What Are You Thirsty For?

“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 4:14 NKJV

I once read an article that suggested when people choose to eat something to satisfy hunger, the body probably isn’t hungry but actually thirsty.

This article went on to explain that we don’t always recognize the need for water in our body. The brain will send us the correct message, yet through habit or conditioning we often confuse it for hunger.  It suggested when we fail to give the body what it needs to satisfying that thirst, we will continue to snack and munch until we eventually consume something to drink.

When we are in need for one thing, we often in our fallible human tendencies try to satisfy it with the wrong thing.

Many situations we find ourselves in stem from seeking a replacement for the “thing” we need and find lacking. There are people in abusive or toxic relationships trying to find the “love” that was deficient in their past. Others who seek “acceptance” will work themselves to death trying to earn money or status they perceive will bring it to them.

Everyone has a different “thing” that can holds them hostage and has the potential to lead to poor choices, isolation and feeling of incompetence.

Many addictions stem from the need to fill a void. Alcohol and drugs are common culprits. But our society allows more “acceptable” addictions such as workaholics, social media mania, and even religion!

Thankfully we have a God Who desires a relationship with us, Who loves us enough to build us up when we are down, and gives us His strength in our weakness. God knows what we lack and how to fill any void we may have. Truthfully, only He can take us from wandering our own personal deserts and lead us into our promised land.

If you have tried everything you can think of such as pleasing people, running after the “right” crowd or perhaps even traveling a darker road to fill a void that persists…

Try God.  dew new rose

When we take just one step toward Him, God extends His love and care for us in some of the most unorthodox ways. The more we seek God, the more He reveals Himself. Sometimes we need only acknowledge God and His grace and mercy will abound!

The great thing about God is that you don’t have to “earn” His approval. Or His acceptance. Or His grace.

It’s free. The price on Calvary has already been paid. All you have to do is accept it.

Why not accept a gift that is truly valuable beyond measure? God offers fulfillment, abundance, love and whatever we may lack to not only fill but satisfy.

“But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”  

God satisfies that we don’t have to turn to outside sources for validation or affirmation. He fills us up from the inside; He can quench our thirst from now until eternity. Even when we don’t know what we need.

But God knows.

He knows and is more than able to provide for His children. He provides us with what we need. When we allow Him.

The choice is ours.

What are you thirsty for?

 

What’s in Your Garden?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

God was with Adam and Eve in Eden. Likewise, God is with me in my garden. Our Father reveals His beauty beneath the endless sky. Yet, if my earthly garden is going to grow, it requires a lot of work! My spiritual growth demands the same effort as well.  

One lesson I learned from Adam and Eve is to keep snakes out of my garden. I’ve thrown moth balls, sprayed repellent and sprinkled granules enough for the entire block! But what about those “snakes” that aren’t tangible. Temptation? Envy? Greed? Apathy?

I must exert the same degree of effort spiritually to keep “snakes” from sneaking into my space. Or at the very least, kill them while they are young. It’s relatively easy to kill a baby. Something several feet long is altogether different!

Some snakes are discreet, and blend in with our surroundings. Others are colorful and easier to notice. Some are just irritants. Others are deadly. It is up to each of us to guard our personal gardens from “snakes” that deceive. I’m pretty particular about what I want in my garden. For my safety and that of my family, I must also be diligent about what I  keep out!  DSC_7170 (2)

When I neglect my garden it is soon overrun with weeds! I am amazed at how a weed can grow through concrete but the seeds I want to grow must be guarded and nurtured. The junk in life comes to us far easier than anything of value. We can allow this same junk to overrun us if we aren’t careful. When we should be plucking up what doesn’t belong, we can easily find ourselves distracted by people and things that eat up precious time. Too much social media anyone? Internet surfing?

Neglect can leave you with a mess. It is a major cause of broken relationships. Marriages suffer when spouses don’t make each other a priority. Children are hurt when they watch parents give valuable time to other people and interests, leaving them with only the scraps that remain.

It requires time to nurture what I want to grow. I spend hours watering and fertilizing what I want to bloom and remain. I am a huge fan of Miracle-Gro because I get better results when I use it. Likewise, I do better when I read my “miracle grow” which is God’s Word.

Scripture gives me faith to stand tall during adversity and persist through my trials. God’s promises give me clarity to recognize potential “snakes.” Reading what God did reminds me of what He can do!

Miracle-Gro works great, but you have to apply it often. You can’t just use it once and be done. God’s Word is effective when we continually immerse ourselves in it and allow scripture to dictate our behavior. I must apply God’s word to my daily life if I’m going to grow stronger and be fruitful.

We all have snakes and weeds to guard against that try to keep us from thriving.  We can bear good fruit or allow any old pest or plague to destroy us. Gods gives us each a choice.

I may never become a “master gardener,” yet I choose to give it all that I have and do the best that I can.  DSC_7135 (2)

What about you?

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 NKJV