Words to Grow On

Archive Devotions

January 10, 2005

Stay Hydrated

by

Rebecca Dina

It is recommended by health professionals that we drink 8-10 glasses of water every day. This amount is supposed to keep our bodies hydrated, keep our skin supple, and keep our stomachs full so we will eat less, thus helping us to lose weight. All of these benefits are definitely desirable, but how many of us actually follow the advice and drink 8-10 glasses a day?

  As a mother who's nursing her second child, I try hard to drink the recommended amount. There are times when it is easy because I feel thirsty, but other times I have to remind myself to stay hydrated. I have heard that when our bodies feel thirsty, it means that we are already dehydrated. The feeling of thirst is the body's way of telling us "Drink something -now!"

  Most of us will follow our body's advice and drink, but if we were to stay properly hydrated in the first place then our bodies would not have to cry out. I am very good at keeping my physical body hydrated, but what about my spiritual thirst?

  When my soul is crying out for more of God, does that mean that I'm already dehydrated? Jesus promises that if we drink the water He gives us, we will never thirst again. It seems, then, that we should be getting our 8-10 glasses every day in the form of Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. Instead of waiting for our souls to cry out and tell us that we are dehydrated, we should prevent our souls from drying out in the first place. That means reading the Bible even when we don't feel like it, praying for those we may not like, and fellowshipping with other believers even when we are busy. Rather than merely quenching our spiritual thirst, we should stay hydrated!