The trees in the woods respond to running water. When you walk in the hills, you can find the streams simply by looking for certain bottomland trees. For example, sycamore trees live along streams. You can readily find a stream by looking for clusters of sycamore trees.
Jesus declared that if anyone thirsts, they should come to Him and He will give them the living water of the Spirit (see Jn 4:14; 7:37-38). Trees respond to running water. Why don't humans unfailingly respond to the flowing water of the Holy Spirit?
God teaches us what is "for [our] good" (Is 48:17). Sadly, we human beings can be hard-hearted, not responding to God's promptings of joy or sorrow (Mt 11:17). In fact, hard-hearted people go so far as to vilify those who do follow God's promptings, such as Jesus and St. John the Baptizer (Mt 11:18-19). Jesus and John followed the living water; they responded to both the joyful and sorrowful promptings of God. The hard-hearted respond to neither. "Today, if you should hear His voice, harden not your hearts" (Heb 3:7-8).
The trees long for running water. The deer longs for running water (Ps 42:2). We humans were born to thirst for running water, and especially for the flowing water of the Spirit that Jesus gives (Jn 7:37-38). "Come to the water" (Is 55:1). Drink fully of the running, flowing, living water of the Holy Spirit.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I thirst for Your Spirit as a newborn baby thirsts for milk (1 Pt 2:2). |
| PROMISE: | "If you would hearken to My commandments, your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea." –Is 48:18 Praise: St. Lucy's prayers were instrumental in the healing of her mother from hemorrhages. |
| PRAISE: | St. Lucy's prayers were instrumental in the healing of her mother from hemorrhages. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College