God's Holy Fire: 'Rivers of Living Water!'

Thursday, January 8, 2026

On the last and greatest day of the festival [the Feast of Tabernacles], Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Key Thought

Part of my growing up years was spent living in the country. Everyone on our road had water wells, but ours was the deepest well. Sooner or later, the hot, dusty summers would take their toll, and everyone on the road would begin to tap into our well's water because their wells were dry. When we would first get grit in our water, dad would huddle us for a big prayer session praying for rain. Think about the incredible promise from our Lord in this passage: "[R]ivers of living water will flow from within [those who believe in Jesus]." That living water flows through us in a never-ending supply. That living water is the Holy Spirit. What an incredible promise and what a deep well of grace!

Today's Prayer

Abba Father, thank you for the incredible gift of your Holy Spirit welling up within me. Help me recognize your powerful presence in my life and empower me through the Spirit to bless others to your glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of John 7:37-39 NIV — "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

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About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.