Have you ever been really thirsty; I’m talking about parched tongue thirsty? If you have then you know that nothing can quench thirst better than cool, clean water. When you’re that thirsty nothing else will do. I know that energy drinks and vitamin-infused waters are all the rage but just give me plain old water when I’m thirsty. If that’s the case in the physical realm how much more is it the case in the emotional and spiritual realms.
Are you emotionally thirsty? Here’s an example of what I mean. All of us have a deep desire to love and be loved by someone. Love for us is like water. We crave it from the moment we’re born. If we aren’t loved or don’t feel loved, we will become love thirsty which makes us vulnerable to anyone who will love us (or tell us they love us). What’s the solution? Genuine love from one who will love us for who we are with all our eccentricities and shortcomings.
What about spiritual thirst? How do we quench spiritual thirst? Spiritual thirst afflicts our souls. Here’s how the psalmist describes spiritual thirst, “As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God . . . “(Psalm 42:1, 2a). Did you know that our souls can thirst? Yes, our souls can become parched and dried out. Has that ever happened to you? Has there ever been a time in your Christian life when God seemed far away? When you had no desire to read the Bible or pray or be with other Christians or join the saints in worship? Those are clear indications of a parched soul, a soul in desperate need of spiritual water.
What is spiritual water for the thirsty soul? Jesus told the crowd on the seventh day of the Feast of Booths, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37, 38). Jesus is spiritual water for the thirsty soul. If your soul is dry and spiritual things seem “ho hum, same old, same old,” you are spiritually thirsty. Your soul is crying out for spiritual water! So come to Him! Come to the source of living water! Come to Jesus! How? Humble yourself, pray and tell Him you’re parched and need Him to refresh and revive your thirsty soul. Ask Him to fill you afresh with His Spirit. If you ask in faith, He will do it!
May you drink deeply of the Living Water, Jesus,
Irv