July 2, 2025 • 24 mins
In Part 2 of our three-part series The Real Thing, we talk about the "almosts"—those things we turn to for comfort that feel close to peace but never quite satisfy. Whether it’s late-night snacks, comparison, or performance, we’ve both reached for substitutes that ultimately leave us thirsty. Drawing from Jeremiah 2:13 and Isaiah 44, we unpack the imagery of broken cisterns and burned-out ashes, asking: Why do we keep trying to feed on what no longer gives life?
This conversation isn’t just about recognizing what’s not working—it’s about learning to receive what is. We share stories from our own lives and invite you into a reflective process using breath prayers and simple journaling prompts. What are the places in your life that feel like “almosts”? What would it look like to trade those in for the living water Jesus offers? Join us on this honest journey towards something real—because you weren’t made to settle for almost.
Learn more about our Revelation Within Community: https://www.revelationwithin.org
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi and welcome to our podcast, revelation Within On
the Go.
I'm Heidi Wiles-Mapperson, oneof your hosts and the owner and
lead coach of theRevelationWithinorg ministry.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
And I'm Christina Motley, your other host, also a
Revelation Within coach andHeidi's partner in all things
Revelation Within.
We're so happy to invite you tojoin us for this episode of
Revelation Within On the Go.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
All right.
In this series, this threepodcast series, we're looking at
the real freedom Jesus offersand how easy it is to settle for
something that almost feelslike peace but leaves us empty,
and today's episode is calledthe danger of almost.
(00:58):
We're going to talk aboutcounterfeit comforts, soul
thirst and how Jesus offers uswhat our hearts are really
craving.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, wow, that sounds like quite a topic, heidi
.
Yeah, actually, it's quite anagenda, isn't?
Speaker 1 (01:15):
it, it is.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
It's so good, I'm so glad we're doing this one today.
So let's begin by inviting theHoly Spirit in Lord Jesus.
So often we run after thingsthat almost feel like you.
We're looking for you, we'relonging for you, but we reach
for almost everything elsearound us.
Lord, will you help us, please,to see clearly today.
(01:38):
Help us to trade the almost forthe real thing in Jesus name
Amen.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Well, we've all reached for something that numbs
but doesn't nourish.
A second helping, maybe ascroll through social media that
goes on for hours.
A little shopping spree, maybea rigid eating plan a mental
checklist of what doing it rightwill look like.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
So these are what we're calling almosts.
They feel like relief, but theycan't satisfy, they don't last,
they don't stick.
There's really nothing there,but in the moment we grab for
those.
Jeremiah 2, verse 13 puts itthis way God says my people have
(02:28):
committed two sins they haveforsaken me the spring of living
water, and have dug their owncisterns, broken cisterns that
cannot hold water.
So actually what we're doing isleaving the spring for a
cracked pot.
That's what we're doing.
So.
(02:49):
Many of you know that.
I live in Colorado Springs, inColorado, so of course you can
tell by the name that we'reknown for natural mineral
springs.
We have them all over the place.
They're in the mountains,there's hot springs, there's
cold springs, there's coldsprings, there's springs that
don't taste very good, there'sbubbly springs.
(03:11):
And we have this adorablelittle town close to us.
It's like an old mining townit's really next door called
Manitou Springs, and this townis famous for eight mineral
springs.
Oh wow.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Just eight in that tiny little town.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Yes, each with a unique taste and effervescence.
Bubbly, I like bubbles.
Yeah, you know, you can walkthrough downtown and they have
little, old, old structuresbuilt around the springs so you
can easily bring your own bottleand fill them up, and they
encourage you to do that.
And they don't stop, they justgo and go.
(03:51):
And I know I've always thoughthow can they possibly not run
out?
You know, manitou Springs waseven nicknamed Saratoga of the
West due to its mineral springsand scenic location right at the
base of Pikes Peak.
It is amazing, that littleplace, and my daughter and her
(04:12):
friend both work there, so weget to go often and visit them.
How fun.
So when you have this idea of aspring, it's a spring, it's
something that doesn't stop.
You don't have to wonder well,I'm going to bring my bottle, is
there going to be water?
Today?
It just flows continually.
And then in the winter thestructures, they all freeze, but
(04:36):
the water still trickles out.
There's ice everywhere.
It's fascinating really.
And then now in the spring it'sready to go.
