— To uplift, inform and challenge —

Dear friend,

Before being nutritionally “born again,” after church we used to get a green-chili-laced burger on a white bun with coffee, followed by a chemically-concocted “ice-cream.”  But they never fully satisfied.  Nonetheless, Pavlovian-like, we continued, as did we the Sunday gathering of the saints; always in the hope that this week would be better.  We’d been spoiled early on in our Christian lives when the Holy Spirit had frequently orchestrated corporate meetings.

In 1998 we replaced our McYucko habit with a more healthful one but still were often spiritually “thirsty” after church.  By God’s grace we also understood that, as vital as corporate meetings are, intimacy with Him via prayer and scripture are what slakes a believer’s spiritual thirst. That’s what “hydrates” the soul.

Hydrating The Soul

Even one’s soul can wither and shrivel

"O God, you are my God; early will I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water." — Ps 63:1 NKJV

Awhile back, we went to a church that reportedly is sensitive to the Spirit — hoping He would manifest Himself.  Apprehensively, we waded through their foyer (having the flavor of a high-school car-wash) then, leaning into a torrent of ear-piercing recorded noise, managed to enter the coliseum “sanctuary” (refuge?). Defensively, we chose seats that might offer some protection from the monster-bass and ominous, hard-rock-looking “weapons” of worship ... just idling on the platform; instruments of imminent torture.

Like two who’d taken front seats in a roller-coaster, there we sat, unable to hear God or ourselves.  Soon, we knowingly locked eyes, nodded, upped and split  (before the lions were loosed?)  Did the Spirit show?  Possibly; He can endure anything!  We left thirsty.

Drinking “Living” Water

“Come to the water,
stand by My side.
I know you are thirsty,
you won’t be denied.”

This chorus of an old gospel favorite tells us how spiritual “thirst” can be slaked; a truth Jesus revealed to a Samaritan woman: "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" — Jn 4:10.  Although He was referring to her need of spiritual transformation, it’s also a reminder to His disciples of how to remain filled with the life He’s sacrificially provided: drink of “living water.”  Of course, that speaks of Himself as portrayed by God’s Word.

“Living water” has its roots in the Old Testament.  In Jeremiah 2:13, Yahweh is detailing His case against Israel and decries the disobedient Jews for forsaking Him, "the fountain of living waters."  This metaphor spoke of one’s knowledge of God and His grace which provides cleansing, spiritual life and the transforming power of the Spirit (Isa 1:16-18; 12:3; 44:3; Ezk 36:25-27).  Old Testament prophets looked to the millennial (“kingdom”) age when living waters would flow from Jerusalem (Zech 14:8; Ezk 47:9).  Interestingly, the Bible is book-ended by scriptures featuring life-giving water (Gen 2:10 & Rev 22:1,2).

John the apostle applies these themes to Jesus as the living water; He being symbolic of eternal life as mediated by the Holy Spirit (Jn 4:10, 14; 6:35).  In Jn 7:37,38, it’s recorded: "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."  Though referring to the unrevealed Holy Spirit, there’s no doubt that Jesus, as with liquid water, is not only the source of all life, but the requisite to sustain it.

On average the body requires 2-3 qts. of water per day, making one wonder what’s our quota for “living water”?  Surely, it must be greater than the few jiggers served up at many Sunday services (especially when used merely as a launch pad for social issues or other agendas) ... hardly enough to sustain a soldier of the cross.  Secondly, since one cannot actually eat or drink a metaphor, what and how is the best way to imbibe this “living water”?

How and how often?

The answer to the latter is similar to our need of liquid water.  On average, the body uses up 2-4 ounces of water per hour and that much should continuously be added.  In other words, a Christian needs to be steadily drawing from the Word; our “well” of living water.  Living amidst flourishing evil draws down our spiritual reserves and they must therefore be regularly replenished. Obviously, one cannot walk around with an open Bible.  However, we can store God’s Word in our heart, then meditate on it during the day: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" —Ps 119:11.

Moreover, just as most bodies are already in a water deficit, so are most believers spiritually in the red.  More of both liquid and living water needs be taken in and as often as possible to achieve a healthy state.  If not conscientiously hydrated, a person becomes physically and spiritually weakened — candidates for sickness and vulnerable to enemy attack.

How to fill up on living water and maintain “spiritual hydration” is also similar to its liquid counterpart.  One must daily and habitually drink deeply of God’s Word, then throughout the day, ‘sip’ on it.  Continual “sipping” alone won’t do it.  That’s the formula for spiritual dehydration and sickly Christian living.  With folks already maxed out on time and even multi-tasking in their sleep, it’s a challenge finding time to drink deeply of either liquid or living water.  But those who do, are well rewarded.  You’ve heard it over and again: one must prioritize.  Starting with the fact that in today’s typically busy (more like frantic) lifestyle, there’s simply not enough time to do everything — we must choose; make difficult decisions.

Arriving at this understanding long before becoming a Christian, I began managing my time more carefully.  In fact, at the height of my dollar-and-success chasing days of over 40 years ago, I became ruthless with time management.  Never would I stop for a coffee break with my time valued at $200 an hour.  I required myself to use working hours for productive activity.  I lived by “Week-at-a-Glance” booklets that scheduled my time for months.  Time was money and visa-versa, but you know what?  I still found time to daily exercise my body and educate its mind.  In my priority of values, those were essential (not yet aware of my spiritual needs).  I made the time by getting out of bed an hour earlier in the morning.  I slept less.

Here’s the key to prioritization: to discern between urgent, imperative, important and want-to.  Once our lives are sorted accordingly, it becomes a matter of approaching each day with a 1-2-3 list of those things that must be done and in what order.  When that becomes a habit, we no longer “major in the minors and minor in the majors.”  We’re always working on the most important activity at any given time, yet — remain sensitive and obedient to the Spirit’s re-directing.

With this in mind, a wise believer will place personal devotions, Bible study and prayer at the very top of their daily list.  These are “urgent” and “imperative.”  The “important” and “want-to” activities follow.  Though a simple concept, its outworking is profound ... and fruitful.

Why Spiritually hydrate?

The world, Christendom and this nation are declining faster than at any time in history.  Morality’s rapid decent and the meteoric rise of in-your-face evil is enough to make the staunchest believer shudder.  At the same time, the enemy has succeeded in almost entirely de-coupling this nation from God; the church from the cross and children from parents.  Having taken the bait, we’re now at military, economic & religious war with those whose oil controls the world’s economy — when our final heavy manufacturing centerpiece is gasping for survival and the nation is peddling infrastructure to stave-off certain bankruptcy; when even our president is peddling the wicked lie that a barbaric religion (which for 1300 years has been committed to world dominion and now the USA’s destruction) is one of peace, allowing followers to establish terrorist-spawning centers in this country.  all against the backdrop of a gathering, world-wide, fiscal upheaval.

The end-time charge has been set and the fuse lit.  Jesus warns: "Watch and pray" (Mt 13:33).  The “unsaved” or those not hydrated with the living water of God’s life-sustaining Word, will easily be washed away.  Oh God, be merciful to us all!

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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