Parched for living water

Sometimes I feel I have become stuck and stagnant. My “religion” has turned from a true desire to follow God, to going through the motions of reading my bible and going to church. I read the same passage over and over again, and realize that I am hardened against the action that God wants to take in my heart. I do my reading for the day as out of duty but my mind and heart do not engage.

Have you ever had this experience?

For me it’s usually a sign that I have forgotten the presence of God in His Word. I start to treat scripture like any old book I might need to read for school, flipping pages disinterestedly. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12). God’s word is precious and worthy of careful meditation and study; it is a gift of refreshing water to us.

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. 

When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever therivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes…

Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine. (Ezekiel 47:1-2, 7-9, 12)

In this reading, the Lord shows Ezekiel a vision of water flowing from the sanctuary of the temple into the salt water sea. Where the two bodies of water meet, the sanctuary water makes the stagnant water fresh. Lord, I pray that your Holy water continues to flow and refresh the dead parts of my life that desperately need You.