Rivers of Living Water

John 7:38
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water."

Question of 2011, how do we pursue this promise so this becomes a reality on a consistent basis. This promise is given but just like every promise there are conditions to receiving. There is a difference between conditional love and conditional promises. He promises that if we pursue Him in specific ways, the promises will be true in our lives. We are not automatically filled with living water, we must drink and drink often. There is the gift of Holy Spirit living in us but even that gift is conditional. We have to set our hearts to the pursuit of a deeper connection with Holy Spirit in order for Him to manifest in us. The required response on our behalf is not so that there are more hoops to jump but that we will grow in love and desire for God. No longer settling for just a little flicker of God's presence, we must abandon ourselves to him fully, giving up that which cost us something. What good is a sacrifice that has no cost? The promises do not fall in our proverbial lap, we pursue them in a right way and obtain them not by striving but by obedient love. Loving words are useless unless followed by loving actions from a motivation of selflessness.

With all that said, 2011 is the year to drill deeper in the reality that we can live a life free of depression, overwhelming sadness, anger,etc. The free life has conditions which may seem like a contraindication, the real contradiction is living bound and claiming freedom.

Another question is: why do I want to be free? Most of us will need a healed view of why we even need and desire freedom. Is our desire for freedom centered on advancing the Kingdom or is it centered on a Utopian (aka Woodlands) life style. Is our desire to walk fully in the grace of God to advance His purposes or are we more concerned with finding a balance in life so we can live in "Pleasant ville".

My personal belief is that 2011 will be the most challenging year that this world has ever experienced. I do not say that in a somber tone but a sober one. Discomfort and pain are great motivators to wake us from our lethargy. As believers we have a choice, we can abandon ourselves to the Lord out of love and radical obedience or out of discomfort and pain. Sounds like an easy choice but our response to His invitations will be evidence of the choice we have made.


Joshua 24:15
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."