And that's fascinating really.
And then now in the spring, youknow it's ready to go and it is
.
That's so interesting.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yeah.
What else is interesting isthat you know it's like here in
this example, in scripture Ican't imagine them naming
something for a broken cistern.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
So like Manitou, broken cistern, no, probably not
Colorado broken cisterns that'swhere I live.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yes, exactly.
And so springs definitely bringwith them a sense of life,
because you know there's goingto be life around the spring.
There really is, and we haveliving water.
In John 4, verses 13 and 14.
That's where I'm going next.
John 4, verses 13 and 14.
That's where I'm going next.
Jesus tells the woman at thewell everyone who drinks this
(05:29):
water will be thirsty again, butwhoever drinks the water I give
will never thirst.
Well, let's take a minute andlook at what living water even
means.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yes, good idea, I'm a .
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Greek geek.
I love this.
The Greek word here actuallywords is zoe and hudor, and
again, I'm probably pronouncingit all wrong.
But life giving water, zoemeans vital, full, true life,
and it's the same root as in thephrase eternal life.
(06:03):
Jesus isn't offering hydration,though.
He's not like bring your bottleand fill it up.
No, it's so much more than thathe's offering soul satisfaction
.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Oh, wow, that is beautiful.
You know what else what I'mthinking of as you're talking.
Yesterday I was on a drive withmy husband and we were talking
about something very serious andworrisome and very emotional
for both of us.
And we looked up and there wasa rainbow in the sky, and
(06:36):
rainbows, of course, come fromwater.
You can't have a rainbowwithout water and sunshine, and
it has to be this perfectcombination.
And, of course, in the Bible,the rainbow was also used as a
symbol of peace, and so I justhad to kind of bring that in,
because it goes along with thatliving water.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
There's a promise there, hmm, so here's a question
for us to consider what haveyou and I been drinking from
that doesn't actually quench, itdoesn't slake our thirst.
And here's a deeper stillquestion why do we keep going
(07:20):
back to it?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Yes, well, and you know, it's just almost there, it
almost works.
We think that we're so close,we think, if I only had this
thing, if I only did this, if Ionly reached this, or whatever
it is.
It gives us this little momentof peace, a spike of control, a
(07:42):
sense of relief, but then soquickly it crashes and we're
still thirsty.
So we usually go to the nextthing.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
I don't know about those listening.
I have a feeling that manypeople can relate to this.
I have, over the years, oftenhad a pattern of turning to food
at night specifically.
I can have a full day where I'meating, between hunger and
satisfaction, and delighting inthat.
But night times havehistorically been challenging
(08:16):
and the eating I've done atnight during those times has not
been because I was hungry, butmore often than not it was
because of other things.
It could have been a heartache,it could be tiredness, it could
be overwhelmed, it could beloneliness and it's like that
scoop of something cold andsweet which is not ice cream.
(08:41):
So we won't pretend it is.
You know, it just felt likecomfort or it felt like the
answer.
Right, but so often it wasn'tjust one scoop, it was a bowl
and then a second bowl and withit was served up a hefty portion
of guilt and shame.
(09:01):
And still no rest for my achingheart.
That is a really good examplefor me of turning to a broken
cistern instead of living water.
Thankfully, god has shown meways to nurture that ache in my
soul in such a way that it fillsit with his presence More and
(09:22):
more.
Over the years I've done that.
I've been able to turn to himinstead of going to food late at
night.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, that's such a great example.
And I know we can all relate tothat.
I certainly can.
So here's another example thatkind of goes in a different
direction.
When my kids were school age,you know, we they had these best
friends and their moms becamemy best friends and we all hung
out together almost every day.
(09:51):
We carpooled, we did all kindsof things together really often.
I mean, I saw these ladies likeevery day and I know that many
of you can relate with coworkersor you know, if your kids are
in school or whatever.
It's kind of a season ofrelationships, you know, and
then it changes as they getolder.
But I remember this so well.
I remember walking into theirhomes, these, these you know
(10:15):
families, these moms, and thewhole time I was comparing with
myself, with my own home, withmy own style, with my own
schedule, walking in andcomparing, and then when they
came to my house, the same thing, thinking do I measure up?
You know, am I enough?
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, just really, and I love these ladies, I love
them and we had a fantastic timetogether, amazing friendship.
