Spiritual hydration

Recently I’ve been looking for refreshment along the way. It’s been dry and arid and thirst has made its presence known.

From time to time I find myself spiritually thirsty; truth be known, parched really. I have been in one of those seasons as of late. The water sources are near by. Maybe I have allowed life circumstances and self-focus to distract from even realizing I am thirsty. Seasons do change though.

If you ignore thirst too long, dehydration will inevitably set in. Thirst is our warning sign that we have been neglecting hydration. For some reason, I never seem to neglect my physical thirst. Spiritual thirst seems a little harder to remember. Although I am trying to feed my spirit, it feels like something is still missing.

Whenever I work out, I always take water with me. But, not just plain water, I take water that has been enhanced with electrolytes, vitamins and minerals so it can replace what I lose during exercise. Water is good, but sometimes we need a little extra.

At times, our spiritual hydration may need some enhancement too. Ministry, work, family, even the daily walk of life can cause spiritual dehydration, as we pour ourselves out for others. We may even be filling up with plenty of water, but our water may not have the extras needed to stay spiritually hydrated.

I am still figuring this out as I emerge, slowly, from a season of dehydration. I think I missed the symptoms that led up to this episode. Like physical thirst, I need to be aware of the signs that precede spiritual dehydration and be more proactive to ward off this depletion. My spiritual thirst needs just as much attention as my physical thirst.

Our water enhancers needed to rehydrate are different, I think, as God has made each of us unique. For me it’s rest, silence and contemplation. Yours may be completely different, but know what they are so you are drinking water enhanced for your spirit.

Rest – God given, designated places to rest along the spiritual walk. It’s important not to miss these restoration pit stops.

Silence – as they say, silence is golden. To hear, I need to be surrounded by some quiet.

Contemplation – is key to the spiritual life. If our minds are entrenched in the worldly, it will grow tired. But to contemplate God is to live differently, peacefully and restfully. Clearing the mind frees the heart and fills the soul.

So, I will head over to the well and fill up my water bucket. There are others gathered there too, filling up and hydrating. While there, I encounter one more water enhancer – shared testimony. At the well, the others share their personal testimonies, their revelations, their ah-ha’s of grace. These are good to share with others, for when shared, they encourage, offer wisdom, insights and gladness. They add a little bit of spiritual enhancement to the water we gather at the well.