“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters … Why spend … your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen … eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare … come to me … that your soul may live.” – Isaiah 55:1-3 NIV

Remember the story of the Samaritan woman? Jesus asked her for a drink then said if she knew who He was she would have asked Him for a drink and He would have given her Living Water. Jesus went on to tell her that everyone who drinks this water would never thirst again because the water He gives becomes a spring welling up to eternal life (John 4:7-14).

That’s the well I want to drink from! Don’t you?

Sitting on a park bench in front of a picturesque fountain in the Rose Garden at Loose Park, I was minding my own business making up a melody about this desire when a gentleman walked by and said, “Nice little tune you got going there!” I told him I was singing about the Fountain of Eternal Pleasure and asked if he knew about it.

He inquired, “Where is it?”

I replied, “His name is Jesus Christ,” and asked if he knew the Lord? He gave the typical response, “Sure,” leaving me no clue as to the extent of his relationship.

I prodded, “As your Savior?”
“Yes.”
“As your Friend?”
“Yes.”
“As your Beloved?”
“Yes.”

Although I’m sure he had no idea what I meant by that last question. I remarked, “Jesus is the Fountain of Eternal Pleasure,” and proceeded with the parable of the woman at the well to explain how God is the only One who satisfies. I also mentioned David’s declaration to the Lord from Psalm 73:25, “Earth has nothing I desire besides you.” Our conversation was cut short when my sister called to find me, but I’m sure my new acquaintance got a taste of true spiritual passion.

This is the kind of thing Jesus was talking about when He said, “Out of your heart will flow streams of living water” (John 7:38). When we drink from the River that flows from the Sanctuary, we can’t help but bubble over and splash the water of life on anyone who comes near (Ezekiel 47:12).

So where exactly do we find this Eternal Fountain?

Our souls may well thirst, but we work in a “dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). How on earth do we drink from the River of Life in the marketplace?

We contain this Fountain in our earthen vessel. God is in the midst of us (Psalm 46:4-5). We drink from His River of pleasures by cultivating ongoing communion with the indwelling Spirit (Psalm 63:8-9). I was listening to a song by Katie Bennett with the lyrics, “As the body dies without the water, my soul dies without communion … Jesus I thirst!” In order to continually drink, whether in the midst of a mundane routine or a high-stress job, we must be intentional.

Here are some practical tips:

1. Press mute!
Our world is filled with noise: television, radio, cell phones, internet, movies, and so much more. These may seem harmless enough but the multitude of sounds merge into a cacophony that deafens our ears to the still small voice of the Lord. Have you ever considered just shutting it all off and listening to NOTHING for a while? You’d be amazed at what you hear!

2. Make the Word visible
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. – Deuteronomy 11:18 NIV

We are bombarded with advertisements constantly competing for our thoughts. What if we were to make our own ads of things we want to bring to mind? Try it. Choose some encouraging verses, write them on 3×5 cards, and put them in observable places: your bathroom mirror, your dashboard, your desk at work, your pocket, etc. Read and ponder these truths as you get ready, drive to and from work, and all through the day. You may even want to work toward memorizing some and starting with new Scriptures each week.

3. Take breaks for spiritual refreshment
Daniel regularly stopped what he was doing 3x a day to pray (Daniel 6:10). It’s acceptable for employees to take periodic smoke breaks, so why not step out of the office for some fresh air and breath in the fragrance of Christ? You might find this habit rather addictive and begin looking forward to getting a “fix” from God that will help you make it through the day.

4. Interact with God in everything
Develop unceasing dialogue with the Living God by talking to Him like He’s by your side in every activity. When you can’t find something, ask Him. Inquire about His thoughts when you’re trying to make a decision or figure something out. I frequently ask the Lord to give me a front row parking spot and to stop the rain so I can walk to or from my car without getting wet. When a co-worker expresses a need, pray for them as you go about your tasks. If you pray in the Spirit, do so while you go about your work.

5. Wash yourself in the Word
If you are permitted to play music at your desk you can subscribe to the 24/7 Prayer Room Webcast or the Limited Edition CD Club. If using headphones you could always listen to music, teachings, or the Bible on CD permitting it does not distract from your responsibilities. At times I keep something playing even as I sleep. The point is to do whatever you can to continually wash yourself with the water of God’s Word!

… Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. – Ephesians 5:25-26

6. Start a Bible study
You can usually find other believers in your office who would welcome the opportunity to connect for mutual encouragement and edification. Why not lead a weekly Bible Study? You could read and discuss passages of Scripture, pray for one another, share testimonies of answers, and develop community. If meeting at work is a problem you can always find an offsite location. Start off small by inviting a few Christian colleagues to lunch. Just let it grow via word of mouth.

Do something … Just DRINK!

These are some practical suggestions on how to drink continually and maintain a spiritual oasis in the midst of a corporate desert. Of course, this is in addition to setting aside regular time to meet with God, pray, and study His Word. If it seems overwhelming to implement all these practices into your routine, pick one or develop your own strategy … just do something deliberate to help yourself drink from the Fountain of Life wherever you are!

- Chérie Blair