May 29, 2025 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Ted N.C. Wilson, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Hello, friends. Did you know that water flows throughout Scripture. We see it from the very beginning, where “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2, NKJV) to the last invitation found in Revelation 22:17: “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
Both metaphorically and physically, water plays a vital role in life itself. Spiritually, Jesus offers us, as He did to the woman at the well, the water of life that will become “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14, NKJV).
Physically, our bodies cannot survive more than 3 to 7 days without water. When we don’t drink enough water, the body quickly becomes dehydrated, affecting every organ, especially the brain and kidneys.
Did you know that water makes up about 60 to 70 percent of your body weight? Every system in your body depends on water, especially the brain.
Dr. Corinne Allen, an international researcher with over 30 years of experience, emphasizes the importance of hydration for optimal brain function. Pointing out that the brain is approximately 85 percent water, she states: “Brain cells need two times more energy than other cells in the body. Water provides this energy more effectively than any other substance.”[i]
In fact, water, is truly the elixir of life! In the book, Ministry of Healing, we read, “In health and in sickness, pure water is one of heaven’s choicest blessings. Its proper use promotes health. It is the beverage which God provided to quench the thirst of animals and people. Drunk freely, it helps to supply the necessities of the system and assists nature to resist disease” (p. 237). And in Counsels on Health we read, “If anything is needed to quench the thirst, pure water is all that nature requires” (p. 120).
You see, unlike coffee, tea, or sodas, pure water has no harmful substances and can satisfy thirst better than anything else.
But you may wonder, how much water should I be drinking? The ideal amount will vary from person to person, taking into account individual circumstances such as activity level and the climate where you live. However, here is a general formula that will vary from person to person:
If you work with pounds and ounces, the rule is to take your body weight in pounds and divide it by 2, which will give the suggested amount you should drink in ounces. So, for example, if you weigh 150 pounds, the suggested amount would be 75 ounces of water per day.
If you are on the metric system, take your weight in kilograms and multiple by 30 milliliters. The answer will give you the suggested number of liters of water to drink each day.
Interestingly, water is not only beneficial on the inside of our bodies, but on the outside as well. We read in Ministry of Healing, “The external application of water is one of the easiest and most satisfactory ways of regulating the circulation of the blood. A cold or cool bath is an excellent tonic. Warm baths open the pores and thus aid in the elimination of impurities. Both warm and neutral baths soothe the nerves and equalize the circulation” (p. 237).
Some people also enjoy taking hot and cold, or contrast showers to boost immunity and feel invigorated.
These are just a few of the many ways you can enjoy water and the wonderful benefits it can bring for good health.
This week why not try drinking more water and see how it benefits you. In addition, you might also want to try taking a soothing bath or invigorating contrast shower—these are just some of the ways water can help lead us into good health.
Until next time, may God bless you as together we seek a more abundant life in Him!