Refreshing Waters

The fresh smell of the water fills my spirit as I fill the reservoir of the coffeepot. How many times have I filled this reservoir with water to have a cup of coffee? How many times did I repeat this same routine task? Never before was I aware of the smell of refreshing water? As I stand there filling the reservoir, my mind thinks, “did they just treat the water in town? No, this is something in my spirit, something the Lord is telling me this morning.”

The smell overtook me for a brief moment in time. So clean and refreshing, so alive and swirling. But I have never noticed this before. Always in a hurry to fill it up and dispense my cup of dark goodness. I stand and think. How many times have I missed the goodness of the things the Lord wanted to show me due to my “busyness?” How many times have I missed His still small voice because I was too distracted to hear or see?

Repentance

I am immediately brought to repentance. “Oh Lord, forgive me for my busyness and distraction. For the things I chose over being focused to hear you speak or see what you sought to show me. Forgive me Lord for dismissing the wonders you have put before me as just some vain whimsy. Help me slow down, focus and take notice of the minute details you put before me. Lord, fill my spirit with your refreshing water that cleanses deeper than bone and marrow. Renew my spirit Lord and fill me up to overflowing.”

Hmmm…refreshing water?

So as I sit down with my fresh cup of coffee and my Bible. I think “Okay Lord, just what are you trying to get me to see this morning? What does this refreshing smell of water represent in the Spiritual realm? And just what lesson are you teaching me today? So I set out to do a quick word study search.

Refreshing

The word “refreshing” kept coming to my mind and spirit. Refreshing in the New Oxford Dictionary means “serving to refresh or reinvigorate someone.” Refresh means “to give new strength or energy to reinvigorate.”

I found the word ‘refreshing’ in the Bible twice, once here:

Isaiah 28:12 (KJV) ”To whom he said, This [is] the rest [wherewith] ye may cause the weary to rest; and this [is] the refreshing: yet they would not hear.”

And again in Acts 3:19 (KJV)

Acts 3:19 (KJV) ”Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”

Water

Of course, water needs no definition, yet In the Bible and the world, water represents life. Without water the human body could not live and survive. Water surrounds the unborn child in the mother’s womb, providing protection and life-giving fluids for growth. It fills vast bodies of water that no eye can see the end of. It cleanses and refreshes the earth as it pours down from Heaven.

The word “water” is in the Bible so many times. However, It would take an entire chapter in a book to list them all. Therefore, I will focus on just two the Holy Spirit highlighted to me. They are:

John 7:38 (NKJV) “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Isaiah 41:18 (NKJV) "I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water."

Let’s break this down a bit:

Isaiah 28:12, God promises personal refreshing and rest for the weary who will listen. Wow! I think to myself, “Am I listening?”The Israelites were looking for a resting place. A place of stillness and peace, but they would not listen to Isaiah. Pride filled their hearts. They did not think they needed to be taught, so they made up their own minds and did not listen. How many times have I done that? Uh… seriously, too many!

Acts 3:19, So many times I want the blessing of God without admitting my own disobedience and sin. The blessing of spiritual refreshing only comes after repentance. This reminds me of Hosea 6:3. Oh such a beautiful reminder. God will renew, refresh and fill us with hope and pour out His promises to overflow.

Hosea 6:3 "Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring."

I hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit asking me:

“How much is your disobedience worth to you? You can never walk in the fullness and victory of the Lord without obedience first.”

In John 7:38, in the New-Spirit filled life Study Bible notes, it says,

“Those who are satisfied by Jesus will themselves become channels of spiritual refreshment to others…"
(New-Spirit Filled Life Study Bible note)

How amazing is our God? He is making us channels of spiritual refreshment to others. Wow, what an honor to bring spiritual refreshment to others.

Isaiah 41:18, the people of Israel were so often concerned about water (Ex.17:1; Num. 20:2; Is. 41:17) Meanwhile, God’s divine provision would prove abundant and overflowing. How many times have I walked in the desert? Desperate for the overflowing refreshing waters of the Lord to wash over me. Why oh why I allow myself to get wrapped up in all the worry and concern of what goes on around me? Yet, I miss what is going on inside of me. I miss the still small voice of the Lord. Calling for me to come to Him to find rest, peace and refreshing.

So, in filling the reservoir with water to make my cup of coffee this morning. The Lord has spoken volumes to my spirit. Oh how amazing my God is to use something so small and insignificant to teach me something new.

I hear the Lord saying:

“I will give you a new refreshing, new strength and energy to walk in victory. When you seek me and focus on me. Set the busyness aside. Rest in me and you will be renewed with the refreshing of my living waters washing over you. You cannot be a channel of spiritual refreshment for those I have put in your path if you do not refresh yourself in the waters of the secret place with me. Don’t you smell it? Don’t you see? The smell of the refreshing is as fresh flowing water. Being poured out in a reservoir, the bubbling, the swirling and flowing are life to your spirit. Come to my reservoir and fill up, I am waiting for you. Won’t you come? Leave the stagnant desert wilderness. Step into the overflowing springs of refreshing life giving water I have prepared for you.”

~God~

Oh my friend, what a blessing to share this fresh word with you today.

I hope it speaks to your heart and refreshes your spirit. I totally had no intention of writing a blog post this morning. But the Holy Spirit invaded my heart and I had to follow Him. Consequently, that cup of dark golden coffee goodness now sits on my table cold as ice. Obviously, God always knows exactly what we need. And the right timing to bring it, while we are listening for His still small voice. I really thought I desperately needed that cup of coffee. Turns out, I just needed the refreshing waters of a word from the Lord.

I pray you have a refreshing and invigorating day to day. Leave me a comment below, and let me know how this spoke to you today. Can I pray for you today? Let me know in the comments or send me an email.

Love and hugs,
Teresa ~His Daily Scribe~

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