Have you ever been really thirsty? I mean the hot, dry mouth, desperately need a drink, thirsty. Is there anything more refreshing than good, cold, fresh water in that moment? Have you ever dived into cool, beautiful, blue waters on a hot day? How good did that water feel on your hot skin? Water is a beautiful thing, my friend! We drink it, play in it, and relax just being near it. Whether near a lake, river, or an ocean, people are drawn to the natural beauty and soothing power of water. Not only do we enjoy water, but we also need water. It is vital to our very existence.
Water is both beautiful and necessary, my friend. For the last two weeks, I have had the phrase “living water” keep coming to my attention. I have repeatedly had it come up during my study time and at other times as well. When the Lord wants to bring a specific thing to my attention, He makes certain that I see it, hear it, and realize He is telling me to pay attention. When He does that, I make certain to that I do! I also make sure I take time to do a little studying and researching to make sure I clearly understand whatever the subject may be that He has brought to my attention.
Since living water has been the phrase that I am seeing and hearing everywhere, I did some studying to better understand exactly what that means. If you don’t mind, I’d like to share with you some of what I have discovered in hopes that it encourages you as much as it has me. First of all, I want to ask you a question. What comes to mind when you hear the phrase living water? For me, it brings to mind gushing, flowing water. I think of a bubbling spring with cold, clear water flowing rapidly from its source. I think of water that is alive and moving, water that I would want to drink from.
In the Bible, living water is associated with the presence of God, the source of living water. In John 4:13-14 and again in 7:37-38, Jesus spoke of living water symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Living water is a symbol for salvation. It is also a symbol of having genuine knowledge of God. What does all this mean? It means that living water comes from God and manifests itself in the believer’s heart through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. It means that when a believer comes to faith in Jesus Christ, they are filled with the Holy Spirit, the living water of God.
Believers, we have dwelling within us a limitless supply of fresh, life-giving water. “Living water springs from an unfailing source and is ever-flowing” (NKJV Study Bible). Have you ever seen a mighty rushing river so powerful that even trees are pushed downstream with its current? I have. It is both beautiful and awe-inspiring. Have you ever watched a river flow over a dam? Dear heart, water can be a powerful force! Water not only moves things, but it also sustains life. The Living Water dwelling within us is both a powerful and life sustaining force, my friend.
I can’t help but wonder if we have greatly underestimated what the Holy Spirit of God does in a believer’s life. Beloved, do you realize the power that is living in you? Do you truly comprehend the fact that the very same power that raised Jesus’ dead body from the grave lives in you (Rom. 8:11)? Do you fully understand the fact that a mighty rushing fountain of living water is flowing in you and through you because of the Holy Spirit living in you? Are you living like it, my friend? Does your life reflect that living water flowing through you?
The opposite of living water is dead, stagnant, stale water and trust me when I say, that is not what you want! I once drank from a water bottle that had been sitting for too long. It looked fine; I had no idea how bad it was going to taste. It was dreadful! It tasted like pondwater. I nearly gagged when I drank from it. There is a huge difference between fresh water and stale water. Judging by my actions, my thoughts, my words, I have to wonder which one seems to characterize my life. Am I living in a way that His living water flows through me, drawing others to His life-giving fountain?
Or have I grown stagnant and stale? Is His power being revealed in my life? Or am I allowing the cares of this world to weigh me down and quench the flow of the Living Water? What does my life say about the God I serve? Am I allowing His Spirit to refresh my soul and give me strength for the day? Am I drinking daily from that fountain? There is a limitless supply of His living water available to me. This water should flow so freely through my heart and life that others are drawn to the Source of my hope! That is how I want to live my life, dear heart!
How will I know if I am being led by His Spirit? How will I know if His living water is evident in my life? That’s simple. Take a moment to read Galatians 5:22-23. The fruit of the Spirit listed here is literally just that… evidence of His Spirit in your life. If you are being led by His Spirit, there will be fruit (evidence) of it. Your heart and life will be characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If I am daily immersing myself in the fountain of living water, the fruit of the Spirit should be emerging in my heart and life.
There is one other beautiful thing about living water, my friend, and that is that it has healing powers (Ez. 47:7-12; Rev. 22:1-5). I can attest to the truth of this as I have experienced the healing powers of His living water. He has indeed given me new life and fresh hope. He has healed my heart and given me a new purpose. He daily refreshes my soul. And some day, some glorious day, I will stand beside that river of living water flowing from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1) and I will behold the most beautiful face I have ever seen. Then, at last, I will find complete healing in His presence.
Until that day, I want to do all I can to live my life filled to overflowing with His living water. I want His living waters to flow in me, through me, and all over those who come near me. I want to live in such a way that people see Him in me. I want them to know there is Something in me that makes me different. I want to live in a way that makes others thirst for Him. I want to share with them this Living Water that has not only quenched my thirst, but also changed my life for the better. I want them to “taste and see that the LORD is good” Psalm 34:8.
Beloved, I hope that you have been challenged and encouraged to drink deeply from this well of Living Water He offers. I hope that you have been inspired to ask Him to fill you afresh with His Spirit this day. I pray that you will be willing to consider what has been said here today and ask yourself if this Living Water is evident in your life. Will you join me in asking Him to help us to become more aware of His power at work in our hearts and lives? Will you join me in asking Him to help us let His living water overflow in our hearts so that it draws others to Him?
One last word of advice, dear heart. You can try, but nothing on this earth will satisfy you like Living Water can. You can try to fill the void with everything imaginable, but it will not quench your thirst. You can try to find something to fill that empty space, and may even temporarily succeed, but it will not last. There is a God-sized hole in each of us that only He can fill. There is a place deep in each of our hearts that can only be filled by the Living Water. Beloved, don’t waste your life drinking from the wrong fountain! Come to Him and let Him pour His life-giving water into your heart and life!
On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” John 7:37-38
Katrina Douglas
