Come Thirsty: No Heart Too Dry for His Touch

by Max Lucado

What image best describes your heart? A water-drenched kid in front of an open fire hydrant? Or a bristled, desert tumbleweed? You're acquainted with physical thirst. Stop drinking and see what happens. Coherent thoughts vanish, skin grows clammy, and vital organs shut down. Deprive your body of necessary fluid, and it will tell you. Deprive your sould of spiritual water, and it will tell you. Dehydrated hearts send desperate messages. Snarling tempers. Waves of worry. Growing guilt and fear. Hopelessness. Resentment. Loneliness. Insecurity. But you don't have to live with a dehydrated heart. God invites you to tread your thirsty soul as you would treat your physical thirst. Just visit the WELL and drink Recieve Christ's work on the cross, the energy of his Spirit, His lordship over your life, and his unending, unfailing love . Come thirsty and drink the water of life.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Religion, Christianity, Inspirational, Faith

215 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

With more than 150 million products in print and several NYT bestsellers, Max Lucado is America's bestselling inspirational author. He serves the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy. His most recent book published in August 2024 and is titled What Happens Next.

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Reviews

[Olivia Jarmusch · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Max Lucado's books are wonderful, and this was no exception! So many great truths about God's love to remind ourselves of daily. All of the concepts covered were the basic, simple building blocks of our faith, but sometimes those 'simple' things are easy to forget. Max also adds a fun spin on things with this creative word-building, and I love the mental images he leaves you with. I'd recommend this book to anyone who's looking for an inspirational read that will draw them closer to the Lord.

[Sunshine Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books written by Max Lucado, so I was anxious to read "Come Thirsty: No Heart Too Dry for His Touch."

Michael W. Smith wrote the Foreword.

The first chapter "Megan" is a contemporary and fictional mini story of The Samaritan woman at the well.

Chapter Two: "Sin Vaccination" shares a story we survivors of 2020 know all too well... about a widespread epidemic and vaccines (* Lucado uses the story of the 1347 Black Plaque).
Chapter Eleven address the topic of Worry.
Chapter Twelve is about: Angels Watching Over You
Chapter Seventeen is God's Love Letter (Signed: Your Maker, Your Father God)

"Be assured that many mighty angels will guard you in all your ways" (pg. 113).

"Look up 'reliability' in heaven's dictionary and read its one-word definition: God" (pg. 122).

Part One: Accept His Work
Part Two: Rely on His Energy
Part Three: Trust His Lordship
Part Four: Receive His Love

Lucado includes many bible verses, real-life events and historical accounts (one being the beginnings of Alfred Hitchcock (pg. 133-134). The author's personal stories include his family, life as a Pastor, and his time at a White House briefing.

I liked Lucado's thoughts on what the story in Acts 1: 13- 14 may have looked like... and the potential conflicts with the 120 people who met for prayer in the Upper Room (pg. 65).

I learned a lot from the author's conversation with Mr. Fly inside the airplane (pg. 77).

"The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness. What a sentence worthy of a highlighter. Who does not need this reminder?" (pg. 83).

"The greatest discovery in the universe is the greatest love in the universe - God's love" (pg. 141).

The back of my book comes with a Reader's Guide.

[Steven Walle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a program for hydrating your soul. The programdescribes four essential actions:
1. Accept God's work.
2. Rely on God's energy.
3. Trust God's leadership.
4. Receive God's love.
Enjoy and Be Blessed
Diamond

[Scott Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book in regards to the state of your heart. When you have a dry heart it makes you realize how much it is really you moving away from Christ not the other way around. The info is good it makes you realize why you are feeling dry.



My only problem with the book is in the intro. Rather than just makeing an outline he puts it into a prayer. The prayer is said that if you say it every day you will not have a thirsty heart.



I have the same problem with this as I do with other "say a prayer book" it turns it basically into a mantra. There is no room for blindly saying mantra's putting your faith in a ritual as a follower of Christ.



If you take out that one part it is an excellent book.

[Michelle Korting · Rating 5 out of 5]

What great words that truly touch your soul and re-ignite your love of Jesus!

[Sarah]

Max never disappoints!

