Thirsty

“On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink’” (John 7:37).

I woke up thirsty. Parched. Tongue “sticking to the roof of my mouth” dry as I tried to get started on another day in my own strength. “Maybe today I’ll figure out the answer to what’s wrong with my attitude. Maybe today I’ll get it together.”

The moment my feet hit the floor, the Holy Spirit whispered softly, “Come. Don’t wait. Come pray right now.”

Oh.

I hadn’t planned on spending time with God this morning – Hugh had already left for work and I had approximately forty things to do in the next two hours.

But… maybe I could stick frozen waffles in the toaster and pour some milk for my children – then head upstairs for an hour.

Which I did.

As soon as I began to pray, God showed up. Right away. No easing into my time with Him, no quick reading of a devotional book to wake up my spirit – He just started talking.

I am not sure why I was surprised. I know He’s faithful, but on mornings when I feel discouraged about the struggles in my life, I expect Him to be silent.

His Presence was strong and sweet as I read Psalm 18. “…He is my strength…my rock…my fortress…my Savior…my shield…my place of safety….”

As I read the Word, I felt God speak to my heart about how to pray for my marriage that day. “Humility, honesty, and self-control…” I prayed for those things.

Then God started talking to me about my day. What to add to my day, what to take away.

I ended my prayer time with worship. I danced around the room overwhelmed with His Presence.

I couldn’t believe it. I mean, how can He care this much for me? His Spirit is longing for me and speaks through my cluttered mind to draw me into the Presence of the Father. All I have to do is throw some waffles in the toaster and then choose to go and spend time with Him.

All I have to do is show up.

I am not responsible for making Him talk, I am not responsible for making sure I glean stuff from the Bible, and I don’t have to work to hear from Him about my marriage or schedule.

He is in charge. And this morning when I didn’t even plan on spending time with Him, I was acutely aware of this.

It’s really all about Him. He’s the living water – all I have to do is take big, gulping sips of the water of His Presence that He is freely offering to me.

Oh, to stand under the fountain of the Living Water. To sit with arms outstretched in surrender as God fills me once again.

My worries are gone.

My insecurities are forgotten.

My sins are washed away.

My heart is clean.

Ahhh.

It is so good to be with Him.

Lord, thank you for drawing me to yourself with your Holy Spirit. You are all I need. Thank you for filling me up this day with You. I am so in love with you. In the name of Your Son, Amen.