Thrive: Prayer and Devotional Pathway
Prayer Pathway
Thrive sets aside time in both the Large Group and Small Group meetings specifically for prayer. This is often done by reciting the Lord’s Prayer or The Serenity Prayer but Thrive small group Leaders will always ask for specific prayer requests of each individual and lead the group in prayer for those needs. As the Holy Spirit leads, the men and women of each group are encouraged to lay hands on individuals who have requested prayer and consented to this biblical practice.
Thrive believes and instructs in the power of prayer. While most traditional recovery programs also instruct us to “set aside a time for prayer,” Thrive participants are instructed in biblical examples of prayer and offered resources from E.M. Bounds Power Through Prayer to John Eldridge Moving Mountains or Neil Anderson Victory Over Darkness, that teaches us the importance of praying from the position (and confidence) of our true identity as sons and daughters of the Most High, brothers and sisters of Christ the King.
Too often in life we give up on praying about a situation believing, “I have prayed about it.” Typically, what we have really done is petitioned the Lord to fix our situations. We even offer Him (The LORD) options on how to work it in ways that meet our approval. This is not how Jesus instructed us to pray when He said, “pray like this.”
Thrive encourages participants to get into the habit of praying for protection, provision, favor, wisdom, discernment, physical healing and praying specifically for our needs. 2 Corinthians 12: 8-10 tells us though that even Paul, who had the greatest of faith, did not receive the answer to his prayers the way he wanted. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Deliverance from Spiritual Oppression
In everything that we do, spiritual powers are at work in our life situations. Ephesians 6:12 says “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” That doesn’t mean only in the really bad stuff.
Therefore, we must recognize the spiritual battle we are in and welcome the power of prayer and the power of The Holy Spirit. Thrive recognizes that spiritual deliverance not only happens, it is often absolutely necessary when dealing with spiritual oppression. Complete deliverance can be instant or may be brought on over time through a process of the Holy Spirit that may look very different for each person. Unlike AA, CR, Al-Anon and most other recovery programs, Thrive recognizes that, even though this topic may make us uncomfortable, Jesus tells us in Luke 10 that “I have given you authority to…overcome all the enemy… the spirits submit to you.” In Mark 16:17, Jesus says, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons;” Do we believe Jesus or don’t we?
Isaiah 55: 8-9 tells us His ways are not our ways and Romans 8:28 tells us He will use all things for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.
When instant spiritual deliverance occurs, Jesus tells us in Matthew 12:43-45 if we do not remain filled by the Holy Spirit, the problem (evil spirit) will come back and bring seven others with it…and the person will be worse off than ever. Thrive must not only encourage spiritual deliverance, it must embrace this warning and disciple its participants in the truth. Those who have found deliverance should be encouraged to continue in one of the process pathways offered. So yes, we pray for deliverance and believe in it. But we do so only with the commitment to continue the process.
Thrive recognizes that, while spiritual deliverance is a controversial subject, it is a serious matter and should not be dismissed, trivialized or done without the presence of spiritual leadership.
Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference, living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; taking this world as it is and not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may find joy* in this life and rejoice* (paraphrased) with You forever in the next. Amen.
− Reinhold Niebuhr
Devotional Pathway
Recovery programs rely on “The Big Book (AA)” or the “Manual (DNA of CR).” Thrive believes in only one specific book, The Holy Bible. We encourage all participants to get into the habit of setting aside a daily time of study and devotion to God’s word.
It is this reason that Thrive encourages its members to consistently practice participation in daily devotionals. These may be in any format from The One Year Bible to 31 Proverbs. A variety of well established daily devotionals will be offered on the Thrive product tables at each meeting.
We also encourage the sharing of and teaching from other Christian resources that point us biblically toward sanctification as well as other well established resources. For instance, while not an overtly Christian themed book, “Boundaries,” by Dr’s Cloud and Townsend is widely respected in clinical psychiatry as a great benefit to their practices. Likewise, Lysa Turkeurst has written many wonderful books primarily addressed to women who struggle with trust, un-forgiveness and relationship issues. Many other wonderful books for overcoming life’s issues are available in our church library. Thrive recognizes that, while there is only one Way to Salvation, there are many ways to improve ourselves and we want to share as many of those as we can with as many as we can so long as they line up with our ONE specific book, The Holy Bible.
We will select and maintain a small library of these titles, keeping several on hand for participants to purchase or “check out” if money is an issue for them. All Trhive Recommended Books come from Grace Chapel’s pastoral and staff recommendation. We will also invite participants who have read selected books to offer a brief “book report” either at our Monday night events or recorded for our Social Media pages.
Thrive Recommended Book List
The First Hour for Men (Daily Devotional) emphasizing putting on the full armor of God.
Victory Over The Darkness (Dr. Neil Anderson)
Freedom in Christm (Dr. Neil Anderson)
Boundaries (Dr. Henry Cloud, Townsend)
Necessary Endings (Dr. Henry Cloud)
Biblical Decision Making (Arian Miller)