GARDEN HOSES, GREENS, AND GROWTH

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 

ISAIAH 58:11

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I stood in my yard, garden hose in hand, watering a field of cartoon-looking, cookie-cutter bright green plants across the road. A vast expanse of weedless dirt punctuated with perfectly spaced vegetation sprawled before me. Undaunted, I held the hose coming from the field and watered the crop.

A man in a car approached. Slowing down at the sight of a hose stretched across the pavement, he came to a complete stop. Looking out of the window, he made eye contact. When I didn’t say anything, he eased his car over the hose, then slowly drove on.

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Dreams are peculiar, aren’t they?

When I shared my dream with a friend, she thought it was a message of things to come. She interpreted the hose as Living Water and the field, thirsty souls in need of refreshment. The thought of holding on to the Living Water and dousing others so they can flourish is delightful.

While I cannot say for sure her interpretation is correct, I have decided to allow whatever Living Water can flow through my little hose to gush out.

God promises that those who believe in Him will have rivers of living water flowing from them. (John 7:38)

Rivers, what a promise!

Not a trickle or fire-hydrant spew, but plentiful, constantly flowing graces to comfort and fortify. Rivers of Living Water buoying us, sustaining us, and then overflowing our lives for the good of others.

The part about being at home in my yard is a comforting thought. I can abide in Christ right where I am, receive from His fullness, and allow His life to flow through me. There is no need to hunt for purpose or devise a plan when believing in Christ opens the floodgates for the Living Water to flow.

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Thank You, God, for infusing Your children with Your Holy Spirit–the animating, invigorating, sustaining Source of Life. May we live saturated by Your fullness.

Keep us sensitive to conviction when we grieve or quench the Spirit. Teach us to repent quickly, to acknowledge our waywardness, and to desire unity with You above all else.

As we live drenched, make us channels of Your grace and conduits of Your love. Thank You for allowing us, by Your Spirit, to refresh weary souls, to strengthen those wilting from the oppressive heat, and to nourish fruitfulness in Your beautiful saints.

As we cooperate with You, help us embrace the blissful floats down gentle rivers, the sport of fly-fishing, and the adrenaline-pumping white-water rafting moments. May we relish our union with You more than the circumstances. Help us humbly accept whatever You bring no matter where you send or take us.

Our drinking of God as the living water is for the church as His increase; our drinking is for the producing of His enlargement, His fullness, for His expression.

—WITNESS LEE

The drink in their drinking-bowls seemed to be clear cold water, yet it went to their hearts like wine and set free their voices. The guests became suddenly aware that they were singing merrily, as if it was easier and more natural than talking.

—TOLKIEN J.R.R.