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

1/Dehydrated Heart: Like water, Jesus goes where we can’t. Throw a person against a wall, his body thuds and drops. Splash water against a wall, and the liquid conforms and spreads. Its molecular makeup givess water great flexibility: water goes where we cannot. When he said living water, he was speaking of the Spriit. WELL: God’s Work, God’s Energy, His Lordship, His Love. Receive Christ’s work on the cross, the energy of his Spirit, his lordship over your life, his unending, unfailing love.
2/Sin Vaccination: Flea infested rats brought the bubonic plague to Italy and London. Eve did not ask God what he wanted. Adam didn’t suggest, let’s consult the creator. The lack of God-centeredness leads to self-centeredness. If all have been infected and the world is corrupted, to whom do we turn? In Eyam, Italy people survived the plague due to DNA (His resistance becomes your resistance).
3/When Grace Goes Deep: What image best describes your heart? A water drenched kid dancing in front of an open fire hydrant. Or a bristled desert tumbleweed? One question: does God’s grace define you? Deeply flowing grace clarifies once and for all, who we are. Grace defines you. As grace sinks in, earthly labels fade. People hold no clout. Only God does. According to Him, you are his. In his hands a mistake (tea on the wall) became a masterpiece (wildlife painting).
4/When Death Becomes Birth: The day you die is better than the day you are born (Ecc 7:1). Lazarus, come out! Laurie, come out! What happened to Lazarus will happen to us. Only our spirit-body reunion will occur in heaven. With Christ as your friend and heaven as your home, the day of death becomes sweeter than the day of birth.
5/With Heart Headed Home: We should behave as God’s very own children (as he has claimed you). So here we are. Caught between what is and what will be. No longer orphans, but not yet home. We have the Holy Spirit as a foretaste of future glory (Romans 8:23). Let your bursitis-plagued body remind you of your eternal one.
6/Hope for Tuckered Town: They muscle automobiles up and down the street. Rather than sitting behind the wheel, they lean into the trunk. They don’t use the accelerator because they are strong enough to do their own work. The spiritual person is Spirit dependent, Spirit directed, Spirit dominated. He seeks to walk in the Spirit. Christ threw open the passenger door, invited you to take a seat, and told you to buckle up for the adventure of your life. Be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).
7/Waiting for power: We are so reluctant to do what they did. Who has time to wait? If you hang out at the bus stop of disobedience, God’s bus doesn’t stop there. Desire power for life? It will come to you as you do your part to live in peace with everyone as much as possible. It will also come as you pray. Think of prayers as an awareness of God. I have discovered the strength of carrying on two conversations: one with a person and the other with The Person.
8/God’s Body Glove: God has work to do and he uses our hands to do it. As the glove responds to the strength of the hand, so you will respond to the leading of Christ: I, myself, no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The Spirit dwells within us teaching, comforting, convicting. All believers have God in their heart, but not all believers have given their whole heart unto God. The question is not how can I have more of the Spirit, but how can the Spirit have more of me? Don’t let stumbles stop you. Come and keep coming. Ask and keep asking. Story of a fly flying on a plane to keep the plane up.
9/It’s Not Up to You: Anna to bully: do whatever you need to but know that God is on my side. The Spirit seals you (seal envelope, seal jars). Sealing declares ownership and secures contents. Dad tells blind boy to install storm windows on house while he is away at work. Unbeknown to son, dad was with him the entire time. Does expressing love change the relationship? He is still a father, but he has drenched his son in love. The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. The spirit comes to the aid of our weakness.
10/In God We (Nearly) Trust: Author went on sailing trip with rough seas; captain was deliberate and decisive. We did what he said because he knew best. The vessel was captained by a pal. Our safety mattered to him, so we trusted him. God is strong and He cares. The problem is the agenda of the human race. We pursue the wrong priority. We want good health, a good income, a good night’s rest, and a good retirement. Our priority is We. God’s priority is God. Why do heavens exist? To flaunt God. God uses blessings and buffetings to reveal His excellencies. Every so often in life, we find ourselves standing before God’s counter, thinking we know the itinerary. There are times when he says: no, that isn’t the journey I have for you. I have you routed through the city of Struggle.
11/Worry? You Don’t have to: God offers you just that: the possibility of a worry-free life. Not just less worry, but no worry. He created a dome for your heart. Regarding the things about which we fret: 40% never happen, 30% regard unchangeable deeds of the past, 12% focus on opinions of others that cannot be controlled, 10% center on personal health which only worsens when we worry about it, 8% concern real problems that we can influence. 92% of our worries are needless. Our part includes prayer and gratitude: rather than worry about anything, pray about everything. You can dump your bad news in the vat of worry and pull out the spoon. Turn on the fire. Stew on it. Stir it. Mope for a while. Brood for a time. It won’t be long before you’ll have a delightful pot of pessimism. Or you can choose the pot of prayer.
12/Angels Watching over You: Fragile X boy plays in football game and the other team parted like the Red Sea for Moses and shouted for Jake to run. Run he did. Grinning and dancing and jumping all the way to the end zone. Multitudes of angels populate the world. Their ears only incline to God’s voice. Only one sight enthralls angels – God’s face.
13/With God as Your Guardian: God offers more than the possibility of protection or the likelihood of protection. Have bad things really happened to you? You and God may have different definitions for the word bad. Parents and children do. God uses struggles to toughen our spiritual skin. Don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way (James 1:2-4). Silversmiths pound and buffet the metal until he is finished with it. When will God stop with you? When he sees his reflection in you.
14/Going Deep: Pipin Ferreras dives deep (531 feet) into the ocean and can fill his lungs with 8.2 liters of air (2x capacity). He wants to go deeper. Can a person go equally deep into God’s love? Sink so deep that he sees nothing but God? God loves you because He is He. He loves you because he decides to. Success signals God’s love no more than struggle indicates the lack of it. When you abide somewhere, you live there. To abide is to be at home. To abide in Christ’s love is to make his love your home. Adapting to this new home takes time. The branch models his definition of abiding. (John 15:4). The branch is vine dependent. If branches had seminars, the topic would be Get a Grip: Secrets of Vine Grabbing. Do you ever release yourself from Christ’s love? Round worm can endure drought by shutting down all systems (anhydrobiosis – life without water). Anhydrobiosis of the heart: in drawn emotions. What if everyone was required to linger at the fountain of his favor until all thirst is gone?
15/Have you heard the clanging Door: Alfred Hitchcock was put in jail (his Dad’s request) for an infraction as a child. Al never forgot that day – the sound of the clanging door. The fear of losing a father’s love exacts a high toll. If you aren’t convinced of God’s love, how can you love others? Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Romans 8:38 Step to the well of his love and drink up.
16/Fearlessly Facing Eternity: God flushes those fears. Perfect love is just that – a perfect knowledge of the past and a perfect vision of the future. Perfect love drives out the fear of judgment.
17/If God Wrote you a letter: Salvadorian children receive gifts in the mail and don’t know to open them (they think the colorfully wrapped box is the gift). The children appreciate the letter from the sender of the box the most. Don’t we do the same with Christ? Aren’t we prone to keep him at arm’s length? WE place him on the mantel of our heart, respect him, revere his name, but never open his gifts.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new, but good reminders.
Some quotes I like:

