Here I sit before You, Father, humble, submissive, repentant. Do with me as You will. Use me as You will. Strengthen me to be the man You want me to be. Refine me that I may bring You glory.
James 3:11-12 (<<click here to read the passage)
Lord, I realize that James is driving home his concerns about the tongue here, but I also know it can be applied to other fronts as well. When we first moved into this home 30+ years ago, our only source of water was a well. It was a very good well – a little irony in its flavor – but an excellent well. Initially, it had to be purified by pouring bleach into it to kill any bacteria that had developed when it was out of use, then we had to flush out all the lines in the house. In doing so, we were good to go – clear, fresh, cold water was at our disposal.
But things still came up. On our spigots, we have aerators, and over a period of time, bits of iron and other mineral deposits would collect. Periodically, we’d have to clean them out to ensure a continued good flow.
That’s me… “Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh and bitter water?” Well, when it comes to my heart, the answer on occasion is “yes.” Springs of living water “bubble out” every day, but more often than I’d like to admit, things that are not good or beneficial come out, and my “aerator” needs cleaning. I have to allow You, Lord, to clean my aerators. I have to repent and seek Your forgiveness so that once again Your springs of living water flow unrestricted.
Drinking at the springs of living water,
Happy now am I,
My soul they satisfy;
Drinking at the springs of living water,
O wonderful and bountiful supply! – John W. Peterson
(Sept 12th, 2016, Mon, 6:40 am)
July 1st, 2025, Tues, 9:51 am
