Sunday night I ministered in my home church. Richard and I are on a new adventure to live in a new state, and that means a new church family, and part of saying goodbye was an invitation to preach.
After the message titled At His Feet, people lined up to pray, hands lifted high in the air.
“What do you need from God today?” I asked one.
She smiled. “I want it all.”
I laughed out loud. What a beautiful request. “Then let’s ask for it all,” I said.
How many times do we come to God with our hands cupped small? Like a beggar hoping for a penny or a crumb from the table, and yet this is the Savior who said:
. . . 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.”John 7:37b-38 (NIV)
Rivers.
Not the drop that was being poured at that exact moment by a High Priest in this passage of scripture, but rivers of water pouring out from within.
My friend will soon be leaving for Africa. She is leaving her extended family. Her church. She’s running after a call on her life that has been in her heart for nearly 10 years. She’s waited and saved and educated herself as hurdle after hurdle stood in her way.
And she wants to climb on that plane with everything that her God offers.
Maybe you’ve been cupping your hands, open and anticipating that drop of encouragement.
But what if today your heart widens to receive everything that He holds out to you.
Let’s pray that prayer together.
Lord, I’ve been holding my hands cupped for a drop or a crumb from Your table, and yet You shouted to the world that if I am thirsty I can come and drink, and rivers of Living Water will flow from my life, splashing out on my marriage and my children and my neighbors, and over me. Today I open my heart wide for that outpouring and celebrate like a child in summer at the drenching over my heart and life. In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.
Resources
The Spirit-Led Heart; Living a Life of Love and Faith Without Borders
We have a Helper who empowers, offers direction, fills us up. This book gently shares how to live as a world changer, and how to live in the gift that is for all of us.
Thank you, I had not looked at this verse with the focus on “river”, not just a simple glass of water, but a wide and large river, overflowing, able to satisfy all your thirsts. Beautiful graphic at the top to go with the verse also.
Even as I prayed for her, I realized that I, too, wanted all that God had. Loved how her request made so much sense. 🙂
What a great reminder. I’m praying with boldness today. Thanks Suzie.
I have not prayed for more but I want more. Daily I am in pain, my stress seems great. We are living with my husband’s mother. We have had two arguments. I had to forgive. Since finding proverbs 31, i have completed the studies made to crave, unglued, let go let god, unburdened heart, stressless living. Wher would I be without this information. So perhaps I am getting more. I HAVE BEEN WRITING. Oh how good God is…. my blog is diana157@wordpress.com.
Suzie, what a beautiful story! Sometimes I think that if I pray for too much I am being selfish or greedy, even though I know in my heart that He is my supply and wants me to come to Him for all things. I will pray for it all and leave it in God’s hands! (As my mom has been telling me all my life!)
I love this…praying for everything God has to offer. I also smiled when I read this because this is my 4 yo daughter’s memory verse right now, and I don’t think there’s a sweeter sound in the world than hearing her sweet voice saying these words.
Wonderful! I’m coming boldly to the throne! Janet