Grow In Spiritual Insight

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” — John 4:10-12

In the middle of this interaction between Jesus and this woman, we get some unintended evangelism training. What Jesus does is both genius and simple. He takes a basic need he has at the moment and uses it to turn the conversation from a natural need to a spiritual need. And note this is from his natural need to her spiritual need. It's quite cunning. You see, Jesus is thirsty. He's hot. It's noon. And he's traveled a long distance and, at the moment, lacks the tools needed to draw water from the well. And the water he needs is right there, but he can't reach it. But this woman approaches who has the tools he needs. But he knows he has something she needs too. A different kind of water that Jesus can provide.

We have opportunities like this all the time. But most of the time, we don't see them. And we don't because we are too consumed with natural things and our needs. Because of this, we miss spiritual opportunities. Divine moments that God gives us. But not Jesus. He has a need, but he can look past this for the moment and see the divine opportunity to give instead of receive.

And we have to train ourselves to do this. It's not a natural instinct. Your natural instincts are only concerned with yourself and your natural needs. You have to train yourself to look for spiritual needs and set your natural instincts aside. And one of the best ways to take a first step toward seeing these spiritual opportunities is to pray for them. Prayer tunes our minds to spiritual needs. Just try it. Before every interaction today, say a very short private prayer in your mind that God would increase your spiritual awareness. Do it before you get in the car and drive to work. Before your first meeting. Before your lunch date. Before you walk in the door of your home. Before your next interaction with your children. And notice if you don't start looking past your own needs — like how fast you get to work, what you need to get done in that meeting, what you want to order, your need to relax, and your need for time alone. If you do this for only one day, you will discover that your spiritual awareness will increase, and you will start seeing the spiritual opportunities right before you.

ASK THIS: Are you ready to see everything spiritually?

DO THIS: Lay aside your needs and pray this...

PRAY THIS: God, show me what you want me to see.

PLAY THIS: Show Me Your Glory.