You’ve seen the bag of liquid hanging by the hospital bed. It is set to dispense – drip by drip – the fluids a body needs while being cared for. I thought of this in relation to a blogging friend of mine. Every day, she posts something simple that she gets from reading God’s word. Drip by drip, day by day she is getting the vital nutrients which her spirit needs. Little by little, as she stays connected to this source of life, His life – His nature – flows into and becomes her life – her nature.
It is exactly what Jesus was saying in John 15. He is the vine; we are the branches. Apart from Him we can do nothing. When we remain connected, drip by drip, His life flows into ours.
Below is part of her post – the one I was reading when I had this thought. (My favorite, which I printed and read from time to time, is ‘Wind and Wave Obey’)
“And they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.” Mark 3:2
“How could the amazing truth that Jesus would restore this man’s withered hand completely escape their notice? How much do I miss when I get into critical mode?”
Drip . . . drip . . . drip, and over time we are changed.
Post-script: I have developed a habit of looking up the proper definitions to words that come to mind when I write. This morning, after having looked over this piece I had written the day before, I wrote the following line in my journal. ‘You have instilled in me, not only an appreciation for Your word, but an awareness that little by little, drip by drip, we are changed by it’.
Webster’s definition of the word ‘instill’ is, ‘to infuse slowly into the mind or feelings; to put in drop by drop’.
Hunger and Thirst 
I like it.
Since I am not the kind of son who needs His Father to overwhelm him with His wonders and love, I quite enjoyed this posting. It really is ‘drip by drip’ and little by little that our Father reveals Himself to us as sons.
Don’t misunderstand me, please. I am very aware of how The LORD can come into a person’s life with immense power and purpose. I have no doubt He does these things as He warrants.
But for me, nah, I’m a simple fella who takes everything a little bit more realistically. My Father isn’t going anywhere and neither am I, and neither of us are in a rush. Slowly, daily, moment by moment, precept upon precept, lesson upon lesson, drip by drip. Relationships are best when no one involved is impetuous.
God has it right where He wants it all, including me, you, the enemy, and the future. I have never known Him to be hurried or harried!
I would imagine that there are many believers like myself out there in the really real world. I hope they read this.
This was a comforting and encouraging bit of writing, and I appreciate it. It was needed!
Donald in Bethel, CT
I loved the analogy of being hooked up to a bag of fluids, the constant needed drip of that! Oh yes, that is me. And your insight as to how it changes us drip by drip, is extremely comforting for someone like me . . .someone who asks Him to change me each day. You’ve helped me see the importance of that time with Him in a new way. Thank you!
It does seem that some people are changed more dramatically than others. I think for years, at least with me, it was discouraging to not be among them.
But, fortunately, I have discovered that this drip by drip method is another way of getting to the same place; and probably the way most of us are supposed to get there.
I think when we choose to believe, heaven’s nature is born in us. To the extent that we feed it, it will grow. The trouble in my 1st 30 years of believing is that my feeding was inconsistant. I loved to read and study the Bible, but when I didn’t see evidence of the dramatic change, it was too easy to lay it down for a while.
This time around, I haven’t laid it down. And little by little, drip by drip, I see that my nature has finally changed and is changing still.
I really appreciate both your comments. And Donald, you were digging deep to find ‘Set Apart’. Had to go back and read it myself. And as far as me rocking . . . to borrow a line from Larry the cable guy, “that’s funny rite there”. But I’ll take it. I’m 55; may not get that chance again. 🙂
Oh how true. His Word does change does us when we read with a heart to let it penetrate our lives. Thanks for the encouraging words.
Rachel
You know, Jesus IS The Word, right?
So it stands to reason that we can fellowshipwith Him as we spend time with Him reading The Scriptures and looking for the guidance and wisdom of the Spirit to bring us ever closer to His heart.
How fortunate we are to be known by the very Author of our Faith, indeed!