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The Spirit quenches inner spiritual thirst

September 20, 2024
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Daily Scripture

John 7:37-39

37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted,
“All who are thirsty should come to me!
38     All who believe in me should drink!
    As the scriptures said concerning me,
        Rivers of living water will flow out from within him.”
39 Jesus said this concerning the Spirit. Those who believed in him would soon receive the Spirit, but they hadn’t experienced the Spirit yet since Jesus hadn’t yet been glorified.

Daily Reflection & Prayer

The Feast of Tabernacles was a celebration remembering God’s provision in the wilderness. Priests drew water daily at the Pool of Siloam, and poured it out in the Temple, reciting Isaiah 12:3: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Against that backdrop Jesus dramatically invited all who believed in him to drink “living water.” Jesus boldly declared himself the source of living water, inviting all who were thirsty to come to him.

  • Israel was observing an annual ritual, which could become just “going through the motions.” But Jesus’ call was personal. “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me…” Jesus offered himself as the source of living water, promising the Holy Spirit to those who believe. When have you felt spiritually thirsty? How could opening your life to the Holy Spirit’s presence quench that thirst and transform your daily life?
  • Jesus spoke of “rivers of living water” flowing from within believers, referring to the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence. This imagery suggested an abundance that overflows, impacting not just the individual but those around them. How might the Spirit’s work in your life extend beyond personal transformation to influence others? In what ways can you be a channel of God’s love and grace to those in your community?
Prayer

God in three persons, blessed Trinity, I am grateful for all the ways you reveal yourself. You save and forgive me, quench my inner thirst, and guide me in all my steps. Amen.

GPS Insights

Picture of Leah Swank-Miller

Leah Swank-Miller

Leah Swank-Miller serves as Director of Student Ministries at Resurrection Overland Park. A Kansas native, she has been a professional actress for nearly two decades, and she loves to see the vastness of God’s creation through theatre and the arts. Leah recently graduated with an M. Div. from Saint Paul School of Theology. Leah, Brian, and their two children love to play tennis, golf, soccer, and board games.

 

My favorite part of my day is picking up my 6th grader from school. She pops into the front seat (a new privilege as she’s gotten older and taller) and tells me about her day. Some days, getting her to share is trickier than others. It takes selective questions that can’t be answered with a simple yes or no and no more than three questions on a car ride unless she’s in a good mood. Most days, she’s a chatty Kathy, but there are the days when emotions are high, tears start flowing, or worse, an angry silence fills the car. These moments are when I ask the basic needs questions. Do you need a snack? Do you need some rest? How much water have you had today? Often, all it takes is a big glass of water to turn a frown upside down—usually followed by a sweet treat.

I relate to this feeling. When I’m cranky and frustrated, I often need a big glass of water and a snack. And as much as I love my Starbucks coffee, without water, my body is left thirsty. I need to quench my body’s thirst with the basic building blocks of life. Spiritually, I need the same. When I feel restless, frustrated, and overwhelmed, I’m thirsty for the Holy Spirit’s powerful presence to flow freely through my day. Just as water is essential for all living organisms, so is the Holy Spirit in our spiritual life. The Spirit is vital for our spiritual health, and we will be parched and unwell if we do not open our lives to the Holy Spirit’s renewing presence.

Do I feel hatred toward others? If so, I need to have a drink of the living water. Do I fear others hate me or that the whole world hates each other? Am I consumed with the stresses of the cultural and political climate? Do I keep drinking from the cup of bitterness, judgment, or self-doubt through social media? Then, it’s time to quench my thirst through prayer, reflection, study, worship, or nature.

The beautiful result of opening my life to the Holy Spirit means I can be ready to offer rivers of living water to my sweet 6th grader every time she jumps into my car after school. I get to live in the abundance that overflows onto my littles, my not-so-little anymore, my spouse, friends, co-workers, community, and beyond. And it all starts with accepting Jesus’s invitation to come, all who are thirsty, and drink.

© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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