A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:7, 9-10

What are you thirsty for?

This woman is thirsty. Thirsty for someone who is going to love and fight for her. She's already been through five men who failed and is on her sixth. She's weary of the shame. The guilt. the rejection...

But Jesus

But Jesus enters her life and everything changes. He offers her what she's been so desperate to find. Someone who lets her know she is seen. She is wanted. She is not someone's reject. That she is loved! The living water that she's been seeking all her life.

However, it's interesting that the first thing Jesus asks of her is a "drink of water." He asks her to give up the natural source of her sustenance and in return, He gives her supernatural sustenance.

He's been doing the same thing in my life lately. The Father asked me a little while ago to give up physical training for a season. And in place of that, He invited me to spend time being with Him. Not doing anything. Not reading the Bible. Not journaling. Not playing guitar. Just being with Him. So I set aside some time every day to just be with Him. Sometimes we just "be" in silence for a while. Sometimes we talk. Sometimes He drops bombs of insight or truth into my lap. 

For me, physical training has been the biggest manifestation of my feeling of needing to earn acceptance from others. That mindset has bled over into my relationship with my Father. Feeling like I need or should do more or else He'll be disappointed with me. So it makes sense that He's asked me to give physical training up for a season to just be with Him. I know in my head that He's proud of me. That I can live from His approval, not for it. But it's still sinking into my heart. So as hard as it was to initially come into agreement with what He was asking of me, I know He's bringing good out of it and He's in the process of swapping my insecurity and striving to earn man's acceptance with the fearless confidence that as His son, I am completely and perfectly loved and accepted. Period. 

(Mike drop)