If you look up synonyms for “Free” the first one that comes up is “Able.” And as the cool bloggers say, “I’m gonna just leave that right there for a minute.” And in case you didn’t have time to make the connection, each one of us has the ability to flourish. So…if we have the ability, does that mean flourishing is a choice? You bettcha! So let’s talk about this choice and our ability to flourish.
I made this page with the Illustrated Faith “Free to Flourish” Bible Journaling Kit.
Maybe a more talented writer would eventually lead up to this scripture. Their words would be all flowery and poetic and as they continued to write you could almost feel your thoughts ascending higher and higher and knew something good was about to happen and then KAPOW!
And that one tiny piece of scripture would hit you on so many different levels. Almost like doing one of those science experiments about taste. Each area of her heart, mind, and soul would slowly become engaged. There would be the almost non-climactic, “Oh yeah, I know that verse,” to the “Wow! I really can do all things because it’s Christ’s strength and not my own!”
So why don’t we? Why don’t we do all things–or all the things as is so popular to say? Why don’t we flourish? I believe there are many reasons, some of them unknown or misunderstood. But I do think, if we dig deep, we might recognize our reason in these two examples listed below.
1. We Feel Unworthy
We’re sinners. And sinners don’t flourish right? I mean doesn’t it say somewhere in the scriptures something along the lines of “Beware of the flourishing sinner; he is surely damned to hell.” My words ok, not really in scripture. But it just seems right, right? Flourishing seems so worldly…so fun even!
2. Flourishing isn’t Holy
Right? We have this idea that holiness consists of: living in a cave, surviving off bread and water, wearing a hair shirt, matted hair, the stigmata, dark, quiet living spaces, semi-responsive personalities, hushed voices, drab colors, eyes cast downward at all times…I mean I could go and on with all these illusions of true holiness. The fact is we are each called to holiness, but it looks different for each of us.
If we weren’t made to flourish, why do the scriptures mention lesser created things flourishing? Trees and reeds planted by the water…cities flourishing like grass.
Let’s think of one more thing. If you’re a parent, what do you hope, dream, wish, and pray for your children? Hopefully it’s that in all areas of their life, they flourish. Now, we may not use those words, but we hope and pray for good grades, nice friends, a good job, great teachers, friendship with Christ. We pray for our children to flourish, bloom where they are planted, grow strong like the trees mentioned in the scriptures and lovely as the lilies in the fields being completely taken care of by our Lord.
If you’re not flourishing, it’s not because of God. That’s your choice. “But I’m sick…tired…poor…stressed…depressed…” do not let your exterior circumstances determine your interior joy. You were made for more. You have everything you need to flourish…you truely are free to flourish sisters.
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