Have you noticed that water seems to be the latest craze?
There’s bottled water, spring water, flavored water, reverse osmosis water, fizzy water and even fizzy flavored water. All available in our local grocery stores in a variety of colors, shapes and prices.
What if someone invented a special kind of water you’d only need to drink once and it would have enough nutrients, vitamins and minerals to sustain you for a lifetime. I’m sure that kind of water would cost a small fortune.
Would you drink it if it was offered to you for free?
In John 4, we get a sneak peak into a conversation Jesus was having with a woman and guess what they were talking about? You got it … water!
This woman had gone to her local well to draw water and she encountered Jesus there. They started talking – which was a big no-no in Jewish laws back then – and Jesus offered her some very special water. At first she questioned Him and was even a little put off, but Jesus patiently kept the conversation going and then said this:
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14 (NIV)
Jesus was offering her water, but not from a natural spring or even the famous well she was drawing rainwater from. Instead Jesus offered her a gift of living water {verse 10}.
You see, Jesus knew this woman had made some poor life choices and was living with a man that was not her husband. She had developed a habit of looking to others in hopes they would meet all her needs.
It was a thirst for more that she couldn’t seem to quench.
Maybe this living water would make her life easier? Maybe it would save her time and solve all her problems? She had no idea this encounter with Jesus was about to change her life forever.
There may be times when we find ourselves thirsting for more: more recognition, more wealth or more materialistic things.
I’ll admit, if I’m not careful, I can easily fall into the pattern of putting my hopes in these kind of things – selfishly believing that maybe they will quench some of my deepest desires and far fetched dreams.
But here’s what I’ve learned {and continue to learn}. The shallow water this world offers through its temporary fame and short-lived fortunes will leave us momentarily satisfied, but always thirsting for more.
Like the woman at the well, Jesus invites us to receive His Living Water, which is the gift of the Holy Spirit, along with forgiveness, redemption and a new life. He is the Fountain of Water, bubbling up within us, that provides eternal refreshment and strength to your souls.
By the infilling of the Holy Spirit we can receive spiritual nourishment and experience the overflow of a blessed life filled love, joy and peace. Not just for today, but for eternity.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is the Living Water that quenches my soul and satisfies my deepest desires. Fill me to overflowing with Your Spirit, so I never have to thirst again for the temporary things this world tries to offer me. Let my heart spring up with Your love and joy from now and for eternity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
It’s Your Turn:
Question: What worldly things do you find yourself thirsting for: recognition, wealth, materialism? Have you received the Living Water that Jesus offers? *Share your answers in the comment section below or click HERE.
Do you know someone who would be encouraged by this message? Share it with them today by using any of the social media buttons below.
hezron says
How do you get filled with the holy spirit?
Leah DiPascal says
Hi Kris & Lisa ~ I loved reading your comments and seeing the encouragement you’ve given to one another. 🙂
Mary says
Beautifully written Leah….loved it!
Kris says
Boy did this devotion hit me right between the eyes this morning! Especially this part “She had developed a habit of looking to others in hopes they would meet all her needs.” Yikes! That’s been me of late, looking to every outside source possible to meet MY inner needs. My husband, my kids… I have been dreaming of “better days” and feeling hopeless that they will never come. With my husband out of work and me being the soul provider, I have become increasingly frustrated with our situation, but I’m failing to recognize that him being out of work is actually a really good thing right now. If he had to go to work full time, we would really struggle with my teenage daughters ever increasingly busy schedule and since she’s not old enough to drive yet, and we have little outside sources to rely on, I don’t know what we would do! God needs us to be here right now and I’ve been incredibly ungrateful lately.
I keep focusing on what other people are doing and what other people “have”, and other people seem so much more put together than me, and I’ve been partaking in so much negative self talk. It’s really affecting my life from eating habits to sleep (or lack thereof). I’m comparing my life to others, I’m relying on others to fullfill me and I’m running from God. Again.
I keep getting caught in this trap of my own doing.
Today I need to start from the beginning and ask for His forgiveness for running in place instead of drinking from the well He provides.
Thank you for this and all the other devotions you send. Have a blessed and wonderful day.
Lisa says
Kris,
Thanks for sharing your story. I too have been following in the same steps focusing on what other people have, what they are doing, negative self-talk. I quit facebook because I was getting jealous that it looked like everyone else was having fun and doing things and I wasn’t. I am in a blended family right now and having a lot of struggles. I am trying to set myself free of living off my emotions and how I feel and like you to be more grateful and thankful. Thanks for sharing and Leah thanks for reminding us that we do have the living water inside us and for us to ask for it to fill us.
Kris says
Lisa – thank you for your reply. It’s nice to meet you. I’m glad I’m not alone in this. Sometimes I feel like I am. I have been in a constant struggle the last few months and find myself running from God instead of falling into Him, and I just feel so stuck. I want to move forward, and I know the only thing holding me back is me, but I am having a tough time moving forward again. 🙁