We are all thirsty for something. Reputation, money, a new house, health, happiness, marriage, babies, friends, a job, a better job, that new iPad, that new coffee maker, acceptance.
How well I know this. Contentment is the thorn in my side and always has been. Judgment and comparison have always been a way the enemy can so easily entangle me. A friend gets a new job and I consider: how well do I actually love mine? A friend gets married and I think: why couldn't my story be more like theirs? A friend gets a new haircut and I think: why couldn't this or that be changed about me? I think if only I had ______________, I would be happy, fulfilled, I wouldn't ask God for anything else.
The thirst is never quenched.
HOLD ON, WAIT, STOP.
Correction: the thirst is never quenched in temporary, earthly things. One truth I know: I serve a God who is Living Water, whose wells upon overflowing wells never, ever run dry. I am ever so glad for the grace upon grace that the Lord offers us in Him.
John 4: 13-15: "Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'"
So, if I know that the thirst CAN be quenched, how do I practically live that out? How do I live a life that shows that no amount of earthly things could ever compare to Christ?
I am reading a book called Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I love her thoughts on this topic: "When it comes down to it, we don't believe God's word is truly sufficient to deal with our problems... I need God's word PLUS tapes and conferences and counselors. Sure, I need God. But I need Him PLUS close friends; I need Him PLUS good health; I need Him PLUS a husband; I need Him PLUS children; I need Him PLUS a job that pays enough; I need him PLUS a house with a microwave, a washer/ dryer, a garage...."
Questions I've been asking myself lately:
What kind of advice do I give to myself (how do I self-talk)? What kind of advice do I give others?
When I start to really listen to the words I am saying to others (and to myself) during the day, I have found that the advice I give is not from God's word. It is from selfish thinking and gain. If I truly believed God was enough, I would speak that truth to myself and to others. The only truth we can offer is in God and His word. So often I listen to advice from friends or I give advice to others that will NOT quench their thirst. It will leave them empty and thirsty again.
What do I listen for? Do I hear what I want to hear as opposed to God's truth?
Do I give my best to God?
I have been going through the Old Testament lately. It has been truly life changing. With a friend, I have read Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. I can relate so much to the Israelites. One of the themes that has stuck out to me is that in sacrifices that were made to the Lord, the Lord required the Israelites to give their best. How often I want the best to be saved for me, not for the Lord or others. One example for me is in finances. My money is mine (false). I can do what I want with my money with no consequences (false). It's the Lord's anyways so my heart should be to honor Him with it.
Numbers 18:29 "You must present as the Lord's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you."
Am I complaining? What does that say about my faith?
The Israelites really were a bunch of whiners and complainers. But how often do I lack faith that God will provide? I want my heart and the words I say to reflect that God CAN and DOES provide in practical, meaningful, and real ways. In ways that provide a wellspring of life and living water, wells upon overflowing wells.
Numbers 14: 2-3 "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword?"
God's Word reveals that He HAS and ALWAYS will provide for us. And complaining about what we have does not honor the God we know provides and does not show a heart of faith.
What are my "empty wells"? What do I long for, seek, make my idol?
In the end, Jesus Christ is the only well we can turn to that will never run dry. Our bodies, our money, our possessions, our families, everything will rot away one day and all that we have left is what is eternal.
Numbers 15: 39-41 "And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after... I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God."
Imagine it is the driest, hottest day you can imagine. You lips, mouth, tongue are cracking. You are so thirsty your throat hurts. Now imagine seeing a tall glass of cold water with ice sitting right in front of you dripping with condensation. You take the glass in your hands and finally, finally get to drink the cool water. It runs down your throat and tastes sweet, refreshing, energizing, invigorating, revitalizing. This is the option we have every day in Christ Jesus.
{May the sweetness of the cool, refreshing Living Water fill you. I need it bad.}
John 7:38 "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
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