Sometimes in our relationship with God we reach times in our faith where we find ourselves in a dry season. I don't know if you have experenced this or not but shortly after I got saved ,about five years ago, I found myself quite on fire for the Lord. There was barely a time where I didn't read my bible or didn't spend time in prayer, but... as time went on I found it harder and harder.
Why is it? Why is it that we're on fire for the Lord at first but as time goes on we find ourselves struggling to spend time with Him? We tell ourselves, well I love the Lord and I know that I am saved but why do I struggle to spend time with Him? It is a question that I'm sure we all ask ourselves in frustration.
I believe one reason why we find ourselves in a dry season is because we are in a constant battle with our flesh. Paul describes it perfectly in Romans 7:18-20
18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Our flesh doesn't want to seek the Lord daily through prayer and the reading of the Word. The flesh wants the things of this world rather then the things of the Lord. It is a matter walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh (Galations 5:25)
The second reason why I think we enter dry seasons is because God may cease to be first in our lives. A warning about this was given in Revelation 2:3-5
3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Good was spoken of this church, about their perseverence and endurance through hardships, yet God wasn't first in their life. What idles have taken the place of Christ in your life? Is it a relationship? Maybe it is a job? Whatever it is, it does not desevere the throne that was meant for Christ to rule on. One motto that has stuck with me for a year now is, "Christ is either the Lord of all or not the Lord at all"
The third and last reason why I think we have dry seasons is because we have lost our gratitude in the cross. Paul gives us a reason why we should be thankful in Hebrews 12:27-29
27The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."
In Christ we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and in response we are to be grateful, exceedingly grateful. Picture life without Christ. Picture a life with the same excruciating trials without a Christ to run to. Must I paint anymore pictures for you?
Thinking of all the things that Christ has done on our behalf gives us a deeper thankfulness of knowing Him as Lord, which leads us into wanting to spend more time with Him.
There is nothing more fulfilling, nothing more intimate then our relationship with the Lord. I hope this has motivated you to grown deeper in your relationship with the Lord and to hunger more for His Word.
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Thank you George, I really needed to hear this. I find that my biggest struggle is putting other's before God and that is when I go through my biggest dry spells. It's a hard thing to master, and it gets easier each time, but I still struggle with that. :) Thanks for the motivation George.
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