How do I recover from spiritual dryness?
Psalm 42:1As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
Psalm 63:1O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
Psalm 73:25Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
Psalm 143:6I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.
Isaiah 26:9In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right.
Isaiah 40:30-31Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Malachi 1:13“You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the Lord,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?” asks the Lord.
Colossians 1:23You must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
Hebrews 2:1So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
Revelation 2:4“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”
We should cultivate a thirst for God. As we wait for his work in our lives, our souls will be watered.
Psalm 32:5Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Psalm 51:12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
1 John 1:8-9If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
We should begin by confessing and repenting of any known sins. Sin in our lives will parch our souls.
Deuteronomy 32:1-2“Listen, O heavens, and I will speak! Hear, O earth, the words that I say! Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew. Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants.”
Psalm 1:2-3They delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
Psalm 119:18, 83Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. . . . I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.
Isaiah 55:10-11The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Colossians 2:6-7Now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
1 Peter 2:2Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,
We must commit to live in faithful obedience to God and his Word. From the springs of God’s Word come refreshment for our souls.
Proverbs 12:11A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.
Proverbs 12:27Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.
Proverbs 13:4Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
Hosea 6:3“Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”
Romans 12:11Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Colossians 3:23Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
2 Thessalonians 3:11We hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business.
2 John 1:8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.
Revelation 3:19“I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.”
We must continue to work diligently and enthusiastically for the Lord even as we wait for his “rains.” Serving God will bring refreshment to our souls.
Hebrews 6:11-12Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.
Practice loving others and follow the example of other spiritually mature believers. Loving others will bring refreshment to your our souls.