But I feel, I look back and Ithink, boy, I really wasted time
in comparison and I reallycaused myself misery and caused
(10:56):
myself to require more comfort,because when they left I thought
, oh, you know what, the backbathroom was so dirty.
Why didn't I have that clean?
Things that don't really matter.
So it was performance, it wasbusyness, it was if I could just
do more, lead more, organizemore, look a different way, make
(11:18):
my house look a different way.
I felt temporarily enough whenI worked on all those things and
it was fragile and it wasexhausting.
And I wish at the time.
I wish that I could have letthat go.
I didn't know so many of thethings that I know now.
It was never Jesus, it wastemporary, it was counterfeit.
(11:45):
We have another breath prayerto share with you today.
There's actually a couple partsto it.
We think you're going to reallyenjoy it.
Remember that breath prayersare just breathing with truth
along with saying truth.
That's all it is.
So it's calming our bodies andrenewing our minds, and renewing
(12:05):
our minds at the same time andwe love breath prayers they're
awesome.
So let's try this one togetherto kind of help us to go in the
direction of going to the truesource rather than the
counterfeit.
Let's take a deep breathtogether and say you are my
(12:27):
living water.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
You are my living water.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Breathe out and say and I am thirsty for you,
Breathe in and say no morealmosts.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Breathe out and say only you Lord.
One more time Breathe in, youare my living water.
(13:34):
Breathe out and breathe outonly you, lord, I like that one.
I like it too, sure For sure.
Thanks for sharing that.
Okay, so let's go even deeper?
Speaker 2 (13:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I think we've gone pretty deep so far.
There is a powerful passage inIsaiah 44 that shows us what it
looks like from God'sperspective to depend on
something that feels like itwill help but it doesn't.
So in verses 12 to 20 of Isaiah44, isaiah describes a man who
(14:02):
cuts down a tree.
He uses half of it to cook hisfood so he's burning it right
and the other half to carve itinto an idol.
And then he bows to that halfand says save me, you are my God
.
What it doesn't compute.
It's really tragic, but thinkwith us about it for a moment.
(14:23):
It's kind of familiar.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
And this is what Isaiah 44, verse 20, says he
feeds on ashes.
A deluded heart misleads him.
He cannot save himself or sayis not this thing in my right
hand?
A lie is not this thing in myright hand a lie.
So the word translated ashes,and I can't say I'm a greek geek
(14:47):
in this one, because it'shebrew.
In hebrew it's the word effort.
It literally means the residueleft after a fire has consumed
everything.
That's a pretty big thing to forlittle word effort.
But anyway, ashes can't nourishus.
Of course, ashes don't satisfy.
(15:08):
Can you just imagine chewing onashes?
And so they are what's leftbehind after something has been
burned out, destroyed completely, brought to the ground.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Yeah.
So I mean really, how manytimes have we turned to
something already burned out,already proven empty, and we're
still expecting it to save us?
Wow, I mean that verse it hitshard.
Is not this thing in my righthand a lie?
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Yeah, and that just takes me back to those seasons
when I was on the food planthing, hoping that I would find
peace with the structure and thecontrol like we were talking
about previously.
But the control I was holdingin my right hand, it was a lie.
It didn't deliver.
(15:58):
It couldn't deliver because Itell you what it might last for
a season and then it's gone.
And Colossians, chapter two,verses 20 to 23, tells us that
it does nothing to control orrestrain the sensual indulgences
of my heart.
The plans, the control, all ofthat it really is a lie.
(16:24):
It's a lie.
It's ashes, it's feeding onashes.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Yeah, and for me, as I was describing, it was
achievement.
It was looking a certain way,it was being a certain style, a
certain size comparison, tryingto earn my worth through
performance.
I thought it was the rightthing, I thought it was holy, I
thought it was good, but it leftme hungry, it left me
(16:49):
unsatisfied.
Okay so let's return to prayertogether.
Let's do another breath prayer.
Let's breathe in.
Let's breathe in.
I've tasted the ashes.
I've tasted the ashes.
Breathe out.
I'm ready for living water I'mready for living water breathe
(17:13):
in.
Almost isn't enough.
Almost isn't enough.
Breathe out.
I want you Jesus.
I want you Jesus, let's do itagain Breathe in.
(17:36):
I've tasted the ashes.
Breathe out, I'm ready forliving water.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
I'm ready for living water.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Breathe in Almost isn't enough.
