Rivers In Us

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” By this he spoke of the Spirit. – John 7:37-39

A few years back, during a camping trip, we walked the actual floor of some points of Lake Berryessa. Parts of a large and swift river had succumbed to the drought conditions here in California. All that water! But portions of the land remained parched. Nevertheless, other parts of the lake were teeming with water and alive with activity.

What a vivid picture of our lives! Every person has a deep thirst for health, purpose, and meaning. Yet there is a void, a dryness that touches the remote regions of each person. Just as the spring rain brings some level of relief, a project or a goal might bring life to a season. But a shower of self-effort will only bring temporary results. The dryness and thirst return. The cry of the heart resurfaces: There must be more to life than this.

Only when we are connected to God, the ultimate source is our deep thirst satisfied and rich fruitfulness the result.

ministering from a broken place

God’s Spirit in us as believers brings “rivers of living water” that are unlimited and give abundant and eternal life. Just as the river runs through a dry and thirsty land with little noticeable impact, in the same way, the Holy Spirit in our lives can have limited impact without our daily yielding to his power and influence. The rich fruitfulness of God’s Spirit in those who yield to Jesus daily contrasts the barrenness of the Christian who lives a dry and self-reliant existence.

Lord Jesus, I yield each area of my life to You and confess my self-effort as pride. Direct and empower my actions today. May Your Spirit create a profound transformation in my life, resulting in the fruit of Your Spirit being displayed in my life. In Your matchless name, I pray, Amen.

Throughout this Day…

At the start of every activity or when you walk into a new room, acknowledge your need for God’s Spirit and the barrenness of self-effort