I blacked out at the gym on my 55th birthday. Confused, fatigued, and irritated, somehow I made my way home. A cup of coffee was all that I had chosen to sustain me through my workout. The diagnosis from the doctor was dehydration. Water before coffee is my priority now. What’s your drink of choice first thing in the morning? What do you reach for along with your Bible and journal? Orange juice, tea, coffee? According to Michael Breus, Ph.D., “We lose almost a full liter of water every single night, so we wake up dehydrated.” Just as our cars run on fuel, we need water for us humans. Without water, our bodies cannot function properly. So why not try drinking water before coffee to rehydrate at the start of your day?
Who is at Risk?
- Athletes
- people who live at higher elevations
- older adults
As an older athlete, the risk of dehydration is real for me. My curious nature led me to read and research more facts about dehydration.
Typically, our physical hydration status changes daily. And what about our spiritual hydration status? What does spiritual dehydration look like?
3 Signs of Spiritual Dehydration
- Irritation
- Fatigue
- Confusion
Like the Israelites’ bickering and complaining to Moses about the lack of fresh water, the Sunday School teacher weary of putting together one more Zoom lesson, or the one struggling to make sense of life, we may find ourselves spiritually dehydrated. Some of us may suffer acute dehydration when we’ve been in the heat of the battle too long. Others of us may experience chronic dehydration, forcing ourselves to continually serve beyond our quick sip of the Word each morning. The remedy for both is to slake our spiritual thirst in the deep well of Living Water. God is the Fountain of Living Water. Jesus told the Samaritan Woman, “those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (John 4:14)
We don’t have to look far to soothe our irritated souls, find rest for our weary hearts, and glean insight into our overwhelming struggles. We need only to go deep within, to that fresh bubbling spring of Living Water implanted in our hearts.
Let’s Reflect
Spend some time in prayer seeking the Fountain of Living Water to quench your thirsty soul. When was the last time you took a deep drink from the Living Water? What signs of dehydration have you had along your spiritual journey?
Let’s Pray
Jesus, You are the Fountain of Living Water that we seek. You are the Well that never runs dry. May we be like trees planted by the water’s edge. May we find ourselves renewed, refreshed, and restored in Your presence. In Your name, we pray. Amen.