Spiritual dryness, what causes it?

[Ian Gentles]

It could be not enough rest, worry/stress, health reasons, etc.
It could be lack of fellowship, or good fellowship.
Could be personal hurts received from christians.

Maybe you all can add some other reasons.

But could it also be, we live in an area where Saten is strong, and area where God's working is small?
Could it be caused by wrong emphases in churches attended?

Maybe you have some comments here?

Now personaly, if we are , in our own best ways, continulay seeking God, then again why does this happen?

Could it be age?
Maybe we have been christians a long time and there seems to be nothing new under the sun for us?

OK I have given some suggestions. Maybe this is a subject we can discuss, maybe never comming up with the full answer, but one you may feel is worth talking about?

[Ian Gentles]

Sorry, this poste twice by accident, have tried to delete, it just dosent seem to work for me

[Barbara Moulton]

It could be not enough rest, worry/stress, health reasons, etc.
It could be lack of fellowship, or good fellowship.
Could be personal hurts received from christians.

Maybe you all can add some other reasons.

But could it also be, we live in an area where Saten is strong, and area where God's working is small?
Could it be caused by wrong emphases in churches attended?

Maybe you have some comments here?

Now personaly, if we are , in our own best ways, continulay seeking God, then again why does this happen?

Could it be age?
Maybe we have been christians a long time and there seems to be nothing new under the sun for us?

OK I have given some suggestions. Maybe this is a subject we can discuss, maybe never comming up with the full answer, but one you may feel is worth talking about?

I'd be interested in knowing what you consider to be signs of spiritual dryness to help me discuss this.

Blessings,
Barbra

[Jill Mickelson]

FOR ME....
When I am not in the Word daily, I am not sensitive to the Lord's leading....
I am not in tune to Listen to Him....
I don't "see" the LORD moving in my life....
I get my eyes on me and off of OTHERS....
When I am NOT in the Word, I am not praying without ceasing....

When I first got saved, I was devouring the Word every day.
Then for awhile, I got away from the Word....and one day I
noticed that I wasn't seeing God move in my life like He had done
before. I noticed that when we were on vacation. Immediately
I decided that I would get back in the Word! And stay in the Word
every day. I don't want to go back to that dry time!

For a year or more, I got up at 5am every morning to read the Word
and spend time with the LORD. (I am NOT a morning person)
I desperately needed to know what the Word of God said
and I desperately needed guidance, day by day!
THAT was the MOST BEAUTIFUL time of my life!
THE LORD TAUGHT ME SO MUCH...LESSONS I will never forget!
And He CONTINUES to teach me!
It was as if the LORD opened my eyes and before it was as
though I was just looking through slits....
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

[BobHunt]

I agree with all of your posts here, but I can especially relate to the times when you do not get your rest! When you take a few days off and get in a few more hours of good sleep, it seems your whole outlook and attitude will change. If you can get rid of stress it will be a boost not only to your spiritual life but your physical life as well.
There are days that I am at a run all day at work, and it wears you down. You automatically feel as if you have to hurry to read the scriptures and pray, and you automatically feel as if God should hurry to answer those prayers. Why even the ringing of a phone can set you on edge (especially when you answer 50 phone calls a day already). I know a minister who had a nervous breakdown and he would be in bed, and his wife would come in and just lay her hand on the bed and he could hardly stand it.
I guess what I am trying to say is, your physical life very strongly effects your spiritual life. Stress can do a lot of tearing down of our bodies.

[Edith K. Thurmond]

I agree with all of your posts here, but I can especially relate to the times when you do not get your rest! your spiritual life.

This is one primary reason that God commanded that we keep a Sabbath day of rest. Most North American evangelical Christians , however, cram so many church activities into their day of rest that it can aid in their exhaustion. It is important that we all take a day of rest where our bodies can be refreshed on a regular basis. God created our bodies to work with the rhythm of work 6 days - rest 1 day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Ian Gentles]

Good question Barbara!
Maybe its a dryness in private devotions, or a decreacing desire for church, kinda feel your forcing yourself but getting little out of it?
Maybe just a dimming of zeal?
Maybe a negativeness?
Maybe even an obsession with theology, looking for "more" for "answers"?
Maybe over self examination?

I guess I could give many answers, hope these help?

[Barbara Moulton]

Good question Barbara!
Maybe its a dryness in private devotions, or a decreacing desire for church, kinda feel your forcing yourself but getting little out of it?
Maybe just a dimming of zeal?
Maybe a negativeness?
Maybe even an obsession with theology, looking for "more" for "answers"?
Maybe over self examination?

I guess I could give many answers, hope these help?

Thanks. I experience these from time to time. Two Sundays ago, it was all I could do to head out the door for church. Sometimes I don't want to go work (as a chaplain). Sometimes I make negative comments. I am not always as zealous as I could be.

But I don't think of this as been spiritually dry, so much as simply part of the ebb and flow of Christian life.

These things are mostly related to my feelings. And feelings, I have come to realize, are just natural reaction to stimulli. They are not meant to be the barometers of spiritual health.

So when I feel this way, I go to that Scripture verse that was at the front of the church I attended as a teenager. What does God require of me? To do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly with my God. So despite my feelings, I can act with justice and show mercy to those I meet. I can surrender to God.

And as I do, I receive a new sense of perspective begin to transform my mind.

I have come to believe that holiness and spiritual living is all about choices. My walk with Christ began with a choice to believe. My spiritual life will progress based on my continuing choice to surrender.

[BobHunt]

Sometimes our whole experience and living the Christian life is based on fact and faith rather than feeling!

[Ian Gentles]

Sometimes our whole experience and living the Christian life is based on fact and faith rather than feeling!

True Bob.

[Wilson L. Deaton]

This will be a rather long read but you might want to at least skim it...