Easier Living

John 4: ¹⁰ Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

¹¹ “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? ¹² Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

¹³ Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

¹⁵ The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

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Tired of pulling weeds, I decided to put down some rock. It took some hard work, digging up everything and laying down a liner to place the decorative stones. After the project was complete, I said to myself “I will never have to pull weeds from this area again.”

• Sometimes I want things to be easier.
• Sometimes I will work very hard to make something work automatically.
• Sometimes I just want peace and tranquility without having to work for it.

JESUS spoke to the Samaritan woman about “living water.” HE promised she would never thirst again. She took HIM literally and questioned HIS power. “Are you greater than Jacob?” she asked GOD unknowingly. JESUS answered “the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

• GOD wants me to have eternal life.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIM to the point of overflowing.
• GOD wants me to never thirst again spiritually.

When GOD gave me the HOLY SPIRIT, HE gave it to me abundantly. I never have to chase down the philosophies of humans, trying to understand how to live because I am already full. Nothing else can fit. GOD said it, I believe it, that’s it.

• What education or philosophy has you doubting GOD’s power?
• Do you believe in GOD “to a point?”
• Will you drink from GOD and receive HIS eternal life, dropping your constraints about HIM today?

Words are Mighty

Psalm 122: ⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love you be secure.
⁷ May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”
⁸ For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.

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Filled with rage, my poisonous words spewed out of my mouth. The problem was that the words kept coming out and soon I had filled the room with spiteful malicious paragraphs that I could never take back. Later, a thought popped in my mind. I wonder if this person is a follower of GOD.

• When my words are filled with hurt, they are not pointed at the kingdom.
• When my words are full of fear, they are not pointed at the kingdom.
• When my words are packed with pain, they are not pointed at the kingdom.

Words can go two ways, to build someone up or tear someone down. The latter of the two is very easy, especially when I am trying to get a point across. What I have found is these words do not bring peace. Yeah, “I” may feel better, but am I bringing peace to “that” person?

• GOD wants me to pray for security for people no matter how insecure they may be.
• GOD wants me to pray for peace for people no matter how contemptuous they may be.
• GOD wants me to pray for GOD’s prosperity which may mean a kingdom full of people rather than a bank full of money.

David was already very wealthy but he said “For the sake of the house of the LORD our GOD, I will seek your prosperity.” David knew that sacrifice was needed in order to lead a group of people who put their trust in the LORD. These people were excited about GOD and loved to worship HIM at all turns. GOD wants me to celebrate those who put their full trust in HIM. HE wants me to add peace to those who seek HIS face.

• Are your words pointing people to the problem or to the kingdom?
• Do you find poison in your words or can you point people to peace?
• Will you try adding GOD to every conversation you have today? 

Gain Strength Today

Nehemiah 8: ¹⁰ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

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“My new car” I cried out! Someone had broken out the window and stolen items in the car. I was miserable the entire day. ”Relax” someone said to me. “Relax, what do they know?” I thought to myself. I mean this is “my” car! They are just saying relax because it is not their car.

• Sometimes the day to day worries distract me from peace.
• Sometimes the day to day troubles distract me from solitude.
• Sometimes the day to day trials distract me from tranquility.

It was difficult to see GOD with joy with fresh glass on my seat. I mean I have to call insurance, police, take the car to get it fixed. This is a huge inconvenience. My mind kept racing towards calamity. BUT GOD wants something different.

• GOD wants me to let go of my stuff so I can see HIM in the middle of calamity.
• GOD wants me to walk in peace as a practice because trials will appear out of nowhere.
• GOD wants me to focus on HIS strength as the center of my joy.

As I matured I saw the car situation was only a minor thing compared to what life had in store for me later. There are two things I can be sure of, life will have trials and GOD will always be there so I can have joy in HIS strength.

• Are you in the middle of a trial?
• Are you grieving about something?
• Can you take a moment to enjoy a meal and feed someone who does not have the means?
• Will you look to the LORD as your strength today rather than focusing on today’s calamity?