Let the Waters Flow

Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. – John 7:37-39

We know God wants Christians to grow. Spiritual growth takes place deep down inside us. It comes from the Holy Spirit, whose job is to make the waters flow. However, most Christians have a home-improvement mentality, depending on themselves to produce the desired development. But if we could do it ourselves, we wouldn’t need the Holy Spirit. The assumption of the work of the Holy Spirit is that we can’t do it ourselves. Just as air enables a horn to make a sound or wind enables a sailboat to move, the Holy Spirit enables the spiritual life to work.

Many Christians never realize what they have within them. If Clark Kent were riding on a bus with us and it broke down, we would all look pretty foolish if we got out to push the bus while Superman was sitting inside. Christians tend to want to push themselves toward spiritual progress. We push and push until we are so tired that we want to give up. But God wants us to use the Holy Spirit’s power that He provides for us.

Stop pushing so hard.

Relax and let God provide the power.