Psalm 92:12,13, Amplified Bible

I AM FLOURISHING

The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible].

Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God.

As a child of God, we are to thrive and not just live in a survival mode like the rest of the people in this world.  We have God in us.  God is total life, total love, total light, totally healthy, totally strong, totally fruitful, totally enduring, totally sound and complete.  With Him in us, we are equipped to do the impossible or the possible for that matter.  He is there for us, to do for us what we can’t do.  He is there to watch us do what He has designed us to do.  It gives the Lord great pleasure to see us succeed and enjoy our accomplishments.

Like the palm tree, we are to live long lives, standing upright in the good times and in the bad times.  People tell me that a palm tree, unlike many other trees, withstands strong winds in a difficult storm, because it bends with the wind but does not break.  We are to be like that also.  With God we can withstand all that comes our way and not be uprooted and destroyed.

A palm tree also produces fruit.  We are to be the same way, producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit of God comes to dwell in us when we accept Jesus, and He produces fruit—-love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control.  You notice that I said that He produces the fruit.  A tree does not produce fruit with much straining or striving.  The tree simply grows in its environment and the fruit is produced.  Likewise, grow in the environment of God and fruit will be produced in you by the Lord.

We are to grow like the cedar in Lebanon.  A cedar is beautiful, has a stately appearance, endures while it keeps on growing and is practically indestructible.  Of course a cedar is an earthly tree, but we are the planting of the Lord Who is incorruptible, indestructible.  With Him we become indestructible in the face of the things we encounter in this world.  With Him all things are possible.  He takes care of us.

We as God’s children are planted in His household, and we flourish in His courts.  What a wonderful household we live in, God’s household.  He is a perfect Father.  He treats us well.  We are children of the King Whose Kingdom is without measure.  We are His children.

As King’s kids we flourish.  What does flourish mean?  To expand, prosper, increase, increase in wealth, enlarge, shoot out, enter into a state of prosperity, become extremely successful.  Wow!  Do you see what we have available to us?  As children of God, we expand, prosper, increase, become extremely successful.  If we are not doing that, let’s ask God why we are not prospering or being successful.  He has the answer to that question.  I am asking God that question myself for certain areas of my life.

Are you flourishing?  Are you growing in God?  Are you living long, thriving and enjoying your life?  The Lord is there to cause you to flourish, grow, live long, thrive and enjoy life.  He has the answers.

I AM GROWING IN GRACE

Psalm 92:14,15

[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment].  [They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

I am growing in grace.  I am growing in God’s enabling ability, power.  I am growing in His favor.  Favor is on my life.  Favor goes before me and behind me and I am crowned with favor.  Favor is the gateway to God’s perks.  We get the favored parking space.  We get the favored upgrade on the plane.  We get the job that others long for.  It is because the blessing of the Lord rests upon His children.  We are His favorite children, each one of us individually.  That is hard for us to wrap our minds around, but it is true.  Don’t you love it when you have a cart full of groceries and all the lines are long, and a clerk opens up a register and motions you to come over there.  I had that happen to me several months ago, and it was interesting.  The clerk opened the register for me and then when I went through, she shut it down.  I am not complaining about that.

Grace is God on us with His anointing, His power to do what only he can do.  It is His power on us to do the impossible.  It is Him using us to help others.  It is God on us to do what the ordinary person cannot do.  It is wonderful.

Because I am growing in grace, I shall still bring forth fruit in old age.  Why?  Because God fills my mouth with good things, words so that my youth is renewed like the  eagle’s, strong and powerful and soaring like the eagle.

Even in my old age I shall be full of sap, spiritual vitality and rich in the verdure of trust, love and contentment.  Verdure is a vigorous, flourishing, growing condition of health and vigor.  As I grow older, I’ll take all of that I can get.  I appreciate it now more than ever.  I am rich in the vigor of trusting God, of loving Him and of being contented in Him.

I desire to be a living memorial to God’s goodness and the fact that He is faithful to His Word to me.  I want to be a living example of His Word working in me, so that others can see and desire Him.  Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is faithful to His promises.  I must receive that and believe it for myself.

He is my Rock and there is no unfaithfulness in Him.  He will always be there with me, never leaving me, always faithful to me and to His promises for me.  God is faithful.  His faithfulness is new every morning for me.

My prayer for you today is that you will see and know this faithful God.  He is a joy to be around!