Spiritual Dryness

Isaiah 1:30  “For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away or as a garden that has no water.”

 
     Long periods without rain cause many problems.  The most obvious signs of the lack of water show up in the grass, trees and plants.  First the leaves become dull and dry, then they start to lose their color, then they shrivel up and fall off. (“an oak whose leaf fades away”).  This is not the same sequence of events that we see in the Fall—for usually God requires nature to show us a brilliance of color before the leaves fall off. This happening brings us a great deal of pleasure. 
      Contrariwise, drought is not pretty; drought brings no pleasure.  Isaiah also mentions “a garden that has no water.”  Much hard work and time can be put into planting a garden but if it does not rain timely rains—rains at the proper intervals–the plants will not grow properly and the garden will not produce.
     Likewise, Isaiah is telling us that we as Christians can be spiritually dry.  What are some things that can make us spiritually dry?  The first symptom that comes to mind is depression.  In this state the joy of living has departed.  There is no eagerness to live and most of our thoughts are inward.  There is no desire to read God’s Word and when we do, our hearts have become so dry and our spirits have become so dull and hazy that our minds cannot absorb the moist dew of God’s Word.  
     A second symptom is anger.  Anger over-whelms our thoughts to a point that all others are blocked out.  It consumes our nature and makes us unreasonable.  Hardness of heart sets in and so much so that even the gentle rain of God’s Word sheds off.  
      A third symptom of spiritual dryness is worldliness; simply put–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.( I John 2:1) These are the things that take our mind off God’s will and way and set it upon our will and way.  This brings about a cold heart.  A cold heart is tight and becomes dry, and resists the warmth of God’s Word. 
      A fourth symptom is worry.  All of us are very familiar with what worry does to our spirits.  It slowly and treacherously drains us, leaving us weak and without strength.  In this helpless state so much energy is leaving out that our hearts have no time to absorb the fresh encouragement of God’s Word, thus we become spiritually dry.
     Now that some symptoms have been laid before us, what is the prescription to prevent these aliments? First we need to examine ourselves to see if we have an unforgiving heart toward someone.  This has to be corrected and forsaken at once.  Next, we need to confess our sins and turn in true repentance from them. 
     And thirdly,  Hosea gives us an enlightening answer in Hosea 6:3, “So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.  His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us, like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.”  Oh, how encouraging these words sound!  What is it we have to do?  “Press on to know the Lord.”  Be faithful, never stop in your quest to know the Lord more fully, never turn aside to the right or to the left, stay on the straight course, and seek a refreshing from the Lord, daily partaking of a portion of God’s Word and praying.  Let the Word of God be at home in you.  Don’t put yourself on a spiritual starvation diet.  Don’t starve to death in a house full of the best food available.  Feast upon the Bread of Life.  Say like the Psalmist, in 119:83 ” Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.”  This faithful course will allow us to receive the “spring rain” that God faithfully sends to nourish us so that we will not be spiritually dry.
 
Hebrews 12:1″….let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
Hebrews 12:12-13 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.”
 
Read also: Milk Of The Word
Read also: When You Pray
Theme: The Better Way: Reading God’s Word is Good: Pressing On To Know The Lord Is Better
 

About Gail Slawson

I am a 74 year old wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. After 54 years of marriage, my husband and I have been richly blessed with 4 wonderful children and their wonderful mates and 19 precious grandchildren, five of whom are already with the Lord and 5 great-grandchildren. My husband and I are busy retirees and reside in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where we serve the Lord Jesus Christ through Bible Studies, as mentors in our church and telling others about Him "as we go." Mark 16:15
This entry was posted in Bible Study, Encouragement, Spiritual Dryness. Bookmark the permalink.

6 Responses to Spiritual Dryness

  1. Anita says:

    Very good, helpful post. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. jason reaves says:

    Mrs. Gail, I read this entry yesterday aand could identify. Also last night at the men’s study in Purvis, one of the guys was speaking about being in a period of dryness lately. After the study, I pulled out my phone and showed him the entry. He read some and said he had to get home, but asked if I would forward it to him. I told him a little about you and the blog and he said that he couldn’t wait to read the rest of it. And the real cool part to me is that this guy is my buddy Kenneth, the director of Lighthouse!

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  3. Jackie says:

    Such a nice article!

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  4. Rachelle Dondrea says:

    God is so faithful!! Thank you for this blog post!!

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  5. Gail Slawson says:

    You are so right !  “Your <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-14444A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a&gt” style=”font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;”>lovingkindness, O Lord,extends to the heavens,Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”  Psalm 36:5

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  6. Sony Xperia Tipo ST21i2 Dual

    BIBLE ENCOURAGEMENT .ORG: Spiritual Dryness

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