‘With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.’ Isa 12:3
Recently, the conviction has been growing in me to have an attitude that rises up to say,
‘I will dig a well in the place where God has led me. I will not sit back and wait for breakthrough and the release of God’s purpose and presence in my home, my relationships, or my church to happen. I will not become disheartened when God’s prophetic purposes are delayed, nor will I give way to the temptation to give up or move on.
Instead, I will proactively and expectantly pray and do whatever it takes for breakthrough to come.’
The Unseen Resources of Heaven
For the past 8 years, my husband Malcolm and I have been living in Victoria, Australia—a region that is suffering drought.[1]
I learned recently that here in Victoria, groundwater provides drinking water for 60 cities and towns.[2] Amazingly, a large percentage of the world’s freshwater is actually under the ground, not on the surface of the earth. [3]
Rain that falls to the earth seeps into the ground – and that water travels under the ground through water-carrying soils (sands and gravels) and rock strata called ‘aquifers.’
Consequently, there is a HUGE resource of water lying concealed beneath the earth.
Springs of water occur where one of the aquifers that is carrying the water under the ground meets the ground surface so that the water flows out.
So when God says, “I am the spring of living water” (Jer 2:13) He is also saying, “I am the Source of Life. And in Me all the unseen resources of Heaven are there to back you up.”
These unseen resources of Heaven are ours—but we need to access them, to tap into them.
The Water of Life
In Biblical times, groundwater was accessed and life was sustained through the digging of wells.
In Genesis 26, Isaac, along with his family, servants, and flocks, was forced to change locations. Isaac re-opened wells that his father Abraham had used and discovered fresh sources of water. However, locals contended that the water belonged to them.
Finally, Isaac moved to a new place. In Genesis 26:25 the Bible records that he
- Built an altar
- Pitched his tent, and
- Dug a well.
When his servants located water, he knew they had found the source of life and could live there permanently with their families and flocks. Beersheba became Isaac’s home for the remainder of his days.
How To Dig A Well
As Isaac did, we can dig a well and make room for God to move wherever we find ourselves. Here are 5 ways that we can ‘dig a well’ for spiritual breakthrough:
1. Choose the Ground
Ask the Lord to show you where He would have you concentrate your prayers and efforts for a breakthrough at this time. It could be one area or many.
It could be your home and family, your church or ministry, your community, a relationship, or someone you would like to see come to Jesus.
2. Prepare for the Work Ahead
This is where we resolve that we want God to move.
Now is the time to reflect. We are not satisfied with living by our own strength, neither are we content with the results that we have seen up until now.
We long for God to get the glory in our household, church, and place of study or work, and we will not settle for less than Jesus’ best.
Ask the Spirit to fill you and stir up in you the inner resource of resolve that you need to start digging and to keep going until breakthrough happens and His life, power and provision is released.
3. Start Digging
It’s time to break ground–to begin somewhere, no matter how small our efforts may seem at first.
We must dig deep to locate water. We dig primarily by praying, and we pray because God is our Source. He is the Living Water. We are totally reliant upon Him.
We start with prayer, but we do not stop at prayer. We also dig by listening to what the Lord is saying for our situation and obeying Him. We dig by speaking life-giving words.
4. Persevere–Keep On Digging
The ground may be hard, others may give up, but we must stay and persevere. This choice will confront us again and again.
Recently I have been meditating on this. I have resolved to, when I encounter dry ground, not to give up and move on, but to dig a well in the place God has called me.
5. Focus on the Water, not the Dirt
When digging a well, there is a lot of dirt to encounter before we reach the water. We can easily be tempted to pay attention to the things that are wrong or less than perfect in our situation, church or relationships.
Don’t focus on the dirt to be removed, focus on the water that to be received. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Remember, nothing is too difficult for God, and if He has given you a vision, it will be fulfilled.
A well represents provision and life.
A physical well can provide drink—and therefore life—to a community. When we determine that we are going to dig a well, it is not just about ourselves, but for many.
Would you like to see God move in an area of your life—your family, a relationship, a locality, your church, or ministry—and fill it with His Presence?
Dig a well.
Notes:
[1] This post was written in 2010
[2] Source_http://www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/54413/Groundwater-Fact-Sheet-No.2-July-2009.pdf
[3] Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundwater
Related Posts:
Spiritual Renewal: How to Receive a Fresh Impartation of the Holy Spirit
8 Prophetic Insights About Wells (and Redigging Wells)
Portal Moments: Supernatural Encounters with God and Answers to Prayer
© Helen Calder
Enliven Ministries, in the David McCracken Ministries family
Helen, we have been in a dry desert for some long time now and we are seeing the trickle of a new well. Thanks for this amazing insight!! It’s right where I and we are at!!
I am totally inspired!!
I’m blessed by this message. I googled “wells of revival” and this came up. This is the message I’ve been looking for. God Bless
That’s awesome Jon. I wrote this article a long time ago and I’m glad it’s being a blessing!
Shalom, the Holy Spirit led us to Redig wells of revival and in my research I found this well we are in our 7days of redigging wells of revival at Eagles Community Church in Ndeiya Nairobi Kenya,please can you visit us?
Greetings
Today during prayer and fasting God told me to begin to dig well. I found you article and it was very insightful and helpful. Keep up the good work. May God richly bless you.
Hi Jennifer, I’m glad you found the article helpful – thank you!
Excellent information!
Was searching the net and this poepped up.. I thought ‘I know that name’. Read it and loved it. Such a timely word for me today
Hi Kez!!! Yes this is an oldie for me now, written 8 years ago! I’m glad you found it 🙂
Thanks for the word Helen…love the keys and steps to digging a well. Practical with the Spiritual…There is such a sense of the NEW within the Kingdom at this time. A SHIFT…into the new season of God’s goodness and destined favour. Passages I have been soaking in are Song of Songs 2, Isaiah 48:6-8 and a scripture that led me into studying ‘Wells’ – Isa 37:25 “I have dug wells in many a ‘foreign’ land, and have refreshed myself with their water.’
I love this verse…
Thanks Helen for your article and insights…love it!
Have a top weekend,
Mark
That’s awesome Mark, I’m going to look those Scriptures up again myself!