Conduits Vs. Cisterns

BY: SUMMER STILL

What is a conduit?

You may have heard of an electrical conduit; a tube used to protect and route electrical wiring in a structure so that electric power can flow.

You may have also heard this term to describe a channel whose function is to transport water or other fluid to a certain destination.

What if I were to say that we are meant to function as conduits?

What does this mean? This means that we are intended to be a vessel- an empty vessel that can not only receive but flow.

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” – John 37-39 KJV

“but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” – John 4:14 (KJV).

Jesus is our source, and His intention for each of us is to fill us so that we can pour out His blessings, goodness, and love to those around us.

Jesus is our source, and His intention for each of us is to fill us so that we can pour out His blessings, goodness, and love to those around us.

Summer Still

This sounds great, but sometimes, we find ourselves functioning as cisterns instead.

Cisterns feature a large tank buried in the ground, called a cistern hole, that is used as a reservoir to collect water for household or personal use.

The water is collected and stored underground where the water can be protected from temperature changes, animals, and insects. When the water is needed, water from a cistern can be pumped by hand or by an electric pump to access what is personally needed.

Cisterns were commonly used as a reserve in case of war, and it became the preservation and not the supply. The danger of a cistern is that we withhold enough to maintain ourselves.

We can often find ourselves turning into a cistern, especially when life’s blows hit and we are struggling to make it through the storm.

We have hit survival mode.

How can we give of ourselves to others when we feel that we are scraping the bottom of the barrel? We collect every little bit of water we can and store it up, afraid to let go of the blessings we have received.

What if I told you that we are not meant to just merely survive but to thrive and live in the overflow?

With a conduit, nothing is held back because there is a constant flow from another source, and this allows us to freely give to others, making sure that the conduit (us) remains functioning as a conduit.

There is no need for a reserve, or a big tank buried in the ground since the source provides a flow that is always fresh, new, and powerful- and it is constantly flowing and moving.

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” – Proverbs 11:25 (ESV).

“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” – 1 Peter 3:9 (ESV).

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” – Hebrews 13:16 (ESV).

If you feel dry, empty, or in pure survival mode right now, I encourage you to seek the Lord daily and pray, Lord, I need the fresh flow that You provide every day, you are my source, Jesus!

When we are connected to the source, then we can serve others, which helps us to maintain that fresh flow. As we pour out to those around us, God pours into us. Flowing, flowing, flowing through us every day.

When we are connected to the source, then we can serve others, which helps us to maintain that fresh flow. As we pour out to those around us, God pours into us.

Summer Still

I pray that in this new year, we allow ourselves to get so lost in the flow that we forget everything that tries to keep us worried and overwhelmed – bills, life, work, family struggles, addictions, mental or physical health, habits, hangups – and allow God to purify us with that beautiful, cleansing, pure flow of living water. – No longer merely surviving and getting by but living in the overflow.

About Summer Still 16 Articles
Summer Still is a member of New Life Church in Chillicothe, MO, where she and her husband, Jacob serve in ministry under the leadership of Pastor Jeff Keck. Her greatest ministry is being a mother to two precious little boys. She is the founder of Let’s Talk Jesus, a blog that is focused on Christian encouragement. Summer has a passion for helping with church planting and growing new ministries within churches.

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