Have you ever turned on the radio at exactly the right moment when a song is playing that speaks directly into your situation? It always amazes and thrills me when God orchestrates the pieces of life to fall into place perfectly. It was just such a day for me last week when I turned on my car radio and heard this song:

Casting Crowns – Thrive (Official Lyric Video)

Do I thrive or just survive? I have to admit that lately I have been ‘just surviving.’ Some days it takes all my energy just to open my eyes and get out of bed in the morning. I go through my day completing tasks on my To Do List while counting the hours until I can crawl back into bed. My focus over the past few months has been to be obedient to the call God has placed on our lives to go to Africa; but truthfully, I often feel overwhelmed and inadequate.

On this particular morning, I had been praying for God’s help with my faith and understanding what I needed to learn about myself during this challenging time. So when I turned on the radio and heard the words of this song, it resonated with me and challenged me to take a deep look at myself.

We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives.

Its time for us to more than just survive.

We were made to thrive

What does it mean to ‘thrive’? How does that look in my life? How do I go from surviving to thriving?

Into Your word, we’re digging deep

To know our Fathers heart

Into the world, we’re reaching out

To show them who You are

Joy unspeakable, faith unsinkable

Love unstoppable, anything is possible

I believe the definition for ‘thriving’ may be something different for each person; but for myself, I think a key to thriving is changing my perspective and attitude through meditating on what the scriptures say. Not looking at life’s challenges as problems or roadblocks but as opportunities…to learn about God, work on myself, and share with others how He has changed my life.

But they delight in the law of The Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:2-3

 

It is still difficult some mornings to drag myself out of bed, but I am working on viewing my day as an opportunity to thrive and not just an obstacle to survive.