Day #127 - Rivers

The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”

‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Photo by Rolands Varsbergs on Unsplash

Have you ever been in the force of a river?

I’ve been in some pretty strong rivers. I was always too cautious to get into rivers too deep because it was instilled in me how dangerously powerful they can be. Rivers are beautiful and bring a sense of peace, which is interesting when you think about what a raging force they are. Rivers bring life. Rivers supply us with water and supply our food with water. We can’t live without the power of rivers on this earth.

Jesus likened the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of the believer to rivers of living water that would come from within us. Sadly many Christians live like the Holy Spirit is optional, but He is as necessary to our spiritual life as natural rivers are to our world. He mentions this is according to the Scriptures and when we look at some of the river Scriptures of the Old Testament that Jesus is referring to, we realize how amazing this promise is from our Savior.

Look at how much Jesus admires the work of the Holy Spirit. Our Triune God is always preferring and honoring the others within Himself. Jesus was eager to send His Spirit to us because we would have an internal flow of God’s empowering presence in our lives. He does not say the Holy Spirit would be a like a river in us singularly but like rivers plural. The Holy Spirit is such a gift to us from Jesus and the Father.

We get to experience the work of the Holy Spirit in us. We get to experience God’s presence in us. This is not something that was available to Old Testament saints, but only to us who live after Jesus was glorified and He sent us His Spirit. If you believe in Jesus, you have rivers of living water flowing within you.

I used to think the river metaphor was overplayed but after having a life changing experience with the Holy Spirit, all I want is more time in the river of God. All I want to do is be a river dweller and press into the flow that is in me by the Spirit. When I am in the river and experiencing the work of the Spirit, I am so close to Christ. I lay my all at His feet in surrender and live the Christian life in the power of the Spirit rather than my own efforts.

Are you full of the Holy Spirit? Are you experiencing His flow like mighty rivers?

Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to fill me and flow through me like rivers of living water. I want more of Your Spirit in my life. Take me deeper. I don’t want to do life in my own strength. I want to live in the mighty flow of God’s empowering presence. I love you Holy Spirit. Fill me up. In Jesus name, amen.