Religion pacifies but never satisfies.

Most Christians find the cross of Christ easier to accept than the Spirit of Christ.

The Holy Spirit pours the love OF God in our hearts, not the love FOR God.

Are you afraid of a giant? Then recall the lion and the bear. Don't look forward in fear; look backward in appreciation. God's proof is God's past. Forgetfulness sires fearfulness, but a good memory makes for a good heart.

Cast all your care on Him. Not place, lay, offer. Cast as in casting out demons, as in don't come back.

You can not produce what you do not possess.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book the night before I left for Belize. Like all of Lucado's books, it was encouraging. It was probably a good choice just before going off on a somewhat scary adventure. It pretty much is like all of Lucado's books, and all of Lucado's books are pretty much like this one. Still, what he does he does well.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Max Lucado. I really do. He's smart, in love with God but sometimes I find that I just don't enjoy his books.

I don't know if I can articulate it... but I just couldn't get through this book. Maybe one day I can figure out what it was that just didn't work for me.

[Wes Hunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is pretty much a stock Christian book. Definitely well written, but not too challenging.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Lucado is one of my favorite devotional authors. This is another awesome book. I can't read enough of them.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this was a good, enjoyable book. Lucado is certainly entertaining, and provides good insight in ways which Christians can refresh their weary souls.

[One Anjana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like water, this book has a calming flow to every point it teaches.

It's my first Max Lucado book, and I liked the writing style. Max's use of parables and real stories helps us gain a better understanding of the context being discussed. The book is both relatable to everyday life and opens my eyes to the facts it highlights.

The main topic of this book is the need for spiritual water for our thirsty soul. The only water capable of satisfying and healing us is Jesus. But what is the best way to take His water? Like, sometimes we feel like I have ‘drink’ enough but how come my life is still dry? If you have the courage to open your heart and mind while reading this book, I am certain you will find the answer. Because for the first step, it requires our WILLINGNESS.

“Just visit the WELL and drink deeply.
Receive Christ’s work on the cross,
The energy of his Spirit,
His lordship over your life,
And his unending, unfailing love.”

The reader's guide at the end of this book is what I find the greatest aspect of this book. I find it helpful to reflect on what has been taught in every chapter. Using that guide, I wrote a significant amount of self-reflection in my journal. Highly recommended!

[Lenita Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly Explains "Living Water"

The author really explains well a concept I have had trouble with in the Bible, that of "living water." He explains this clearly in layman's terms.
I was amused at this passage on p. 390, having substituted in middle schools and thoroughly enjoyed myself. "The sin-infected grant God the same respect middle-schoolers give a
substitute teacher -- acknowledged, but not taken seriously."

