I suggest you flourish when you live fully embracing who God created you to be and are engaged in what God created you to do.
I am not referring to financial prosperity here. I am talking about flourishing in mind, body, heart, and spirit, like the apostle John wrote.
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2
You flourish/prosper when you live in the sweet spot of your God-given identity and God-given purpose.
As an artist, I call this the focal point of a painting. The focal point is that which draws the viewer’s attention. It plays the most important part of the painting. Every element of design bends to the focal point. The same is true for you.
Everything in your life should bend to your God-given identity and purpose—in other words everything you say “yes” to should support and uplift you and what you are called to.
When people ask me how I could give up/sell a painting I have poured myself into, my reply is that it thrills me to see my work go out to do what it was created to do. I believe God feels the same way when you live as who He created you to be and do what He created you to do.
What does a life that is flourishing look like? Over the course of the next few newsletters, I will share five areas that are a part of a prosperous life. They are contentment, worship, waiting on the Lord, focus, and soaring like the eagle. Today we will look at contentment as it relates to a life flourishing in God’s blessings.
CONTENTMENT
The apostle Paul shares his formula for a contented life with the church at Philippi.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. Philippians 4:11
The same formula works for us. Here it is:
Set aside anxiety.
Pray about everything.
Bathe it all in gratitude
Gratitude is the key that unlocks a contented life. Increase your gratitude quotient and you will flourish in whatever circumstance you are in.
In the art world, we call this harmony or the unity of a piece. Different design elements like line, texture, shape and color work together to present harmony within the canvas. It is the difference between art that brings order to a chaotic world and art which simply displays the chaos of the world. Harmony, like contentment, draws others in. It invites people to engage with you, walk along side of you, and support you. A harmonious life is a contented life flourishing in the blessings of God.
Ask yourself these questions questions to increase your contentment to soar higher in who God created you to be doing what He created you to do.
What is your biggest “ask” of God right now?
What anxious thoughts about this “ask” do you need to leave at the altar?
How can you bathe your life and this request in gratitude?
How can you bring areas of your life into greater harmony through prayer, gratitude, and contentment?
You got this!