When my friend went on vacation for a month, she asked me to take care of her plant. She gave me detailed instructions, and I affectionately named her plant “Planty.” Planty was a monstera, just like the one I already had and have written about before. However, there was a key difference between hers and mine. Her plant was potted in a container that allowed the water to be absorbed continuously. All you had to do was fill the outer container with water, and it would soak up the water as needed. My plant, on the other hand, relied on me to water it every two weeks. Recently, life had become busy and chaotic, and I missed a few watering sessions. My plant was still surviving, but it wasn’t thriving. This became evident when I placed them side by side.

The difference between surviving and thriving was the consistent and constant access to the water the plant needed to live. Looking at the two plants, I began to ponder: Which plant was I? Was I the one that was fuller, with more leaves, vibrant, healthy, and lush? Or was I the one fighting to survive, less lush and a bit diminished, still living and lovely but not as abundant and full as it could be?

The only difference between the two plants was continual access to what they needed. As believers, we have a choice. We can choose to plant ourselves in Christ, in His word, in prayer, and in complete connection to the Lord. Through this connection, we can access what we need for health and a full spiritual life at all times, continually. In this way, we are connected to a constant flow. Alternatively, we can choose to be independent, letting Him pour into our lives inconsistently or sporadically. The difference between the believer who thrives and the one who is just holding on and surviving is not the source itself. All believers have God as their source. He is the source of love, hope, peace, the Holy Spirit, words of life, prayer, and our reason for worship. Yet, the one who thrives is fully connected and actively accessing the water of God’s word, the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, and the peace and contentment gained by an unburdened soul because they daily leave it all at the feet of Jesus. This gives them a constant sense of freedom and empowerment to thrive no matter the situations they face.

The believer who survives will connect with the Lord at times, but there is no real consistency in drinking in the water of God’s word. They will have an inconsistent prayer and worship life, with a partial disconnection from the vine. Perhaps they are even drawing from other things that add no value to their life as a believer and may even be harmful.

My challenge to you today is simple: Take accountability for the state of your spiritual health and life, for the condition of your plant. Recognize that you can thrive if you fully connect and draw from the Lord. People don’t thrive because God loves them more. People don’t thrive because they have more knowledge of God. People don’t thrive because they are special or because it’s somehow easier for them. No, they thrive solely due to their strong connection and relationship with God and their consistent seeking of the Lord.

If you are surviving and want to thrive instead, you must change how you draw from the Lord and how you seek Him. Connect to Him fully and daily so that you can begin to thrive. For myself and my plant, I plan to change my strategy. Instead of watering every other week, I will create a way for my plant to access what it needs every day so that it can thrive again. In my life, I will do the same. I hope and pray you too will choose to thrive, to be fully connected and be all that you can be in the Lord. Don’t settle for survival; thrive. This is the life you have been called to.