The True Thirst Quencher

Have you ever experienced true thirst?  You know, the type of thirst that comes from spending too much time in the sun on a hot day without hydrating at regular intervals. The type of thirst that makes you gulp down a whole 600ml bottle of water in 60 seconds flat.

When my body sends me the signs that it is thirsty, I know that it is time to rehydrate with water.  What I sometimes forget is that our soul thirsts too. Our soul thirsts for time with our Creator, time to praise, time to pray, time to listen and time to reflect. This is the type of “spiritual rehydration” that our soul desperately needs.

David describes this type of thirst in book of Psalm:-

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Psalm 42:1-2a (NIV)

There is a danger though, one that I must admit I hadn’t given much thought to before now.  The danger is that I might rehydrate my soul with “water” that will keep me thirsty. Jesus talks about this in the story of the woman at the well in the book of John:-

“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” John 4:13-14 (NIV)

The water that keeps us thirsty of which Jesus is speaking of here is described in The Wieserbe Bible Commentary as “…anything the world has to offer”.  The commentary then goes on to say “How true it is that the things of this world never completely satisfy”.

I know that if I am not careful I can get distracted by everyday life and my unending “to do list”.  I know that sometimes I get caught up with an endless cycle of work, socialising, planning meetings and family commitments - so much so that my quiet time becomes a rushed 10 minutes squeezed in “wherever I have a moment”. Living like this only causes me to dry up, to dehydrate my soul because I am hydrating with the things of this world which always leave me wanting instead of making my time with God a priority.  It is in God’s presence as I am kneeling at His feet and devouring the wisdom He is eager to give me, that my soul can be truly replenished with the living water that never runs dry.

Courtney Joseph in her book “Women Living Well” expands on this concept further:-

“The Word of God is full of living water. We need to drink deeply from this living well so that we can be women living well…………God wants us to drink deeply of His living water every day.  He wants us to find refreshment, comfort and satisfaction through His Word…… Are we thirsting for Jesus, or have we made ourselves so busy that we don’t even know our soul’s greatest need – solitude with God?”.

I have found that the more I schedule in time with God to rehydrate my soul, the more I yearn to be in His presence. The more I spend time with God the more I yearn to meditate on His Word each and every day, morning, noon and night. How wonderful it is to know that there is a never-ending supply of God’s living water, all we have to do is pause to drink and drink deeply.

I pray this week that you take time to pause and drink deeply from God’s living well.

                                                                                                                                                                                               

References:       Image:     http://www.care2.com/greenliving/thirsty

                            Quotes:    Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan

                                              “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary” Published November 1st 2007 by David C. Cook

                                              “Women Living Well” by Courtney Joseph

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are Goals Necessary?

Are goals necessary? It depends on who you ask.  A goal to a soccer player would be very necessary.  A goal to a business owner that will help them reach their billable target is also important.  But what about personal goals? Why is it that so many of us (myself included) balk at the thought of having to set them?

For a chunk of time I avoided setting definite personal goals. In fact I made a decision that I would not because, to be totally honest, I hated the thought of failing.  In the past I had a habit of making grandiose unachievable short-term goals. For example - “This year I am going to become fluent at German again”, “This year I am going to update my sign language certificate so I can translate our praise and worship time at Church without having to rote learn each song”, “These next four months I am going to work so hard that I will get to my goal weight”.  Suffice to say, not one goal was achieved.

How disheartening it is to set goals and fail.  What a ridiculously high standard I had set for myself, no wonder I fell into the habit of being content with pottering along in life. Thankfully God brought to my attention the following verse:-

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.  Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.” Proverbs 4:25-26 (NIV)

Instead of seeking God’s direction for each step ensuring that I was taking “only ways that are firm”, I had been focused on where I thought my path should be going. With no goals set, my life did not have momentum and it felt at times like I was at a standstill. I was “living” but not living life to its fullest as I had no direction to head. In fact there is a verse that talks about a life that does not have any direction or instruction to enable it to move forward:-

“Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)

I honestly believe that it is important to set goals.  I have come to learn that in order to move forward I need to constantly work at growing in my Christian walk. In order to grow I need to set myself daily/monthly/yearly goals which will stretch me and cement my reliance on God. Applying this truth can be quite challenging. Imagine my relief when I read the next verse:-

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

In fact Charles R. Swindoll (Author) shares a “living insight” in the Living Insights Study Bible (NIV) in relation to this verse which sums up the truth found therein:-

“God has called us to be in a spiritual growth pattern.  Sometimes were up… sometimes down.  Sometimes we’re more victorious than other times.  But the progress is a movement forward and higher.”

I now understand that there is no “quick fix”, my life is a constant process of growth and one that can only be lived to the full when my eyes are fixed firmly on Christ.  How comforting it is to know that if I set my goals with my eyes fixed firmly on Christ then not only will my life have momentum, not only will my life have meaning but I will eventually, reach the ultimate goal and claim my reward which is  living out my eternity with Him.

So this is my challenge to myself this week, I am going to seek God’s wisdom and set one spiritual goal and see where it takes me.  I pray that you take time to pause, reflect and maybe join with me in doing the same.
                                                                                                                                                                                               

References:      

 

Image:     http://www.connectionsacademy.com

Quotes:     The living Insights Study Bible New International Version – Charles R. Swindoll, General Editor(Zondervan Publishing House Grand Rapids, MI)