John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” (ESV)
Did you know 75% of Americans suffer from “chronic dehydration?” Most of us are unaware our bodies aren’t receiving adequate water intake. Symptoms range from fatigue and dizziness to seizures and (in rare instances) death. Some reports claim by the time we feel thirsty, our bodies have already begun to dehydrate!
There’s another type of dehydration that similarly can go unnoticed: spiritual dehydration. Symptoms include wilting faith in the heat of trials, droopy hope, and sagging passion for God. If we find ourselves lacking spiritual vitality, perhaps it’s time for a water level check! The “living water” kind.
Israel knew something about dehydration. Jeremiah exposed the source of their arid spiritual condition. They had polluted their worship of God with idolatry. “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13).
Could the root of our spiritual dehydration flow from a similar spring? Are we digging our own wells? Looking to other sources to satisfy our thirsty souls? Maybe we’ve been sipping in the culture a bit too much. Downing people’s approval more than God’s pleasure. Imbibing in hectic lifestyles that eventually leave us parched, exhausted and unfulfilled. Only the living water found in Christ “hydrates” our spirit.
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well he assured her those who drink from him never thirst again. In fact, he said a spiritual artesian well would erupt! (John 4:14). His Spirit within us provides a steady stream of life that keeps hearts from becoming dried out and hardened. There’s no “run-off” with living water.
I’m told that dehydration can be cured 100% by simply drinking more water. I suspect the same might be true in our understanding of spiritual hydration. For some of us, it’s time to start drinking in more Jesus. More Holy Spirit. Let’s get saturated in his word and soaked in prayer. We’re told not to quench the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). But let’s allow the Holy Spirit to quench our thirst. We don’t have to be living as dehydrated Christians. Actually, dehydrated Christians aren’t living at all….
So get your thirst on. Drink up!