off to listen, understand and try and comprehend why my 1+1=2 and God has a different answer that looks something like 11. Let me tell you of a man who had sort of the same issue of solving the equation. You see Moses was a man whom God had chosen as the deliverer for the Israelites from bondage. Right from the get, he was delivered by Pharaoh’s daughter into the Palace.  His life had been spared as  child while every male child was been killed .Deep down, Moses questioned God how he was going to deliver the Israelites, so he started solving disputes of injustices against his people which got him into trouble.  As a young man, he decided to flee from the trouble because now he has domez with his Pharaoh Aka Foster dad. From the Palace, he goes to ...

You Talk Too Much , Learn How to Walk !

Hey friends,  hope you are well.  It's been a while since I posted. Don't fret, the title is more of a rebuke to myself , but if the shoe fits , let's be corrected together!  I wanted to be ready enough to share from my heart . Recently , I was challenged by someone who posed this question " Are you talking a lot about Jesus more than you are actually spending time with Him "  That question has not only lingered,  but has made me question my depth as a child of God.  My silence has been intentional yet I somewhat struggled in bid to spend time with God.  Spending time with God can be uncomfortable  ,  uncomfortable not just for you but for others.  In God's presence, the truth about you is laid bare and he aligns you to himself.  Alignment in God's presence shakes off the unwanted baggage that we so like to wear around .  Luke 10:42 Jesus tells Martha,   42  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. [...