The Extravagance of Water
I had a rough week last week... battling the respiratory malady of the season that's been
making its way through town. Not covid, not the flu, just a bug that includes all the covid-
and flu-like symptoms of coughing, fever, congestion, headache and achiness. It's my own
dang fault. My husband caught the thing first and cautioned me not to get too close or I'd
catch it from him-mind you, he's kinda a touch-me-not kinda guy-so I sassed, "I don't
get sick!" And that sealed my fate, I'm sure! I still have a Jessica-rabbit kinda hoarseness
that's less sexy and more phlegmy than I would like.
I settled into my routine of over-the-counter meds-decongestant, pain relievers, zinc,
and vitamin C-and still felt like I'd been hit by a Mac truck. So, I did the next best
therapeutic thing I could think of. I hopped into a shower as hot as I could stand it, which
was pretty hot since I was chilled to the bone, and just stood there for about twenty
minutes. No exhaust blower, no cracked door to let the steam out, just hot, moist (yes,
moist...whatever is people's problem with that word!?), moist billowing steam rolling into
my lungs and bones and nasal passages and muscles.
Oh my word! Did it feel good. I could breathe. The heat soothed my chills and achiness,
and after twenty good minutes of it, I was pretty sure I would live. All bets were off just
moments before! My gratitude journal for the last several days has included hot water, hot
tea, soaking baths, strong water pressure, and steam. You may think I'm silly, but I'm
convinced hot showers are a gift directly from Heaven. This week they felt like healing
from head to toe, sent down by angels and unicorns. Our water bill is gonna be sky high!
In many parts of the world, such an extravagance of water would be unthinkable. When
you don't have enough water to sustain life, you don't waste it on 20-minutes hot showers,
spa tubs, or rainforest humidity bathrooms. I found myself not just grateful, but humbly
grateful. At my fingertips is not only all the water I need, but also all the water I might
want for greener grass, double-rinsed laundry, an automatic dishwasher, and multiple
showers in a day. No wonder I'm on a gratitude trip about water.
It made me think of one of my favorite stories from the Old Testament. I'm reading from 2
Kings 3, verses 9-18, New King James Version.
9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a
compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle
that followed them.
10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to
deliver them into the hand of Moab!
11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of
the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha
the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
12 And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and
Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the
prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto
him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand
of Moab.
14 And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that
I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor
see thee.
15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the
hand of the LORD came upon him.
16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
17 For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley
shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into
your hand.
First of all, I love the sass of Elisha... He doesn't mince words at Joram, King of Israel, who
is Ahab's and Jezebel's son. Ahab is one of if not the worst King that Israel ever had, and
his wife Jezebel is the great villainess of Old Testament times. No one is so evil as she, and
today, if there is strife and haranguing and evil, you can just about count on a church
mother to call out a "jezebel spirit" in the mix. So Joram gets no respect. But because
Jehosophat is there, Elisha stays.
And then with a little mood music, Elisha receives a word from God. "This is what the
LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches."
Ditches? Some translations say trenches. Fill this valley with trenches. The three kings,
their men, and their cattle and horses are about to get water. They are about to get LIFE.
In an extravagance of water, verse 20 in the NIV says, "The next morning, about the time
for offering the sacrifice, there it was-water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the
land was filled with water."
What's curious to me is that preparation had to be made to receive the life-giving water.
God didn't need them to dig ditches... in fact Elisha said, "This is but a light thing in the
eyes of the LORD." I like the NIV translation, and I quote it and meditate on it, especially
when I'm asking God for big things, for big moves, for next steps. "This is an easy thing in
the eyes of the LORD."
Still, God asks them to prepare. Dig ditches. Do some work. God doesn't need our work.
But our work reveals what we believe about God. What we DO reveals more about what
we believe than what we SAY.
Do I believe that God is my Source, and that according to His word He is my provider and
sustainer? If so, what "ditches" am I digging to reveal that? Am I avoiding unsecured debt?
Providing value to my clients without overcharging or underperforming? Keeping my
accounts up to date, and working with integrity?
When God speaks about next steps? Do I believe Him? Do I cheerfully obey? Do I take steps
that He's revealed without waiting for the whole picture? Am I faithful to follow Him
wherever He leads?
Can you imagine these thirsty warriors, with no water for themselves or their horses, and
Joram, King of Israel, complaining loudly that they're all gonna die at the hands of the
Moabites. The work wasn't pleasant. There was no wind, no cooling breeze or drizzle of
rain. Just back-breaking, hot, sweaty work, to do what God said. I imagine them looking at
each other and asking "Why are we doing this?"
When God first spoke to me about Talk & Pray I had no idea what this business would look
like. I started digging ditches... surveying women about identity, authenticity, purpose, and
vision. I outlined courses, and I researched how I could offer them on-line. I started an
idea file, gleaning ideas from personal Bible study, Sunday sermons, YouTube, business
courses, conversations with my business coach, and podcasts. I started building a website
and changed the content dozens of times. Now, three years in, many of those first
iterations of my coaching, courses, and content look very different.
God took me on a journey of ditch-digging obedience to build my character, my
understanding, and my ability to receive what He is building through Talk & Pray.
I got to dig some ditches. I got to see His purposes unfold in His time, and each new
revelation was like velvety, piping-hot water on sore muscles, and roiling steam opening
up closed airways and giving me new life. Some of those trenches aren't filled yet, and
some are still being dug, inch by inch. They will be filled in God's time. This is an easy thing
in the eyes of the Lord.
It's no coincidence that Jesus identifies Himself as Living Water. Echoing back to Moses
who by God's command brought water out of the Rock, and to the prophets who spoke of
flowing rivers, and springs in the desert, and to John the Revelator, to whom the angel
showed "the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb." (Revelation22:1 NIV)
What are some ditches that need digging in your life or business? What areas of your life
or business need the cool, clear, living water that only Jesus can give you? We think we
want to see God magically drop everything into our laps, and when the miracle occurs
we'll be set! But that's now how He works. Transformation takes work-His work and
ours-and there are no shortcuts. At the moment of what seems like death-the time of
the sacrifice, the passage notes-His living water rushes in.
Ask Him where He wants you to dig. Chances are it will be in Death Valley. In
circumstances that seem destined for failure. And when the water hits, you'll breathe like
it's brand new. It'll feel extravagant and precious. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the
Lord.
Father,
Thank you for Living Water, for the spiritual reality of a loving Father who provides for
His children from the waters of Eden to the river of Life before the throne of God and the
Lamb. Lord, You are our source! You are the life giver, the One who washes us clean and
gives healing to our body and soul.
I pray for clarity, Father, to know where to dig ditches, and where You want to fill my life
and business with Your presence and Your purpose. You are not interested in our
busyness, but in the business of becoming like You as we live and work. Give us the
courage to take the steps You have ordered. And show us the victory You have already
given us. This is an easy thing in Your eyes! I pray the land is filled with Your water!
