Is Your Well Running?

So many people in this country, myself included, don't give much thought to where their water comes from.  We are able to walk to the faucet, turn it on, and water comes out.  Most people give little to no thought into what is causing that water to come through the pipes.  However, even if you are on city water, it is likely coming from a well.
Where I live we have a unique situation when it comes to water.  Our house is on town water, we are actually the last house to the south of town on the line.  We have 4 water hydrants in various places on our property.  Two of these hydrants are connected to town water and two are actually connected to the well that runs a pivot sprinkler on a field next to our house.  Because these two hydrants are connected to "farm water" they only work when the well is running. The only time the well is running is when the farmer is running the sprinkler.  When the well is turned off you can't even get a drop of water out of them.  In order to operate properly, the power source has to be on.
It is the same way in our spiritual lives.  In order to function as we are designed, we must be plugged into the power source.  Being plugged in is so much more than showing up to church on a Sunday and throwing a $20 in the offering plate from time to time.  Being plugged in is a day by day and sometimes minute by minute immersion in the Word of God and in his presence.  That cannot be accomplished when the only relationship you have with him is one similar to two strangers that happen to be on the same elevator.  If you only pray when you need something or when you are desperate, you are missing out.
I have never ceased to be amazed at the power of the Word of God.  It's absolutely amazing how you can read a verse or story in the Bible and all of the sudden something new jumps off the page that you never noticed before.  However, in order to really understand the words on the pages of your Bible, you really need to plug into the Holy Spirit.

"But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.  The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone." 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 HCSB.

The Bible is such a unique book in the fact that the Holy Spirit gives us understanding.  An unbeliever can read a story or a verse and it is just dead words on a page.  However, if you have put your trust in the author of the book he will give you the understanding ("All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV).
It is such a shame that so many Christians and even whole denominations have either chosen not to acknowledge the Holy Spirit, or simply have made the Holy Spirit into something spooky or even radical.  The Holy Spirit is our power source.  He is the helper and the comforter.  Jesus himself said in his last days on Earth after the resurrection that he had to leave so that he could send the Holy Spirit.  "He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8 NIV.
We must desire to be plugged into that power every single day.  I know that when I unplug or allow myself to get "too busy" or simply distracted the power is not there.  There have been seasons where I have been unplugged and find myself bored when I read the Bible.  There is no life when you are not spending time with the one who gives life.  You also cannot give life to others when there is no life within you.  I want to encourage you, unplug from the busyness of life for a little while and plug into the very source of that life.  Spend time in the presence of a well that is always running and never runs dry.