1As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 42:1-2a
Identifying thirst
Everybody has a drink that they really like or enjoy. I went through a phase of Rubicon Mango, then Strawberry Ribena now I love me some guava! What are you drawn to in the chilled section of a shop?
The government recommends that we drink 8 cups of water per day to keep hydrated. Although beverages, cups of tea and coffee are part of that intake, what is best is pure water.
Thirst is a sensation that once identified needs to be acted upon. So drink.
Symptoms of physical dehydration are, chapped lips, dry skin, hair and mouth. But what if one is spiritually dehydrated?
Symptoms include,
- A feeling of emptiness
- The fleshy man taking the fore-front
- Feeling disconnected from God
- Lack of power in prayer
- Surface level praise
Obey your thirst
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ Matthew 5:6
There may be many different thirsts in your life. You could have a thirst for a spouse, child, house, more power and influence, but it is important to note that we must thirst for righteousness! As that is where true fulfilment and quench comes.
In John we hear of the woman at the well, a woman that was thirsty, but probably didn’t know it.
Perplexed, she sat with a man (crossing gender and cultural boundaries) that revealed her innermost yearnings and secrets. She was dissatisfied at her present situation but was stuck in a destructive cycle of trying to find fulfilment in a partner.
But Christ, the Son of the living God, told her of a water that would fulfil her every need. Praise the Lord!
John 4:13-14 states,
‘Jesus answered and said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water (in the well) will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life’
In God’s word the Holy Spirit is often represented by water so Christ was talking about His Holy Spirit. God and His Holy Spirit is the only source that can quench your spiritual thirst, so get into the habit of drinking His water daily!
Remember pure water is best!
Just like in the natural, you cannot fully function without drinking daily. You need to drink from His fountain daily. Yesterday’s water just won’t do.
So how does one get a refreshing drink?
-Spend time in His presence
-Read His words
-Talk to Him
-Praise Him
-Spend time with His people
Drinking to overflow
What is the first thing you offer a guest that comes to your home?
‘Would you like a drink? Hot or cold?’ It would be a shame not to be able to offer a guest a drink, at the bare minimum you should at least be able to offer a cup of water.
John 7:37-39 reads,
‘Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.’
As a Christian you should be a living river! A living river that has a continuous stream of water flowing from your innermost being.
Living with that flowing in your innermost being is also known as the overflow. Those around you should be able to drink from you, and be refreshed and revived around you. As Christians we should be rivers, not reservoirs.
What I mean by that is having a spiritual effectiveness that affects your surroundings. This can be from the small things such as a tender phone call, a word in season or the ministry of song.
Or it could come with those who have a strong anointing to heal miraculously, prophesy over your life or intercede on your behalf.
When have you last been affected by somebodies overflow? When have you affected somebody by your overflow?
This must come from drinking! Is your fountain stagnant or flowing?
Blessings, Maz x
lightinsightbymj 