When we talk about thriving in the Lord, what we mean is righteousness flourishing in us and through us.

“You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it. —Isaiah 45:8 (NIV)

What is “righteousness” according to this passage?
Whose righteousness is it?… and why is that important?

Everything on the Earth was made with an intention to thrive. But the problem is, when sin entered the picture, life on earth gets distorted and other things begin to grow.

In Matthew 13, Jesus told a parable about weeds and wheat growing together.

Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn. —Matthew 13:30 (NIV)

What is the point?

If we want to truly thrive, we need to understand how God intended us to do that.

In Genesis 1 and 2 we read how God created everything. But we also read why.

In the beginning God created … —Genesis 1:1 (NIV)

What is the significance of these 5 words?

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. … And God saw that it was good. —Genesis 1:11-12 (NIV)

God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” —Genesis 1:22 (NIV)

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth. —Genesis 1:27-28 (NIV)

What is the point of these passages?

God created you for a purpose. And He has called us to thrive in that purpose.