Friday, March 8, 2024
“Only Water to Drink”
Today’s Friday Lenten Challenge is one of the more difficult ones of the season: Only Water to Drink for 24 hours. Can you do it? Unless the doctor says otherwise, I bet you can.
In a previous Friday Challenge, we were required to give up caffeine. In another Challenge, we gave up added sugars and sweeteners. Today, the wrench cranks down a bit more to include only water for our beverage. Yes, if you’ve wondered, the previous Challenges to give up caffeine and sugars for 24 hours were, in part, to prepare us for this one.
Water is what we need the most. Everyone knows it and everyone reading this devotion probably has access to an almost endless supply of good drinking water. However, those of us who have access to water can be the worst ones to fully take advantage of this simple, life-giving resource. We are very blessed to have good water sources. We are also blessed to have advanced water treatment facilities in most of our towns and cities, and of course, we have access to what appears to be a never-ending supply of bottled water.
Do you drink enough water? I know I don’t. Today, the Lenten Challenge is to drink only water for 24 hours. All foods are just fine for today’s challenge, so you can order a steak but you are only allowed to drink water with it. If you’ve already had some coffee or something else today, begin your 24-hour clock now. If, however, you haven’t consumed any beverages today other than water, just count backward from the previous night to the last beverage you consumed other than water. Start counting from that point. Look! You’re ahead of the game!
As always, if your doctors or medical team wouldn’t be happy with your participation in Today’s Challenge, then, by all means, follow their orders. Instead, your challenge is to pray at least three times per day, NOT including your mealtime blessings. That’s right, if you pray at each meal, you still need to pray an additional three times.
Welcome, Friday! Our bodies will thank us for Drinking Only Water for 24 Hours!
“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will never be thirsty and will never need to come here to draw water!” (John 4:13-15, CEB)
