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Respite For the Weary
So often, we as believers choose to go through our days with parched souls. The well of water is available; it's pure and refreshing, but we choose to live life on the run. His water REVIVES the soul, but we pass by it-- there's just no time to linger in his love. Or maybe, we choose to drink culture's kool-aid instead; the sugary drink is luring, but then it leaves us wanting. Until we understand that nothing will quench our thirst like his living water, our souls will remain parched.
The little girl in Christmas Morning has another mystery to unwrap! What will it be?
After dancing to the music box of joy (see previous post: https://www.respitefortheweary.com/post/the-making-of-christmas-morning-the-third-gift), the little girl sits down to open up... a beautiful crytstal goblet. And guess what? This goblet in not empty! Not only that, it is never empty! As a matter of fact, the goblet is full to overflowing! (By the way, Acacia, the illustrator of Christmas Morning, envisioned this picture in her head and then beautifully illustrated it for the book. I'm so thankful for her thoughts because the picture I originally had in my mind was so limited; I simply saw the little girl daintily sipping out of the goblet. But Acacia's picture is so much more accurate! It portrays abundance! This particular illustration ended up speaking into all the other pages of the book, giving Christmas Morning a "Narnia" feel.)
The name of this gift is: the goblet of living water. And as you can surmise, it is symbolic for the water that Jesus gives us through his word and his Spirit.
So often, we as believers choose to go through our days with parched souls. The well of water is always available. This water is pure and refreshing, but we opt out and instead live life on the run. His water revives the soul, but we decide that there's no time to linger in his love. Or maybe, we are drinking, but we choose culture's kool-aid instead; as a result, we are actually more depleted than revived. Until we understand that nothing will quench our thirst like his living water, our souls will remain parched.
Hear Jesus' plea:
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters... Isaiah 55:1
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:2-3
As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. Psalm 42:1
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. Isaiah 44:3
How will we answer his plea? Will we take a sip, then another, then another, until we are so filled up that we become an overflowing vessel of his hope and truth to all those around us? This is God's desire for you and me.
Open up the gift of his living word. No need to live with a parched soul when each one of us has been invited by our Savior to drink in his abundance.
Thursday
Picture: Tree (the pruning)
Scripture: John 15:1-7; Ephesians 4:31-32; Romans 8:11-14; Romans 8:28
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you:
Take a minute to think about a gifted gardener pruning his or her carefully sustained rose bushes. Just like this wisdom-driven physical clipping, God’s all wise spiritual pruning is for our good (although most often, it does not feel good!). When these non-fruit bearing branches are broken off however, the result is both beautiful and beneficial not only to you, but to all those you encounter.
Is there a time in your life that you experienced God’s pruning? Explain.
Can you trust God in the pruning process even if you cannot understand what He is doing? Why or why not?
Write a prayer using the above verses as a reference:
Tuesday
Picture: Tree (the watering)
Scripture: Psalm 1(emphasis on verse 3a); Isaiah 44:3-5; John 7:37-38
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you:
Meditate on a flourishing tree next to a flowing river. The streams of water equal both God’s word and His Spirit nourishing our hearts—we need Him and His word within our hearts the way His creation needs a consistent water supply within roots, trunks, and branches.
Is your soul weary and dry? In what ways?
Are you getting enough Living Water? Explain its benefits when you do.
Write a prayer using the daily verses as a reference:
Friday
Picture: Tree (bearing fruit)
Scripture: John 12:24; John 15:8-11; Galatians 5:18-25
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you?
Close your eyes and envision any kind of fruit tree that is ready for harvest. This fruit has reached this point due to all the previous concepts we have looked at this week: seed, soil, roots, watering, growth, and pruning. Likewise, we bear spiritual fruit due to God word’s and His Spirit continuously at work in our lives.
In what ways is the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc) flourishing in your daily interactions with people?
Is the Lord using you to bear fruit for His name in any particular ministry or people group?
Write a prayer using the above verses as a reference:
Wednesday
Picture: Vessel (cleansing and repairing)
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:20-22; Titus 3:3-7; Jeremiah 2:13; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 147:3
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you:
Take a minute to think about a dusty vase being thoroughly washed underneath a flowing faucet. Now, think of a broken vase being gently and precisely glued back together. These two pictures represent: 1. confessing our sin and receiving the cleansing act of forgiveness from the Lord, and 2. allowing the Lord to repair our broken hearts from these sins or from harsh life circumstances.
Is there currently anything you need to confess in order to receive cleansing? Does your vessel stay in the same broken state due to ongoing sins? Explain.
Are you broken due to a deep wound? Explain. (Consider reaching out to a godly friend or mentor who will both encourage you and keep you accountable. Write his or her name here.)
Write a prayer using the above verses as a reference:
Thursday
Picture: Vessel (pouring in)
Scripture: John 2:1-10; Romans 5:5; Ephesians 3:19-20; Psalm 119:11, 57
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you:
Close your eyes and visualize someone pouring clean water into a crystal vase. This picture represents the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit (as well as God’s word) being poured into our hearts. His Word and Spirit create beauty within us, which creates newness of life every day.
Can you give an example of a specific circumstance in which you know you felt God’s Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control pour into you? Explain.
Is there a time in which God’s word spoke directly to your heart in a certain situation? Explain.
Write a prayer using the above verses as a reference:
Tuesday
Picture: House (foundation)
Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:3-4; John 14:6; Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Corinthians 3:11
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you:
Take a minute to think about the concrete foundation that is laid before the building of any home. Much like this firm foundation (and more so!), God never changes or shifts. He is the unshakeable Rock. Jesus Christ laid down His life so that we can build our house on His eternal truths. The more we know Him through His word, the more we understand the security of our foundation.
Are you building your life on His rock or sinking sand? Explain.
Write out a few biblical truths that you want to build firmly upon so that you know your “house will not fall”.
Write a prayer using the above verses as a reference.
How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. Proverbs 16:16
Dear Lord,
Help us to crave your greater things more than the world's lesser ones. Change our heart's desire from chasing the fleeting treasures of prosperity to pursuing the lasting riches of wisdom and understanding. Your word is full of bountiful blessings; may we get rich in it today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.