Are You Dehydrated?

This weekend we celebrated Memorial Day with some friends as we were hanging out in their pool, playing with the kids, and sharing our favorite foods!  It was close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside in the sun, but the pool was nice and cool so my kids and I spent most of our time in there.  After about 3.5 hours of fun in the sun, my kids were worn out and so was I.  Later that evening, I realized that I had only had one glass of water and one glass of lemonade all day long.  My body had started sending me cues that I may be dehydrated, like "please drink 10 gallons of water now!"  I was so thirsty that I drank several glasses before bed, but it was too late.  I woke up this morning with a splitting headache and feeling exhausted, just a couple of the symptoms of dehydration.

Dehydration is, according to the free online medical dictionary, the loss of water and salts essential for normal body function.  Although I have been drinking water all morning (about 32oz so far), I can still feel the effects of being dehydrated.  Until my body has taken the water I am drinking and carried it through my bloodstream to every part of my body, my body is not going to be functioning as it could and should be. 

As I was thinking about my situation, the Spirit gave me a revelation about this that I have to share.  You see, as I was hanging out in the pool I felt cool and I didnt think I needed any water because, well, I was in the water.  How could I get dehydrated if Im covered in water right?  Obviously this type of thinking is flawed, and its the same type of flawed thinking that has penetrated the Church.  We think if we go to church on Sunday, listen to Christian music, and only hang out with "good Christian friends from church" that we are keeping ourselves "spiritually hydrated."  It's just like when I was in the pool.  The problem is that these things do not line up with God's Word on how to stay hydrated.  Look at what Jesus says in John 4:10-14:

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." 11 "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?" 13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Jesus, not church, music, or our friends, is the source of the living water that keeps us hydrated.  He is a never-ending supply of living water that will allow us to never thirst again.  However, if we do not consume the living water, how will we be filled?  So how do you consume this living water?  Jesus is the living water, and John 1 tells us that Jesus is also the Word.  If you are consuming the Word daily, I'm talking about the Bible, you will stay hydrated with the Living Water!  Don't be deceived like I was in the swimming pool.  You can't get the Living Water you need from 1 hour at church on Sunday, listening to your Christian music, and hanging out with your church friends.  Those are not bad things, but if you are not immersing yourself in the Living Word of God, you will become spiritually dehydrated.  Spiritual dehydration also has negative side effects just as my physical dehydration did.  If you are feeling condemned, hopeless, afraid, depressed, burdened, broken, selfish, dirty, shame, etc, you need to get yourself hydrated in the Word of God!!!

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts so please comment below!