Where is your “here”? The well you return to, time and again, in order to quench your insatiable thirst? What “deep and dark” cavernous hole beckons your ladle and, therefore, your strength with empty promises of lasting fulfillment?
These are the questions that linger in my heart this day. My friend, Lisa, has challenged me to visit them … to be a “lady on a mission from the inside-out: lay it down seven day challenge” (LOAM). Several of us have answered the call for intentional discipleship with the Lord; not with man, or in this case, with several women, but rather with him. On our faces, before his face, with his Word and the prayers of our heart as our guide.
Lisa is prompting the daily retreat by an offering of prayer and Scripture readings for reflection. This morning’s reading led me to few verses from John 4. I was compelled to read more. A familiar story about a Savior whose thirst led him to a well in Samaria and a woman whose thirst kept her there until understanding arrived and she presented, what I believe to be, one of the purest offerings we can make to our Lord.
An exchange.
Her ladle for God’s water. Her strength and daily “labor” for God’s strength and abundant overflow. Her sin for God’s grace. Her temporal for God’s eternal.
“Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
And with that offering, Father God reaches down, deep down into his personal storehouse of eternal love and lavishly pours his own offering of excess into her empty cup.
Living water. A wellspring of holy consecration flowing in and out of her with headwaters issuing forth from the Spirit of the Living God who decided that she was an appropriate dwelling for his holy presence. He’s made the same offer to each one of us.
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John4:13).
So again, I ask you the same question I’m asking of myself this day. Where is your “here”? Where does your thirst lead you? To a man-made well that is deep and dark, sapping your strength every time you notice your thirst? Or, to a God-made well that is amply filled to overflow so that strength can be given to you rather than taken in equal measure from you?
The journey to God’s well is a simple walk; it doesn’t require the heat of the day so as to hide you from the shame of your sin. You can make that pilgrimage in the quiet of your own room, in your own way where the only “eyes” on you are the ones belonging to your Savior. He’s been waiting for you and the refreshment you will bring him because of your obedience to come and sit with him.
Yes, our Father is refreshed by our presence. It’s part of the exchange.
Living water from the living Word … loving worship of the living God.
Sacred intimacy at the deepest level. May your heart know the value and the beauty of such a sacred exchange this day. As always…
I needed this…thanks.
You have a beautiful gift from the Lord in your writing.
Elaine, I just wanted to stop by to let you know that I've joined Lisa too during this seven days. This morning was awesome for me as I spent more time in prayer than usual. I will be praying for you as we go through this time together. I am going to the Lord to fill my cup to overflowing.
Love you,
Debbie
Girl! I think I get lost on my way to "here" so many times! I get sidetracked and lose my focus. This post was what I needed to hear as I look at a stack of t-shirt order forms on the floor, clothes needing to be washed, etc!
I will go and visit with Lisa while I finish lunch!
Love you!
Susan
What a beautiful picture of our sweet Lord reaching down and handing us the cup full to overflowing of that living water that breeds eternal life.
Thank you Lord for using Elaine in a mighty way today in my life.
Beautiful word picture as usual, my friend. And a reminder I definitely needed. Going to the only well worth drinking from…
Precious Sister,
You know I'm not blog visiting over the next 7 days but I had to come on over when I received your Email earlier that you were chronically your heart in this time of "Laying it Down" here on your blog and I am SO PRAISING THE LORD for all He is doing. I am blessed in what you shared and look forward to MORE of what GOD is doing in our lives.
One of your sister-friends has popped over to join us at the Feet of Jesus and I know this is pleasing to the LORD.
Returning to His feet. I LOVE YOU ELAINE! And I had to capitalize not just for emphasis but because I'm shouting it to you from Florida!
PRAISE OUR LORD!!
A post that should cause us deep introspection. We all have drawn from inappropriate wells, I daresay. I know that I have and what comes up in the bucket is grunge and trash. It never satisfies and always sicken.
Thanks be to God that He provides clean fresh Living Water for us to drink from.
If there's a theme to my heart, you've penned it here.
Beautiful!
Kathleen
Great thoughts to "go deeper" with today – and this week!
I love this scripture. Thank you for this post. You remind me that I need to savor the Word of the Lord today and everyday.
The Father refreshed by our presence… what an amazing thought! Thanks, Elaine.
What a great way to come together in His name. You always inspire me, friend.
Are your boys all settled in? Praying for you and them!
You didn't make it to SheSpeaks, either? Then I feel a little less sad, as I was thinking I was missing a chance to hug your neck.
Maybe one day…
Elaine:
The wisdom and insight that God gives you to share never ceases to amaze me.
I loved these words – short and sweet to my ears and my heart:
"He’s been waiting for you and the refreshment you will bring him because of your obedience to come and sit with him."
Wow – what a splash of refreshment HE is to me!
Choosing JOY, Stephanie
[JESUS – the One I DELIGHT In]
Beautiful, Elaine. I've joined Lisa, too. I'm taking the plunge!
Just returned this evening from helping our other son move all of his things back to college. I'm exhausted, but okay. Thanks for praying.
wifeforthejourney:
How many times have I trudged off to the "well" of my daily routine and found myself thirsty at the end of the day? Thank you for your well-timed reflection and reminder of where our thirst can be truely satisfied.
Love you,
Billy
Elaine,
This was so good. God has really been urging me to recognize more fully the depth of the well within me that contains His Living Water to satisfy every need I have. I just recently wrote a post using John 4:13 too. It had to do with a dream that I have had many times. If you are interested in reading it, it is August 16th's post on my blog.
"The journey to God’s well is a simple walk" Amen! It is deep within our owny spirits.
Thanks for sharing this,
Christy
In HIS presence, praise HIM…
"a God-made well that is amply filled to overflow so that strength can be given to me rather than taken in equal measure from me."
Beautiful post. I too want to accept the challenge to be discipled by the Holy Spirit. Bless you.