Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I rushed into the Presence of the Most High God before the sun could be seen in the morning sky, and I set out to find my Peace “as the deer pants for water”. Sometimes my soul does thirst for Him and sometimes I can’t get enough. Sometimes my soul needs just a little refreshing for the Journey and sometimes my soul is like a withering plant. But no matter the condition of my Soul when I’m thirsty the Living Water is ready and waiting for me to come looking for Nourishment that will Refresh and Revive me all over again. Then, before you know it, I’ll be reaching for the heavens just like the well-nourished plant does – desperate to be in the presence of the Source of my Strength. Isn’t that the way it is with you too?

It can be so easy for people to reach out to God as if He’s just the go-to for whenever we have problems that require a little extra attention – but He’s so much more than being The Answer to our problems! Just like the withering plant that’s close to death, we are inclined to desperately look for help from the Living Water to revive us again ONLY when we finally accept that we can no longer do it on our own. But if we just set out to get a “slow drip” from the Living Water every single day (and in every way), we never reach that state of being parched at all. His Presence, His Spirit, His Love, and His Strength can quench our thirst and nourish our souls in ways that most people (sadly) can’t begin to imagine. When we turn on the Tap of the Living Water, and we sustain a “steady flow”, eventually we begin to overflow with Living Water and we begin to Grow like never before! The Living Water will transform a life from “withering” to usable in no time at all, and the Living Water will Strengthen the root of our Faith. With strong “roots” and plenty of nourishment, we learn to reach for the Source of our Strength every single day, and the Life within us begins to overflow to the rest of the world with ease. This is the Key to spiritual growth.

It’s often said that “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink” and nothing could be more true when it comes to Faith. Countless people have been led to the Living Water but they never seem to “thirst for Him” at all. I guess He’s the “go-to-guy-in-the-sky” and they have no need for Him unless they’re feeling desperate. They never turn on the Tap of the Living Water, and they see no need to nourish the soul at all. They’ve been led to the Living Water, but (just like the horse) they refuse to drink. Eventually, they’ll wither and they’ll stop growing due to the lack of Water, and it doesn’t take long before they are of little use for Kingdom Work at all. It’s the flourishing Plants that stand out in a Garden, and it’s the flourishing Plants that we’re inclined to pick. They are the beautiful Ones…the Ones that overflow with Living Water…the Ones that have Roots so deep that they can’t easily be knocked down. These Plants have been watered by the Living Water and they reach for the Sky, to the Source of their Strength… and it shows.

I was a little parched at sunrise, but my thirst has been quenched and now I’m Unstoppable. My roots are deeper than ever before and absolutely nothing has the power to “knock me down” as long as I’m being Watered with Truth. I’m reaching for the Heavens just like the withering plant does after it’s received its nourishment too. The people I encounter today will See the Living Water in me without me saying a single Word because I’ll stand out in the garden filled with so many withering plants. Others will drawn to me like a moth is drawn to light because I’m Overflowing with Living Water and the Beauty is undeniable. I know how to Lead them to the Place where they’ll NEVER thirst again, but I can’t force them to drink. I’ll do my Part to help them quench their thirst Once and for All and then the Daily Maintenance is up to them. I hope they’ll stand out like a sore thumb in the Garden with me One Day too…set aside from all of the withering ones. That’s where I’ll be until God reaches down and Picks me to take me Home with Him.

How about you?

“Jesus said to her, “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 fount of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13,14