It had been a few days since my husband bought me these purple flowers. He brought them home, cut the ends, put them in a vase with water and displayed them for my enjoyment.

They have been sitting on my table, causing smiles when I catch a glimpse throughout the day.

Yesterday I was tidying up the house and I had to think twice about the flowers. They appeared to be fine, but after examination, they were starting to smell and the leaves on the stem, to wither.

So, I picked them up, washed out the vase and added fresh water. I cut the stems and picked off the dead leaves so that the flowers were healthy and had everything they needed.

I realized that the flowers had been trying to survive off of old water.

Though, at a glance, they appeared healthy, they were slowly drying up.

After I pruned the flowers and displayed them back on my table, the Lord immediately began speaking to my heart.

This is what it is like when we try and run our lives on old water.

We are slowly drying up. We may appeared to be okay, but are there parts of our lives that are starting to get a stench? Do we need our stems cut so that we can soak up the water easily again?

Getting our leaves pulled off and our stems cut may be difficult for us, but it is necessary if we are to be living connected to the water, our source of spiritual life.

We cannot thrive on stagnant waters, only attempt to survive.

When we remain connected to the water, immersed in it, and it is being renewed daily, then we don’t need to do the extra things to be pruned.

When there are parts of my life that start to stink, I have to take notice that I’m trying to live off of murky water.

How sweet is the fresh, living water! It is a noticeable fragrance that exudes when our spirit is daily renewed in the showers of the Word and prayer.

Take a moment to examine yourself: Are you feeling like you are lacking spiritual refreshing and parts of your life are thirsty? Get immersed in Christ and do it daily.

Lord, Let me be nourished by a water that is pure and new, life giving and sustaining. Help me to daily connect with you and be renewed by your Word, that is living and active. Help me to choose to spend time speaking to you and listening for your voice. I do not want the stench of the world, but to exude the sweet fragrance that comes from being with you.

Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. – John 15:4 (AMP)