When Things Get Dry

When Things Get Dry

I have felt a little dry lately

And the story of Joseph seems too familiar.

So I am going to change directions.

Not sure what I will be writing the devotionals on,

But I will be looking for something fresh each day.

There are times when it seems

that the heavens are brass.

These times can come when we become physically

and/or emotionally drained.

They can come when we feel like life

is becoming too familiar

and we need new stimulation.

All of us have those times

when we feel like

we need a fresh cold drink of water.

I have found the discipline of systematically

going through the Bible

keeps me in a place

where God can speak to me.

But there are times the text becomes familiar

and I need to find something fresh.

Jesus said,

“My Father is always at work

and I too am working.”

Jesus Christ has began a good work in those of us

who have put our lives into His hands

and He will complete it.

So when I find life getting dry,

I take a deeper look for the things

God is doing in and around me.

Sixteen years ago when we built our house

there were times when you could see

big changes every day.

Then there were days when you were hard pressed

to see where changes were taking place.

Had I not been a part of the work

to make these changes,

I would have been hard pressed

to tell someone what

had been accomplished on those days

when the work was hidden

under the ground or in a wall.

So I found that I need to be more

open to ask God

what You are doing when life is dry.

I also need to look harder for signs of activity

and look deeper when I see those signs.

I find that those signs could be

a thought that day

or a word someone had spoken.

Being sharp enough to detect these signs

and then exploring them

can be very refreshing. 

God has given us an invitation to drink

from the Waters of Life.

But it may take a little effort

on our part to get it.

Scripture Reading

John 5:16-18 NIV

 17 Jesus said to them,

"My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."

Philippians 1:3-6 NIV

3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Revelation 21:6-7 NIV

6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Revelation 22:17 NIV

17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"

And let him who hears say, "Come!"

Whoever is thirsty, let him come;

and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Isaiah 27:2-3 NIV

2 In that day — "Sing about a fruitful vineyard:

3 I, the LORD, watch over it; I water it continually.

I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.

John 4:10, 11 NIV

10 Jesus answered her,

"If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink,

you would have asked him and he would have given you living water ." 

11 "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep.

Where can you get this living water?

John 7:37-39 NIV

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.

38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,

streams of living water will flow from within him." 

39 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.

Revelation 7:17 NIV

17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;

he will lead them to springs of living water.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."