Is your stream pleasant?

Over the past few months I have been without running water in my small caravan. There is a tap right outside and I have a large bottle which I fill and then bring inside to meet my needs... A cup of coffee, washing the dishes and even on occasion... washing me! Never has my attention been so focused on the importance of water in our daily lives. I am grateful that I do not have to walk long distances, with buckets or jars to fill at a well, but the #secondworldproblem of no plumbed water is still enough of an inconvenience to make me think of how great I had it when all I had to do was turn on a tap!
Water is essential to the human existence, both physically and spiritually. We cannot last more than a few days without it. Our bodies are made up of approximately 60% water. It keeps us healthy and alert, and can even assist in keeping our weight under control. These are things we all know! So why do we insist on skimping on Spiritual water? The Bible tells us it is FREE for anyone who is thirsty, which means all of us given that our spiritual needs are mirrored by our physical ones.

Isaiah 55:1 

"Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink--even if you have no money! 

Come, take your choice of wine or milk--it's all free!"

Last year I received a prophetic word for a friend in Afrikaans. I do NOT speak the language and had no idea what it was about. Feeling a wee bit foolish, I passed the message on verbatim and trusted that it actually meant something to him. (God does make us do embarrassing things sometimes!) Turns out that it did, and the Title of this blog was the translation. "Is your stream pleasant?" I knew straight away that the question was referring to the source of our water supply, the Holy Spirit. We can try to fill up on the world's artificially sweetened offerings, and we can have our bottle filled once a week at Church on Sunday. (A better choice, but still not what the Spirit was saying.) The woman at the well, whose life showed clear indication of a thirst unmet (5 husbands/boyfriends and still lacking), was making the arduous trip out to the village well to meet her physical needs when Jesus met her there and offered water that truly quenches. He explained that it would become an internal well!

John 4:14
"But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.

 It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."

That is where I think we fall short, so often forgetting to simply 'turn on the tap', and I am as guilty as the next person. When we receive the gift of praying in tongues, it is a flowing well that hydrates us and cleans out our spiritual pipes... IF we let it flow. My little caravan sink gets so clogged up with muck when I just pour a bit of water from the bottle as opposed to having the tap run freely. Not a pretty sight, believe me! So many people who have not come through in the gift of tongues are beginning to advocate that it is not for all, and the idea of 'waiting on God' or "tarrying for the Spirit" is so unpopular in this politically correct environment. I've had the discussion with many learned and genuine people... yet I cannot shake this revelation of the tap versus the bottle. I simply accept that the fountain is free for all, and that it is also under no water restrictions. I am happy to let the tap run often and see the life and growth that it brings about me. When I neglect praying in tongues, I dry up, period. 

Revelation 21:6

And he also said, 

"It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega--the Beginning and the End. 

To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life."

If you have already received the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues ... use it! Turn on the tap, often and let it flow out freely. If not, don't give up... tarry, press in, get desperately thirsty, and don't swallow the lie that is is not for everyone!!!