Biblical encouragement flows from intimacy with Christ. Sarah Gale describes one way intimacy with Christ grows spiritual fruit that becomes life-giving water for us to give to others.

What does it look like for streams of living water to flow out of us? Like many of us, I struggle with choosing each day to bring my heart to God, and not just go through the stoic motions. Being in fulltime ministry doesn't exempt me from the realities of life in a fallen world.

I'm also recognizing my need for living water to refresh my parched and dry soul. I started thinking of how water is used in Scripture, like in Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17, the tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in season, and in John 7 talking about streams of living water and again in Revelation 22 with the River of Life flowing from the altar, giving life to everything in its flow. Running water is used metaphorically in scripture to illustrate life. And I need (and continually need!) to soak my heart in streams of life-giving water.

Jesus says these words in John 7:37-39 (referencing Isaiah 55's invitation to come to God with nothing and experience abundance) on the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles. I can picture the scene now…these are the word Jesus wants to ring in people's ears as they pack up and head home.

One Biblical scholar explains the tradition on the last day of that festival called libatio aquae, the pouring out of water. Using a golden vessel of water from the Pool of Siloam (meaning sent), they poured out water before the Lord on the ascent to the altar. During the pouring out, trumpets sounded and people yelled out cheers and shouts of joy.

One of my friends calls parables 'time-release thought bombs' because people would walk away form Jesus scratching their heads, pondering his words, and ten later, while working in the fields, they'd finally understand what Jesus meant by the kingdom of heaven being like a man who finds a pearl of great price in the field.

This discourse on the Spirit is another one of those 'time-release thought bombs' with libatio aquae in the background, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in the future. Can you see it? Jesus is such a great teacher - illustrating how he fulfills the law, prophets and promises by using their traditions as his visual aid.

In Galatians, Paul talks about the 'fruit' of the Spirit ('fruit' meaning the natural result of being rooted and planted by streams of living water, nourished and yielding fruit in season). Paul says "but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

So, what does it look like to have streams of living water flow from with in? What does it look like to walk through each day in gentleness? To move toward people with patience and goodness? To face challenges, obstacles and disappointments with peace, self-control and joy?

Truly these are supernatural responses to a very natural world. But maybe that's where we need to experience the 'time-release thought bomb' of coming to Jesus in our weariness, recognizing our inability and need, and relying upon his Spirit to flow from within us, and out to other people, giving life to those around us.

Sarah Gale is Regional Director of Campus Crusade for Christ, Mid Atlantic Region. Sarah's passion for Christ is reflected in her passion for being a stream of living water that flows with the love of God into the parched souls of others.