Broken Cisterns

This past weekend I visited a church, and during the service one of the elders at the church prayed. One of the things he prayed for caught my attention, so much so that as soon as the prayer ended I had to write it down.



He prayed that each of us would not return to the broken cisterns, but would turn to God.



The term “broken cisterns” is what really caught my attention.

 (Look at Jeremiah 2:13) 

The "broken cisterns" in your life may look very different than the ones in my life--but I think we all have at least one "broken cistern" that we return to at times.



How often do I turn to broken cisterns when I’m feeling empty and need to be filled?



Picture from google images

How often do I return to that which I know is already broken, that which I KNOW won’t fill me?



Why do we return to the broken cisterns, instead of turning to God, the cistern that is not broken and will never run dry?



Why do we look for fulfillment in places that we know won't be fulfilling?



These are the thoughts that ran through my mind as I thought about the prayer. I have to ask myself those questions--knowing that maybe I won't like the answers.



And I'll be honest, I don't like the answers that I came up with, because they are convicting.



Convicting me of pride, of trying to be in control, of not trusting in God's provision and in His sufficiency.



Because at the root of this, if I am turning to anything other than God, I am not trusting in Him. If I am turning to a broken cistern, essentially I am saying that I think that the broken cistern can provide for me/fulfill me better than God 
can.



And to me, that reeks of arrogance and it looks a lot like distrust in the God who created you and me.



I think that is the root of this issue of turning to broken cisterns (or at least it's definitely a part of it): Pride and Distrust.



God is convicting my heart of both.



I see evidence of God's trustworthiness everywhere: in His Word, in the way He provides, and in the way He cares for me. 

So why do I choose to return to broken cisterns? Why do I look to anything/anyone other than the Lord God?


The Lord God is FAITHFUL. He is GOOD. He is TRUSTWORTHY. 


Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." 


Psalm 56:4, "In God, whose Word I praise--in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" 


Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." 

My trust should be in the Lord. Why should I turn to anything else?! Why would I?

God is able to do immeasurably MORE than all we ask or imagine... He is the Cistern we should turn to. 

Why return to the broken cisterns in life, when instead we can turn to the God who is able? The God who is good? The God who provides? The God who truly fulfills? 

Why not turn to Christ, the Living Water? (John 4:10) 

That is the question on my heart this week. 

Father, forgive me for returning to broken cisterns when instead I should be turning to YOU. Forgive me for thinking that anything other than Jesus (the Living Water--the only One who truly fulfills) will fulfill me. Help me to turn to You wholeheartedly, and to You alone. Help me to look to You alone for satisfaction. You are the God who is Able; You are my God who provides! May my life reflect that trust in You--all for YOUR glory and my good. Amen.