The wellspring of life is one of my books about the heart, its condition, and how we should guard it. I find so many parallels between our heart and water flow in our environment…
Water Flow in Our World
A flowing artesian well, or wellspring, is relatively uncommon in nature. It is a situation where water flows freely from a well at land surface, forced out of the well due to the pressure that it experiences under confining conditions.
At any given location, the hydrostatic pressure that results in a free-flowing well can change through time. This change could result in a more abundant overflow, or, conversely, in the well running dry.
The quality of the water within an aquifer, or “underground river,” can also vary. Sometimes pure and clean, and, under different conditions, it can be clouded, tainted or even have a foul odor.
I remember when bottled water first came on the market. The image of the water from that bottle was one of the purest forms of H2O we could imagine. The image of this succulent fluid for which our body thirsts, no, demands, for our continued existence. It naturally bubbled up out of the ground, when under artesian conditions, and was crystal clear and refreshing.
The visual image is still fresh in my mind: The water company buying the land and constructing the bottling plant right there, wherever on the planet the wellspring, and its water, were found. Then packaged and shipped globally to us to cherish, and consume.
Good to the last drop (or was that coffee?).
What Flows from the Heart, the wellspring of life?
The Word of God found in the Bible provides a plethora of visual images. The foundation for “The Wellspring Of Life” is built on one short verse, “Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23
The condition of our heart seems to define us. Who we are, our attitude, and our spirit. Â That’s why this verse is for everybody! This muscle in our chest just seems to operate on auto-pilot. It keeps on ticking as we sleep when much of the rest of our body is shut down, or at rest.
But when our heart shuts down, we’re done. Or, shall I say, our body is done… and so, I guess, we are done in this life.
In that respect, our heart very much defines our life here on earth, which, in turn, defines our existence in the afterlife, and on into eternity. And while this heart of ours just ticks along in our chest, and we don’t have much control over that from one tick to the next, we do feed our heart and nurture it in a variety of ways.
“Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23, The Amplified Bible version.
How can and should we take care of our heart in every way… physically, emotionally and spiritually? That’s what I believe Proverbs 4:23 says is the most important thing that we do.
Love is the substance, the very essence, of the living waters that flow from our hearts, or, shall I say, that should flow from our hearts. We’re imperfect humans and are known to express feelings other than love at times. Some of our challenges, issues and struggles sink into our heart, where they fester, if we let them. Our Heavenly Father uses these experiences for our growth, for greater things, if that’s our choice to follow Him.
The love and joy that God puts in our hearts are as pure as anything we can hope to experience this side of Heaven.
Tapping into this love and joy… it’s ours if we want it, ask for it, and intentionally pursue it.
It’s our ticket to greater things, even overcoming a painful past that can scar, rip apart and otherwise ruin our hearts. And that’s at the heart of the matter. It’s up to each of us to make this choice to a more healthy heart, and a more fulfilling life, one that overflows with the vibrant life of an artesian well or spring, generously flowing from our hearts to breathe the love of God to everyone else we encounter.
What positive change could you make today so more love may flow from your heart?
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