Give Me a Drink

Today I sat at our pond, if that’s what you even call it now. The pool that is usually full of deep dark water is almost empty. Nearby was a turtle shell, and I noticed it still had a piece of the original shell intact. These are the simple truths for which I was reminded.

Milk Crate Truth #1: The Bible tells us that those who are in Christ are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The shell of who we were before fully surrendering our lives to Christ should be dead and gone. All of it. God has given us a new heart. New desires. A new way of thinking. And out of this new creation within ourselves, we should see the evidence of change by the things we say, think, and do.

Milk Crate Truth #2: Sometimes a part of our old self lingers. This happens when we don’t surrender our hearts daily. The truth is that as long as we live in this world and in this flesh, and until He takes us to our eternal home, we will struggle with sin… old habits… and old baggage that needs to die with the rest of the old self. But sometimes we see a part of that old shell of ourselves still hanging on, like part of the turtle shell… and it’s evidence that work still needs to be done in our hearts. It’s an opportunity to hit the reset button, confess our sins, and surrender every ounce of its weight to Jesus. We have the privilege to do this daily, and if you’re like me, this is a process that needs to happen throughout the day… I have a stubborn part of my old shell too!

Milk Crate Truth #3: In John chapter 4 when Jesus told the woman at the well, “Give Me a drink,” it was a profound statement which was actually the solution to all her problems. Jesus is the Living Water, and He’s not like the stagnant pool of parasites that rests at the bottom of my pond….the kind of water that I wouldn’t dare let it grace my lips. No, drinking in the truth of His word in the Bible and letting that truth radically change you is what produces the new creation Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians. That’s what makes it “Living”…it changes you.

So, when you see a part of your old self lingering that needs to die, know that Jesus has already given you the only answer you need. Simply ask in prayer, “Give me a drink.”

A drink of grace. Maybe first it’s His salvation that you need. Maybe that’s the first drink you need to take. Or, maybe it’s just the daily grace of His strength helping you to be the person He’s called you to be.

Carve time out of your busy schedule, and keep the appointment you’ve set.

Open your Bible.

Drink in the truth of His word.

Let it change you.

And ask Him to show you how to shake-off remnants of the old shell and properly live as His new creation.

All you have to do is ask.