Watery Excitement

Watery Excitement

John 7: ³⁷ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

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“Can we go?” was my constant question I asked at every occasion. As the commercial played for the nearby amusement park, I added reason to my repetitious question. “Everyone else is going” I said in an effort to break through the barrier during dinner. When we finally went, I was elated! I told everyone within two blocks of my house, how amazing the experience was.

• Many times I craved something.
• Many times I wanted something so badly, I could not stop thinking about it.
• Many times I thirsted for something so much, it could not be quenched until I got it.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to ME and drink”, JESUS said to the crowd after the feast. HE may have heard many desires of individuals as they sat and ate. Some of the desires could have been so deeply rooted, that the person could not stop talking about it. But what was driving the desire? JESUS had an answer.

• JESUS wants me to point my desires toward HIM.
• JESUS gave me the HOLY SPIRIT so I could live for HIM.
• JESUS desires that I crave HIM so I would speak about HIM daily.

Craving that everyone around me believes and accepts JESUS as their Savior, is what HE wants me to hold onto. HE wants me to be excited enough about HIM that I speak about the wonderful things HE has done for me. Out of my heart pours this watery excitement about how much JESUS actually loves me.

HE provides, guides and protects me because HE is excited about me. After requesting a lot “from” HIM, I finally I realized that maybe I should be excited enough “about” HIM, to speak lovingly “for” HIM. I love HIS love for me!

• What are you excited about?
• What do you talk about constantly?
• Will you be led by the HOLY SPIRIT today?
• Will you get excited about JESUS enough to speak about HIM to everyone HE provides to you?

Can’t Stop the River

Luke 19: ³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

³⁸ ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’

⁴⁰ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’

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Water was everywhere and all I could do was wait for the final drops to come in. A neighbor built his own pool. While this was a huge accomplishment in the neighborhood I grew up in, some things should probably be left to the pros. When the pool broke, it seemed like every drop went into our basement. I could not stop the torrent.

• There are some things I cannot stop.
• There are some things I cannot prevent.
• There are some things that I cannot hold back.

As JESUS approached the city, huge crowds proclaimed JESUS as the one who was prophesied about for thousands of years. This is the “King who comes in the name of the LORD” they shouted. The church leaders could not stand for this to happen so they tried to stop the crowd from proclaiming HIS name.

• JESUS says to me “If humans do not proclaim MY name then the rocks will.”
• JESUS says to me “Shout MY name and I will remember yours.”
• JESUS says to me “Do not be ashamed of MY name and I will not be ashamed of yours.”

Nothing can stop the power of GOD. People have tried to silence those who proclaim JESUS as LORD for years. BUT GOD’s power is too great. If one person is stopped, then three others will pop up proclaiming GOD as their savior. GOD’s power is like a mighty river that cannot be stopped. I will flow on GOD’s river.

• Are you trying to stop GOD?
• Do you think your power is greater than HIS?
• Will you allow HIM to work HIS amazing plan in your life and others instead of trying to steer things in the way “you” think they should go?

Worry Actions

Luke 12: ²² Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. ²³ Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.²⁴ Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? ²⁵ And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁶ If you then are not able to do the least, why ^[d]are you anxious for the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

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Three o’clock in the morning was not unfamiliar to me. I had woken up many nights facing the pressures of work. Some nights, sleep evaded me altogether. After several years of this, the company decided to get rid of an entire group, including me. No more pressures. Why was I awake in the middle of the night?

• My thoughts can sometimes get the best of me.
• My mind can sometimes overthink situations.
• My security can be shattered when I do not have answers to the questions my mind conjures up.

JESUS tells HIS disciples “Do not worry” as if they had a choice in the matter. But then HE explains “why” they should not worry, which kind of defies logic. HE explains that GOD’s raging river of a plan cannot be stopped. HE says GOD cares about feeding birds, HE can certainly care about feeding humans, who HE created in HIS image.

• GOD cares about my physical attributes.
• GOD cares about my mental wellbeing.
• GOD cares about my comfort, my health, my relationships and my spirit.

GOD does care for me so I must get a grip on the lies my mind can dream up and focus on the truth. HIS plan seems strange, especially when I feel I am in control of my life. HE puts me in situations that actually grow me and HE removes blind spots where fear was leading me.

HIS power is unstoppable and I have to ride HIS raging river to the quiet place HE has for me. I put my trust in GOD. HIS plan is always great for me!

• Are you worried about your future?
• Do you think GOD has forgotten you or is punishing you?
• Will you stop thinking poorly about GOD’s love for you?
• Will you take the opportunity to grow instead of remaining a child and allow GOD’s strength to shine in your life today?

There is Life Where the River Flows

Ezekiel 47: ⁹ Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.

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“Pop” was the sound my laptop made as I opened it up to my dismay. The left side of the casing was broken and the hinge seemed strained. I thought to myself “I better get this fixed.” I mean this machine was too important to me. After the repair I noticed sparks coming from the shoddy workmanship. I took apart the repair and noticed the laptop was working fine anyway. I was actually causing more problems with the repair.

• Sometimes I try to fix stuff that “I” think is broken.
• Sometimes I try to fix stuff under “my” own power.
• Sometimes I try to fix stuff that should not be “fixed” rather it was alright in the first place.

It seems like the more I try to fix stuff the messier they become, especially when the stuff is people. I may think something is wrong with “that” person when the truth is GOD is using them for a special mission that only HE knows about, but what about situations? Shouldn’t I try to fix broken circumstances?

• GOD says to me “Let ME flow like a river and you will see MY power.”
• GOD says to me “Allow ME to handle your situations while you receive rest.”
• GOD says to me “Be not troubled for I AM with you,”

Before I rush out and “fix” the situation I must trust in the LORD to guide me to where HE wants me involved. Sometimes GOD wants me to do something so HE can build my faith, other times HE wants me to stand back otherwise HIS river would become too deep and I would drown in the torrent. Letting GOD flow is the best way to receive peace.

• Are you waiting on something?
• Do you feel stuck because you have tried and tried over and over?
• Can you stop worrying and allow GOD’s power to flow like a river through your circumstance?
• Will you trust in GOD today?