“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” —John 4:14 NIV

I have a knack for killing potted plants. It is unintentional, of course. When I buy a plant, I believe I will water it, but I don’t. My latest victim was a small palm tree. Its twin lives on the back deck and is blessed by intermittent rain, but this one is stuck under the cover of the front porch and depends on its plant parent (me) to take care of it—poor thing. Although this palm is relatively hardy, neglecting to water it for three weeks caused the fronds to turn brown and brittle. When I tried to hide my negligence by pulling off the dried fronds, I was surprised by the pinpricks. Ouch! Then, I moved the plant to the back porch, watered it, and, surprise, surprise, it started to revive.

The same is true for spiritual dehydration. Without the Living Water, our souls are dry and frail. However, once we have Jesus within us, a steady diet of the Word keeps us from suffering “soul dehydration” and becoming brittle and prickly. That’s why it is so important to intentionally position yourself “on the back porch,” so to speak, where the rain can reach you! Set your Bible, devotional, and a journal or notebook next to your favorite chair. Make an appointment with Jesus every day, as if you were meeting Him at a coffee shop. Sit and talk. Let the rain of His presence wash over you and revive you. (Just writing this makes me feel refreshed.) It may not make sense, you may think you don’t have time, and you may even forget, but you will never regret the moments you spend in His Word and prayer because it is this time with God that activates the “welling up” of the Spirit of God that satisfies our thirst for Him.

If you don’t have a relationship with God yet, the Bible tells us, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38 NIV). Living water! Just as Jesus turned water into wine, He transforms our intake of the Word into a heart- and mind-altering relationship with Himself, the Risen King. Only then can we become more like Jesus, who was and is an Oasis to all who believe.

In John chapter 4, an oasis is precisely what Jesus was to the Samaritan woman when He arrived at the well in the heat of the day. Jesus had an appointment set by His Heavenly Father to quench her spiritual thirst. And He did.

Fortunately, Jesus is neither forgetful nor negligent, as I can be, and He never overlooks the watering of His flock. If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit lives within you! This means you have access to the living water at any time, especially when you feel dry and brittle. This can happen if we neglect our time alone with God, but it can also occur due to physical changes, loss, depression, and other factors. Read Psalm 42 for a beautiful poetic illustration (see a part of it below).

However, if you have not experienced the thirst that drives you to Jesus, may I ask a favor? Would you read Chapter Four of the Gospel of John? And if you have not received Jesus as your Savior, would you ask God to give you His Living Water so that you will never thirst again?

Father, forgive me for not coming to You sooner. I thirst for You! Thank You for never forgetting me and for always leading me beside still waters and green pastures, so I can drink deeply of Your love and forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
day and night, …
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
—Psalm 42:1-3a, 5 NIV
(Take a minute to pick up your Bible and read the whole poem.)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and
in peace in believing, that you may abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13 NJKV).

Marlene McKenna

Sweet Selah Ministries 

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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