Almost isn't enough.
Breathe out.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
I want you, jesus, I want you Jesus, I want you Jesus
.
Wow, that's a good one toothat's a good one, so good all
right.
so we have some questions foryou to reflect on today.
What listener is in your righthand?
What have you called comfort,control or even God that can't
(18:25):
save?
And then ask God, lord, is notthis thing in my right hand a
lie?
Oh, and you know what Our Godis kind and loving?
Oh, and you know what Our Godis kind and loving he's going to
(18:46):
show us, but he doesn't do itby wagging his finger in our
face.
And you know, I want to reallyencourage all of us when we
imagine how Lord are youresponding to me?
You know he wants us to know howhe was but if we haven't looked
at the word to see what he isreally like, we may attribute to
God attitudes and actions andbehaviors and all of that, that
(19:09):
are more like people on thisplanet that have disappointed us
, who have been authoritythinkers.
We want to know what he isreally like, and I tell you what
he is good and he's righteousand he's kind and he's
compassionate.
And so when we ask thesequestions, is not this thing in
my right hand a lie, Lord?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
He will show us and he will do it with kindness.
You know, sometimes I look atmy life and I think how much of
this craziness am I creating onmy own?
Speaker 1 (19:40):
how much of this craziness am I creating on my
own?
I've known people whodefinitely do, and and I've
wondered the same about me.
Well, I think we all do.
Sometimes I've heard myself sayto Daniel, my son he was 32 or
30.
How old is he?
Anyway, he's old and saying ohno, I don't want to do that, I
don't want to create more dramafor myself.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Oh no, I don't want to do that, I don't want to
create more drama for myself,but I just think, you know
there's there's so much that wecling to, there's so much that I
cling to and I think this is it.
This is what I need to do.
Hang on to pull myself up,whatever it is, and it's like I
get to choose miserable.
I get to choose that, right.
(20:21):
I mean I get to choosemiserable.
I get to choose that Right.
I mean it helps me to actuallysay that to myself Am I choosing
miserable in this situation?
What am I choosing?
I get to choose my thoughts, myactions, not always my
circumstances.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
No.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
I get to choose my responses.
I get to choose those things.
And from where am I coming from?
Am I coming from a place ofresting in the Lord?
Am I coming from a place of,you know, clinging to his word?
Am I coming from a place ofpeace?
Or am I coming from my ownhomemade chaos?
(20:57):
Anyway, okay, we have somegentle steps to take from here
for you, um, the first one iscalled name it, and this is a
journaling prompt.
But you could.
You could journal, you couldalso have a conversation with
the lord in your prayer time.
(21:19):
What have I been turning to?
That almost works but doesn'tsatisfy, always falls flat, it's
never enough.
What is it?
What have I been turning to?
Okay, the second one is pray it,jesus, I've been thirsty for
(21:40):
you.
Fill in the blank I want totrade it for you.
Jesus, I've been thirsty formaybe it's acceptance, maybe
it's love, maybe it's rest,maybe it's forgiveness.
(22:02):
I want to trade it for you.
And then the last one is againwriting something that you could
write out.
Lord, I fed on ashes when I wasreally craving you.
I'm ready to trade what'sburned out for what is alive.
(22:24):
I'm going to read that again,lord, I have fed on ashes when I
was really craving you.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
I'm ready to trade what's burned out for what is
alive.
You were never meant to live on, almosts, I was never meant to
live on almosts.
No, you were made for livingwater.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yes, yes, yes, so true, and if you're ready to be
known and walk this out withothers, we've got a space for
that.
We have a private onlinecommunity where this kind of
transformation is happening allthe time.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Yay.
And you know what, if you wantto try it, you can do that for
free for a month.
A month, Fantastic.
So wwwrevelationwithinorg givesyou all kinds of details.
We change the name every monthand try to always make sure it's
got something engaging andlifting for you, yes, and
(23:22):
there's no pressure, justpresence.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
We're all about the presence of God, just people
walking with Jesus together.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
I love that.
I love our community.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Yeah, me too.
They're the best.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Let me take a minute and close in prayer.
Jesus, thank you for showing usthe difference between almost
and abundance.
Wow, yes, lord, thank you forbeing our living water.
Help us drop our ashes, theashes that we've been clinging
(23:56):
to, and instead cling to you Inyour name, lord, amen.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Amen.
