72

 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. John 7: 37

“Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters; Isaiah 55:1

About 2 weeks ago I decided I was going to drink water.

Up until that time, I literally never drank water. In my defense, I didn't drink many liquids at all so in the 3 I chose a day, water was not one of them.

I did drink water until my gastro stuff, and then it became where water sloshed around in my empty system and made me feel worse. So I stopped and replaced it with sipping on gastro friendly teas. And then that habit stuck.

The first week I got in about 24 ounces of water a day. I'm going to confess. I rarely have felt worse.

I decided to stick with it because occasionally my stubborn streak pays off and week two I got in 48 ounces of water a day and the headaches, general unwellness started to subside.

By this week I'm up to at least 72 ounces a day, sometimes more.

I bought myself this fancy water bottle that fits in my cup holder and we are now a traveling duo.

One day last week I left the house with my water bottle, but also bought myself a large CFA sweet tea. Because CFA sweet tea. By the time I drank the tea, I just wasn't thirsty for the water. As the day neared an end, I had a headache come on that just wouldn't go away.

The funny thing about this whole water drinking thing is I felt fine BEFORE I ever drank a drop. No headaches, no unwell feelings.

Until my body adjusted to the new intake of liquids, I had headaches and unwell feelings.

And now, if I don't get my full 72 ounces a day, I am back to feeling unwell.

My body didn't know it needed water until I gave it water and now it's decided "Yes, we like this water. Must have."

On my walk I was thinking about how this water experience for me as been similar to my spiritual walk.

I was really "happy" for years just doing the "Christian thing." I went to church, volunteered for this or that, attended the small groups, occasionally read some devotion materials.

But then I had this spiritual crisis and I began to dig deep. I started wrestling. I started reading voraciously. I added youtube sermons and podcasts to my daily routine. I went from 0 - 8 ounces of spiritual water, to the full 72 if not more.

And my soul has decided that 72 is what I need.

Sort of funny as I made it 40ish years on 0 -8 daily.

This 72 of spiritual life is so much more.

It's more challenging in some ways because I won't be spoon fed my beliefs.

However, this faith of mine, it's earned and authentic in every way.

Over the last week I've been scattered. I'm in back to school planning mode. We've navigated car troubles (again), family strife (again), changing responsibilities (again).

I haven't been able to write or process any of that.

Because I'm spiritually thirsty.

I've been trying to live a poured out life of 72 while intaking 0 - 8.

Mama Warriors, as we all begin to switch gears this week, preparing ourselves and our kids for that back to school season, let's remember we were made to live a life of 72.

Not just a check the basics off the list, but a fully poured IN and OUT life.

Give yourself 72 and you just might find that 72 is what you need.