126.DO YOU NEED MOTIVATION? Psalm 100:3

From time to time, for one reason or another, we all get a bit down and need a dose of motivation. And to day I am going to use the “Palm tree” to motivate us. The Palm, is one of the most resilient of trees. In fact I’d not be surprised if God created the Palm specifically to be an example for us to observe and take a lesson from it, a bit like a parable. See what you think!! (1). You can cut the Palm tree, but you can’t kill it! The minerals and nutrients most trees need to survive are found on the surface, just beneath the bark, so, when you cut them, they die. But not so with the Palm tree. Its life comes from within, so it flourishes, even under attack. Read: (2 Corinthians 4:7) “We have this treasure in jars of clay” How wonderful! even though the earthen vessel on the outside, may be cut and wounded, the treasure inside is secure and beyond the enemy’s reach. (2) The Palm tree will bend, but it wont brake, Tropical winds can blow most trees down, but not the Palm. The stronger the winds, the further it bends, - sometimes even touching the ground. Yet when the storm is over, it straightens up again and is actually stronger in that place where it had been bent. What a picture! We were made to bend, but not brake, because in (Colossians 1:11) God’s glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure all kinds of attacks, you may bend and bow, but later will return to your full strength and stature if you stay grounded in Christ. (3) The Palm tree’s depth always exceeds it’s height! While the roots of the average plant goes only a few feet into the ground, the palm tree’s roots can go down hundreds of metres in search of water. In Psalm (42:1) David says “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you.” So keep digging go a little deeper each day, working on your own connection to God and you will never be…uprooted... barren or blown down. Inside you there is a battle going on between your flourishing self – The person you were created to be – and your languishing self. Your languishing self feels uneasy and discontent. You may be drawn to bad habits or things designed to temporarily anaesthetise pain. Your thoughts will automatically drift to fear and anger. And Learning doesn’t seem worthwhile, you find you are thinking about yourself most of the time. Whereas, (flourishing, thriving, blossoming and prospering are all taking place (1) in your spirit. You sense you are beginning to receive ideas and energy from an outside source. And you are… In fact, you are being empowered by God’s Spirit. We talk about being inspired which literally means “God breathed” God breaths into you; You are coming alive, and starting to feel you have a purpose in life. (2). In your mind. Your thoughts are marked by joy and peace. You have a desire to love and to learn. You are literally being transformed by (Romans12:2) ‘the renewing of your mind’ (3) In due time, You will wake each day with a sense of excitement, and you begin to realise, you are never too young to flourish. Mozart was composing brilliant music at the age of just five years old. Paul told Timothy, ( 1Timothy 4:12) “Never let anyone look down on you because you are young. You also realise you are never too old to flourish. Grandma Moses was 69 when she took up painting, and artist Marc Chagall did some of his best work in his 90s. I’m almost 90. and started doing my best and most rewarding work for The Lord 3 years ago. When God puts His finger on you, age, ability or worthiness doesn’t come into it, all that He requires is our cooperation and willingness to do His Will. It’s humbling to acknowledge you can”t be anything you want to be, or do what you used to do, but once you accept that, and seek to maximise what God has created you to be, you start flourishing. Why is that? Because you know beyond any doubt that you are living in God’s Will. Is there any better place to be?. Here are two more areas in which God created you to flourish. (1) Your relationships, Relationally your languishing self is often troubled. Are you undisciplined with what you say, sometimes reverting to sarcasm, gossip and or flattery. Do you isolate yourself, or dominate, or do you attack. Whereas, your flourishing self would rather seek to bless others and energise you to the point where you are able to disclose your thoughts and feelings in a way that invites openness with others. Are you quick to admit your own mistakes and freely forgive others. (2) Your experiences: God is growing you because He wants to use you in His plans of redeeming His world; That’s why you find Him changing your experiences. Your flourishing self has a desire to contribute. You live with a sense of calling, indeed, your inner longing is to become all that you were meant to be, a tiny echo of God’s longing to begin the new creation. The rabbis spoke of this as ”tikkun olam” to repair the world. Focussed on yourself, Your life is as small as a grain of wheat. Given to God, however, it’s as if that grain has been planted in rich soil, growing into a part of a much bigger project. Let’s read what Jesus Himself had to say on the subject (John 12:24-25) “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its’ death will produce many more kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their lives in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for all eternity.” Thank you for reading these few words on having a flourishing life. I hope I have provided you with a bit of motivation to turn your life over to Jesus. Only He has the answer to all your questions. Only He could pay the ultimate price for your soul. Only He could open the gates of Heaven to you. And He has done it all just for you. So come to Him today, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. God Bless Phaline.