Challenge: Dive In!

The fourth of July is past. It’s the middle of summer. The kids are bored. The days are hot. The lawn is drying out. The garden needs weeded. Can we go to the pool?

There are few things more refreshing than a dip in the pool on a hot summer day. Just

getting close to a pool is energizing: the smell of chlorine and sunscreen, the laughter of children, the sound of splashing water – it’s all good!

Sometimes on our vacations, the most often repeated phrase (other than “are we there yet?”) was “can we go back to the hotel and swim?” It seemed no matter how interesting our destinations were — the pool was the most popular venue.

On a trip a few years ago, our son participated in a “Belly Flop” contest. This photo shows his amazing form and height. Oh yes, he came down hard; but he won! And, I’m sure the water felt great… after the initial smack.

As we approach the middle of summer, are you starting to feel spiritually dried out? Maybe you want to sleep in on Sunday morning because you’re bored? Are you starting to feel a little restless? You just don’t have the energy, or desire, to open the Bible and read it each day? Perhaps you’re so far behind in the “Read-through-the-year” that you’re considering throwing in that towel? Are “spiritual weeds” starting to sprout? Do you find that you have to pull bitterness out by the root almost daily? Is unforgiveness popping up? Or anger? Are you longing for refreshment? Do you need a trip to the pool?

“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.” – Psalm 42:1 NLT

When we fail to spend time with God regularly, we get parched. Our souls long for God, but sometimes we think we are longing for other things and we try to meet the longing with things other than God. What we really need is time with God. The more we spend time with the Lord, praying, reading and studying His word, the more our souls are refreshed.

Blessed is the one …whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water… whose leaf does not wither.” – Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

My challenge to you: Go to the Living Water and take a refreshing dive with the Lord. It’s not too late in the summer to start a new habit! If you’ve wandered into the desert of spiritual dryness by skipping your quiet time with Jesus, you can still turn around and get back on the right track. And when you do, you will find Jesus is right there waiting for you!

“If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” – John 4:10 NLT

Jesus is waiting to quench your thirst, renew your spirit, refresh your soul, and invigorate your entire being. Will you dive in with God today? If you’re afraid it might smack like a belly flop, you can rest assured the refreshing cool water of God’s Word will quickly revive you!

… and let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…