flourishing

Flourish: grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment.

Every human being wants to flourish. I feel like flourishing is something that is super in right now. Look at the transition from all these unhealthy restaurants, to healthy ones. There are new healthy options all over the place. You see work out classes, and fitness centers nearly everywhere. There is a desire to be healthy from everyone.

When I hear the word 'flourishing' I think of lots of green plants in a greenhouse. When you walk into a greenhouse, everything is vibrant, green, and constantly growing.

It's hard to put into words, but there is a certain attractiveness to the idea of flourishing.

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
proclaiming, "The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."

Not everyone will flourish, only the righteous.

To be righteous, you must first have faith in God, and be obedient to him. Righteousness is not just doing good things. You can do all the good things in the world but if you don't have faith, you are not righteous.

On the other hand, you could have all the faith in the world, but if you don't do good things and aren't obedient, you are not righteous.

You have to do both. There is no working around it. To flourish you must have faith and live an obedient life.

The writer of this Psalm saw believers as upright, strong, and unmoved by the winds of circumstances...just like the palm tree. Those who place their faith firmly in God can have this strength and vitality.

My prayer for you it to flourish. Deep down, it's what everyone wants to be able to do. We just don't know how to do it. My challenge for you is a challenge to flourish. Look outside right now, it's cold, the trees have no leaves, the grass is brown...Imagine if we all began to flourish...all sorts of people will be drawn to you and will want what you have.