So next time we're going towrap up our series with the holy
disruption of Jesus Whoa, howhe lovingly interrupts our plans
to invite us into somethingreal.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Until then, friend, release the almost come to the
springs.
Yes, and remember, you werealmost come to the Springs.
Yes, remember you were made forthe real thing.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Oh, I love that, thank you for being here and
join us next time for ourpodcast Revelation within.
Oh go, we'll see you then.
Bye.
Hi and welcome to our podcast, revelation Within On
the Go.
I'm Heidi Wiles-Mapperson, oneof your hosts and the owner and
lead coach of theRevelationWithinorg ministry.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
And I'm Christina Motley, your other host, also a
Revelation Within coach andHeidi's partner in all things
Revelation Within.
We're so happy to invite you tojoin us for this episode of
Revelation Within On the Go.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
All right.
In this series, this threepodcast series, we're looking at
the real freedom Jesus offersand how easy it is to settle for
something that almost feelslike peace but leaves us empty,
and today's episode is calledthe danger of almost.
(00:58):
We're going to talk aboutcounterfeit comforts, soul
thirst and how Jesus offers uswhat our hearts are really
craving.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, wow, that sounds like quite a topic, heidi
.
Yeah, actually, it's quite anagenda, isn't?
Speaker 1 (01:15):
it, it is.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
It's so good, I'm so glad we're doing this one today.
So let's begin by inviting theHoly Spirit in Lord Jesus.
So often we run after thingsthat almost feel like you.
We're looking for you, we'relonging for you, but we reach
for almost everything elsearound us.
Lord, will you help us, please,to see clearly today.
(01:38):
Help us to trade the almost forthe real thing in Jesus name
Amen.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Well, we've all reached for something that numbs
but doesn't nourish.
A second helping, maybe ascroll through social media that
goes on for hours.
A little shopping spree, maybea rigid eating plan a mental
checklist of what doing it rightwill look like.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
So these are what we're calling almosts.
They feel like relief, but theycan't satisfy, they don't last,
they don't stick.
There's really nothing there,but in the moment we grab for
those.
Jeremiah 2, verse 13 puts itthis way God says my people have
(02:28):
committed two sins they haveforsaken me the spring of living
water, and have dug their owncisterns, broken cisterns that
cannot hold water.
So actually what we're doing isleaving the spring for a
cracked pot.
That's what we're doing.
So.
(02:49):
Many of you know that.
I live in Colorado Springs, inColorado, so of course you can
tell by the name that we'reknown for natural mineral
springs.
We have them all over the place.
They're in the mountains,there's hot springs, there's
cold springs, there's coldsprings, there's springs that
don't taste very good, there'sbubbly springs.
(03:11):
And we have this adorablelittle town close to us.
It's like an old mining townit's really next door called
Manitou Springs, and this townis famous for eight mineral
springs.
Oh wow.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Just eight in that tiny little town.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Yes, each with a unique taste and effervescence.
Bubbly, I like bubbles.
Yeah, you know, you can walkthrough downtown and they have
little, old, old structuresbuilt around the springs so you
can easily bring your own bottleand fill them up, and they
encourage you to do that.
And they don't stop, they justgo and go.
(03:51):
And I know I've always thoughthow can they possibly not run
out?
You know, manitou Springs waseven nicknamed Saratoga of the
West due to its mineral springsand scenic location right at the
base of Pikes Peak.
It is amazing, that littleplace, and my daughter and her
(04:12):
friend both work there, so weget to go often and visit them.
How fun.
So when you have this idea of aspring, it's a spring, it's
something that doesn't stop.
You don't have to wonder well,I'm going to bring my bottle, is
there going to be water?
Today?
It just flows continually.
And then in the winter thestructures, they all freeze, but
(04:36):
the water still trickles out.
There's ice everywhere.
It's fascinating really.
And then now in the spring it'sready to go.
And that's fascinating really.
And then now in the spring, youknow it's ready to go and it is
.
That's so interesting.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yeah.
What else is interesting isthat you know it's like here in
this example, in scripture Ican't imagine them naming
something for a broken cistern.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
So like Manitou, broken cistern, no, probably not
Colorado broken cisterns that'swhere I live.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yes, exactly.
And so springs definitely bringwith them a sense of life,
because you know there's goingto be life around the spring.