And on p. 623 he writes "Less caffeine," as if caffeine were bad for us. I thought coffee was healthy.

Other than these amusing passages (and some others, more deliberate, I'm sure) this was a deeply reflective and meaningful book.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, Max achieves his goal of spelling out the abundance of spiritual water available to believers. He goes a little overboard, however, with the optimism. Yes, he is scripturally correct in that we need to celebrate God's love for us and never fear, but even the Apostle Paul saw "through a glass darkly" and our perception of the spiritual truths he is talking about is at least as limited. He writes as if he went to heaven and came back to report on things there. Yes, it is helpful but also a little arrogant. The quips are also a little distracting, but when he digs deep, he's right on the money. Still, he's quite the salesman, saying all but "Gooo God! Gooo Jesus! Yay!"

[Denisse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acércate sediento, un libro de Max Lucado que habla de la gracia y la fe, a través de historias bíblicas y anécdotas personales de él y amigos nos lleva analizar la vida de los discípulos y demás personas bíblicos mientras tenían que confiar en Dios .

Personalmente me parece un libro complejo de leer, con muchas citas bíblicas que llevan al estudio, sin embargo su perspectiva de la muerte no es la que está en la biblia, entonces hay que tener cuidado en leerlo y no tomarlo como una verdad absoluta .

Al finalizar hay un apartado con preguntas de cada capítulo que te llevarán a la reflexión . Disfrútalo, aprende y ponlo en práctica .

[Donna Mork · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book very much. It contains a lot of interesting thoughts. One of my favorites is "Heaven enjoys a maternity-ward reaction to funerals. Angels watch body burials the same way grandparents monitor delivery-room doors." I just lost a friend and this was a good reminder that tears are for those of us left behind. The joy is on the other side. And thinking of the angels cheering as we cross over makes me smile. Someday there will be a grand reunion.

[Veronica Vargo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story of the Salvadoran children given Christmas boxes. Some of them had to be told told to open theirs because they thought the box was the gift. They saw the bright ribbon and coloring wrapping and thought, This is it. Were no one to tell them, they would carry the box to their dirt-floored home, place it in a prime location, and admire it, display it, but never open it.

That reminded me how all my blessings aren’t the greatest gift. Good reminder.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much! It really spoke to me in the way that we are all in need of Jesus and we are not perfect. We may make a couple of mistakes in life, but, God will forgive us! In this book, Max Lucado talks about the living water and how it is different from regular water that we drink. The water that God offers is everlasting life and eternity with him!

[Lindey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Max Lucado is a wonderful writer and I enjoy his devotions, but this book was not my favorite. The stories and content for the most part were really good, but lost my interest / overall theme of the book when switching metaphors each chapter. The format he chose works for weekly devotionals and may work for some in books. However, it did not feel super memorable or unique to me.

[Rilee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had amazing points, but just not for me or the season of my life right now. This book would be a great book club book because the reflection questions in the back are really good for asking yourself as well as planning a bible study. Overall there were some great points about Jesus and going to the WELL, but also hard to read as just a fun book

[jenni popps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Lucado is one of my very favorite authors!
This book was amazing. I love the way Lucado relates God to our every day life. Lucado helps me to understand parts of the bible that may get confusing.
Anyone would definitely benefit from this book.

Many short stories in this book. I wasn't sure I'd like that, but I indeed did. I couldn't put it down

[Taylor Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Live a Godless life, expect a Godless eternity." - Max Lucado

Ooooofffff if that doesn't have you reevaluating things. This was a short but STRONG book (or perhaps sermon) about depriving your soul of spiritual water. That living without God will have us living desperately, always searching for the next "best thing". This was a good message that I needed to hear.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. I’ve always admired his way with words. I especially love the tie-in stories. There was one chapter in which he talked about “bad things” that I thought was too simplistic. I think I knew what he meant given an earlier chapter, but it wasn’t clear.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max usually delivers and this was no different. I really needed a good word from someone who understands what it means to be in a dry patch. He had funny and poignant illustrations of people who believe but who are struggling. I recommend it if you need something more.

[Kathia Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although This book was a bit slow for me it taught me a lot and worked as an eye opener for many aspects of my life. Definitely will try another of his books just because of all the insight and real life scenarios it provides.

[Summer D Clemenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your looking for a book to surprise you while you are trudging through life, Come Thirsty by Max Lucado is that book. Read the pages and let it remind you how much you are loved by God and how special you are because you are.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book by Max Lucado. As always, the author does a great job of discussing the topic and providing Scripture verses and passages to back up what he wrote.

[Jay Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is good with many good messages. It is a three because I am judging him as to his prior works. While this is good, it is perhaps not as good as some of his previous works.