I have a canteen sitting on a bookshelf in my office. It is a reminder of what I carry with me each and every day. The canteen belongs to a friend. I have seen him use it on several occasions and always thought it was a rather smart item to possess. There have been moments when he and I were somewhere outside and the canteen that he carried held the only available water source – our life source; thus a smart item to carry around.

This weekend, I was with a friend who I deeply admire. Her spirituality is real and authentic; it is part of her very soul and existence. After being with her, I always walk away amazed by one simple fact: she is so full of Scripture.

Because my friend has chosen to carry around Scripture…God’s Word… it just flows through her very naturally. Sometimes this is intentional and sometimes Scriptures come out as if they were her own words. She has placed such a value on Scripture in her own life, and filled her heart with so much of God’s Word, that it has become of primary importance to her. Here is the most important part to me…. it’s not cheesy. It comes across as authentic, not like a televangelist. It is easy to see the passion coming from within.

What do you and I choose to carry around? The world gives us so many options: everyday stress, the big stresses like fear, power, worries, looks, popularity, past mistakes, current failures, broken and strained relationship, and unfulfilled dreams. I think most of us carry around a mixture of these things without even thinking about it. And these are not life-giving resources; they are just the opposite. They actually rob of us true life. Our ‘canteens’ are not filled with supplies that can give us strength, energy, and power.

I think if we would take the time to think about it, we would choose to fill our canteens differently. We would take time to make sure that our souls are filled with prayer, Scripture, good memories, great friendships and community, faith, hope, and above all, love. Most of the time we end up carrying the wrong stuff with us and are not equipped to handle life. If you don’t believe me, start paying attention to your initial reactions to life and life events. Are you prepared for what life throws at you?

So today, take time to think about what’s in your canteen. What are you carrying around with you? What are you using your precious energy to maintain and keep? Make sure that whatever it is, is life-giving.

Start with Scripture and prayer. Make sure you are keeping God’s precious words close. Keep your community, friendships and family close. Be serious about faith and hope. And above all else, carry love with you. May your canteen be filled with authentic and true life.