DAY 28

YOU’RE DEHYDRATED

JESS CIARAMITARO, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” By this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. —John 7:37–39

It’s estimated that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. When considering this statistic, what fascinates me the most is this: the lack of water in our bodies is in no way correlated to lack of availability to us. Americans have clean water available mere steps away from where we sleep, eat, and bathe. When we go out to eat, we can enjoy an iced-cold cup of water absolutely free of charge. When we walk public hallways, the water bottle refill stations are ready and waiting for us to simply place our cup into position. The water is right there—we just aren’t consuming it. Over time, this dehydration leads to fatigue, brain fog, and ongoing serious medical issues.

Spiritually speaking, we are also tragically dehydrated. Jesus, who is cited multiple times in scripture describing the Holy Spirit as “living water,” is available to all, but we aren’t reaching for Him. We return to the well of His presence on Sunday mornings and return 7 days later spiritually depleted. When we are caught in this cycle, it can be very discouraging- leaving us frustrated because we aren’t seeing progress in our lives. Friends, this was my life for far too long, and I can attest—this is not what Christianity is. This imagery of living water speaks to a daily need—an utter dependance—upon Jesus. Just as we wouldn’t imagine going a day without a drink, going through the day without spending time in the Word and in prayer is not an option for those who want life and life to the fullest.

As I was praying through this entry, the Lord led me to three key reasons for our dehydration. Let Him search your heart as you read through these statements, asking if these are barriers in your daily relationship with Him.

1. You’re living life at too fast a pace. Let’s face it—the reason many of us aren’t drinking (literal and spiritual) water is because we are too busy. We are prioritizing what we must do over taking care of who we are. We’re typing one more email, running to one more event, cooking one more meal, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Jesus wants you to know that your time with Him will fuel you and empower you.

2. You’re substituting water for an unhealthy alternative. The world is offering you an abundance of other options. Take Coke (or Pepsi) for instance—sure, it’s far more delicious than ice water, but it is terrible for you! It will rot out your teeth, put weight around your belly, and erode your insides (sorry not sorry). The same goes for self-indulgent activities. They are satisfying at the moment, but you're sacrificing your spiritual health. If you have time for Netflix, you have time for Jesus. If you have time to scroll on social media, you have time for Jesus. Jesus is inviting you to swap screen time for scripture. He wants you to experience the unmatched joy, satisfaction, rest and purpose that come from Him alone.

3. You’ve never experienced true hydration. I was walking around dehydrated for roughly 25 years of my “Christian” life. I had a very firm belief system, but I did not have a daily relationship, sourced by the Holy Spirit. Those years, I had no idea there was more! I didn’t know I had yet to experience the true infilling of the Holy Spirit. Maybe you have faith and know about Jesus, but you have yet to experience the indwelling of his Spirit and need to ask. Maybe you’ve forgotten the time(s) He met you in the past. Jesus wants you to know that if you show up at the well (that is, your prayer closet), He will meet you with fresh revelation of who He is.

Jesus is inviting you to live life to its fullest. He’s inviting you to come to the well... the well of His goodness, His love, His mercy, His everlasting life. He’s inviting you to sit at His feet, drink in the truth of His Word, and be refreshed every single day. Can you imagine the peace that would flow out of that time? Can you taste it? Are you longing for it? Come today, come tomorrow, and every day that follows, and watch a new empowered life swell up and burst forth.

PRAYER

Jesus, I confess that I cannot live the calling of a Christian without a daily, consistent, relationship with You. Through Your grace, as Your Word says, let me “taste and see that You are good.” Give me a disdain and distaste for the things of this world. Help me to fall more in love with You and Your ways. Slow down my pace, and help me to prioritize time with You, knowing that You will be faithful to meet me every time. Draw me into Your Presence through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Captivate my heart for You and only You, Jesus. May rivers of living water flow from my innermost being in the name of Jesus, amen.