How can I drink from wells of salvation?

“Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3.

Life can be like a long journey across a vast, unknown land. Naturally speaking, we would not attempt such a journey without water to drink. The journey could result in great peril, distress and even death if there is no water. In His lovingkindness and mercy, God journeys with us to help and save us.

The God of salvation

Psalm 68:20 says, “Our God is the God of salvation; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death.” This means that God is the God of saving people! Salvation is rescue, deliverance or redemption from destruction, harm or ruin, which comes as a result of sin. God gives us words of life filled with Spirit and with power to save us from sin and from death! If we are faithful to seek these words of life, He will bring them to our remembrance in our circumstances, so that they can be opportunities to draw from these waters with joy and be saved from sin!

For example, Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9. If we choose to drink from these waters in a situation in which we are tempted to follow our own natural tendencies – which are to be opinionated, contentious, proud, and argumentative – then we are drinking from wells of salvation. By following Jesus’ words, we are becoming children of God. What a joy to draw such water.

In each situation that comes our way during the day we can either experience wells of salvation or fall into pits of corruption or destruction. That is to say, we can choose to follow the example that Jesus left us in the Word of God or we can follow our own human tendencies. There is so much that we need to be saved from; we have ample opportunities to draw from wells of salvation!

Green pastures and still waters

As human beings, we are filled with many “dry places” that are represented by fear, restlessness, lust, covetousness, contention, trust in systems that so easily crumble or fall through, anxiety and such. When we drink from the wells of the word of God we can come to a freedom from these things that plague people night and day. So much restlessness and stress about so many things turns the vast land of our life’s journey into a desert and takes away the joy that we should have. God’s intention is not that we are plagued and haunted, but instead His desire for us is what David writes in Psalm 23:2: “He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.”

How do we come to these green pastures and this water, this rich, full, happy life that is filled with the waters of life, God’s word, God’s life? Jesus will lead us there, but we must obey and follow Him.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.

With a sincere heart and prayer we can come boldly to God with such a simple cry as “Lord, forgive me and save me from such a dry, sinful life! Give me Your salvation and help me!” Even Jesus in the days of His flesh cried out to God, who was able to give Him salvation from death! (Hebrews 5:7)

Rivers of living water

When we believe God and give our self wholeheartedly to Him, He gives right back to us! We are filled with His words of spirit, life and power. (Ezekiel 36:25-27) In John 7:38 it is written, “He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” New life comes into us through His word, which we now practice, or drink from, in our everyday situations. Jesus said, “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water, springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14.

Now life can flow from us and we are saved in our situations. We no longer find ourselves alone in a desert place, but we draw life and power from Isaiah 12:2-6:

“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid;, the Lord Jehovah, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And in that day you will say: ‘Praise the Lord, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”