Revive Us

What happens when we don’t drink water? We dehydrate. Water is so important that we won’t last a week without it. Every cell in our body needs water to function. 

Did you know that we can dry up spiritually as well? If we don’t drink from the Fountain of Life we also become thirsty and parched. Have you ever wondered if that was maybe your problem? Spiritual thirst? Maybe you can’t pinpoint why you feel the way you do but you know there’s something missing. Something vital. You’ve tried to fill that thirst with material things, relationships, work or hobbies, but it’s not working. That’s because those things can never quench the thirst inside you and that was never their purpose. 

Our spiritual thirst can only be quenched by God Himself. King David knew this and that’s why he wrote: O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; Psalm 63:1 And in Psalm 36:9 For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light. 

If you are feeling dried up spiritually, there is only one way to be refreshed: Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. Hosea 6:1-3 

Don’t look for refreshment anywhere else. 

Don’t be like the people in Jeremiah’s time who did this: For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13 

Instead obey God’s call: Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, Isaiah 55:1a And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelations 22:17 

Believe in Jesus. Through Him we have access to God.
He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

He can give us the water of life. 
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:13-14 

Then as you abide in Him you will live a fruitful life; no longer parched, no longer withering, no longer longing for the next best thing. 
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (Jesus) John 15:5 

Then as you abide in Him you will be blessed. 
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3 

Then your strength will be renewed. 
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 

And then you will have eternity to look forward to. 
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelations 7:17 

All my springs are in Thee. Psalm 87:7b

Living Life God's Way

I haven't written for weeks. Partly because I've been busy; first with leading a team to Guatemala and then as soon as I got back with our annual fundraising sale. But that wasn't all. There were some things in my life that I had to make right before God gave me the freedom to write once again. 

So here is some encouragement for you: If you are struggling right now with doing the right thing, because the right thing is a hard thing, and you're wrestling with strong conflicting feelings and emotions - do the right thing! No matter what. 

And don't just listen to and follow your heart. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) And don't live like they did in the time of the Judges where every man did that which was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25b). Do what is right in God's eyes. If you are unsure of what that is - ask Him. You may be surprised with the answer. Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:3). 

And when you return to God and repent of your sin He is always there. This Man (Jesus) receiveth sinners (Luke 15:2b) And as Spurgeon commented: "He has not even begun to cast them out."  And when He opens His arms, communion with Him is incredibly sweet. 

"In sweet communion, Lord, with Thee 
I constantly abide; 
My hand Thou holdest in Thy own 
To keep me near Thy side. 

Thy counsel through my earthly way 
Shall guide me and control, 
And then to glory afterward 
Thou wilt receive my soul. 

Whom have I, Lord, in heaven but Thee, 
To Whom my thoughts aspire? 
And, having Thee, on earth is naught 
That I can yet desire? 

Tho' flesh and heart should faint and fail, 
The Lord will ever be
The strength and portion of my heart, 
My God eternally. 

To live apart from God is death, 
'Tis good His face to seek; 
My refuge is the living God, 
His praise I long to speak." 
William U. Butcher (Psalter 203) 

Recently in one of my early morning devotion times God directed me to Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments: For this is the whole duty of man. When I dug a little deeper I found out that the word 'duty' doesn't actually appear in the Hebrew text and instead the last phrase has the idea of "this is man's all." 

I knew this verse and when I had read it for the first time many years ago it seemed a little depressing to me. Like Solomon was saying "I've tried everything, it's all vanity, the only thing left to do is fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man." 

But now, as I pondered those words again it actually seemed just the opposite to me. It really was a wonderful conclusion and the best way to live! To fear God and keep His commandments - to live life God's way. There was no better way! God not only sent His Son to die for us but to give us life. Jesus says in John 10:10 I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Not a life free of suffering or pain or trials. But an abundant life, taking up our cross and following Jesus. How can that be? You may wonder. An abundant, cross bearing life? It seems so contradictory. I don't know how to explain it, but I know it is true because I've experienced it for myself. In His presence is fullness of joy. Everything else pales in comparison.

Read the Bible, it is your guide book, Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105) Don't only read it, do what it says. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22) Live life God's way. It is the best way. His way is perfect.  

As for God, His way is perfect: (Psalm 18:30)