“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38 KJV)
Rivers of living water! How true that is! Water that increases in volume as it flows. Water that is found to be fresh. Those who have come to Jesus and asked for a drink know very clearly the power and newness they receive. Often the trouble does not seem to be found in the interaction with Jesus. It is commonly found in stopping half way between here and Jesus. Have you ever heard your network security guru speak of a man in the middle attack?
One of these cleverly disguised hacks that pretends to be what you are looking for, but is really only a relay for information. An attempt to hijack something valuable from you. In the Christian walk, we do a reasonable job of validating scripture translation and listen close enough for bad doctrine that we know it when we hear it. Yet we tend to get side blinded by a very similar attack. A manager in the middle.
A manager in the middle is that part of us that filters what actually needs to go all the way to God and what does not. It screens and categorizes what needs this priority and what can be dealt with later if at all. Some things we do not think are big enough to go all the way to God with. Others we think we just need the advice of a resident expert. Some we are just to busy to “bother” Him with at all. Do not get me wrong. Good advice is great. Yet do we continue with that issue into our prayer time along with the advice we have received? It is always worth comparing counsel with what you know scripture to say. Not merely to see if there is something in error, but more importantly to see what God would like to do with this.
This may seem to reduce the total amount of things that you are able to accomplish, but then again is that not also a care to bring before Him? After all is it you accomplishing it? Do the math. You may be surprised at how much is accomplished with a river that expands it’s own volume verses a filter that selects items here and there as they flow by. The question is, are you thirsty? Not am I capable of managing my own thirst? Watch out for that internal manager in the middle. It may be robbing you blind.
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7 KJV)