Blog post by Randy Miller 7/4/26
In the devotional book, “You’ve Got His Word On It” by Dr. Lenny Wisehart (self-published November 19, 2021, available on Amazon) comes a devotion on going into deeper water spiritually.
I’m paraphrasing some of what he wrote. He based this devotion on Ezekiel 47:1-12, and challenges us to swim in the fullness of His presence. All of us want to experience the deeper depths of the Holy Spirit, but we can’t be sanctified with waters to just our ankles or our thighs. We’ve got to swim in the deeper part of what God has for us.
Our Steady Ground Ministry podcast series addresses this. In podcast 1 with each guest, we address the question “Why do some Christians have a fringe or marginal relationship with Him?” then in podcast 2 we discuss ways of, as Dr. Wisehart describes in this devotion, going deeper in our relationship with Him. We think blessings from God will come when we pray, beg, or claim we’re a Christian. Truth is, says Dr. Wisehart, it’s only when we are fully yielded to the Holy Spirit to be His totally. Then, we don’t have to beg for Christ to be in us every day.
The Holy Spirit, says Dr. Wisehart, is anxious to bring us into His presence. Heavenly waters can flow to us and do the work of the Holy Spirit to live fuller and deeper lives spiritually.
Dr. Wisehart points out in this devotion, that going deeper spiritually is not the same thing as natural or spiritual maturity. Yielding to the Holy Spirit’s guidance is the way to go deeper in your relationship with Christ, not counting the number of months or years you’ve claimed to be a Christian.
Older believers find entire yielding more difficult than young believers do says Dr. Wisehart. Older believers have evaded or postponed further work by the Holy Spirit. The fresh flowing, ever-deeping river is there for us if we accept it.
Dr. Wisehart concludes this devotion with challenging us—whether a younger or older believer—to go to the depths and find those waters to swim in, which will fill our hearts and flow thru us to the renewing of other. Get out of the wading pool and into the deep end of Christ’s love!
