A Refreshing Life

Traveling through the mountains recently, Mister Bill and I observed the beauty of a gentle flowing mountain stream - oh, how I wanted to stop and put my feet in that cool mountain water! Jesus said, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38 NASB). I'm sure we all can think of those whose spirit is better described as stagnant water. In his 1828 American Dictionary, Noah Webster writes of "the gloomy slumber of the stagnant soul" - gloomy indeed is the soul which has no flow, is motionless ... stagnant. This does not describe those who belong to Christ, those who experience the refreshing Living Water of life! It's all about the source of the water, and the source of that "living water" is Jesus Himself! Like Jesus said, the water He gives becomes a spring of water "welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14). It is what attracts us to Jesus then draws others to Jesus in us! As we receive life and are refreshed by The Living Water, so will we be that which refreshes others ... "whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered" (Proverbs 11:25 ESV). As I write, I'm remembering that strong, steady flow of the mountain stream and, yes, I can imagine how lovely it would feel running over my feet and through my toes. That's exactly how I want my life to be unto The Lord as He uses me to refresh others. Lord, may it be so ... a refreshing life.