“And he also said, ‘It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children'” (Revelation 21.6-7 NLT).
Water is extremely important to our bodies. In fact, without water we would die in just a few days. Having barely enough water every day ensures that our bodies can survive, but when we have an abundance of water, our bodies will thrive!
Our bodies are composed of around 60% water, and we need daily intakes of water to maintain the systems and functions of our bodies properly, including digestion, circulation, transportation of nutrients and maintenance of body temperature–just to name a few. When our bodies are functioning properly, we will function properly!
Water also helps our organs to work smoothy, including our kidneys and our gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Water keeps our skin looking good and our muscles working well. Water also can help us lose weight because many times we confuse our thirst signal for a hunger signal, and we eat unnecessary calories trying to quench our thirst.
While training for a bodybuilding contest, I’ve upped my water intake to more than a gallon a day. At first drinking so much seemed like a burdensome task, but I can literally feel a difference in my body. I actually crave water!
Weight training is a demanding sport, and it can be hard on the body, especially when building muscle. It is imperative that you give your body every opportunity to excel under the added pressure, and water is a primary way to keep your body healthy.
With all this being said about physical water, there is another water that the Bible speaks about–Living Water. Jesus is our Living Water, and His flow in our lives is necessary for us to flourish!
“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life” (John 4.14 NLT).
We first drink of Living Water when we receive salvation through Jesus Christ and His Finished Work on the Cross. However, it is up to us to daily drink of the Living Water that is freely given to us. There are many ways to drink in Living Water, but the two largest available wellsprings are found in the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says that Jesus was the Word made Flesh. Jesus walked this earth, but He has been writing His message through the lives of His Children since the beginning of time. His words are found in the 66 books of the Bible. The Bible is a collection of stories about different people during various times, but the theme throughout every page and verse reflects Jesus.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1.14 NIV).
When we consume the Bible, we are literally allowing Jesus, the Living Water, to pour into our spiritual lives. And our spiritual well-being affects every aspect of our lives on earth–mind, body, heart and soul. We must intake daily doses of God’s Word, so the functions our lives run smoothly and stay strong under pressure. (God allows “pressure” in our lives because He’s growing our spiritual muscles!) The Holy Spirit in each of us unlocks the living aspect of the Bible, and we start to transform under its influence.
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4.12 NLT).
The Holy Spirit is the other fountain of Living Water available to us. Jesus died on the cross in order to forgive the sins of the world, so we could have God’s Spirit inside of us. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives is proof that Jesus’ Finished Work on the Cross accomplished the reconciliation of humanity. (We were separated by sin because of our free will choices of disobedience.) Jesus died, taking our sins with Him, then He took back up His life, leaving sin behind. This Truth allows us to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit even in our imperfect state because by grace we receive salvation and by faith we are righteous before a Holy God!
“(When he said ‘living water,’ he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” (John 7.39 NLT).
When we spend time with the Holy Spirit in prayer, we are drinking up large amounts of Living Water. God love us, and He did not leave us alone. He died to be with us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5.8). Sitting in prayer may be difficult at first, but once you notice the amazing benefits of spending time with God, you will become addicted! God’s Spirit will guide you in all truth (John 16.13).
Not only that, you will begin to learn to distinguish God’s voice and listen for it throughout your day. You’ll become accustomed to His presence, and He will work in tandem with the Bible to accomplish His amazing will in your life. You’ll see a difference in your life, and the pressures that once tried to destroy you will now be manageable. We were not created to live without our Heavenly Father. We need His Living Water in our lives every moment of the day! The Living Water is pouring forth–all we need to do is drink deeply!
“Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart’” (John 7.38 NLT).
