Satisfaction for The Thirsty Soul

A photo of a cup of ice water taken from above. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Read | 1 Peter 2:1-2

Think about a time when you experienced unbearable thirst. You probably would have traded anything for a drink. When you finally got your wish, there was nothing that could have tasted better than that cold, refreshing glass of water.

Compare this physical need to spiritual thirst. Jesus referred to Himself as “living water” because He knew our deep need for fulfillment. And only He can truly satisfy.

Isn’t it interesting, then, that we live in a society where most people feel dissatisfied? In Christ, we have everything necessary to be complete, content, and fulfilled. Yet our world deceptively tells us to seek after wealth, glory, and other empty dreams. These seem to gratify for a short time, if at all. Yet we often do not recognize our actual needs. The Enemy continues to deceive by telling us that his poor substitutes will satisfy the hunger inside us.

Our Father, on the other hand, is all we need. Let’s look at three passages from Scripture. Jesus called Himself “the bread of life” and “living water”–the sustenance our souls require to survive and thrive (John 6:34-35; 7:38). His Word is alive, able to teach, convict, and redirect us toward a godly path (Heb. 4:12). God’s truth, which is called spiritual milk, provides the nourishment our souls need (1 Peter 2:2).

All of us have an emptiness within–a longing for something more. What are you attempting to use to satisfy it? Our hearts are like a jigsaw puzzle. No matter how hard you try to force a wrong piece, it will never fit correctly. Turn to Jesus, and His living water will satisfy your soul.

Dr. Charles Stanley

Why Did God Deliver You In The Past?

By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

David wrote: “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he
heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his
ears. . . . He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He
delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were
too strong for me. They prevented [came upon] me in the day of my calamity: but
the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered
me, because he delighted in me” (Psalm 18:6, 16-19).

Dear saint, rest assured that if you are being afflicted, it is because God
delights in you. “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Hebrews 12:6). Your
afflictions are a sign of His love.

You must also remember that whatever you’re going through will pass. Recently,
I read a passage in one of my journals that I had written while going through a
great trial. Three months’ worth of entries all ended with the same phrase: “Oh,
God, when will this nightmare end?” Then, finally, these words appeared across a
page in huge letters: “IT’S OVER—HE HAS DELIVERED!”

I can honestly say I have learned more in my afflictions than I ever did in
good times. Prosperity doesn’t teach us—afflictions do. The humanitarian
Albert Schweitzer said, “Happiness is good health and a bad memory.” No,
happiness is remembering all the ways God has brought us through.

I ask you again: How are you reacting to your afflictions? Are you wasting
them, becoming a doubter and complainer? Or are you building up your faith,
knowing that your God delivers?

There is only one way to endure your present troubles: Remember that your
heavenly Father delights in you. He has a plan at work, a great investment in
you. “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of
Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Your Father is preparing you to be a veteran
of spiritual warfare, an example of faith and trust to this generation.

The Secret of Power

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine..

He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. - Luke 9:1

 

The first thing is always to come to Christ Himself. We can do nothing until we have been to Him. Everything we do should be as if Jesus Himself instructed us to do it, and sent us on our way with His blessing. There is nothing too dangerous, no work too hard, no job too responsible, that can’t be done, if, from the outset, we have Christ’s hand of encouragement on our shoulder and his words of inspiration.

Christ alone can give power for the work He asks us to do. His followers are to have authority over demons. Any one who tries to cast out demons in his own strength, whether the demon be in himself of in someone else, will only meet miserable failure. A man may rule nations and conquer kingdoms, and yet be unable to rid himself of a demon. Alexander The Great conquered the world, but he was overthrown by the demons of appetite and passion. Men are forever foolishly trying to battle the evil of their own natures without help and they always fail in the struggle.

The same is true of power over demons in others. Once the disciples, in Christ’s absence, tried to cast out an evil spirit, and could not do it. Yet they ought to have been able in Christ’s name to cast out the demon. Jesus told them that the reason they could not do it was because they didn’t have faith. He wants every follower of his to have power over all forms of evil in this world; not miraculous power, such as he gave the apostles, but real power. If we have faith in Him, He will always give us power.