Priming the Pump

by Desiree Bustamante

It takes Living Water to satisfy our soul’s thirst.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

When I was a child, my family used to vacation on a lake in Minnesota. We stayed in an old cabin, that had an old wood stove to keep us warm, and a water pump, that was our main source of water, for washing and cleaning up. Everyone had a job to do to get the cabin ready for the summer. One of my jobs was to prime the pump, since it always dried out after the long winter. If you’ve ever primed a pump, you know you need water to wet the seals (needed for suction) to bring water up from the well. I would fill a bucket of lake water, pour it in and start pumping. It often took a little time and energy until it was able to properly draw water, but it was always worth the effort. It’s impossible to live without water.

“Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
(When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.)” 

John 7:38, 39 New Living Translation

Our souls needs a soothing drink of water, living water, which comes from the Holy Spirit! We can‘t truly live without Him, yet we often forget that He is there, waiting for us to ask Him to help us understand God’s word, to give us strength when our faith is weak, and to give us wisdom. He is our advocate, our comforter, our guide. He can prime the pump of our soul with Scripture, filling us with wisdom and joy.

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 14:17 New Living Translation

The pump in the photo hasn’t been primed in a long time. It just sits there now and has no way to produce life-giving water for others. Don’t let your soul dry up like this pump! When you pray, remember the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to help you live “a life of goodness and peace and joy”, and the desire to share that water with others who thirst!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO

About Desiree Bustamante

I'm married to Steve and work in fundraising for Compassion International. My joy is to deliver encouragement in all of life's situations to the body of Christ and to those yet to be.