Our Source of Life
by Annalene Holtzhausen
Today’s scripture really challenged me when I thought about the whole description of a spring producing only fresh or salt water – not both. It’s all about the source from which the water flows. If the source is bad, the water will be bitter. But if the source is not contaminated, the water from the spring is fresh and life-giving to all who drink from it.
Why then do we have praise and curse coming from the same mouth? In Romans 7:15, we read that Paul battled with this very same thing: ‘For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do’. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and follow Him in all we do, we have Him as our Source from which all things should flow. So often though, we stumble, and from our mouths come negative words, accusations, and sometimes even curses.
Many things can happen to us that can bring about despair, anger, negativity, disappointment and confusion. We may be abused and neglected, judged and over-looked. As a result we feel rejected, victimised, despised, and falsely accused. All these things, and many more, bring hurt and pain into our lives. We become offended and often traumatised. It’s in these moments that our mouths don’t speak praise and blessing.
The Lord, however, does not condemn us in times like these. He reaches out to us, and longs to bring healing and restoration into our lives. When we allow Him into our hurt and pain, by speaking to Him about it; about all we are experiencing, He brings truth to our situation. He leads us on a journey of forgiveness and healing. Our part in this is the choice to forgive and trust Him with our vulnerable hearts and emotions.
Our journey with the Lord makes us stronger in Him and grows our identity in Him. We are not how the world sees us; we are who He says we are: precious in His sight and righteous in Jesus. When we are rooted in the Lord, we can more easily distinguish the enemy’s attacks, and withstand him with the knowledge that the Lord is for us. Our focus returns to our Source, and we produce ‘fresh water’ – words of praise and blessing.
Acts 17:28 – ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, “We are His offspring”’.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please forgive me for the times when my eyes have been off You. You know the things that have hurt me, and the times when I have felt despair and anger. I choose to allow You into my pain and disappointments, and to trust You with my healing. I lay down the offences I have picked up and forgive those who have hurt me. Please help me to speak words of blessing. Let all that I am, bring You praise. Amen.
Annalene Holtzhausen is on the Associate Team at Ellel, Africa. She is married to Renier, who introduced her to Ellel Ministries. She is a full-time mother to their two boys. Her passion is for the restoration of women’s hearts and for people to find their worth in the Lord.
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