“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38 (KJV).

REFLECT:
A search for satisfaction is an aged quest. We are all looking for ways in which we can be satisfied, or get satisfaction out of an aspect of life. This need spans across multiple spectra and has to do with our various individual needs, such as financial, emotional, physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and many more.

However, if we deeply consider this whole aspect of satisfaction that we have all gone shopping for, have we truly achieved our goal? Can we say we have gained maximum satisfaction from the best of things our world has tried to offer us? These are questions we must sincerely ponder.

As a further explanation, let us closely compare this situation with an analogy – An invitation request. After all, the term satisfaction is in itself is an invitation requesting that we accept some kind of fulfillment to a deep need, wish, or expectation we have been craving after.

So, we have been invited to grace an important function or occasion with our presence. Usually when we receive such an invitation, especially one we accept, what follows is the feeling of excitement, expectation, and of course the preparation.

We prepare for what we want to wear to the occasion, we envisage the kind of refreshments, drinks, food and even the gifts or packages that we would receive, we think of relationships, old and new, that we would encounter, all of these would add to the level of excitement mounting up as the days draw nearer to the appointed time.

Eventually, the day comes with the expected fanfare, but sadly enough passes so quickly and after a little while we tend to forget all the experiences, the food, drinks, gifts, clothes, and even the relationships, they seem not to be satisfying anymore, in fact, we now crave another invite that would ignite a repeat of the previous experience.

This just goes to tell us that our worldly mundane festive experiences, needs, wishes, or expectations do not leave a lasting feeling of satisfaction and that our continuous cravings for the next new fix, happening or enjoyment is usually a symptom of a condition of something we are lacking. It is a deep condition of a depraved soul brought about by sin. Hence, because of sin man keeps looking or searching for whatever would satisfy the longing of the soul, something that would resonate with what was lost after the fall in the garden of Eden.

The sad thing is that if we do not bring ourselves to accept this fact we continue to run our lives around a loop, which turns into a vicious cycle.

However, the good news is that this search, this craving was eventually satisfied, paid for, and accomplished two thousand years ago when Jesus went to the cross for the sins of mankind and with that, a totally new invitation was issued.

This invitation is God our Heavenly Father inviting us to a whole new experience and relationship, an experience that will never end, and the satisfaction, enjoyment, joy, peace, and fulfillment we get from this experience lasts for eternity as His Holy Spirit is poured out on us and into us.

Therefore, let us make up our minds to accept the greatest invitation of all by believing in Jesus, giving our hearts and lives to Him totally and completely. When we do this, let us brace ourselves for the most adventurous experience of our lives through the living waters of the Holy Spirit’s encounter.

When we accept God’s invitation in Christ Jesus, we have the privilege to receive God’s divine gifts, satisfaction, peace, and joy—an unending flow of the Holy Spirit.

Ebimobo W. Obasi

PLEASE PRAY ALONG:

Fill Me with Your Presence.

FATHER GOD, thank You for inviting me into a relationship with You. You have given me the greatest satisfaction of a lifetime. I don’t have to search any further, for Jesus is my satisfaction. I am so grateful that I can experience Your grace, kindness, and mercy. Today, please strengthen my faith in You. Remind me of the hope I have because of You and fill me with more of Your presence. In JESUS MIGHTY NAME AMEN.