Thirst

There is one habit I have had since a very young age that I can't seem to break (I'll admit I haven't tried very hard either). Whenever I'm thirsty I walk to the fridge, open the door, take out a bottle of whatever it is I'm looking for, and drink straight out of the bottle. My parents used to scold me so badly that I would do it in secret! Now, I've justified it because the only other person that drinks the apple juice (my latest abused drink of choice) is my 3 year old nephew and he wouldn't care if my mouth touched the bottle, right?? I also justify it because I know drinking lots of sugary fake juice from concentrate is not very good for me, so, instead of pouring myself a tall glass, that I'm sure I'll finish, I only allow myself a swig here and there. I'm trying to be healthy!! Anyway, this evening I came home from a long day of work feeling not so satisfied with how I spent my day. I gave in to selfishness, pity parties, and pride and ignored the calls of the Holy Spirit to come close. I blamed it on my busy day, knowing full well that I had no excuse. I tried to sit in the living room with my mom to knit, but I wasn't getting much done because of how thirsty I was. I kept running back into the kitchen, refusing to fill up a glass, and taking swig after swig of apple juice. It wasn't quenching my thirst and honestly I started to get a belly ache! Finally, as I gave in to wisdom, I filled up a big tall water bottle with ice cold water and drank deep. Soon after, I realized I was experiencing one of those teachable moments that Pastors love to preach about on Sunday mornings. The Holy Spirit showed me how thirsty I was in my soul, but kept trying to 'wet my whistle' so to speak, with all the wrong things. It was nothing major, but enough subtle distractions and poor choices that Satan used so strategically! So, without guilt or shame, I changed the course of my evening, with water bottle in one hand and the Word in the other. Oh man, He's so kind in how He draws us back and leads us to repentance! I love it!!

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 

I believe it! Let it be so!