Last week I had a nasty bout of stomach flu. Very possibly the worst episode of activity leading up to dehydration I've ever hard. (Wasn't that nicely worded :) At 2:00 in the morning I wanted to guzzle glasses of water, but knew that my system wasn't ready for that. So I made Al get up and get me a glass of ice chips.
Oh my goodness! It tasted so good. I would eat a spoonful of chips and then force myself to wait about 20 minutes to eat some more. As I relished these delightful chips of cold clear water I thought, "If I never eat anything again but ice chips I'll be fine. I"ll never put anything in water again to change the taste, no tea, no coffee, no gatorade, nothing but cool clear water!
I know, a little overboard, but it was real in the moment.
My thirst led to thoughts about Jesus, the living water. Jesus, the one who quenches our thirst. I thought about what makes me spiritually thirsty. How much do I long for more of Jesus? What sets Jesus apart from from all other spiritual nourishment and refreshment? What wakes me up to my need for Jesus, the living water? Do I long for what Jesus offers me?
Often I drink most deeply when I'm also weeping most deeply. Perhaps tears of sorrow, but also tears of awe for the fact that Jesus is present, real. For me it happens through worship times when the words of a song or hymn just connect with my spirit to nourish me, or the Scripture speaks into the longing of my heart, or convicts me of sins I need to deal with. Sometimes in prayer with others the community is so strong and Jesus presence is so sweet it feels like fresh rain. And sometimes the chaos in the world is so overwhelming I long for the Living Water to flood over me, to lift me out of the fear and muck I feel mired in. Living Water...always available to wash us clean, set us free, nourish our souls, quench our thirst.
I'm wondering when it happens for you? When do you find yourself longing for the Living Water?
Oh my goodness! It tasted so good. I would eat a spoonful of chips and then force myself to wait about 20 minutes to eat some more. As I relished these delightful chips of cold clear water I thought, "If I never eat anything again but ice chips I'll be fine. I"ll never put anything in water again to change the taste, no tea, no coffee, no gatorade, nothing but cool clear water!
I know, a little overboard, but it was real in the moment.
My thirst led to thoughts about Jesus, the living water. Jesus, the one who quenches our thirst. I thought about what makes me spiritually thirsty. How much do I long for more of Jesus? What sets Jesus apart from from all other spiritual nourishment and refreshment? What wakes me up to my need for Jesus, the living water? Do I long for what Jesus offers me?
Often I drink most deeply when I'm also weeping most deeply. Perhaps tears of sorrow, but also tears of awe for the fact that Jesus is present, real. For me it happens through worship times when the words of a song or hymn just connect with my spirit to nourish me, or the Scripture speaks into the longing of my heart, or convicts me of sins I need to deal with. Sometimes in prayer with others the community is so strong and Jesus presence is so sweet it feels like fresh rain. And sometimes the chaos in the world is so overwhelming I long for the Living Water to flood over me, to lift me out of the fear and muck I feel mired in. Living Water...always available to wash us clean, set us free, nourish our souls, quench our thirst.
I'm wondering when it happens for you? When do you find yourself longing for the Living Water?
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