Living water flows.

Deal bountifully with me, God!

I rejoice in You.

I recently noticed the sad condition of a creek running through a park I like to visit.  I use the term “running” loosely, because most of the year the water sits and stagnates. A trickle escapes around the dam through a self-made path in the creek bank. That tiny outlet isn’t enough to keep the stream healthy. The murky creek, clogged with weeds and covered with an icky film, detracts from the park’s beauty.

I imagined how beautiful a flowing stream would be. Pond scum and weeds would be eliminated by flowing water. It would require lowering the level of the dam. My next thought was, “What if the dam were lowered and the stream ran dry?”

A spiritual principle presented itself. Would I rather hoard what I’ve got against the possibility of drought or let provision flow through me and risk a dry season? God has adjusted my comfort zone over the past few years. I’ve learned that a dry river bed ready for God’s provision is better than a stagnant stream gathering weeds and old tires. Obedience is the best place to be. Like Paul, I’m learning how to abase and how to abound.

I’ve had to deal with my flesh when I obey God and give groceries to someone who seems to have more provision on the shelf than I do. My flesh doesn’t like that. But God! He’s my supply. I’ll never go hungry. I know what comes eventually, even if it isn’t on my time schedule. Bounty comes.

Psalm 13:6 - I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 116:7 -Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. Psalm 142:7 - "Bring my soul out of prison, So that I may give thanks to Your name; The righteous will surround me, For You will deal bountifully with me."

Each bounty verse above immediately follows or precedes a verse where David is crying out: God! Where are You? Remember me? If you feel forgotten – rejoice! God deals bountifully with His servants. He delights to give good things to His children. He sees in secret and rewards openly. Keep obeying. Press in!