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Fresh Filling | James Nereim

John 7:37-39 During the Jewish festival of Shelters, on the last day and most important day, Jesus stood and proclaimed with a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

Being that, at the time you’re reading this you’re likely in the middle of a fast, you probably know a little bit about being hungry and thirsty. Similarly, I can relate. When I was in high school I was on the wrestling team (That’s important because wrestling is the first real sport mentioned in the Bible). Something that is often associated with wrestling is cutting weight and withholding food. I remember times where I’d be cutting weight to prepare for a coming weigh-in, exhausted, but still having to go and practice to prepare. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I know what it feels like to be thirsty.

That said, in high school, something I didn’t realize was that as thirsty as I was for my sport, my soul was even more thirsty for water that could satisfy it. The reality is, spiritually we all long to be filled. If you’re anything like me you have likely tried to find ways of filling that void within you. That ever growing thirst for something more. Whether that be through social media, binging tv, hidden sin, or eating to excess just to distract yourself. In my experience, pursuing vain pleasures and distractions such as these only emphasizes the need I have in my heart for something more. Something that can satisfy me.

So what can be done? Jesus lays it out for us here. Come to Him. Put your faith in Him. Trust in Him. When you do, not only do you receive the Holy Spirit which seals you for salvation, but you will also find what has been missing that your soul has been longing for. An everlasting spring of living water that will perfectly satisfy that thirst within you. But there is a difference between having the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit. The new testament teaches us this truth as we can see through the early apostles and disciples being filled with the Spirit, and God did mighty works through them. And they received this fresh filling of the Spirit the same way you can. Through spiritual disciplines that draw us closer to God. So, as we are in the middle of this fast, let’s be intentional about removing the barriers in our life that keep us from drawing closer to God. Those things which don’t truly satisfy us. Instead, during this fast, draw close to His Word, pray each time that craving comes back, and lean into Him to satisfy you. Then all of us, and those who bear witness to the mighty deeds God does in and through us, may also sing as they did in Psalm 24:8, “Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.”

Father, You are the king of glory, and You are strong and mighty! As we fast to kick off this new year, may our hearts grow ever more surrendered to Your Spirit’s direction. God, I ask that you would fill us fresh with your Spirit. May the longings of our souls find satisfaction in You. Lord, if there are barriers in my life that are drawing me away from You, distractions that captivate me in place of Your glory, may You reveal them to me and help me to take them down. Fix my eyes on You. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

By Pastor Jason Mecum

Psalm 23 describes the Lord as a shepherd who cares for and protects His flock. He who “makes me lie down in green pastures” and “leads me beside still waters” provides more than physical provision. Beyond what the sheep may want, this provision extends to what the sheep truly need. The Shepherd provides, leads and restores. Because the Lord is near, the psalmist lacks nothing. Want is replaced by trust and striving gives way to rest.

Likewise, John 6 describes Jesus sitting on a hillside looking out over a multitude of hungry followers. Like sheep lying down in a green pasture, the crowds were seated in the tall grass below. It was the time of Passover – a time to remember God’s provision in the wilderness and manna from heaven. Ironically, it was now late in the day for those who had followed Jesus seeking healing and miracles and they found themselves without provision in a remote wilderness.

Jesus had intentionally moved away from the crowds to be alone with His disciples. However, this logistical nightmare would allow Jesus an opportunity to reveal what His flock needed, rather than what it merely wanted.

It’s a significant detail that Jesus specifically asks Philip how they are going to provide food for the crowd. We learn in John 1:44 that Philip is from this area and would likely know which local villages and marketplaces could provide resources. The question Jesus poses is a rhetorical one. In a sense, Jesus is asking the “expert” for a solution, appealing to human reasoning. However, John 6:6 makes it clear that Jesus wasn’t expecting Philip to solve this problem. Instead, Jesus wanted his disciples to recognize that this was beyond their capabilities. That they needed help. This was a test.

With the lightbulb switched on and the disciples recognizing the seriousness of their dilemma, the seated Jesus was now ready to teach the lesson.

The Gospels repeatedly present us with disciples who witness the miracles and teachings of Jesus firsthand but continually fail to grasp who Jesus really is and what He is capable of. Presented with a logistical problem, the human response is to focus on resources and calculations, rather than faith in the sufficiency and provision of Christ. Imagine if Philip’s initial response had been to ask Jesus how He was going to provide sustenance for the crowds (and how Philip and the other disciples might assist). What if turning to Jesus for the answer wasn’t our last step?

