CHOOSE TO FLOURISH

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river…”– Jeremiah 17:8a

The choices and decisions you make will determine whether your life will flourish or not. You CHOOSE to FLOURISH as you choose ‘life’ rather than ‘death’, by choosing to trust in God! Flourishing is by Choice, not by chance. A flourishing life is a blessed life: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Psa.92:12-13). And the blessed life is intentional: deliberately planted in God’s House; consciously connected to the Vine; and purposely empowered to flourish. Jeremiah likened it to a tree planted by waters –situated to flourish : “For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit” (Jer.17:8).

Jeremiah 17 draws a clear contrast between a person who trusts in the Lord and one who does not. Through His Word, God has laid out an obvious distinction between the consequences of following Him and following our own way. At the foundation of both is a choice or decision. Moses laid this decision out in black and white, “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess…I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Dt.30:15, 19). Joshua set a similar choice before God’s people: “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Jos.24:15).

You can decide either to be planted in God’s House or not. You can decide either to be rooted in God’s Word or not! You can choose either to be connected to the Vine or not.

Are you planted? Just like the tree, if you are to flourish and produce fruit you must have your ‘roots’ down in order to receive regular nourishment. Are you established in a living church where you can receive guidance, encouragement and thrive in your gifts and talents?

Are you well rooted or easily uprooted? If you continually uproot and replant a tree, it won’t be long before that plant begins to wither and die. It’s important to be connected with God and with other believers in the Body of Christ and to invest your time, talents, and treasures in serving God and humanity. That’s putting your roots down deep.

Are you groomed for the weather? Can you handle adverse climate? Are you resilient through good times and bad or do you have a tendency to be uprooted and shy away from challenges? You must proactively make the choice and decision that when the heat is on or the storms come, you will remain planted, rooted, and grounded in Christ.

What is that thing that’s trying to stop you from flourishing? Whatever it is can be cut off by your words. Choose LIFE and position yourself for the blessings: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Pro.18:21). Many people – including some believers – just do not realize the power of the words they speak over themselves. James 3:6 says, “The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and is set on fire of hell” (Jam.3:6). Declare life over death; prosperity over poverty; success over failure; and flourishing over withering. CHOOSE to FLOURISH!