Indwelt to Be Filled: The Artesian Well and the Overflowing Fountain

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." (Romans 8:9)

Deep beneath the surface of the earth, hidden from sight, lies an artesian aquifer—a reservoir of pure, living water. Unlike a shallow well, which must be laboriously drawn from, an artesian well is under such natural pressure that when tapped, the water rises and flows freely to the surface. The supply is not dependent on external conditions; it does not run dry in times of drought, nor does it require human effort to bring it forth. The water is already there, waiting to rise and flow.

So it is with the Holy Spirit within the believer. From the moment we were born again, God placed His Spirit in the deepest part of us—not as a visitor, but as an unending source of life. His presence does not waver with our emotions, nor is it something we must strive to attain. The Spirit dwells within, fully present, fully sufficient, an ever-abundant fountain of God’s life.

Yet, just as an artesian well must be tapped to release its waters, so must we yield to the Spirit for His life to fill and flow through us. Many believers live as though the well is capped, drawing only from their own limited strength, relying on their own wisdom, striving in self-effort. But when we rest in the reality of His indwelling, when we acknowledge that the supply is already there, the living water rises and overflows—reaching every part of our being, refreshing us, and spilling over to those around us.

The indwelling of the Spirit is a settled fact, just as the underground reservoir is always present. But the filling of the Spirit is the unimpeded overflow—the life of Christ manifest in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Others recognize it not because we struggle to produce something spiritual, but because His life naturally wells up within us, spilling over in love, peace, and joy.

The water is already there. The supply is never lacking. The only question is whether we will allow it to rise and overflow or attempt to live as though the well is dry.

Prayer of Trust

Father, I rejoice in the truth that Your Spirit is within me, an unending fountain of life. I rest in the certainty that You have already provided all that I need, and I choose to yield, allowing Your life to rise and overflow in me. Thank You for the assurance that as I trust in You, Your Spirit flows freely, refreshing me and revealing Christ in me.

Final Thought

The Spirit within us is an artesian well—always present, always full, always sufficient. As we yield, His life overflows, effortlessly revealing Christ in us.

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Devotional excerpt from Abide Above, featuring A.M. Photo credit: Unsplash.