I first found this passage in Ezekiel 47 in April of 2004 and immediately loved it. I know the date because I wrote it in the margin of my Bible, along with a drawing of a water spicket. Let me explain ...
I was praying at the time, mostly about the ministry opportunites that were in front of me, and I had this vision flash before my eyes. Now before you start thinking I am super freaky or super spiritual, let me assure you that this kind of thing doesn't happen to me often. But I saw a water spicket, and then a massive hand (Hand of God) began turning the knob to turn the faucet on. Water started to trickle out. And I somehow knew it was salty water - like I could taste it, but I was only watching it. The hand kept turning, and the flow steadily increased until it was pouring out. Meanwhile, the water gradually changed over from salty to fresh.That was it; the vision ended. So I searched in my Bible for references to salty and fresh water and came right to Ezekiel 47. I felt God was speaking to me about becoming an agent of healing for others, and about evangelism.
If I could pick one spot in the Bible to live, it would be here in Ezekiel on the riverbanks by the temple. Even more so than the Garden of Eden ... even more so than in the Gospels where I could listen to Jesus, though that is a very close second! For me, I am just awed by this description Ezekiel wrote of the vision he saw. It draws me to God, heart and soul. I hope you've been drawn to Him today too. Take a moment and read that passage in Ezekiel 47:1-12 and journal your reactions - or post them in the comments here so we can glean from them too.
Did I leave you feeling envious with this devotion because you don't live close enough to visit a beach today? Well I can bring the beach to you! Follow this link to watch the ocean from the web-cam at one of my nearby beaches. It's complete with sound, so you can open it in an Internet window and let it run in the background with the sound of the surf while you read in Ezekiel. After you read, close your eyes, listen to the surf, pray, and take your own dip in the river of God.
I have to say how inspiring this blog (and morning email were). Struggling with a few things right now in my daily life it seems like water has been my "safe place"; it's calming, soothing, relaxing and so freeing to just lay in the water and veg. The images in this passage just further cemented that everything was given to us for God's purpose even if we don't realize it. I'll now remember when I'm lying in a nice warm tub or doing laps a the local pool this passage and how wonderfully refreshing just laying in God's creation can be.
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel. I don't think you are superspiritual. I believe in dreams and visions. The Lord wants to speak to his people and this is one of the ways he does so. I pray we all are not frightened or freaked out by this way of communication. Very good post. I am now going to take a look at your beach as I don't have one here in the midwest. Take care!
ReplyDeleteNicole
Hi there Rachel,
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, there is no cotton-pickin' way I would have gone to the beach 2 hours before church. LOL I barely go now and it's not far from our house...but then, I'm not much a beach person. (!)
That said - I LOVED your devotion. I loved how you gave in and went anyway, and received refreshment from the Lord. God DOES speak to us through dreams and visions. Thanks so much for this wonderful devo!
Hello Rachel! I came to tell you I loved your devotion this morning and the other one I received from Charles Stanley had this verse with it: http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&word=ps+42:5-8&version=nas
ReplyDeleteHe had cleansing waters on his mind today too!
- ShabbyInTheCity
Hi Rachel:
ReplyDeleteI don't think of you as super spiritual but I do believe that you are someone who is in communication with our Lord and Savior. I believe that the Lord desires to communicate with all his children and I join Nicole in prayer that we will not be frightened but discern the voice of our Lord in whatever method He chooses to speak.
Rachel, I don't know if you read my comments on your previous post, but if you did you know that my family and I went through a very deep valley last week when the twin son of my husband's niece died from multiple injuries in his head after a car wreck. It happened 5 minutes from their home. In fact his brother passed the wreck and called his parents because he recognized the car and figured it was his brother.
ReplyDeleteOur niece, her husband and the 19 year old twin left behind are devastated. I cried when I first learned of the accident and death of our nephrew, but had not been able to really let go until I read your devotion. I know God was with all of us. The father's sister was sitting in the lobby by herself I assume after he died. She said that Ian appeared before her and told her that he was okay and not to worry about him. (He had given his parents a lot of problems since he was about 14.) He had recently started back to church and seemed to be doing better. He told his aunt to tell his dad that he was okay. The dad has been a nonbeliever even though his father was a minister and his mother a great woman of faith. They all still need prayer. The twins were 3 months old when they were adopted, but they were precious little boys. We had not seen them since 2003.
Everyone has been so supportive and I appreciate all the prayers.
Thanks for your spiritual insight, it is truly a special gift that God has given you.
AliceE.
I had forgotten how wonderfully restoring it can be to be in or near water. On a day that I was feeling particularly crabby, my children suggested that I take them to a nearby swimming hole that I had not gone to before. While they swam, I walked around the perimeter, time and again, watching the ripples on the water, listening to the wind in the trees. I felt as I had when sitting near a waterfall or river near my home when a child. I love the Bible Verse to link with these experiences! Thank you, Rachel, for bringing it to me today!