There really is, and we haveliving water.
In John 4, verses 13 and 14.
That's where I'm going next.
John 4, verses 13 and 14.
That's where I'm going next.
Jesus tells the woman at thewell everyone who drinks this
(05:29):
water will be thirsty again, butwhoever drinks the water I give
will never thirst.
Well, let's take a minute andlook at what living water even
means.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yes, good idea, I'm a .
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Greek geek.
I love this.
The Greek word here actuallywords is zoe and hudor, and
again, I'm probably pronouncingit all wrong.
But life giving water, zoemeans vital, full, true life,
and it's the same root as in thephrase eternal life.
(06:03):
Jesus isn't offering hydration,though.
He's not like bring your bottleand fill it up.
No, it's so much more than thathe's offering soul satisfaction
.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Oh, wow, that is beautiful.
You know what else what I'mthinking of as you're talking.
Yesterday I was on a drive withmy husband and we were talking
about something very serious andworrisome and very emotional
for both of us.
And we looked up and there wasa rainbow in the sky, and
(06:36):
rainbows, of course, come fromwater.
You can't have a rainbowwithout water and sunshine, and
it has to be this perfectcombination.
And, of course, in the Bible,the rainbow was also used as a
symbol of peace, and so I justhad to kind of bring that in,
because it goes along with thatliving water.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
There's a promise there, hmm, so here's a question
for us to consider what haveyou and I been drinking from
that doesn't actually quench, itdoesn't slake our thirst.
And here's a deeper stillquestion why do we keep going
(07:20):
back to it?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Yes, well, and you know, it's just almost there, it
almost works.
We think that we're so close,we think, if I only had this
thing, if I only did this, if Ionly reached this, or whatever
it is.
It gives us this little momentof peace, a spike of control, a
(07:42):
sense of relief, but then soquickly it crashes and we're
still thirsty.
So we usually go to the nextthing.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
I don't know about those listening.
I have a feeling that manypeople can relate to this.
I have, over the years, oftenhad a pattern of turning to food
at night specifically.
I can have a full day where I'meating, between hunger and
satisfaction, and delighting inthat.
But night times havehistorically been challenging
(08:16):
and the eating I've done atnight during those times has not
been because I was hungry, butmore often than not it was
because of other things.
It could have been a heartache,it could be tiredness, it could
be overwhelmed, it could beloneliness and it's like that
scoop of something cold andsweet which is not ice cream.
(08:41):
So we won't pretend it is.
You know, it just felt likecomfort or it felt like the
answer.
Right, but so often it wasn'tjust one scoop, it was a bowl
and then a second bowl and withit was served up a hefty portion
of guilt and shame.
(09:01):
And still no rest for my achingheart.
That is a really good examplefor me of turning to a broken
cistern instead of living water.
Thankfully, god has shown meways to nurture that ache in my
soul in such a way that it fillsit with his presence More and
(09:22):
more.
Over the years I've done that.
I've been able to turn to himinstead of going to food late at
night.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, that's such a great example.
And I know we can all relate tothat.
I certainly can.
So here's another example thatkind of goes in a different
direction.
When my kids were school age,you know, we they had these best
friends and their moms becamemy best friends and we all hung
out together almost every day.
(09:51):
We carpooled, we did all kindsof things together really often.
I mean, I saw these ladies likeevery day and I know that many
of you can relate with coworkersor you know, if your kids are
in school or whatever.
It's kind of a season ofrelationships, you know, and
then it changes as they getolder.
But I remember this so well.
I remember walking into theirhomes, these, these you know
(10:15):
families, these moms, and thewhole time I was comparing with
myself, with my own home, withmy own style, with my own
schedule, walking in andcomparing, and then when they
came to my house, the same thing, thinking do I measure up?
You know, am I enough?
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah, just really, and I love these ladies, I love
them and we had a fantastic timetogether, amazing friendship.
But I feel, I look back and Ithink, boy, I really wasted time
in comparison and I reallycaused myself misery and caused
(10:56):
myself to require more comfort,because when they left I thought
, oh, you know what, the backbathroom was so dirty.
Why didn't I have that clean?
Things that don't really matter.
So it was performance, it wasbusyness, it was if I could just
do more, lead more, organizemore, look a different way, make
(11:18):
my house look a different way.
I felt temporarily enough whenI worked on all those things and
it was fragile and it wasexhausting.
