A few months ago my
husband and I visited his brother in El Paso, Texas. Located in the Chihuahuan
Desert, El Paso is dry and mountainous. Water is a precious commodity that is
used sparingly there and paid for dearly.
In contrast, there is water at every turn in our daughter’s
home state of Minnesota. Known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, Minnesota
actually sports nearly 12,000 of these bodies of water. Though plentiful, water
is still recognized as a valuable and protection-worthy resource.
We treasure water because it is essential to all forms of
life. The human body is made up of 50-70% water. Water dissolves nutrients so
they can be absorbed by the various organs. Our bodies cannot live without ingesting
water.
There can be water all around us, but unless we drink it in,
it does us no good. Water outside our bodies cannot sustain us.
Likewise, the soul cannot live without God. King David
writes: “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole
being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (Psalm
63:1)
The problem is not that God isn’t around or isn’t enough. The
problem is we fail to lift our cups to Him and allow Him to fill us with His
presence. Or we try to fill our spiritual cups with the things this world offers. Matthew Henry advises, “The true Christian arises with a thirst after those
comforts which the world cannot give, and has immediate recourse by prayer to
the Fountain of the water of life.”
Are you spiritually thirsty? God says when we seek Him with all
our heart we will find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13) SacredSpace.ie recommends
contemplating God’s presence. “God is with me, but more, God is within me. Let
me dwell for a moment on God's life-giving presence in my body, in my mind, in
my heart, as I sit here, right now.” Fill my cup, Lord!
Blessings!
©2016 Pamela D. Williams