The question that Jesus posed to Philip exposed the instinct we all have when facing a challenging dilemma: to calculate rather than trust. Are you facing a seemingly impossible challenge today where you can identify this “Philip Question”? For you, it may be an area of finance. Perhaps it’s a parenting challenge or a health issue. Something where a significant decision or action is yet to be made but the answer is not yet obvious to you. Where does our help come from?

I want you to grab a piece of paper and write down the following two questions (in this specific order) and their answers:
1. What must I do to solve this challenge?
2. What does God want me to do in the face of this challenge?

In John 6:10, Jesus commands the disciples to “have the people sit down” before he feeds them. “He makes me lie down…” – Psalm 23:2.

Are you treating this situation as a math problem or a discipleship moment? Before “fixing” the problem, I want you to pause and pray this simple prayer: “Lord, this problem is real and beyond my ability to solve. But I trust you. What is it that you are trying to teach me?”

The same Lord who makes His sheep lie down in green pastures also sits calmly on the hillside, untroubled by the size of the crowd, fully sufficient for the need.

[John 6:35 ESV] Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

The crowd sought Him for more food, but Jesus invited them to something deeper: not provision alone, but Himself. Don’t just seek bread – but the Bread of Life.

Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd and the Bread of Life.
Lead me away from self-reliance and into a deeper dependence on you.
Feed my soul through the reading of your Word and teach me to rest as I pray.
These are not just obligations for me to fulfill but a sacred pasture for me to enter.
A place to receive restoration.
With you leading me, I shall never want.
Amen.

By Pastor Steve Williams

God’s timing can be so unpredictable. We yearn for Him to answer our prayers in our timetable, yet that is not always His way. Today’s two verses highlight this fact from two opposing points of view. In Psalm 22, King David cries out for deliverance. He begs for God to help him, but he has not yet received the relief that his heart so desperately seeks. In John 5, we meet a sick man who has an unexpected miraculous encounter with Jesus. And despite the fact that the timing is all wrong, Jesus chooses to heal him completely. 

The man beside the pool of Bethesda has no expectation that this would be the day that he would walk. He has been sick for 38 years. He knows in his head that healing is an option, but when Jesus flat out asks him if he wants to be healed, his mind immediately goes to an excuse as to why it won’t happen. Nevermind that it was the Sabbath and it wouldn’t be legal for Jesus to heal him on that day. Yet that is exactly what Jesus does. He heals him and commands him to carry his mat away, breaking all sorts of traditions in the process. 

King David’s prayer in Psalm 22 is heart breaking. He is crying out, his soul yearning for God to move. He lays out many reasons why God should answer his prayer. Yet in the end, David simply lands on his faith that God WILL answer the prayer. We don’t see it happen, but we do see David’s faith in the midst of his uncertainty. 

What is going on with God’s timing?

To further complicate  the question, we come to John 5:17, where Jesus points out that “My Father is always working, and so am I.”  It can be easy to wonder, “If Jesus is always working, why doesn’t help come when I think it should come?” The only answer is that Jesus is working by answering our prayers with an answer of “no” or “not yet”. He has something else in mind. 

Let’s be honest, that can be super frustrating. Jesus is working, but His purpose for this moment isn’t to answer our prayers in the way we think they should be answered. He has some other purpose. He’s using this for something else. What? That’s the point. 

It’s an invitation to change our prayers from “God, I need you to move now” to “God, show me Your purpose in this situation. Align my heart and my thinking with Your will.”

God is always working. He always has a purpose. He always has an intention. Our part is to align ourselves with His plan, to surrender, and to become more like Him. 

Father, I confess that I’ve been frustrated with Your timing. I’ve been focused on my will and my preferences. I know that You are always working. If You are not answering my prayer right now, You have a reason. I surrender my heart and my point of view. Help me embrace Your will by seeking answers to my prayers based on Your way and Your timing. Make me more like Jesus, aligned not with my own preferences but looking to You, following Your steps, and Your heart. I have faith You see me and know my heart. I trust You to answer my prayers in Your timing and in Your way.

By Todd Stephenson

In John 4, we are introduced to a revival that occurred in the town of Sycar. The scripture helps us to see that through jealousy and human frailty, the Holy Spirit is able to spread God’s love and bring about belief that leads to salvation. Jesus’ exercise of unconditional love and use of curiosity brought about an opening to share the gospel in a deeply personal way to a woman who wasn’t used to being seen, perhaps never. In the story, we get to see how God’s truth spoken in love has the power to change everything. This idea of God’s message and instructions being powerful and transformational are magnified in Psalm 19. Here, the psalmist invites us to acknowledge the creation itself speaks of God’s true nature and that his instructions are rich with blessing for those who listen and revere them.

