Two weeks without blogging leads to the Blogging Blues. That is, I've missed our heart swapping exchanges. I'm ready to jump back in and hear from you.
I'm glad to be back after my little time away for the Pastor's Conference in Jacksonville, FL. It was a fine conference with great preaching and powerful music and helpful breakout sessions. As good as it was to attend, it is great being back home and refocusing on ministry here at Southside.
Where do you go to drink during the DRY TIMES?
This week, I want to take off on a conversation I had with a friend a few days ago. We've all been there if we're honest. Those dry seasons of the soul when it seems God is distant or silent and we long to "feel" His presence and see His activity like we used to. When those times come, and they do, where do you go, what do you do to continue to drink spiritually?
Our conversation took us several directions. We talked about walking by faith and not by sight. That we are not dependent on feelings to determine our connectedness with God. We talked about the rich vegetation, the growth that is experienced in the valley. We talked about the fact that by faith we must continue in the word and in prayer regardless of the dryness we feel.
Like the Psalmist, there are times when we thirst for more of a sense of His presence, more of a tangible expression of His presence when we pray, worship, or study His word. Do these dry seasons mean we are out of His will or that we are immature in our faith? I think not. At times, it may mean just the opposite.
So, where are you today? Is this a dry season or have you been through one recently? Would you share from your life experiences about times of dryness and the soul quenching rain that comes after the dry season? Talk about lessons learned, scriptures claimed, etc. that you have experienced? Let's blog about it.
Worshiping Him, Loving You,
David
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7 comments:
I have been through a dry time for some time. I have no doubts about why that is. I have things in my life that make me feel distant, so I have compounded the problem by not praying or worshipping. I avoid the situation at all costs. I miss it, but I can't be fake. I so unreal in so many other ways , but I'm not so dumb as to think that I can be anything less than authentic with God.
Over the years I have experienced many "dry times" in my fellowship with the Father. At first they were very perplexing; as the old writers said, "the heavens seemed as brass." Nothing seemed to be getting through to God. The longer I have lived and learned, the more I have come to understand the dry times. Sometimes they come as the result of sin in our lives which block the fellowship. At other times I believe they are the result of God's loving and tender method of growing us and strengthening us in our walk with Him. When a baby first begins to take faltering steps in learning to walk, inevitably the child will stumble and fall. The loving parent picks up the child and sets her back on her feet. When the first steps achieve their purpose and the child reaches the goal (the open arms of the parent) what a joy is experienced by child and parent alike! If the parent stopped there the child would be able to walk only haltingly. Little by little the parent moves farther away so the child will have to take more steps to reach the parent and eventually the child gains confidence and strength and is able to walk and run with ease. The dry times are those times when God in His desire for a more intimate relationship deliberately pulls away to draw His child to Himself. The dry times cause our spirit to cry out to that Loved One without whom we feel we cannot live. "Where are you, God?" is the heart cry and the Father reveals Himself and draws us lovingly to Himself. You wil discover spiritual growth following each dry season. Our Father is SO patient and loving!
The dry times come more often than I want to admit to. However, for me they usually come when I get to busy to talk with God or to relish in His word. I too think that these dry times are meant to grow us spiritually. It makes us long for the loving arms of our God. One of my favorite versus is Psalms 23. Especially when it gets to "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me." This verse reminds me that God is always with me, even when I haven't felt as close. Another favorite especially in times of distress is Philipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Hime who gives me strength." I believe with all my heart, soul, and very being that God is my strength. There have been times when people say to me "I don't know how you do all that you do." Well they don't know how because they don't have the faith in the father. I don't do all that I do because I am the most organized person in the world. HA HA. If you could see my office at home you would wonder how I accomplish anything. But I do the things I do because I believe that is where God wants me. I believe He is leading me in directions that I can't even beging to comprehend but when the time comes He will reveal all and it will be grand and glorious because He was in it. So when the dry times come just Bow the knee, trust the father when answers go beyond what you can see. Bow the knee, lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the one who holds eternity, And when you don't understand the purpose of His plan. In the presence of the King, Bow the knee. It is here on my knees that all things come to me. It is here on my knees that I become one with GOD. Even if it is only for a few minutes. These are the times when the answers will come.
This blog hit home. I've been somewhat in a dry season and welcome any and all input. Honestly, I believe mine is a result of being busy doing things at Church "for him" - - yet, not spending the time I need to "with him". I'm still working on that. Isn't it great; however, that no matter what you do or don't do, God is always right there - - whenever you need him? Not judging us or scorning us - but standing there with open arms ready to love us and forgive us!! Our God is an Awesome God! Too often, I forget that. Perhaps, the silence is his way of reminding us.
What an amazing thought to know that God is always there whether you realize it or not! Sometime when it seems that we are in a dry season we often fail to realize that actually we are in the desert. Which is where ,spiritually, we should not be. We should try hard to be where god is raining (literally-reigning) in our lives. The Bible also tells us to be still and know that he is God (Psalm 46:10). Stop and listen and you will find God has been there all along! Praise God!!!
Ah Bro David, you must be a mind reader! Your blogs hit my nail on the head every time!You would think that the older you get the easier the christian life would be.But,alas it doesn't work that way! I must be the King of dry times. It seems the more I want to increase my faith,something seems to get between me and Him!! Could it be me? Hmmmmm
One of the best quotes that I always think of in my own "dry spell" is " When God seems far away, who moved?" Lately I have been reading and journaling Joel Osteen's book, Your Best Life Now, and often the sections touch on this subject. So often it seems that I let Life and Stuff interfere more than I like to admit. It is a daily, almost moment by moment struggle. I do think that it only makes me stronger as long as I remember who supplies that strength.
Thanks for reminding me!!
Gary C.
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