Operating From A Broken Cistern

Jeremiah 2:13 NIV
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Don’t break God’s heart by abandoning him when He never and will never abandon you. Humble yourself and stop pretending you can do it on your own when you can’t. You are made to be loved and to love. You are made for something greater and meant not to do things on your own. You need help, God’s help. Not idols that are a bandage fix, medicine, but not the cure, but a lifestyle fix.

Let us pray,

God, help us to never hurt you in this way, help us not claim you or use you as a crutch when something goes wrong, and turn our face from you when things seem “ok” again. Help us to never forsake you in all that you do and keep you close to our hearts and minds as you know them. Help us to never have you say you never knew us. We want to know you and love you. Let us do things from the correct heart posture, pleasing to your eyes. We want you to be proud of us like a proud father of their child. Help us not to put you to shame in our actions and speech towards ourselves and others. Thank you, Lord, for your forgiveness, and help us not to take advantage of your mercy and grace. Let us be humble and not ignorant and prideful, pretending we can do it all on our own without you. Abba, we need you. We pray for our family and friends who live, thinking they can and will do life without you. Forgive them, and we pray for salvation through Jesus and the fruits of the spirit, letting us be transformed in goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, love, humility, and self-control. Forgive us for ever thinking otherwise. You are the spring of constantly flowing, eternal living water that leads to life, and we are broken cisterns. When our cup is empty, Abba, we ask you to fill us, teach us, correct us, and let us know every day. We cannot live on bread alone, but the word of God, you are more than enough Lord, you are sovereign, the king of kings, Lord of lords, the author and finisher, and apart from you we can’t do nothing, and we are nothing because you are our maker and we are made in your image. Help us not to be a plant without a foundation, a fish without water, and people without their creator. Thank you, Jesus, forgive us, help us to always put you first and never, not once, think we can do it on our own ever again. In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray, amen!

Supporting verses: Jeremiah 2:19-23 and 2:27-29

Expose our idols, help us see the emptiness in them, and know that only you can give us satisfaction, not fleeting pleasures, materials, and habits in the world. Busying ourselves, running from our minds because of discontentment in our ways, causing us to be complacent and not stopping to slow down, acknowledging that we need help, help from the Lord our God.

Reflection Questions

1. Why does God call Himself the fountain of living water and his people broken cisterns? What does this depict about God’s sovereignty and our pride?
2. What does this verse reveal about the nature of pride and turning away from God?
3. Have there been times when you felt like a broken cistern trying to hold water? How can you let go of being self-reliant and depend on the Lord? 

-Be Well,

THE SICK HEALER