• Note how the jealousy of the Pharisees in verse one and Jesus’ weariness in verse six led to a “God appointment” for this woman and the town of Sycar. What is your openness to God using your weakness and the brokenness of others for the gospel? Do you normally see weakness and brokenness as opportunity or obstacle? What would happen if you embraced Jesus’ perspective?
• Jesus speaking to a Samaritan and also a woman was a radical departure from the religious and social culture of his day and communicated profound acceptance and worth to this woman. What break from the social norms and expectations would you be willing to break to reach those that are lost and in need?
• What are the several mentioned blessings on God’s commands and instructions from Psalm 19? How might your life be changed if you simply spent more time pondering them?

For a large part of my life, I spent a lot of time in shame and guilt beating myself up with judgemental words because of my mistakes. I wasn’t okay with my weakness and brokenness because I was convinced it disqualified me and caused my heavenly father to be angry and frustrated with me. It was transformational for me to realize that not only was he not disappointed but that he actually expected me to make loads of mistakes (2 Cor. 3:4-6); after all, that is what children do. You see, what I realize now but didn’t see then, when I was focused on shame and guilt I was focused all on me and not the needs of anyone around me. This focus on shame and guilt was keeping me not only from receiving his love, it was keeping me from loving others. Because Jesus embraced the brokenness of this life instead of judging and rejecting himself, he was present and able to see this woman’s need and share the love of the Father with her. And look at the results! My encouragement to you today is to change your mind about your weaknesses and mistakes. Embrace the truth that God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work (2 Cor. 9:8).

Father, I am amazed at how you use everything, including all my weaknesses and mistakes, to accomplish your good and perfect will. I am so thankful that none of my mistakes are a surprise to you and that they have all been made a part of your plan according to 2 Corinthians 9:8. I don’t want to listen to guilt and shame any more about my mistakes, past, present or future. Your word says in Romans 8:1 there is no condemnation for me because I belong to Jesus. Today, I change my mind and embrace the truth that you are not disappointed in me and that you are using all of it for your good. Help me to believe this truth in my heart and begin to thank you instead. Open my eyes to see the opportunities around me and share the good news to those you put in my path. I pray all this is the name of Jesus. Amen

By Dave & Sandy Goede

Psalm 16 is a confession of trust that God Himself is the source, security, and fulfillment of life—now and beyond death. It expresses what it means to live a God-centered life marked by loyalty, joy, and hope.

John 3 teaches that entry into God’s kingdom requires a Spirit-given rebirth, made possible by God’s love through Jesus Christ, and received by faith rather than earned.

Psalm 16 tells us that God is worthy of our ultimate trust and hope. Life ordered around God brings joy and stability that extends beyond this life. John 3 reveals how such a life becomes possible through the entry into God’s kingdom. Our entry into God’s Kingdom requires a Spirit-given rebirth, made possible by God’s love through Jesus Christ, and received by faith rather than earned—resulting in life that begins now and lasts forever.

Throughout our life we are encouraged to be a productive member of society. Our productivity is evident by our possessions such as a car that is loaded with all of the latest accessories or a house that is in the best neighborhood. In our careers, our productivity is measured by our continued rise on the corporate ladder and our title. As an educator in a university setting, I was driven to earn more “letters” after my name as this was seen supposedly as a source of pride and accomplishment. As we continued to chase these tangible rewards, we never felt fulfilled. As we have allowed God to enter our lives, we realized that everything we had been chasing was of this world. As we have learned through following God’s word, everything in this world is temporary. Since coming to know the Lord, through rebirth, our focus is now living a life that we have received through our faith in our Lord and Savior.

God of life,

You have loved us into a new birth through your Son.

Teach us to trust you as our refuge and joy,

By your Spirit, keep us walking in your light,

That we may know the joy of your presence—

Now and forever. 

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be

A world without end.

Amen

By Steve Mills

I remember growing up in the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo space flight era, watching all the work leading up to Neil Armstrong’s “One small step for man” speech on the lunar surface. This young boy’s eyes were wide watching what he later saw of his Creator’s universe. Stuff he could see in microscopes, telescopes, and from his own eyes.