And I wish at the time.
I wish that I could have letthat go.
I didn't know so many of thethings that I know now.
It was never Jesus, it wastemporary, it was counterfeit.
(11:45):
We have another breath prayerto share with you today.
There's actually a couple partsto it.
We think you're going to reallyenjoy it.
Remember that breath prayersare just breathing with truth
along with saying truth.
That's all it is.
So it's calming our bodies andrenewing our minds, and renewing
(12:05):
our minds at the same time andwe love breath prayers they're
awesome.
So let's try this one togetherto kind of help us to go in the
direction of going to the truesource rather than the
counterfeit.
Let's take a deep breathtogether and say you are my
(12:27):
living water.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
You are my living water.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Breathe out and say and I am thirsty for you,
Breathe in and say no morealmosts.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Breathe out and say only you Lord.
One more time Breathe in, youare my living water.
(13:34):
Breathe out and breathe outonly you, lord, I like that one.
I like it too, sure For sure.
Thanks for sharing that.
Okay, so let's go even deeper?
Speaker 2 (13:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I think we've gone pretty deep so far.
There is a powerful passage inIsaiah 44 that shows us what it
looks like from God'sperspective to depend on
something that feels like itwill help but it doesn't.
So in verses 12 to 20 of Isaiah44, isaiah describes a man who
(14:02):
cuts down a tree.
He uses half of it to cook hisfood so he's burning it right
and the other half to carve itinto an idol.
And then he bows to that halfand says save me, you are my God
.
What it doesn't compute.
It's really tragic, but thinkwith us about it for a moment.
(14:23):
It's kind of familiar.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
And this is what Isaiah 44, verse 20, says he
feeds on ashes.
A deluded heart misleads him.
He cannot save himself or sayis not this thing in my right
hand?
A lie is not this thing in myright hand a lie.
So the word translated ashes,and I can't say I'm a greek geek
(14:47):
in this one, because it'shebrew.
In hebrew it's the word effort.
It literally means the residueleft after a fire has consumed
everything.
That's a pretty big thing to forlittle word effort.
But anyway, ashes can't nourishus.
Of course, ashes don't satisfy.
(15:08):
Can you just imagine chewing onashes?
And so they are what's leftbehind after something has been
burned out, destroyed completely, brought to the ground.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Yeah.
So I mean really, how manytimes have we turned to
something already burned out,already proven empty, and we're
still expecting it to save us?
Wow, I mean that verse it hitshard.
Is not this thing in my righthand a lie?
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Yeah, and that just takes me back to those seasons
when I was on the food planthing, hoping that I would find
peace with the structure and thecontrol like we were talking
about previously.
But the control I was holdingin my right hand, it was a lie.
It didn't deliver.
(15:58):
It couldn't deliver because Itell you what it might last for
a season and then it's gone.
And Colossians, chapter two,verses 20 to 23, tells us that
it does nothing to control orrestrain the sensual indulgences
of my heart.
The plans, the control, all ofthat it really is a lie.
(16:24):
It's a lie.
It's ashes, it's feeding onashes.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Yeah, and for me, as I was describing, it was
achievement.
It was looking a certain way,it was being a certain style, a
certain size comparison, tryingto earn my worth through
performance.
I thought it was the rightthing, I thought it was holy, I
thought it was good, but it leftme hungry, it left me
(16:49):
unsatisfied.
Okay so let's return to prayertogether.
Let's do another breath prayer.
Let's breathe in.
Let's breathe in.
I've tasted the ashes.
I've tasted the ashes.
Breathe out.
I'm ready for living water I'mready for living water breathe
(17:13):
in.
Almost isn't enough.
Almost isn't enough.
Breathe out.
I want you Jesus.
I want you Jesus, let's do itagain Breathe in.
(17:36):
I've tasted the ashes.
Breathe out, I'm ready forliving water.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
I'm ready for living water.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Breathe in Almost isn't enough.
Almost isn't enough.
Breathe out.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
I want you, jesus, I want you Jesus, I want you Jesus
.
Wow, that's a good one toothat's a good one, so good all
right.
so we have some questions foryou to reflect on today.
What listener is in your righthand?
What have you called comfort,control or even God that can't
(18:25):
save?
And then ask God, lord, is notthis thing in my right hand a
lie?
Oh, and you know what Our Godis kind and loving?