ReplyDeleteRV from MN
I love being by the water or on the water. One of my dreams is to own a house by the lake. A favourite pastime of mine when I lived in Jamaica was to go by the waterfront in Kingston and look out onto the surface of the water and just imagine all my cares and anxieties just flowing away. Being in the water is another matter because I still have not mastered swimming so I still have that fear of sinking or drowning. But this morninig's devotion made me think of the attributes of Christ and one of them is "Living Water". How precious it is to have that water flow over us, to wash us and cleanse us from all burdens of sin and shame. Not only that, this water of life which is Jesus, also washes away all our cares and concerns and that is especially comforting for me because I always feel overwhelmed with resposibilities and activities. But our Saviour gives us that refreshing as His spirit flows through us relieving us from all the pressures of this life. Thank you so much for that thought.
ReplyDeleteHey, Rachel! I loved the post. Interestingly enough, Vonda at Higher Grounds posted about that SAME scripture last week!! I read it last night before bed, and here it was this morning in my devotional! I love how God does stuff like that!!! Enjoy your day, friend!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Susan
You all are making me want to go to the beach!
ReplyDeleteI am grateful you are not super spiritual. I am also grateful you are obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
He is using you in unique & beautiful ways!
Love ya!
This is a great passage of scripture. Thank you! When I read it this morning from your devotion I truly felt refreshed in my soul. And the words that reached out to me were "keep in mind" what we have seen. Remember all He has done and is doing.
ReplyDeleteI am going to re-visit this scripture passage tomorrow morning so He can speak to me again.
I think I am going to pull out a beach towel from the linen closet and lay down on it while I real. :)
Thanks, Rachel!
Rachel & Susan:
ReplyDeleteIs that not so like God? Susan, thank you for sharing with Rachel my post on HOW DEEP IS THE WATER? Rachel, thank you for stopping in and reading my blog.
Let's go swimmin, out in the deep, with God leading us!
Lovingly,
YOLANDA
http://yolanda-highergrounds.blogspot.com/
Hi
ReplyDeleteMy little girl has been asking repeatedly if I will take her to the local pool to go swimming. I'm not a big fan of the pool but don't want her to miss out. So when we go at the weekend I'll bring to mind these verses and maybe it won't seem such a chore!
And I loved looking at and listening to the beach cam while I read the verses agin from Ezekiel. Once again, Rachel I've received so much from your devotional, many thanks.
And I agree with Julie - there's no way I'd agree to go to the beach 2 hours before church - but maybe I#ve been missing out on something special from God. I'm going to try being a bit more spontaneous and see what happens!!
Sandra
I needed this today! Thank you for writing it! I feel refreshed from reading it!
ReplyDeleteBless you!
Cheri
As I read Aqua Viva today I was reminded of the lyrics of a Norah Jones song entitled "Toes" on her Feels Like Home CD. Check out the lyrics online. I am further reminded that ONLY my toes have been in the water for too long now. What a wonderful reminder to go deeper with God.
ReplyDeleteRachel,
ReplyDeleteHello, I read your devotion this morning. At first I thought NO way, not 2 hours before church. I would of been thinking about all I have to do. But reading, and placing myself in your position, Wow, it sounded so relaxing, calming, and where once again we can find the peace that the Lord so wants us to have and enjoy on a SUNDAY! I would of been Thanking him for the moment, and I bet you really enjoyed church Sunday as well.
I know how I feel when I can get in my tub, with victoria secret bubble bath, the smell, those wonderful bubbles, candle glowing and my worship music playing, it is so wonderful, and I feel so at peace. If only starbucks would deliver I know I would of died and went to heaven. :)
So amen,amen to your devotional, thank you! Looking forward to going to the beach this weekend. As long as the hurricanes stay away.
God Bless
Sharon
If you have time come meet Pecan!
He is soooo cute, just scroll down alittle on my site. :)
Oh Rachel-I love that webcam! My favorite place to be is the beach. I am so glad for this webcam. God's creation amazes me.
ReplyDeleteLove that Ezekial passage. Wow-I really need to study it deeper but my first impressions were we have a choice to go to swallow or deeper places with God. He can refresh anything and make it new again. Loved it.
Much love,
Angela
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteGreat devotional, I am reading Ezekiel right now in a chronological reading I'm doing and you gave it some spark. It gave me some new enthusiasm (sp) to dig into it.
I love the fact that you went to the beach before church. Sometimes when we get too wrapped in the
"I got to do ???" we don't allow ourselves the blessings. That Mary and Martha thing. :)
Thanks your insight is always wonderful.
I pray the storms are not near you or threatening you in any way.
Love,
Lynn
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI read your devotion last week and loved the Ezekial passage. I have been pondering water in the Scripture for a few months now. The vision of cleansing and healing is so comforting. Here are a few more verses that speak to me on this:
Psalm 87:6-7 - 6 The LORD will write in the register of the peoples:
"This one was born in Zion."
Selah
7 As they make music they will sing,
"All my fountains are in you."
Revelation 17:16-17 -
16Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Psalm 1: 1-3 -
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Isaiah 42:2-4 -
2 This is what the LORD says—
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
John 4:13-14 -
13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
I love the imagery of water; of peaceful streams and of springs that fill me. I hope you are blessed this week and that the waters around you remain calm.
- Karen