What might extended spiritual dryness reveal about my life?
Jeremiah 12:4How long must this land mourn? Even the grass in the fields has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil in the land. For the people have said, “The Lord doesn’t see what’s ahead for us!”
Isaiah 32:11-13Tremble, you women of ease; throw off your complacency. Strip off your pretty clothes, and put on burlap to show your grief. Beat your breasts in sorrow for your bountiful farms and your fruitful grapevines. For your land will be overgrown with thorns and briers. Your joyful homes and happy towns will be gone.
Without God, our lives become empty and withered.
Jeremiah 2:19“Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”
Jeremiah 7:26“But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear. They have been stubborn and sinful—even worse than their ancestors.”
Jeremiah 36:24Neither the king nor his attendants showed any signs of fear or repentance at what they heard.
Ezekiel 12:2“Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people.”
Ezekiel 20:8“But they rebelled against me and would not listen. They did not get rid of the vile images they were obsessed with, or forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Egypt.”
Spiritual dryness can lead to a life of rebellious, sinful living and create a vicious cycle of increasing drought in the soul.
Jeremiah 7:24“But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward”.
Matthew 12:30“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.”
Hebrews 2:3So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?
Revelation 3:15-16“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
It is not possible to put God on hold. There is no standing still in our relationship with God. We are either moving forward or moving backward. Moving backward from God withers our soul. If we are apathetic about our relationship with God, we have no real hope.
Isaiah 32:11-13Tremble, you women of ease; throw off your complacency. Strip off your pretty clothes, and put on burlap to show your grief. Beat your breasts in sorrow for your bountiful farms and your fruitful grapevines. For your land will be overgrown with thorns and briers. Your joyful homes and happy towns will be gone.
Jeremiah 12:4How long must this land mourn? Even the grass in the fields has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil in the land. For the people have said, “The Lord doesn’t see what’s ahead for us!”
Jeremiah 12:11“They [the rulers] have made it an empty wasteland; I hear its mournful cry. The whole land is desolate, and no one even cares.”
Spiritual dryness often leads to the destruction of our relationships, positive achievements, and past growth.
Jeremiah 2:19“Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”
Jeremiah 7:26“But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear. They have been stubborn and sinful—even worse than their ancestors.”
Jeremiah 36:24Neither the king nor his attendants showed any signs of fear or repentance at what they heard.
Ezekiel 12:2“Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people.”
Ezekiel 20:8“But they rebelled against me and would not listen. They did not get rid of the vile images they were obsessed with, or forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Egypt.”
If our spiritual dryness is ignored for a long time, it ultimately can lead to a life of rebellion.
