“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
–John 4:14 (NLT)

A few months ago, I was invited to take part in a women’s retreat made up of good friends from our church. All of us enjoyed the fellowship and Bible teachings offered during that weekend, but my favorite moments of all were spent on the back patio of the retreat leader’s house. They had a manmade pond in their backyard, and a small fountain of water constantly flowed into it. I loved relaxing to the sound of that water, and I felt very close to God as I listened to it.

Our pastor told us a few weeks ago that God’s love is like water, which washes over us in waves. This made me reflect on my time by that fountain, and it made me realize that God’s word and his love are quite similar to water in a few different ways.

First of all, water is very refreshing to us. Timothy and I live in Arizona, where the infamous dry heat continues through most of the year. After we’ve spent some time walking outdoors with the sun beating down on us, we love coming home to cold glasses of water. Sometimes, the frantic pace and the stressful heat of this world can hammer us without mercy. The comforts our world can give us can have unpredictable results, and may not truly calm us down for long.

God’s word, the Bible, is our best source of refreshment. Remember how Jesus talked to the woman at the well, and told her that he could give her living water? As we see in the above scripture, Jesus was referring to the refreshment which God’s word and presence will offer us, if we have the desire to study and learn what God has to tell us.

Besides refreshment, water offers us cleanliness and purification. All of us use water to bathe ourselves and wash our clothes. In the same way, Jesus longs to wash away the sins of all people who choose to believe in God and follow Him. Sin is part of our nature, and it makes us very dirty in a spiritual sense. Jesus wants to clean you up, thanks to the life he lived and the blood he shed for us.

Finally, water is known as the element of life. All plants and animals need water to grow and survive. God has promised that He will give you new and eternal life, if you choose to plant yourself upon his vine during your short time on earth.

So I encourage you to get to know Jesus Christ, or re-dedicate yourself to following him if you already know him. I pray that no matter how the tide of life ebbs and flows, God’s love will always wash over you in continuous waves of refreshment, purity and life.

Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 377 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 260, Placentia, CA 92870.

If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 641-715-3900, ext. 874157.