With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. ~Isaiah 12:3
In a recent attempt to draw closer to the Lord in prayer through fasting, I pondered the most basic of all needs.
Our need for water.
It seems obvious that we need water, of course. And who can argue with the reality that our body is made up of 60-75% water.
Roughly 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. Water is vital to every living form of life.
Water is needful for our survival. Take away water completely and you have roughly 3 days to live, because the physiological functions of your organs will fail.
The fact is I don’t like to drink water. As a former competitive athlete I toted gallon jugs with me everywhere and forced so much water down, I began to resent it. Self imposed though it was, it left me a bit lacking in my desire to drink a simple glass of H20.
As I considered this during my recent fast I realized how often I ignored my own need to drink when thirsty. I noticed my thirst more, because I was not eating, or drinking coffee. I felt thirsty. Water was needed. I ignored the need and busied myself otherwise.
Until I felt God prod my heart. “Why do you ignore me when you need me most”, came into my mind.
As I reflected on the way I allowed myself to ignore my own physiological need for water at times, God showed me that I also had a propensity to do this with my spiritual needs. As I continued to fast, God showed me that just as I need to drink water for physical vitality, I need to come to Him continuously for spiritual vitality.
Without water we lose our ability to focus, function and eventually we die. What’s true in the physical is true in the spiritual realm as well. When we fail to come to God continuously with our needs, desires and concerns, we start to lose focus as believers. Soon after our focus on God fades, we begin to function less than optimally in doing God’s will.
To do His will, it is essential to know His will through communion with Him. Without communion, we start to die, spiritually. The beauty of it all is, He does not leave us alone in our parched desert wandering! All we need to do is recognize our thirst and come. Jesus will satisfy to overflowing. So today, when you are thirsty for a cold drink of water, think of Him who is Living Water, and drink with joy.
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.’” John 7:37-39
This is so timely. Our pastor has preached on giving a cup of water to the world in his series this month. I have a friend who, for reasons of health, has to limit the amount of water she consumes. We all have to rely on God’s Word to get us through each day.
Our Pastor has been preaching on the woman at the well…so good. Grateful for the teaching from our Pastors!
Dawn, a perfect metaphor. I’ve never fasted without fluids, but yet I’ve definitely fasted from God–dumb, dumb, dumb! Shared this post to my Christian Inspiration board on Pinterest.
Thanks, Melanie!
So good, thanks for writing this Dawn!
Thanks for stopping by Susie!
Such a great post.
I love this analogy — God often helps cement His lessons with something that is relevant to His creation. Of course – He is so good like that and knows we need tangible examples of how to live, how to drink Him in.
Drink with joy! That’s beautiful! And the more I am filled with the Living Water the more I will focus on living to give Him glory. Thank you for this great reminder.