Hydration Or Starvation? …Hello Hump Day readers. The month of May is almost ending and the summer will be upon us. Out here in the western states water becomes paramount in some of the high heat, such as Arizona. In the West, water is a precious commodity and taking it for granted by not using it wisely has horrible consequences for the earth and all those who live on it! So, what does one do when they are thirsty but the water isn’t flowing?

Our heart, soul and mind also get thirsty. Whether it is a stressful day of dull meetings, long drives, constant demands and tough decisions, we find ourselves dry and spent. Don’t we need those ‘regular sips’ from God’s reservoir?

Jesus talked about living water when He said in John 7:37-38 [NLT]: “On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds: Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, Rivers of living water will flow from their heart.”

In Jesus’ words above, He employs a verb that suggests ‘repeated swallows’ (gulp). How often does one bottle satisfy our thirst when we become dehydrated? A marathon runner will tell you that regular sips satisfy thirsty throats. Pastor and writer, Max Lucado, once said: “Religion pacifies, but never satisfies.” How true that is! Even having church activities might hide a thirst, but only Christ can quench it!

How do we find comforting thirst? Only with ceaseless communion with the Lord—that’s when we will have satisfied thirsty souls. Here’s a great idea: Carry that communion with the Lord just as a cyclist carries a water bottle. Runners have outlines for essential fluids—and so does God. Here is a prayer for the hydration our body-soul-heart-mind-needs:
   1) God’s work.
   2) God’s energy.
   3) God’s lordship.
   4) God’s constant love.
*Note: You’ll find this prayer easy to remember if you think of the word W-E-L-L!

What kind of water do you want? Probably clean and tasty—something that will satisfy us. Many cities have water we don’t want to drink! Listen to these words from Jesus about his living water from John 4:14 [NLT]: “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.”

To sustain life we must have water, God created it that way. Mayo doctors tell us that people can survive for around three days without water, a few may make it a week. Wilderness guides refer to the “rule of 3”, which says that a person can live for 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. A body needs water or it starves. But we have a source that never dries up. Through Jesus, we have life for our bodies and life with Jesus in eternity. His heavenly water tells us our sins are pardoned, our death is defeated, and we are empowered by the Holy Spirit so we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

Jesus is telling us “Come, drink with me from my bottomless well and you’ll never have a dehydrated heart. Drink deeply and drink often, for in me, out of you will flow rivers of living water! AMEN.