One sentence. One sentence is all it took to completely disrupt all of the plans I had for my month in Thailand.
A few days ago I was having my morning prayer time, and felt a strange need to watch a video series. Something caught my eye. As I scrolled through the library of Christian videos on my phone, there was a series titled “Authentic Manhood”.
I was fired up to watch this super manly, warrior for Christ, man of God video series. I didn’t even make it through the intro before I turned it off. Not even a minute in I heard 1 sentence that rocked my world. A man speaking about marriage said:
“Men, you must die to yourself so she can flourish.”
Whoa…..
Those words hit me like a freight train. I knew it was from The Lord.
I was a bit confused at first. I wondered why God wanted me to hear these words of wisdom for marriage. So I prayed about it.
I asked God what all of this was about. Here’s the response I got:
“This sentence is about marriage. It’s about how to love your wife too. But I’m showing this to you now, so you can see how I love you. I died so you could flourish. So flourish my child.”
Death brings life. Not only did Jesus rise from the dead, but His death and resurrection brought life to all of humanity. If they choose to believe of course.
I’ve been meditating a lot on sacrificial love, dying to myself, and taking up my cross. I’m not sure what exactly that looks like practically, but God is doing big things as He answers my prayers to be a servant leader.
Matthew 16 says:
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul”
Christ died so we could flourish. This month in Thailand has absolutely proven this to be true for me. We as Christians know that the war is already won, and “It is finished”.
Do we really live like it though?
Are we really walking in freedom?
I don’t think so.
We as Christians are notorious for victimizing ourselves. We say things like:
“God is testing me, Satan’s tempting me, awww poor me. ME, ME, ME!”
JESUS CHRIST did NOT willingly put himself through the most excruciating and bloody crucifixion so we could complain and victimize ourselves.
HE DIED SO WE COULD FLOURISH!
God wants good things for you!
So what does it look like to flourish for Jesus? I will share a testimony of how this looks for me personally this month.
I wake up, tell God that I love Him and He comes first in my day, but I really have to pee so I’ll be right back.
Then I lay down, and tell my Father that this day is His. I have peace in knowing that He is in control of my day.
After that, I run 3 miles, worshipping God the entire way. I thank Him for providing me the undeserved endurance it takes me to run that far.
After my run, I eat breakfast with The Lord and spend time in The Bible or watch a sermon.
By 8:30 AM, I am completely overwhelmed with peace and joy.
By 8:30 AM, I am overflowing.
I spend my days pouring out into my community. The Lord has called me into shepherding this month. So everyday I am intentionally praying for and encouraging my squad. I pray for insight and perspective. I pray for God to use me to keep this fire burning and growing inside all 24 of us. God has been using me to cast vision, support others in their visions and to be a behind the scenes servant.
My goal this month is to be the most UNNOTICED person on my squad. Not in a bad way, but because I’m spending so much time supporting others in the spiritual realm that it can’t be seen. I want to serve.
Mark 10:45 says:
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
My goal is to die to myself, so they can flourish. I want to be like Jesus.
I have absolutely LOVED this month!
I’ve had an amazing day, everyday, for 2 weeks straight now. I am flourishing.
You can too.
How?
Don’t live for yourself.
Don’t complain or victimize yourself, EVER.
Conquer every moment ,every single day.
Don’t let a moment, or a day conquer you.
Walk in the freedom that you have in Jesus Christ.
HE DIED, so YOU could flourish.
If you realize that, and put Jesus and others before yourself, you will flourish.
