Are You Thirsty?

One of the golden rules of walking and hiking in the countryside is to take plenty of drink. In fact there are times when you don't feel thirsty, but you have to drink to stave of dehydration. I'm told the absolute minimum to carry is one and a half litres, but on a hot day even more may be needed. In the end you have to strike a balance to avoid a heavy pack.

I was walking in the hills with a group on one of the hottest days of the year. Our leader had misjudged the weather forecast and we were longer on the mountain than he expected. We had used up all our drink and were extremely thirsty. The heat was taking its toll and we were feeling exhausted. He led us down into a side valley where we came across a mountain stream. Without standing on ceremony, we just sank our heads in the clear refreshing liquid and drank to our hearts' content. Afterwards we rested in the shade and felt life flowing back into our weary bodies.

We drink when we are thirsty. It's a natural life-giving function that a baby learns at it's mother's breast. So it is, when we are reborn spiritually. We have a thirst for God's Word, we cannot get enough. But after life's events and pressures take their toll, we may even forget our thirst and rely on third-rate substitutes. God loves us so much to leave us like that and may allow circumstances in our life that increase our longing for Him as never before.

When we give the time to just be with Father and soak in His loving presence, we experience a deep peace within. We discover all over again, that there's nothing to compare. No substitute satisfies us to the inner core of our being and brings healing and life to our very bones.

When we ignore our in-built thirst we begin to suffer, not just spiritually, but mentally, emotionally and physically. But when we return to a discipline of regular drinking at the fountain of life we come alive and find rest for our soul.

"- Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." John 7:37 New International Version

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters," Psalm 23:2 New International Version