Those with faith and assurance in Christ live each and every moment in the presence of God. Acts 17:28 tells us that “In Him we live, and move, and have our being”.  Through the gift of prayer, we can be in conscious contact with God at any time by turning to Him in our thoughts, and the gift of His presence fills our hearts and minds.  And in those moments, He begins to wash over us to bring us knowledge of the peace and freedom we have as His children.

Once, a crew of shipwrecked sailors were drifting on open waters in the Atlantic Ocean, and dying for want of water.  Finally, when all hope seemed lost, another small boat came within shouting distance, and the perishing sailors cried out for water.

The rescuers simply called back, “Let down your buckets”.  Finally, after repeating this several times, one of the sailors dipped the bucket overboard…    and drew up clear, sparkling, FRESH water!

They had, in fact, been sailing through fresh water for several days and didn’t even know it.  They were out of sight of the land, but were floating off the estuary of the Amazon River – which carries fresh water out to sea for hundreds of miles.

Have you had a ‘fresh water’ moment or two in your lives?  I certainly have.  And yet when all seems hopeless in our human power, God’s strength and provision is always faithful.

Closer is He than breathing; nearer than hands and feet.

-Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809 – 1892)

Hope you’re having a great week.  I’ll see you Sunday!

In His grip, Christopher Reed

Fresh Water