"You Will Flourish and I Will Establish You"

Recently, the Lord has highlighted the word "flourish" to me over and over. I saw it on the cover of a popular magazine, on a sign in a store, in a number of scripture verses, and it even popped up as the title of an instrumental song I was listening to on Spotify.

As I pressed in to what the Lord wanted me to see, I realized that "flourish" was the opposite of the message we are receiving through most media right now. We are bombarded with gloomy messages of elevated gas prices, food shortages, and inflated prices on just about everything. Yet, for quite a while I've felt that God is leading us, His people, into a different economy. He is wanting His sons and daughters to learn how to access His supernatural economy, one that is obtained by faith and trust in Him as our good Father. I believe He doesn't want us to just "get by", He wants us to flourish.

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." Psalm 92:12-15.

In these verses, the Psalmist gives us a description of what it means to flourish in God. The word, flourish, here is the Hebrew word, parah, and according to Strong's it means "to break forth as a bud, bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the wings); figuratively, to flourish.

When we flourish there is movement. The word is active in that the very meaning implies breaking forth, shoots growing, buds opening, and even the phrase, to fly, the sense that one is trying new wings. True flourishing is also linked with God's favor. We find this in the story of Aaron's rod that budded. The word "sprout" and "sprouted" in the following verses is the same Hebrew word, parah, found in the Psalms 92 passage and is also translated flourish.

"The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites." Num. 17:5 "The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds." Num. 17:8

In this story we witness a supernatural budding of a staff totally disconnected from a tree or natural source of life. God was able to produce buds, blossoms, and even almonds on Aaron's staff. This Old Covenant picture of "flourishing" is amazing, and how much more is available to us under the New Covenant as the sons and daughters of God. God is awakening us to believe Him for more and receive our inheritance in Him.

We are stepping into a time of supernatural sprouting and budding. New businesses will sprout, new ministries will sprout, families will bud and blossom reflecting our lavish Father who is able to make you thrive and flourish even in the midst of lack and famine.

God chose Aaron of the tribe of Levi to receive the gift of serving as a priest unto Him. He then goes on to describe the responsibilities and benefits of the position He has bestowed on Aaron. Later we find these remarkable words in Num. 18:20, "The Lord said to Aaron, 'You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.' " Wow! God Himself would be their share and inheritance in the new land. As His royal priesthood (I Pt. 2:9), I believe God is our share and our inheritance as well. It is not about the gifts or things He gives us, but about God, Himself as our portion.

The Link to Wisdom

You may remember the story of Solomon, who followed His father, David as King of Israel. In a dream, the Lord came to Solomon and told him to ask for whatever He wanted the Lord to give him. Solomon's response as well as the Lord's reply is found in I Kings 3:9-13:

"So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both wealth and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings."

Wealth and honor followed Solomon's pursuit of wisdom and discernment. Solomon was known for his great wisdom, but he was also known for his extravagant wealth. In fact, I Kings 10:22-23 reveals some of that extravagance,"For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s ships; once every three years the ships of Tarshish would come carrying gold and silver, ivory, monkeys, and peacocks. King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth."

God undoubtedly caused Solomon to flourish like none before him. Solomon had sought God's heart above riches, so God could in turn trust him with great wealth. Solomon's kingdom reflected the extravagance of Heaven, even that of importing peacocks. One look at a peacock and you can't help but notice its exaggerated and extravagant beauty!

"I Will Establish You"

As I meditated on the word "flourish" I had a picture of walking up a winding road to the top of a hill. At the top of the hill was a beautiful view of rolling hills and valleys. I knew the Lord was showing me the "new land" he had for me, truly a land of milk and honey. I then heard Him say, "I will establish you". I knew that I would not be able to take the land in my own striving or strength, but that I would need to trust and rest in His ability to lead and establish me.

To establish means "To place something securely and permanently in a position, situation, or condition." We are in a time where God is moving powerfully to establish His sons and daughters securely and permanently in the places, positions, and callings He has given to us.

As I listened to His heart, I heard Him say, "I am your source of life and miraculous provision. Yes, even in the midst of chaos and lack I have a place of abundance for you. I am turning the page on your former season and bringing you into a new paradigm. Where you have known limits and measure, laboring to bear fruit, I am now causing you to flourish. I will bless the work of your hands and you will be my tender shoot, rapidly growing and bringing forth buds and new fruit.

I will sustain you in the eye of the storm as you set your gaze on Me. Do not fear the turbulence or pressure in the atmosphere, but praise Me in the middle of it. Watch, listen, and trust Me and you will see My abundant provision poured into your lap above and beyond what you have even dreamed.

I am your lavish and extravagant God, and it is I who will cause you to flourish and bear fruit. Yes, supernatural streams of provision are available to you as you journey with Me into your land of milk and honey. My provision will flow exponentially to you as you learn to steward the seeds I place in your hands. You will faithfully sow, tend, and nurture My seed to multiply it and produce a harvest. Then, promotion and ownership over cities will come to My faithful ones.

I will establish you, placing you permanently and securely in the land I am giving you and you will know what it is to flourish and bear fruit that remains."