Have you considered how awesome your and my Creator is? Our finite minds have a tough time grabbing hold of and defining anything infinite…. Infinitely small like germs and cells, infinitely big like stars, planets and galaxies. Consider what Psalms 8 and John 2:1-11 show of this very Creator whose creation listens to His voice and follows Him.

As you read Psalms 8 you see how it speaks of the many facets of His creation. From the mouths of babes (v. 2) He shows His strength to His enemies, so that even the smallest of us that are created in His image show His glory to the world. All the creations in His heavens (v. 3), the stars and the moon, show His plans in how they move exactly as He ordained. His crowning jewel, man, made in His image, has also been made to show His glory as we rule within His creation (v. 3-8).

John 2:1-11 speaks of a creation that still listens to His voice. When called upon, He provides exactly what is needed and more, converting one thing (water) into another (wine) by just His word.  

One may ask, in looking at God’s creation, “exactly who am I?” Creation is so vast, God is even more vast, and I am so small. Yet here, in Psalms 8, we hear echoed similar thoughts that was stated in Genesis 1:26 “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” He created us like Himself, much more complex than the rest of creation. Complex enough that we can actually interconnect with Him and develop a relationship.

 As an adult, I’ve been able to purchase my own telescopes and look at God’s creation from afar. It’s given meaning to Psalms 8:1 “O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!”. It has spurred my heart to praise Him for all of creation. And yet when I look, I wonder like Psalms 8:3-5 “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!” It humbles me to consider that as small as I am, He meticulously made me so I could commune with Him.

Take some time to consider this, that you ARE made in His image. He loves you. He desires more than anything to hear from you. Join with me and let Him hear your heart.

Oh Lord God, You are the creator of all things great and small. Yet in my smallness, You created me greatly…..in the image of You Great Yahweh!!!! I pray, Lord, for the humility Your Son showed to be manifest in me, so that Your greatness may be shown in and through me.

By Patti Basin

John 1 opens the Gospel by showing us who Jesus is — the Word who was with God from the beginning, who brings life and light into a dark world. Even though He came into the world He created, many did not recognize Him. Yet John reminds us that those who do receive Jesus are given the right to become children of God, not because of family background or effort, but because of God’s grace.

This chapter also tells us that the Word became flesh and lived among us. God is not distant; He came near in Jesus, full of grace and truth. John the Baptist points people to Jesus as the Lamb of God, and the chapter ends with ordinary people responding to Jesus’ simple invitation to “come and see,” beginning a life of following Him.

Psalm 1 describes two different ways to live. One way is rooted in God — delighting in His instruction and choosing not to follow the patterns of the world. That person is compared to a tree planted by streams of water, steady and nourished, producing fruit in the right season. The other way leads to instability and loss, like chaff that is easily blown away. Psalm 1 reminds us that a life grounded in God’s truth leads to growth, stability, and blessing.

John 1 tells us who we are in Christ, and Psalm 1 shows us how a life rooted in that identity grows and bears fruit.

John 1:12–13 talks about being received and given the right to become a child of God — not because of where you come from or what you’ve done, but because of God’s grace. As someone who was adopted, John 1:12–13 brings me a great deal of comfort. For many years, I struggled with feelings of being alone and not truly belonging. These verses speak directly into those thoughts and gently wipe them away. They remind me that my identity is not defined by birth or circumstance, but by God’s choice.

I know I’m not alone in this. Many people today wrestle with the pressure to fit in, to be accepted, and to feel like they belong in a world that often ties worth to appearance, success, or background. John 1:12–13 offers a different and lasting truth: we are received and chosen by God, and our belonging is rooted in His grace, not in the world’s standards.

Because of my experience with adoption, this passage invites me to live with confidence in my identity as God’s child. I don’t need to question whether I belong or strive to earn my place. Instead, I can rest in the assurance that I have been received by God. Practically, this means allowing my identity in Christ to shape my daily choices, my relationships, and my response to challenges. This verse offers each of us the same invitation — to live rooted and secure in God’s grace, like the tree described in Psalm 1, planted and nourished by Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for receiving me and calling me Your child through Your grace. When I struggle with questions of belonging or feel pressure to measure myself by the world’s standards, help me remember who You say I am. Teach me to live each day rooted in You, drawing life and strength from Your Word, and trusting that my identity is secure in You. May my life bear fruit that reflects Your love, and may I walk forward with confidence, knowing I am chosen, known, and deeply loved by You. I pray all this in the name of Jesus, Amen.