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Living Waters

"Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" (John 7:38).

Fresh clean water flowing from a mountain! When was the last time you drank from a fresh mountain stream? Or have you ever?

When I was a child we lived on a wonderful, scenic 64-acre dairy farm that had forests to explore and a creek to go wading or fishing in. During the summer I would often go fishing for trout. A willow branch was my rod, with a string and a cheap hook, an earthworm for bait and a nut (from dad’s workshop) for a sinker was all I needed.  No expensive fishing rod. If I grew thirsty while fishing, I would lean over and drink the water with cupped hands. Refreshing and good.

When Marvin and I bought our first property we had a deep ravine on three sides of our house. Flowing from the ravine, in several places, were fresh water springs. Actually this is where a river had its beginning.

My husband dug a shallow well and captured the water from one of these springs for our drinking water.

Occasionally in fall and winter, our rainy season, the fallen leaves from the deciduous trees would block the spring running into the well and we would have to remove the rotting leaves to start the water flow again.

Are not our lives are like that sometimes? We have received Jesus Christ and the streams of new life, joy, peace and gentleness flow from within us because of the Holy Spirit. People are blessed when we cross their paths.

However, sometimes the source of our “Springs of Living Water” gets blocked with rotten leaves (sinful acts or attitudes) and they slow down or cut off the stream of Living Water coming out of our life.

You know, all we have to do to get that flow of Living Water flowing out of us again, is sincerely confess our sin (1 John 1:9) and by faith appropriate the fullness of His Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Then the streams of Living Water will begin to flow again. Sin blocks the flow!

I encourage you to do this every time you become aware of a sinful act or attitude.  Someone once said, “I ‘fess them as I does them, I don’t bunch them.” Great way to live.

Father, thank You for living within us.  You are the source of the Living Water flowing out of us.  May we always keep the source of the flow free from any obstructions. I love You, Father. Amen.

Related Reading:
Fame and forgiveness
Discover the Spirit-Filled life
Need advice? Ask us.

~ Katherine has been a staff member with  Power to Change Canada for 30 years. She has launched and developed many successful ministries, including  Canadian Prayer Alert, Women In Leadership, Women Today, Women Today Magazine and Women Today Online. Katherine has written and published a book, When Dreams Come True:  Women Today Online. She serves as the director for www.secretsofsuccess.com.