How to revive a dry, thirsty, tired heart.
5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly, since the soil wasn’t deep. 6 When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away (Mark 4:5–6).
When we moved into our current home, a friend gave me a daylily as a housewarming gift. At that point, the only plant that had survived under my care was made of silk. Though I lacked confidence in my gardening skills, I was assured the daylily was hardy and forgiving. Sure enough, my nearly-withered plant was revived numerous times by simply watering it.
Withering doesn’t happen in an instant. It happens slowly and surely as a plant is deprived of moisture. The way to revive a thirsty, withered plant is to water it.
The way to revive a thirsty, withered heart is to connect it with Living Water.
38 The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him” (John 7:38).
Jesus declared that Living Water—a well of water springing up within for eternal life—was available to those who asked Him for it. Later, He added that whoever believed in Him would have streams of water flow from within.
How do our thirsty hearts stay rooted in the love of Jesus and flow with Living Water? We start by confessing that doing things our way isn’t an alternative path to life.
Jesus’ way is not simply the best way; it is the only way to be truly alive.
13 For my people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves—cracked cisterns that cannot hold water (Jer. 2:13).
The more we practise His ways, the deeper and more established in Him our roots become. To continue in our own ways rather than His is like abandoning the fountain of Living Water for cracked cisterns that cannot hold water. When we choose the cracked cisterns of our own ways, if we are in Christ we are not condemned, but we are thirsty.
We also must remember that reviving a withered plant takes time. While waiting, we need to stay connected to Water by continuing to walk His way.
Have you ever noticed that water always travels down? Living Water is found on our knees, not on our toes. Humility is the posture that keeps us ready to turn around the moment we find ourselves going our own way. As He floods the deepest places in our heart, He will overflow.
His will isn’t for us to get low once, but to live low. Performance will eventually wither just like an enthusiastic shoot without roots; connection will not. Connection is strengthened by communication from a posture of humility. We must keep asking, seeking and knocking on His door for what we cannot do for ourselves.
We can’t grow high without first getting low.
Do you think of humbling yourself as something that happened once when you came to Christ, or is it a habit? Do you tend to get low (humble yourself occasionally), or do you live low (in a continual posture of humility)?
How do you feel about “living low” in a posture of continual humility? What adjustments are needed for you to do so?
Without water, a plant is scorched by the heat and light of the sun. But if a plant is deeply rooted in good soil and connected to water, the heat and light of the sun will cause it to grow the roots, then shoots, and eventually, it will bear fruit. Shoots can support fruit if the roots are well established.
We are made for fruit, but not before roots.
