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Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

1 Kings 4-5
John 4:27-45

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

John 4:41-42 (CSB): “Many more believed because of what he said. And they told the woman, ‘We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.’”

Reflecting on God’s Word

In most Christians’ lives, there is a season in which we are relying upon others for our faith.

I remember relying upon my parents for much of my walk with the Lord after I got saved at the age of eight. As a child and teenager, even though I spent much time in my Bible, I wouldn’t have been able to give you a good answer if you had asked me about many of the things I believed, including why I was able to believe in a God I had never seen. But that fact didn’t bother me, because, after all, my parents believed it and I trusted them.

Then, at the age of 19, I moved away from home. I moved from Galena Park, Texas, to Lexington, Kentucky, to work on my bachelor’s degree at a Christian college. I remember distinctly thinking that depending upon my parents for what I believed was a stupid reason to believe. I needed to believe the truths of the Bible, not because my parents believed it, but because I had come to personally believe it for myself. I remember that time of soul-searching and Bible-study that even included exploring a few other religions.

I came away from that season with my own set of convictions and essentially the same mindset those men in Samaria had.

John 4:41-42 (CSB): “Many more believed because of what he said. And they told the woman, ‘We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.’”

Some people believe God’s Word, like me, because their parents believe it. Some people believe things because their pastor or their Bible study teacher believers them. Some have other authority figures in their life that are props upon which they have rested their belief system.

If this is you, I would highly encourage you to believe the truths of God’s Word for yourself. Cultivate your own convictions. Develop your own personal relationship with the Lord rather than depending upon someone else to tell you what you need to know and believe.

There can be no power in your life when you depend upon someone else to tell you what is true. That power and joy can only come when you study God’s Word, embrace its truths, and embrace the Lord for yourself.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to give you the humility to listen to others, who are worthy of your trust, who might speak God’s Word into your life.
  • But also ask God to help you cultivate a conviction to embrace Him and His Word for yourself.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into what we can learn about the woman at the well, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“What can we learn from the woman at the well?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)