A Cup of Grace – with a shot of espresso

Summer is here, and one of the messages preached is to guard against dehydration. Drink water. Get plenty of fluids. How much we each need is dependent on a number of factors. But,truth be told, very few of us drink as much water as we should.

I heard recently that we should take in the number of ounces that is half our body weight.  So if you weigh 150 pounds, you should take in 75 ounces of water. (Note that that is more than the 8-8oz glasses we have heard talked about.)  I don’t have the research to know if that is really true or not, but I do know that, according to an article published by Mayo Clinic, less than half of us get the fluids we need in a day.

We have lots of excuses: I don’t like water, I hate peeing all the time, I just can’t drink that much, water is boring etc. So is this really a big deal? Here’s a run down of a few of the effects of even mild dehydration.  (According to Mayo Clinic, “mild dehydration” is defined as losing 1-2% of your body fluids.)

• Being thirsty – This seems like an obvious one, but the truth is that many of us DON’T experience being thirsty even when we are mildly dehydrated.  Is this because we have trained our bodies to ignore this symptom?  Or is it because our focus is elsewhere, and, like needing to pee, many of us ignore it until it is urgent?
• Experiencing headaches – You may be familiar with this symptom, but if you’re like me, your first fix may be ibuprofen and something caffeinated. 
• Focus issues – When we are dehydrated, we may struggle to keep attentive to what we are doing. I would guess that this is a greater problem the later we are in the day.
• Poor Reaction time – This is, in part, probably a byproduct of the attentiveness issue.
• Decreased ability to regulate mood – Some studies have found that our even our emotions appear to be affected, and this one is coupled with a rise in anxiety. (Aren’t we trying to lower that?)
• Experiencing a greater sense of fatigue – This may show up as not only tiredness but muscle weakness as well. 

So, why am I not taking in more water more consistently? I have lots of good reasons to do so and several poor excuses as to why I don’t.  However, regardless of how I “feel” about water, if I am truly honest, I must realize that not getting enough fluids absolutely affects me, even if I don’t “see” it. I take my afternoon focus issues and tiredness for granted, assuming that they are just a normal afternoon low. Maybe I just need another cup of coffee? So I reach for sugar and caffeine. Those are quick fixes that come with crashes.  

I am in a rut so deep that I can’t even see that I am exacerbating my problems.  What if I pressed pause on knee-jerk reactions and reevaluated? What if I tried a new path? What do I actually have to lose by putting science to the test? Perhaps the REAL reason I don’t drink water is that I don’t make it a priority. 

But this whole discussion of water brings me to another thought that is even more important.  Not only can we become physically dehydrated, many of us are in a state of perpetual spiritual dehydration. We treat Sundays as our day to take a few sips and call it good.  How much time in the Word is that really? Give yourself 45 minutes if you go to Sunday School or small group or whatever.  Add another 30-45 minutes of preaching if you go to a service.  Count the 10-15 minutes of praise and worship time.  At most that’s an hour and 45 minutes and that’s only if you are truly completely attentive. (Some Sundays that is easier than others!) 

So why are we surprised that we don’t hear God or feel His presence throughout our week? Are you experiencing mood regulation problems? (Test: How often do you let things pop out of your mouth that are better left unsaid?) What are your anxiety levels like? Do you find yourself “just surviving” instead of joyfully thriving? (Test: when people ask you how you are, are you honestly “fine”?). How’s your defensiveness, or bitterness, or anger? What if some the symptoms you are dealing with are the result of spiritual dehydration? 

Some may be in the middle of really difficult things right now.  Fatigue and anxiety are a normal part of this.  However, these are greatly exacerbated when we are spiritually dehydrated. In fact, I have found that the harder life is the more often I need to drink from the Water of Life. 

So, how do I deal with spiritual dehydration?  I’m so glad you asked! I have found that some sort of time in daily prayer and Bible reading is important. If you get a chance, read Psalm 1 in its entirety. Then, do it again, reading closely and thinking about it. I want you to see what I’m about to quote in its context. 

The psalmist is speaking about the person who delights in God’s word and meditates on it consistently. In verse 3 it says, “And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf does not whither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

When we spend time in God’s word and really mull it over, it has a lifegiving affect on us. We are to drink deeply and let it become a part of who we are. This can only happen through repeated, regular exposure. Note that the tree mentioned is planted by the stream. It’s not dependent on the coming and going of rain. The stream is nourishing it day and night. 

What are the results of being deeply spiritually hydrated? We “bring forth fruit.” In other words, we begin to develop character traits that nourish others: love, patience, kindness, faithfulness etc. When God develops His good things within us, others reap the benefits. 

Another result is our “leaf does not whither.” I think this means that we remain spiritually vibrant, even in times of drought. A deep faith and relationship with God holds us up in the darkest days. Personal strength is pitiful compared to the strength of our Creator. I have faced hard moments and even hard seasons. I came to the end of my personal strength rather quickly, but I found that God is faithful to supply when I drink deeply and return regularly to prayer and scripture. He provides wisdom and grace, perspective and comfort.

The final observation of the person deeply rooted in God’s word is “whatever he does shall prosper.” This one is a stumbling block for some, for they interpret “prospering” as material success. This is a false belief. God does give material blessings and can be praised for any success we experience, but keep in mind that the person who loves God’s word and meditates on it is pursuing a Godly life rather than their own selfish ends. (It is very difficult to spend time reading and thinking about something and not have it influence who we become.) 

God blesses pursuits that honor Him, but if that means specifically material wealth and our version of “success,” then the apostle Paul must not have been pursuing God’s will. For he was imprisoned (and worse). However, when viewed through the lens of bringing glory to God, Paul was successful even when his very freedom and health had been stripped from him. He preached Christ to every guard forced to watch over him, and the gospel continued to spread. He also had the time to write letters that encouraged, challenged, and taught not only the early Christians but also believers today. Think about it! The fruit that Paul bore two thousand years ago is still nourishing others! Oh, that our fruit would have such an impact.

So, even as I encourage you to drink more water, I am also challenging you to check your spiritual hydration levels and to develop a love for God’s Word that causes you to put your roots deeply into it. If you do, over time, you will see God begin to nourish others through the fruit He develops in you. We are both physical and spiritual beings, and those components are not two separate things. Rather, they have direct effects on each other. So raise your glass with me and drink deeply. Let’s make it a priority to hydrate both parts of us. Then we will be able to better nourish others.