The Living Water Well

It is definitely summertime in Texas, where the temps are hovering around 100 degrees. When it gets hot, there are two things we can do: either embrace the heat or avoid it.

If you’re like me, you probably avoid it as much as possible by staying indoors in the cool air-conditioning with a glass of pink lemonade! (Of course, this choice is doing nothing for my tan.) Or if you’re like my in-laws, you may avoid it by vacationing in a cooler place, like the Colorado Mountains. If you stay a month like they do, you can not only avoid the heat, but avoid a high electricity bill, too. Pretty smart!

The other choice we have when it gets hot is to embrace it. Those who do this will usually draw near to a body of water – like a lake, an ocean, or a swimming pool – and have an ice chest of water handy. They know their bodies were not made to endure excessive heat too long. They must keep their temperature down and body hydrated.

There are other kinds of heat that we experience in life. Financial struggles. Relationship issues. Work stress. When we experience such things, guess what. We handle these kinds of heat in the same two ways – by avoiding or embracing.

We often avoid the heat of life by withdrawing, hiding, secluding ourselves from the issue, from family and from friends. If we do this for too long, we may find ourselves lonely and depressed. It then becomes easier to befriend things we shouldn’t, like drugs or alcohol or forbidden fellows.

Another way we avoid the heat of life is to take a vacation like my in-laws in a less heated place. It may be a physical removal from the heated situation, or it may be a running away of sorts, taking an emotional or intellectual vacation from the situation at hand. On occasion this may be exactly what the Great Physician orders. But, making a habit of running to work or to hobbies can be a way of escaping rather than embracing a difficult reality.

Instead, God wants us to embrace the heat we find ourselves in, and trust Him to use it to mold us, like metal in a fire. Regardless of how we got in the hot seat, God can use the heat of the fire to burn away our impurities and soften us, making us more pure and pliable for His beautiful use. God will use those heated times to make us more like Christ if we will embrace the heat in the right way. To embrace the heat of life, just like a hot day, we must surround ourselves with plenty of water, the Living Water.

John 7:37-39 says, “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.”

But now Jesus has been glorified, at the resurrection; and just as He promised he left behind His Holy Spirit, the Living Water, to live in those who believe in Him. Jesus said it will flow from within. When we are walking in a right relationship with God, nothing will stand in the way of the Living Water well flowing freely inside us. It bubbles up to overflowing, so that we may drink from it all the time.

In John chapter 4, Jesus tells the woman at the well, "Everyone who drinks of this water 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."

Jesus emphasized we must “drink”. It is an action, and an ongoing one. Even though we are given the deposit of the Holy Spirit, we must choose to drink of His Living Water every day.

On a hot summer day in Texas, a drink of water refreshes our parched mouths, regulates our body temperatures, and replenishes our dehydrated bodies. Similarly, the Living Water – the Holy Spirit of God – will refresh our emotions, regulate our minds and replenish our souls.

When the heat is on, deal with it, embrace it and conquer it by drinking continually from the well of Living Water that God has put inside you!

The Path

I have been writing this past month, I promise! Just not for Prayerfully Penned. I felt much conviction when I realized I posted nothing in March to share with my readers. Please accept my apologies. God has no doubt blessed you with a choice of many other writings from which to read. This month, I will still be writing on a long-term project; so until I post again, I pray this longer-than-normal post will both engage you and encourage you to listen closely to the Lord, for He promises that "Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left." Is 30:21


The Path...

Paths are present in our lives whether we notice them or not. All of us have walked them and are walking on them now. There are paths to school, home, family, work, entertainment, hobbies, friends, successes and failures. I’ve ventured down many a path in my lifetime, some that were not headed in the right direction. Many times I didn’t realize it. Sometimes I did, but I went anyway.

God has revealed a few simple truths to me about paths. First and foremost, there is only one that leads to Him, and that is the path of Jesus Christ and the truth of His word. As of this writing, Oprah and others are teaching that there are many paths, and that Jesus is just one way. That is not what God’s word says. Jesus said, “I am THE way, and THE truth, and THE life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) So either Jesus is a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. (And, by the way, there is only one right answer.) I pray everyone who reads this has found and accepted the one and only way, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Another truth God has shown me is that His path is best, and not only does He desire us to be on it, He does a lot to get us there and keep us there. The truth about walking on His path is simple, yet profound; I only wish I had learned it when I was a teenager. It’s worth writing down in case anyone has missed its simple truth.

God’s way is the right way and the only way; it is the path we are to be on. The Bible is the path to a joyous life. Its instructions, God’s commands, are the route to fulfillment in life. Often we haven’t studied His path enough to know it very well, so we veer off course. Or, we are stubborn and decide to take a detour. (Unfortunately, I was once very good at this.) God then provides correction, much like a bridled horse. The horse is still under control, and is able to respond to the reproof of its master. It easily hears and feels the redirection; and when it does, it quickly returns to the assigned path. But other times, the horse bucks the rider off, so that it has no master. It takes off on its own, running wildly toward who knows where. We are like this horse when we get so far of course that we quit responding to the gentle correction of God. We run wild, and regardless of His warnings, we run right into danger.

