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” (John 7:37, NKJV).

Have you ever been thirsty? Really, really thirsty? I have. I recently took a long hike on a very hot day. I carried water, but I misjudged the heat, the distance, and my thirst. I ran out of water long before I got back to my starting point. I felt thirsty down to my toenails. I also realized I was in trouble, probably dehydrated. There was no way to keep walking in the heat without more water. Fortunately, a friend saw my need and gave me a bottle of water. I made it back, still feeling dry, but I made it.

The Symptoms of Dehydration

Just about anywhere I go these days, I see people carrying water bottles. Some are quite large. Eight glasses per day seems to be a common goal. Although some question this amount, we do know we need to replenish the water we lose to keep our bodies functioning well. Otherwise, we may find ourselves in difficulty before we recognize what’s happening. When we lose fluid through illness or hot weather, as in my case, we may become dehydrated before we realize it. The feeling of thirst doesn’t always kick in until later, so we may already feel dizzy, fatigued, or even confused.

John 4 tells of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar. She came to fill her water pot with natural water, not realizing her greatest need was the spiritual water Jesus offered for her soul. When He told her of living water to take away her thirst forever, at first she didn’t understand. It sounded good to her that she could skip those daily walks to the well, but that wasn’t what Jesus meant. What He offered would change her life forever.

“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life’” (John 4:13-14, NKJV).

The Necessity of Living Water

The physical body can survive only a few days without water. If we do not replace the fluid we lose each day, our body will soon stop functioning. Toxins will build in our system and death will follow. We understand the importance of staying physically hydrated. Yet it is easy to forget the importance of daily partaking of the living water which keeps our soul healthy.

If we are feeling sluggish and confused in our spiritual life, perhaps it’s time to check our living water intake. We may have become spiritually dehydrated without realizing it. The world can take so much out of us each day, but spending time with the Lord refreshes us in the Spirit. The sluggish fatigue and confusion disappear as we drink deeply of the water Jesus offers.

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1, English Standard Version).

Prayer: Lord, I want to drink deeply of that spiritual water which keeps my soul refreshed and healthy. Make me aware of any warning signs of dehydration and spiritual apathy. Let me thirst for You and seek You each day.

 

Author

Mary enjoys traveling, meeting new people, and spending time with old friends. Although directionally challenged, she would rather take the back roads with their discoveries than the boredom of the interstate.

1 Comment

  1. Jinkwen MYLENE claire

    Thirsty. What a revelation. Being spiritually dehydrated is really a difficult situation yo live. I am more and more growing with more to life bible study for women. Pray many should be like I.