Friday, April 20, 2018

How to Live a Well-Watered Life




It's been a wet spring where I live in the Midwest. As a gardener, I'm enjoying the beauty of God's well-watered creation while it lasts, since summer is usually marked by drought. The tulips are marching in glorious procession, opening their faces to the sun. Their well-watered leaves and blossoms sing praises to God.

Maybe when you think about being well-watered, you think about self-care. So many of us women don't rest enough, piddle around enough, or pamper ourselves enough. Yes, most of us need more self-care to feel well-watered and productive. As important as this is, a chapter in Isaiah defines well-watered in a different way.


Turn to Isaiah 58 and slowly read those 14 verses. 

Here's how God tells us to live a well-watered life:
  • Loosen the chains of injustice
  • Set the oppressed free
  • Share food with the hungry
  • Provide wanderers with shelter
  • Clothe the naked
  • Minister to your own family
  • Stop blaming and slandering others
  • Honor the Sabbath

He promises if we do those things, we will be like well-watered gardens. We will find joy in the Lord. Our needs will be satisfied, and we will be strengthened and healed. 

God wants us to have well-watered hearts so we can minister to others. He will fill us up so we can pour love and kindness into the world.

Don't let this list intimidate you, friend. I have ideas for how we can seek these goals in creative ways.

Our well-watered hearts will pour God's love and kindness onto others.



Like you, I'm busy with work, family, church, and my home. At this time in my life, I can't go on a mission trip, add an orphan to our family, or organize a fundraiser. But we don't have to do something big to make a giant difference in God's kingdom. Our small offerings count just as much.

Let's look at simple ideas for each of these points:
  • Loosen the chains of injustice--give a monthly donation to foreign missions, like Mission India or Food for the Poor
  • Set the oppressed free--Adopt a child from Compassion or World Vision
  • Share food with the hungry--donate to your local food bank
  • Provide wanderers with shelter--host a traveling family
  • Clothe the naked--take a load of outgrown clothes to Salvation Army or the women's shelter
  • Minister to your own family--cook a Sunday dinner together, play board games, or walk outside
  • Stop blaming and slandering others--pray before speaking, and certainly before posting on social media
  • Honor the Sabbath--slow it way, way down (and enjoy a book!)

Pray about which one of these points God wants to apply this week. Let your soul feel refreshed by His living waters as you participate in a new activity.

As a well-watered garden, you will be a source of life and peace for everyone around you.

Blessings and God's peace to you,



Photo from Canva.com

Discussion questions:

  1. Other than your church, which ministry do you support with time or money?
  2. What practical step will you take today to minister more effectively to your family?

5 comments:

  1. Well-watered. I just like the way that sounds, the way it feels when you say it. Your list with ideas about how to focus on others is simple, with something there for all of us to do. I love this way that God shows us His way of refreshing is so different from the world’s.

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  2. Thanks for your kind words, Dianne! Great to see your smiling face here. Blessings to you!

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  3. Sarah! Oh my goodness. I was just studying this chapter for God impressed upon my heart the importance of integrity while fasting. I love your ideas of how to implement the examples given to live a well-watered life. So good!

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  4. Thanks for the insight and practical list, Sarah!

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  5. Oh, how I want to be a source of life and peace to those around me. Scripture tells us how! Thanks so much for sharing the list - you always help me put it into real life!

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