Proverbs 6:23 says, “For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life.” Proverbs 10:17 says, “He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who forsakes reproof goes astray.” God laid out the path we are to follow in His word. When we get off track, He corrects us, because He loves us and wants to keep us on the path. As long as we remain teachable and receptive to His correction, we stay on the path. But when we fight Him enough, He allows us to run wild and lead ourselves right into trouble. Romans 1:28 confirms it: “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.” At some point, when we choose to embrace the improper, we reap the negative consequences.

God allows us to learn in three, sequential ways. He graciously provides His word and teachers of the word so that we can know the path and follow it. He mercifully reminds us and corrects us even as we begin to stray, so that we can easily regain our footing. Finally, He reluctantly allows us to experience the consequences of our choices, when we are hard-headed and refuse to learn any other way.

I’ve been on the path, slightly off the path, and so far off the path I could not even see it. I’ve learned in all three ways, from easiest to hardest. And I’ve learned that, just as you might imagine, the easy way is the best way. Proverbs 4:25-26 says, “Let your eyes look directly ahead, and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet.” The only way we can watch the path is to keep our eyes on Him and His precious word, with Jesus as our living example. Notice He didn’t say to watch your feet, but the path. It’s kind of like driving, you know? Keep your eyes on the road, not on the wheel, so you don’t drive off a bridge; and if you hear the street bumps knocking under your tires and cars honking all around, it would be wise to look out your front window and see where you are headed.

Another Attitude Adjustment

I’ve learned that when God gives me a thought to share on Prayerfully Penned, it is always best for me to sit and share it immediately. My thoughts are so fleeting these days, between the several tasks that are at hand. I’m sure anyone reading this can relate. It seems to be the order of the day every day – so much to do, so little time! But today He gave me a little attitude adjustment that I felt compelled to share.

How easy it is to recognize when we have fallen short. How easy it is to recognize when God is teaching us yet another lesson to learn. And how easy it is to let that get us down, rather than lift us up! It’s all about perspective.

Every day we are likely convicted with sin at some point, or should be, for we are imperfect humans. Although we may not intentionally choose a pattern of sin in our life, and live for the most part righteous lives, we will never be perfect and are continually being refined by God for the day of Christ. As we are refined, God shows us areas that need, shall we say, “tweaking,” or “reteaching” (to borrow a term from my days in public education.) For me, this is a daily happening! He is continually showing me my imperfect attitudes, motives, and responses. And although I know that I am continually forgiven, it can be easy for these revelations of imperfection to get me down.

It is right for me to recognize and repent of my imperfections as I pray; but at the same time, I can choose to rejoice! Why? Because God loves me enough to continue to speak to me and teach me the way in which I should go. Hallelujah! He could have, and rightly so, given up on me long ago. But thanks to Jesus He didn’t! As such, every time the Spirit convicts me of sin, even “tweaking” me through the sometimes painful consequences that follow, I can rejoice knowing that He loves me, and that no amount of necessary reteaching will ever separate me from His love. How blessed I am that the Father in Heaven looks down to earth and considers it worth His time to keep working on me!

I’m sharing my attitude adjustment with you today, in hope that it might encourage you to not let Satan trick you into viewing God’s refining process through the wrong lens. Rejoice that He cares enough to refine! Don’t focus on the need for reteaching. Focus on the gracious gift of the Teacher.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” Ps. 32:8, 11

Father, Friend and Fire!

This morning, I awoke with three words on my heart: Father, Friend and Fire. How awesome it is that we can enjoy the presence of God in three persons! God is our Father, the Father of all life, the Creator and Sustainer, Provider and Protector. Jesus is our Friend if we have entered into a personal relationship with Him. I’ll never forget the day when I “got this.” As a youth, I recall longing to “connect” with God, but not being sure how. In God’s timing, I came to fully understand who Jesus is - that He came to earth as the “God-man,” God in the flesh, a human given to earth as the Father’s one perfect son to be made a sacrifice for sin, a person through whom the world could experience the love and the plan of the Father in heaven, a Friend to those who would accept His faithful friendship. “What a friend we have in Jesus!” My grandmother used to play and sing this old hymn with such profound enthusiasm, such obvious belief in her connection to God through the Friend of Jesus. But how could such a friendship be, with one who was no longer on earth? Where did this enthusiasm come from? Her enthusiasm was the Fire that lived inside her, the Holy Spirit of God, whom our Father lovingly provides to us so that we can live in the fullness of His joy! What an awesome gift! Not only did He provide His Son as a gift so that we could be with Him one day in Heaven, He also provides Himself in the form of Spirit to live in us, walk beside us, and ignite within us a passion for Him while we are on earth. The gift of His Fire within is the ultimate testimony to the believing heart of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. For Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17) This Fire is what I saw on the face of my grandmother, and heard in her voice, as she sang, “Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!” How incredible to think that our God is the one true, everlasting God – who makes Himself available to each of us forever as our Father, Friend and Fire!

Postscript: If you haven’t ever experienced the “Friend” part of our Father, or the “Fire” part, please consider visiting my recommended website below: Christianity is a Choice, Not an Inherited Trait!