Clear waters. Clear heart and mind. And how idleness clouds.

In the backyard of my old home I had this beautiful waterfall pond. The water pulls from this small size pool that then pours down from the waterfall back into the pool, recycling the water through and through. I loved sitting outside reading while water is pouring down, a little escape like I’m sitting at the base of a magnificent waterfalls at Yosemite. But it takes work for this waterfall to function properly and to it’s fullest potential. The pool water itself needs to be cared for with chemicals to keep it clean, skimmed of leaves and others objects that drop in the water and have to clean out the filters. This water also needs to be frequently stirred up to mix the chemicals and have circulation within the water which means running the waterfall at least for an hour once a day. Sometimes I neglect to do these things and the effect varies on the duration of neglect. When it’s been cold, rainy, windy, and gloomy I did not have the motivation to go do the work because I wouldn’t be sitting out there enjoying the waterfall. I would glance through the window once in awhile checking on the condition of the pool water as I know I had been neglecting it. At one point it had been over a month since I had done any of these things when I usually did them weekly. I could see the water getting dirtier, greener and darker. I finally went out there to take a closer look at it and saw what I was afraid of, I would have to do great work to get it clean and running once again. The pool walls itself were thick with algae because I failed to pour in the proper chemicals, the bottom filled with dirt and leaves because I failed to remove that which dropped in it. I had thick stagnant water and clogged filters, unable to flow the water through the pumps to pour the once clean and clear water beautifully down the waterfall to be enjoyed. What could be beautiful flowing waterfall was then a stagnant dirty and clouded pool of gross water. 

 When I stared into this cloudy pool of water I realized how cloudy by heart, mind and perspective had become because I was neglecting time in the Word. When I am overwhelmed with an exhausted mind I can choose idleness of heart and mind rather than that which will pour life into me, being in the Word. When idleness creeps in my perspective gets clouded because of failing to pour into my heart and soul that which breathes life and fail to often see what things are dropping in my mind that I need to remove. Allowing things of the world to drop in my life when not being saturated in truth begins a slow subtle drift like algae slowly covering the walls of my heart and mind no longer allowing me to see life clearly. Discouragement, anxiousness and doubt creeps in my cloudy vision. When I grow weary and despondent I get more focused on entitlement rather than calling. My perspective turns narrowly inward focus and I no longer am flowing with life to give to others. Eternal perspective is anchoring for me and when I lose sight of that I’m prone to be discouraged and give up rather than persevere. I need the Holy Spirit overlooking the water of my soul reminding me and empowering me to do the work to clean it out again by letting the Word pour into me so I can be a life giving flowing fountain.

if you pour yourself out for the hungry
 and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
 then shall your light rise in the darkness
 and your gloom be as the noonday.
 And the LORD will guide you continually
 and satisfy your desire in scorched places
 and make your bones strong;
 and you shall be like a watered garden,
 like a spring of water,
 whose waters do not fail.
 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
 you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
 you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
 the restorer of streets to dwell in.

Isaiah 58:10-12 ESV

Posted in: on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at

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