“Jesus…cried in a loud voice, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me–who cleaves to and trusts and relies on me–as the Scripture has said, ‘Out from his innermost being springs of living water shall continuously flow.'”  John 7:37-38 Amplified Bible
The real question, however is this: Where are we to find our fresh springs of life?Â
“Glorious things are said of you, O city of God…All my springs [of joy] are in you!” (Psalm 87:3, 7)
Can you or I say the same thing truthfully? Or is it not a fact that quite without realizing it, certain forms of “recreation” have taken hold of us and hinder rather than help?
A Nazarite was one who made a special vow—the vow of one who is willing to be separated from worldly pursuits and snares—to separate himself totally so he may be put to service by the Lord. The special vow meant total abstinence, even from certain things which were not wrong in themselves and which, to other people, might actually be beneficial.
Those of us who are God’s emissaries are to treat the world (not just its corruptions, but its legitimate joys, it privileges and blessings also), as a thing to be touched at a distance. We must be aware at all times that, if we are caught by its spirit, or fed by its meat, we lose our sensitivity to the very breath of the Highest and will no longer receive the manna that falls from heaven to feed our souls.
Therefore, we may bind ourselves to God with the kind of vow that commits us to this: to look upon the world, in all its delights and attractions, suspecting that traps are set there for us, reserving ourselves for a higher way.
We are called to live daily in a higher Kingdom, where we are touched and our souls drink from the Spirit of God. ((Amy Carmichael, God’s Missionary,p. 4-5))
My Father, so often I feel restless. Unsatisfied. Wanting something more. I try to satisfy my inner thirst for life in ways that don’t satisfy–they only leave me thirstier still.
Maybe underneath, I don’t really believe you are what you say you are: Life itself, pure-flowing.
Today, Father, help me to “cleave” to you–to embrace you fully with my trust. To see the things that draw me for the mirage they are. And to drink more deeply from your spring of living water. (David Hazard)