God's Holy Fire: 'Rivers of Living Water Now Flowing'

Friday, December 12, 2025

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 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. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

Key Thought

It is dry in my part of the world this early winter as this devotional thought is being written. The weather experts say it will be dry through spring. When I go to the country and drive down gravel and dirt roads, the dust is like powder - so fine that it seeps in through the seals on the doors and windows. Winter wheat and oats are stymied, withered shoots just out of the ground because there is not enough moisture to help them grow. Our lives, our spirits, can feel parched and dry just like these crops. All the big religious celebrations in the world can't remove this dryness. They may make us forget it for a while, but just for a while. Our spiritual thirst can be slaked only by the Spirit of the Living God. Jesus poured out the Spirit when we first became his true followers. Yet even with the ongoing presence of the Spirit within us, we can lose sight of the living water within us. So let's draw close to Jesus and ask that the Spirit's presence have greater influence, power, and refreshment in our inner being.

Today's Prayer

O Father, God Almighty and God who is near, help me to sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. May the Spirit have greater influence over my heart and my behavior. I willingly offer myself to be shaped, empowered, and refreshed by the Spirit as I am conformed to be more and more like Jesus. It is in Jesus' name that I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

16 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of John 7:37-39 NLT — "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"   ——   "living water,"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, December 12, 2025

A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
"[Jesus continued his parable about the Kingdom of Heaven being like workers hired at different times during the day:] "That evening [the landowner]..."
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"[In Ephesus, next] Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. But some...."
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!"

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.