Oh, and you know what Our Godis kind and loving he's going to
(18:46):
show us, but he doesn't do itby wagging his finger in our
face.
And you know, I want to reallyencourage all of us when we
imagine how Lord are youresponding to me?
You know he wants us to know howhe was but if we haven't looked
at the word to see what he isreally like, we may attribute to
God attitudes and actions andbehaviors and all of that, that
(19:09):
are more like people on thisplanet that have disappointed us
, who have been authoritythinkers.
We want to know what he isreally like, and I tell you what
he is good and he's righteousand he's kind and he's
compassionate.
And so when we ask thesequestions, is not this thing in
my right hand a lie, Lord?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
He will show us and he will do it with kindness.
You know, sometimes I look atmy life and I think how much of
this craziness am I creating onmy own?
Speaker 1 (19:40):
how much of this craziness am I creating on my
own?
I've known people whodefinitely do, and and I've
wondered the same about me.
Well, I think we all do.
Sometimes I've heard myself sayto Daniel, my son he was 32 or
30.
How old is he?
Anyway, he's old and saying ohno, I don't want to do that, I
don't want to create more dramafor myself.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Oh no, I don't want to do that, I don't want to
create more drama for myself,but I just think, you know
there's there's so much that wecling to, there's so much that I
cling to and I think this is it.
This is what I need to do.
Hang on to pull myself up,whatever it is, and it's like I
get to choose miserable.
I get to choose that, right.
(20:21):
I mean I get to choosemiserable.
I get to choose that Right.
I mean it helps me to actuallysay that to myself Am I choosing
miserable in this situation?
What am I choosing?
I get to choose my thoughts, myactions, not always my
circumstances.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
No.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
I get to choose my responses.
I get to choose those things.
And from where am I coming from?
Am I coming from a place ofresting in the Lord?
Am I coming from a place of,you know, clinging to his word?
Am I coming from a place ofpeace?
Or am I coming from my ownhomemade chaos?
(20:57):
Anyway, okay, we have somegentle steps to take from here
for you, um, the first one iscalled name it, and this is a
journaling prompt.
But you could.
You could journal, you couldalso have a conversation with
the lord in your prayer time.
(21:19):
What have I been turning to?
That almost works but doesn'tsatisfy, always falls flat, it's
never enough.
What is it?
What have I been turning to?
Okay, the second one is pray it,jesus, I've been thirsty for
(21:40):
you.
Fill in the blank I want totrade it for you.
Jesus, I've been thirsty formaybe it's acceptance, maybe
it's love, maybe it's rest,maybe it's forgiveness.
(22:02):
I want to trade it for you.
And then the last one is againwriting something that you could
write out.
Lord, I fed on ashes when I wasreally craving you.
I'm ready to trade what'sburned out for what is alive.
(22:24):
I'm going to read that again,lord, I have fed on ashes when I
was really craving you.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
I'm ready to trade what's burned out for what is
alive.
You were never meant to live on, almosts, I was never meant to
live on almosts.
No, you were made for livingwater.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yes, yes, yes, so true, and if you're ready to be
known and walk this out withothers, we've got a space for
that.
We have a private onlinecommunity where this kind of
transformation is happening allthe time.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Yay.
And you know what, if you wantto try it, you can do that for
free for a month.
A month, Fantastic.
So wwwrevelationwithinorg givesyou all kinds of details.
We change the name every monthand try to always make sure it's
got something engaging andlifting for you, yes, and
(23:22):
there's no pressure, justpresence.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
We're all about the presence of God, just people
walking with Jesus together.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
I love that.
I love our community.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Yeah, me too.
They're the best.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Let me take a minute and close in prayer.
Jesus, thank you for showing usthe difference between almost
and abundance.
Wow, yes, lord, thank you forbeing our living water.
Help us drop our ashes, theashes that we've been clinging
(23:56):
to, and instead cling to you Inyour name, lord, amen.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Amen.
So next time we're going towrap up our series with the holy
disruption of Jesus Whoa, howhe lovingly interrupts our plans
to invite us into somethingreal.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Until then, friend, release the almost come to the
springs.
Yes, and remember, you werealmost come to the Springs.
Yes, remember you were made forthe real thing.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Oh, I love that, thank you for being here and
join us next time for ourpodcast Revelation within.
Oh go, we'll see you then.
Bye.
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