Spiritually dry. It’s an awful place to be. Hell for those who have been satisfied by cool, refreshing living waters. For the past few weeks, I’ve experienced a spiritually dry time. Today, while in the Word, His presence was near. It had been quite awhile since I’d experienced Him, it almost felt like a reunion. I’d never wept in my devotion time before. I’m just not a crier like that.
Through my tears, I asked forgiveness for many things, most especially, my unbelief. I thought I’d share a few of the lessons learned, what I like to call the three deadly D's, on the path of spiritual dryness.
Distraction: With the kids home for the summer, distractions are a constant. My usual morning schedule has been rewritten by little ones. What I originally thought was a good excuse for hit and run devotion time, is nothing more than an excuse. A.W. Tozer said it perfectly, “Anything that keeps me away from my Bible is my enemy.”
Distraction became my first step on my path towards spiritual dryness.
“But Martha was distracted…” Luke 10:40
Doubt: Once I’m distracted, my eyes are no longer on Jesus, so they come to rest very comfortably on “myself”. Once good ol’ “Self” is the focus for all I need to accomplish, doubt sets in for the long haul. What is only possible with Him, is impossible in my own strength. His still small voice is drowned out by the insecurities of me, myself and I.
Doubt was step two on my path towards spiritual dryness.
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6
Disobedience: After a few weeks, spiritual dryness made a fork in the road. For the faithful saint, the one who remembers to trust, they go off on the path to the right, remembering to continue and persevere, even when His presence is not a constant from day to day. But, for those of us who falter and stumble in the “trust” department, we take the path off to the left. This path took me deeper into the dryness of my soul…destination disobedience. From here, whatever promises He’d given me, I’d forgotten. Which means His purpose for me was set down and left behind.
Disobedience is the hot wind that beat down on my dry days, the lynch pin that secured the chains of separation, keeping me from the abundant life He’d promised me.
Are any of you thirsty? Are your souls parched and dry, crying out for a drop of living water? Trust in Him. Persevere in what He’s called you to do. Pick up your purpose, don’t lay it down and give up. He has so much for His children who continue in faith.
He’s waiting. His presence is always near, even if you don’t feel it, His word says it. Trust.
“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5
