Living Waters Testimony

Christopher Lewis – Intern – Social Media/Content

”Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If there’s one thing that I’ve come to realize over the past year or two, even if I don’t walk it out as often as I should, it’s that these “things” we run to, things of false pleasures and sin, will never satisfy us like Jesus will. He offers us the living water we all desperately need.

The wounds that need healing can only be healed by living water, not sin. The holes in my life can only be filled by living water, not sin. The trauma I need to confront can only be confronted with the help of Jesus and the gift of living water; I can’t run to sin and numb the pain. The water I’m trying to drink will never satisfy me like the living water Jesus offers!

I’m like the Samaritan woman. I’m thirsty. I’m longing for something to quench my need in life. I know the gift Jesus is offering. However, I wrestle and I wrestle and I wrestle with it. I’m reminded of scripture: sin is pleasurable but yet only for a season. Why do I wrestle with the gift though? That’s what I have to ask myself, and that is what I’ve asked myself a lot these past couple years. It’s something I asked myself a lot the past 6-7 months.

My healing journey has only started, but it took a nose dive into that water of healing last October of 2023. I joined the program “Living Waters” in Atlanta, Ga. The confrontation of my past that took place along with addressing deep wounds, traumas, and pains of today even were all a vital part to this season of healing and this program. If I wanted to get the most out of this program, I knew I had to confront tough topics that I couldn’t face before. I knew it had to be done. The beautiful thing is that Jesus was with me the entire time. My brothers were with me, walking with me in the battle the entire time. My group leaders were receiving of my tears and pains the entire time. There was such liberation, freedom, love, hope, encouragement, tons of prayer, and truth. The glimpse of “living water” I saw for 6 months at Living Waters reminded me that nothing else will satisfy the longings of my heart except for Jesus. This program truly made an impact on my life and just like I testified then at the end: Not only does Jesus want my healing, but I’m beginning to want my healing too.

The sexual perversion that has plagued my life since I was a little boy is being uprooted, slowly but surely. It’s definitely a process! But, my hope is in Jesus! I won’t give in. I may struggle, but I refuse to throw in the towel.

To those struggling or wrestling with something especially sexual sin, know that you’re winning if you’re struggling. Sounds odd doesn’t it? If you’re struggling, that means you’re wrestling with the devil. Get down in the trenches and fight! Be strong and courageous! The army of the Lord is with you, cheering you on, warring WITH you in spirit, but you must fight. If you fall, get back up. If you fall again, get back up. If you fall a third time, get back up. If you fall, get. back. up.

Satan wants you to stay down if you fall; he doesn’t want you to get back up, but soon the strength of standing back up will overpower the fall and you will win “this” fight. The fight will always continue but you will be stronger than you’ve been before, and this time you will make him pay by the power of your testimony. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy and I prophesy that you will win!

Am I still fighting? Yes. Is it a struggle? Yes. But that means I’m winning! I have so much more to do and further to go in my journey, and there are things I’m still walking out, but I’m victorious because of Jesus. He offered me living water, and I’m beginning to drink from it. I want to leave you with lyrics from a song I wrote several years back that has now been a fight song for many in spiritual war:

“When my God comes through,He brings on the thunder roaring like a lion, roaring like a lion. In the heat of the moment when the flame arises, roaring like a lion, roaring like a lion.The atmosphere is shifting, a storm of glory is calling, the Holy Spirit is falling on Your people. They’re standing with You. The One. The Way. The Truth. The Light. We are standing on the front lines.We’re ready to fight. The enemy may win the battle, but we’ll won the war. Cause with God we are victorious;He has the roar of roars!

YAHWEH!”

Over the past few months, since stepping in as Executive Director of HWW, the Holy Spirit has been highlighting a phrase in scripture to me – His Wonderful Works. It seems fitting doesn’t it? I think of creation and the world we live in. The miracle of life that we see everyday and have become so accustomed to. It was all made by Him, for Him, and through Him. His Wonderful Works. I was amazed at how often this phrase was mentioned throughout scripture. Everywhere I turned, I seemed to be running into someone ‘telling of His wonderful works.’

Then I began to feel the Holy Spirit’s nudge. He wanted to take me deeper into my own heart.

When I was newly saved, some of my friends called me ‘fireball.’ I was passionate about Jesus. If I wasn’t spending time with Him, I was telling someone about Him. In just 21 years of walking with Jesus, I have seen Him do many miracles, save lost souls, and heal hearts and minds in ways the world says are impossible. He has protected me, provided for me, spoken to me, led me, used me, and proved Himself faithful over and over.

Yet like many of us, I began to notice my fire had grown dim. Life happened. New (seemingly innocent) distractions knocked on my door due to the rise of technology and social media. I’ve watched a world change dramatically in ways I could never dream of and quicker than I could have imagined. I’ve watched so many in the body of Christ embrace doctrines of demons and drift further and further away from the true gospel. Lawlessness has increased and because of that, the love of many is growing cold. Yet in the midst of all this my heavenly Father whispers to my heart, “Remember…Remember Me Ashley.”

“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lamp stand out of its place – unless you repent.”
Revelation 2:4

God is rekindling a fire in my heart. A heart that cannot contain the boast of the Lord. I am returning back to my first love. Where had I fallen? In my time with Him. So often I had allowed other things to distract me from the most important thing in my life…my secret place with the Father.

What about you? Does your heart burn with desire to ‘Tell of His Wonderful Works?’ Or do you find yourself relating to Jesus’ kind rebuke that we have left our first love? Have you forgotten? If that’s you, repent. Remember and do what you used to do at first. Brothers and sisters, our time here on earth is short and there is an urgency in this hour. Our King is returning.

Join me as we open our mouths (or grab a pen) and tell of HIS WONDERFUL WORKS!

“But if I say, ‘I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name,’ Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it.”
Jeremiah 20:9

Ashley Little
Executive Director