A HEART STEEPED IN THE WATER OF THE WORD

A HEART STEEPED IN THE WATER OF THE WORD
…so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word
Ephesians 5:26 (NASB).

The unfamiliar sound of the tea kettle whistled into the early morning stillness, and I made my way to the kitchen and lifted the kettle from the stove and the stillness returned as I poured boiling water into my mug, the steam swirling upward into the chill December dawn. This time of day usually finds me enjoying coffee with toffee nut creamer, but not today. A cold has settled in, so with my head feeling as though it is stuffed with cotton, I placed a tea bag in the water and carried my mug of comfort in one hand, a box of tissue in the other and shuffled to my place at the Well.

I curled up in my favorite chair at the Well, snuggling deep under a throw given to me by my Aunt Linda, and picked up a devotional called ‘I Come Quietly To Meet You’, which is a compilation of writings by one of my favorite heroes of the faith, Amy Carmichael. I opened it and read the words Amy had penned so long ago. And then these words caused me to stop as they entered and stirred my heart.

“Oh, what a book the Bible is! If only we would steep our souls in its mighty comfort…”

“Hmmmm…souls steeped in the Bible,” I whispered as I pondered what Amy had written.

I picked up the mug, gently lifted the tea bag from its steeping place, set it on the saucer and then took a sip of the tea. The steeping had done its work and the herbal tea soothed my throat and seemed to fill me on the inside with warming comfort.

I studied the tea bag and thought back to when I removed it from its packaging. It was dry and simply lay there. But when the tea bag was immersed in hot water and began to steep, something wonderful began to take place. The water softened it, and permeated it, filling it completely, drawing out the aroma, the flavor, the healing properties contained in herbal tea. My imagination stirred to wakefulness and the word picture of my heart steeping in the Word of God filled my thoughts.

A conversation came to mind that my friend Catherine Martin and I had recently about the power of the Word of God and how we are washed in the water of the word, …so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, Ephesians 5:26 (NASB).

The Lord brought to mind Psalm 119 which is all about the Word of God. I turned there in my Bible and as I began to read the Lord arrived and dipped my heart in the water of His Word and I settled in and began to steep in it. Why don’t you join me?

The psalmist often spoke of several responses he had toward God and His Word: “delight” (Ps. 119:16, 24, 35, 47, 70, 77, 92, 143, 174), “love” (vv. 47-48, 97, 113, 119, 127, 132, 159, 163, 165, 167), “obey” (vv. 8, 17, 34, 44, 56-57, 60, 67, 88, 100-101, 129, 134, 145, 158, 167-168; cf. “obeyed” in vv. 4, 136 and “obeying” in v. 5), “meditate” (vv. 15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148), and “rejoice” (vv. 14, 74, 162). He also wrote that he wanted God and His Word to “renew” him (vv. 25, 37, 40, 107, 149, 154, 156; cf. vv. 50, 93) and “preserve” him (vv. 88, 159). Twelve times the psalmist referred to himself as God’s servant (vv. 17, 23, 38, 49, 65, 76, 84, 124-125, 135, 140, 176).
—Bible Knowledge Commentary

As my heart soaked in the words of Psalm 119, I found myself wanting to dwell there in the water of His word all day. I thought I knew what the Psalmist meant when he wrote, “Your word is very pure, therefore Your servant loves it.” Psalm 119:40

Lord, thank You for Your Word. Like a tea bag, let my heart be immersed in the truth of Your living and active word. Fill me. Soften me. Permeate me. Heal me. Comfort me. Strengthen me. Correct me. Encourage me. Refresh me. Renew me. Love me. Teach me. Use me. Lord, as you fill me through the day with the truth of Your Word let it flow out of me into the lives of those you send my way today. Give me the courage to take them by the hand and lead them into the life giving water of your Word. To introduce them to Jesus, who is the Word made flesh, the living Word. I love you, Lord. Amen.

I was reminded of one of my favorite songs by MercyMe. I sat at the Well and listened to the words and they came over me with fresh meaning. You can listen too, if you like.

"Word Of God Speak"
Mercy Me
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

[CHORUS]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

[REPEAT CHORUS 2x]

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The world clock announced that it was time for me to get ready for work and begin a new day. As I left the Well I no longer shuffled, and though my head was still congested and felt filled with cotton, inside I was renewed and refreshed. Not because of anything I had done. No, it was all the Lord’s doing, for His word tells us in John 15:5 that apart from Him we can do nothing. I opened the door and stepped out into a world thirsty for the life that only He can give, and I was overwhelmed with thankfulness for the work He had done in my heart – a heart captured by grace and steeped in the water of His transforming, living Word.


An Original Conversations at the Well
© Copyright by Diana Morgan December 16, 2011