One of the most life-changing experiences I have ever had was when I was a freshman in college and attended a college retreat one weekend at a church in Kingwood, Texas in 1987.  The theme of the retreat was “My Only Hope is Jesus!” and the speaker was a man named Dave Busby.  Dave had polio and cystic fibrosis and later died in late 1999.  Little did I know how much his teaching would impact my life.  He preached on the scripture below from Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 2:13  “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” – NIV

He also preached out of the Beatitudes – Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted; blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kindom of heaven!    It is the broken, poor, needy – those who recognize their powerlessness and who cry “my only hope is you, Jesus!” who receive power.  There is no sense in “trying harder” – power is only found in the cross.  When we recognize our brokenness and neediness, we set our broken cisterns aside and run to the One who is the fountain of living water, the only one who can heal us and satisfy our thirst!

What broken cisterns have you created and relied on today?  How are they working for you?

Our only hope is Jesus!    It is through being broken and needy that we receive power.  He alone is the fountain of living water!