Our key verse for this devotional is:
“Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” John 4:14
Hello Galilee Life Family,
This is the last week of August. Soon, children will be ready to start school. I hope you had a very fun and memorable summer.
I write this devotional when I myself am very tired and weary, and my life has suddenly gotten very busy. We still have house repairs and upgrades we are doing, and on top of that, I have been part of a very fast and engaging app. I began using the app at the end of April and was nominated as an ambassador by mid-June. Being an ambassador is quite an honor, but this position also comes with more work and responsibility. I was; however, in prayer, while I sent my application. Through this social media app, I have been able to encourage and support people, particularly in Asian countries. It has been exciting, challenging, and sometimes tiring. I also had to repair my car this month due to an unexpected accident. An Uber driver side-swiped the passenger side of my SUV.
But learning, adapting, and adjusting to new things in our lives can take time and energy. Even the unexpected things that occur in our lives can be challenging.
In September, I aim to set up a better system for scheduling social media tasks so I can balance home, ministry, spiritual time, and regular mental and physical breaks.
Although I set September for my new system, during that month, my husband will be taking several vacation days, and I still have to prepare for two unexpected virtual women’s webinars. Additionally, I am currently writing my first journal on strategies to overcome and reduce insecurity. I hope to have this journal published before the webinars. But the clock is ticking.
With all this going on, my mind just sometimes cannot calm down. Unfortunately, my sleep has been disturbed more than once, especially this month.
Ironically, I do need much refreshment. Individuals involved in part-time ministry also require time to rest and recharge. All of us, regardless of our lifestyle or work schedule, need to go to the “Well” and be refreshed.
As I was reading the story about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, I noticed something. In the Bible, Jesus is depicted as providing examples through both his words and actions.
As the story unfolds, Jesus was tired himself and went to sit down by the well and ask the woman for a drink. Jesus had to walk approximately thirty- forty miles from Judea to Samaria. Not only was it a long journey, but it also had hilly regions.
Wearied by his long journey, he sat on the edge of Jacob’s well, and sent his disciples into the village to buy food, for it was already afternoon. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”
John 4:6-8 (TPT)
Although Jesus was very tired, he still showed so much compassion to this woman. Rather than satisfy his thirst, he continued to converse with this woman. However, he did show us the importance of resting and being refreshed in our daily lives.
When we finally take a break and rest, we will then have our energy refueled and our minds renewed and alert again.
Similarly, if we continue to use our phones or other devices, the battery will eventually wear down, and we will need to charge our devices.
“If you drink from Jacob’s well, you will be thirsty again, but if anyone drinks the Living Water, I give them, they will never be thirsty again. For when you drink the water, I give you, it becomes a gushing fountain of the Holy Spirit, flooding you with endless life.” John 4:13-14
I like to share three additional scripture verses that are very relevant to the main scripture verse from the Book of John.
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, Rivers of Living Water will flow from within them.” By this, he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:38-39
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Psalm 1:2-3
His passion is to remain true to the Word of “I AM,” meditating day and night on the true revelation of light. He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of life. Psalm 1:2-3 (TPT)
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58:11-12
I like to now share a personal encounter that I had through my Spirit from Jesus. The setting: I was awakening from a very restful nap.
“Carol, why are you troubled? Come to the ‘Well of Living Water’ and find rest for your soul. You will find me when you seek me with all your heart. This well never runs dry. It is a constant overflow to me. Out of this water will come ‘Abundance.’ Out of this water will come ‘Peace.’ Out of this water will come ‘Healing.’ I then heard later, ‘Drink’.”
I like to leave you with this final statement that was written by Pastor Rick Warren. He asked his readers, “Do you want to be a cup or a straw? If you are a cup, you just get filled up, and that is it. But if you will say, ‘God, I’ll be a straw, you can channel your blessing through me to other people,’ then that is the kind of person God wants to bless.”
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for being our Well and refreshing and renewing us with your Living Water. Help us to learn to pause and rest in You often. We know that we are not robots, and we need to rest our minds and our bodies. Thank you, Jesus, for being there for us.