A DRY SPELL
I preach to thousands, yet there are times I feel so very dry—so far away from the presence of God. In such moments, I have no great yearning to read the Word. The reading of the Bible, in times of dryness, is done mostly through a sense of obligation. When I’m dry and empty, I feel little compulsion to pray even though I know my faith is intact, and my love for Jesus is strong.
Have you ever sat in church and watched those around you getting blessed, while you feel nothing? They cry; they pray; they worship with tremendous feeling. But you are not moved upon—at all. You begin to wonder if there is something wrong with your spiritual life.
I believe that all true believers experience dry spells at various times in their Christian life. Even Jesus felt the isolation—when he cried aloud, “Father, why have you forsaken me?”
What shall I do to overcome spiritual dryness?
1. I must maintain a life of prayer!
Nothing dispels dryness and emptiness quicker than an hour or two shut in with God. Putting off that date with God in His secret closet causes guilt. We know that our love for him should lead us into his presence, but we busy ourselves in so many other things—time slips away, and God is left out. We throw in his direction a whole array of “thought prayers.” But nothing can take the place of that secret closet—with the door shut—praying to the Father in seclusion.
Come boldly into his throne of grace—even when you have sinned and failed. He forgives—instantly—those who repent with godly sorrow.
2. I must no longer be afraid of a little suffering!
Christ’s resurrection was preceded by a short period of suffering. We do die! We do suffer! There is pain and sorrow.
We do not want to suffer or resist or be hurt! We want painless deliverance! We want supernatural intervention. “Do it, God,” we pray, “because I am weak and always will be. Do it all, while I go my way, waiting for a supernatural deliverance!”
But, thank God, suffering is always that short period before final victory. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered awhile, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).
Have you ever sat in church and watched those around you getting blessed, while you feel nothing? They cry; they pray; they worship with tremendous feeling. But you are not moved upon—at all. You begin to wonder if there is something wrong with your spiritual life.
I believe that all true believers experience dry spells at various times in their Christian life. Even Jesus felt the isolation—when he cried aloud, “Father, why have you forsaken me?”
What shall I do to overcome spiritual dryness?
1. I must maintain a life of prayer!
Nothing dispels dryness and emptiness quicker than an hour or two shut in with God. Putting off that date with God in His secret closet causes guilt. We know that our love for him should lead us into his presence, but we busy ourselves in so many other things—time slips away, and God is left out. We throw in his direction a whole array of “thought prayers.” But nothing can take the place of that secret closet—with the door shut—praying to the Father in seclusion.
Come boldly into his throne of grace—even when you have sinned and failed. He forgives—instantly—those who repent with godly sorrow.
2. I must no longer be afraid of a little suffering!
Christ’s resurrection was preceded by a short period of suffering. We do die! We do suffer! There is pain and sorrow.
We do not want to suffer or resist or be hurt! We want painless deliverance! We want supernatural intervention. “Do it, God,” we pray, “because I am weak and always will be. Do it all, while I go my way, waiting for a supernatural deliverance!”
But, thank God, suffering is always that short period before final victory. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered awhile, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).