Daily Devotion Chat

The Deadly Draw of the Alkali Pool 

Written by Cowboy Evangelist Rev. Joseph Holmes

Produced by H C Cowboy Ministries

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 14:12 (KJV) — "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

 Good morning everyone. Welcome to this Thursday devotion. Let us all take a moment to give thanks to the Lord for another beautiful day, and be sure to give Him all the Glory in all that we do. So lets grab that coffee and get into the word today.

Out in the dry country, when the summer sun has baked the earth and the creeks have stopped running, a herd of cattle will get desperate for water. Sometimes, wandering through that dry brush, they will come across an alkali pond. Now, if you have never seen one, an alkali pool can look like a miracle to a thirsty cow. The water is usually crystal clear. It looks refreshing, cool, and exactly like what the herd needs to survive.

But that water is pure poison. It is full of toxic salts and minerals. If a cow drinks it, it will sicken her from the inside out, and if she drinks enough of it, it will kill her. She dies thinking she is doing what she needs to do to survive.

The devil uses the exact same strategy on us. The enemy does not come to you when you are strong and full; he waits until you are wandering in the dry country. He waits until you are thirsty—maybe you are lonely, hurting, exhausted, or feeling like a failure. Then, he points you to a "water hole" that looks crystal clear. He takes destruction and dresses it up to look like relief.

I know exactly how that thirsty herd feels. Many Years ago as many of you know, but for those of you who don’t know let me explain my career riding bulls and racehorses came to a sudden, violent end because of a severe injury. I was hurting physically, my dreams were shattered, and my soul was wandering in a dark desert. I was desperate for the pain to stop. The devil did not offer me a one-way ticket to rock bottom. He offered me a pill for pain and drugs to make me happy happy. He made it look like peace and quiet. He made it look like the medicine I needed to get through the night.

But it was just an alkali pool. It looked good going down, but it dragged me straight into the dark, miserable hole of depression and drug addiction. It was pure poison. It was only the grace of God, the true Living Water, that pulled me out of that toxic mud so I could serve Him.

The devil makes the affair look like "true love." He makes the addiction look like "stress relief." He makes the prideful anger look like "standing up for yourself." It seems right, but the end of it is death. We have to ask the Holy Spirit to give us the spiritual discernment to see the poison hiding in the clear water.

 I bet there is a cowboy or cowgirl out there today who is drinking from the wrong pond. You are thirsty for peace, thirsty for love, or thirsty for relief from your pain, and you have turned to something the devil offered. Now you are hurting, you are addicted, and you feel completely washed up. I want to talk to you today with deep empathy and understanding, because I have been right where you are. You cannot heal yourself by drinking more poison. You need Jesus to lead you to the Living Water. If you are ready to stop buying the devil's lies and start receiving God's truth, I invite you to give your heart to Jesus Christ right now. Surrender your life to Him, and let Him quench the thirst in your soul.

Let’s Pray,

 Lord, we thank You for Your truth and Your Living Water. Lord, we admit that the devil’s traps often look very good to our tired and thirsty souls. Give us the spiritual sight to recognize his poison, no matter how clear the water looks. Protect our minds and our hearts from the things that seem right but lead to destruction. Lord, I lift up anyone reading this who is caught in the trap of addiction, depression, or deception. I ask you Lord today to break those chains, and Lord I ask you to lead them back to the safety of Your well the true Living Water. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I want you to think about this question today. What "alkali pool" is the devil trying to make look refreshing in your life right now?

Remember this "A desperate herd will drink from a poisoned puddle, but a wise cowboy trusts the trail to the river. Don't let your thirst become your destruction."