Temperatures soar above the 100 degree mark. As we make full use of available air conditioning in our home and the car, we also do a lot of praying that it would cool off soon. In the meantime, to assuage my thirst and keep me cool, I seek more and more water to drink, water to sit in, water to pour all over me!
To avoid heat stroke, we are told to keep our heads covered and drink plenty of water when we’re outside.
And so I cover my head with the “Helmet of Salvation” to not only keep the hot sun from beating down on me, but also to protect my mind from being bombarded by Satan’s deceiving thoughts. Jesus Christ, my Savior, shields my head. (Ephesians 6:17)
I can open up to the promises of God even before I know the whole picture!
“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongues fail for thirst, I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine and the box tree together, that they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
(Isaiah 41:17-20)
Before the Hebrews ever knew about Jesus, the Old Testament Prophet had more to say,
“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring…” (Isaiah 44:3) I’ll take that refreshing!
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters…” (Isaiah 55:1) Do I again hear the call to live the abundant life?
Seeking the water I desire, I am reminded of my desperation to seek out and to know the “river of Living Water” promised for my thirsting soul.
Matthew 5:6 tells me I am blessed by being thirsty for righteousness, for I shall be filled! Believing in Jesus, I shall not only never thirst, but out of my heart will flow rivers of living water. Cool! (John 6:35; 7:38)
What Jesus gives is mine when I am thirsty: “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.” (Revelation 21:6)
The best promise of all is yet to come! “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17) I hear You, Jesus! It’s free! I’ll be right there with You!
Finally, what is this beautiful picture the Apostle John writes about? “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 22:1) Now that’s what I’d like to see!
Though Jesus asked of the Samaritan woman at the well,“Give Me a drink.” (John 4:7), I need to believe for myself the words that follow: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13, 14)
Now, that’s the kind of water that’ll take care of any heat wave! Jesus, give me that water, that I may not thirst!
