Fill My Cup, Lord -- part 1

We are all well aware that life presents many diverse challenges, seasons, and experiences.  And because of this reality, we can find ourselves “thirsty” for a variety of things.  I’m talking about things like:

• Wealth – power                      
• Peace                              
• Labor                              
• Influence                                 
• Knowledge                     
• Fame                               
• Acceptance                   
• Love                               
• Sex                                 
• God

These attractions will come and go as we navigate different stages and seasons of our lives.

Mothers of Nations, I think we become especially “thirsty” when we find ourselves in the wilderness of life.  For example, consider David’s situation that we read about in Psalm 63. He found himself a fugitive in the wilderness of Judah as he ran from Saul and then from Absalom.  He’s thirsty (literally, Psalm 143: 6) and he finds himself crying out for help from God.

While in wilderness situations some people may cry out for help in other ways:  money, alcohol, sex, etc.  But David recognizes that his soul thirsts for God in this situation as we see in the following Scriptures.

Psalm 42: 1-2  As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. ² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

Psalm 84:2  My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

We have all had our wilderness moments, haven’t we, where we either draw closer to God or we begin to slip into the world’s offerings of “thirst” quenchers.

As Mothers of Nations, we face similar challenges and options.  Rather than seek God when we feel “thirsty,” we might be tempted to seek:

• friends
• more work                       
• pleasure 
• new clothes   
• parties
• trips                                         

Yet, dry moments, wilderness experiences, can’t be satisfied with anything except “living water.”  We must have God’s “living water” in our cups, in our lives. Here are a couple interesting facts about water.  Did you know that approximately 71% of the earth’s surface is covered with water?  Also, the human body is made up of 55-78% water, depending on body size.

Truthfully, water is essential for life, both naturally and spiritually – the “water” of the Spirit.  The Word of God mentions “water” 722 times, more often than faith, hope, prayer and worship.

Revelation 22: 17 (NIV)  The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.  

Next week we will continue these thoughts by looking at some verses in Isaiah 44 and the analogy of water and the Lord’s blessing.

Dr. Sharon Predovich