Look to the One

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." (John 7:37b)
Feeling a bit parched? Searching to quench that thirst with an iced tea or Diet Coke? Dive into the Word for real refreshment! I try to be diligent in my Bible reading and am often rewarded by God's speaking to my heart through particular scriptures. I pause and sometimes even write them down. The reflection usually ends there, however. This year, I would like to pursue the verses that God lays on my heart by pondering how He wants me to apply these verses in my life.

Here is what spoke to me this week:

[T]he defenses of Judah are stripped away. And you looked in that day to the weapons in the Palace of the Forest; you saw that the City of David had many breaches in its defenses; you stored up water in the Lower Pool. You counted the buildings in Jerusalem and tore down houses to strengthen the wall. You built a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.

Isaiah 22:8-11

Today's verses recount the Assyrian encampment around Jerusalem during King Hezekaih's reign. As the Israelites anticipated a siege, they feverishly set out to do what needed to be done. They took inventory of their weapons and made new ones. They repaired and fortified the walls that surronded their city. They made sure to store water since their main supply was outside the city gates. None of these things were inherently bad; in fact, they were prudent. The problem was that in the midst of their preparations, they failed to seek guidance from God.

How often do we forget about seeking God in the midst of a crisis? How often do we put our preparations ahead of our meditations?

• Do we take inventory of our talents and strengths without remembering that God has equipped us with these gifts? (Hebrews 13:20-21) Do we not consider that God has planned this situation and has given us this gifts "for such a time as this"? (Esther 4:14)
• Do we put up walls of our own making to protect ourselves from being hurt, while forgetting that Christ calls us to suffer for Him? (Romans 8:16-18)
• Do we try to quench our thirst with physical water while forgetting that it is Christ and God's Word that truly satisfy our craving? (John 4:12-14)

Making preparations from our strengths is not wrong; we simply must remember that those strengths are from God and to look to Him.

So, what verses have spoken to you this week? Post those verses on your own blog, along with how you see that God wants you to apply them in your life. Then, provide your link below so that we can drink from one another's wells of scripture.