Spiritual slump

August 12, 2004

This is something that I have been dealing with lately and I wanted to bring it up and see if anyone has thoughts on this.

Has anyone ever had a spiritual dry spell, where it seems like your prayers are hitting the ceiling and you can't seem to break through? Where it seems like the joy of your salvation has up and left? If so, what did you do to get out of it?

August 12, 2004

It's very common.

I often find that the heavens are as brass because of either sin, doubt, fear, faithlessness or deception. Unfortunately, that covers a lot of possible roots.

Usually though, one straight talking prayer of frustration sorts it out, and off you go again!

August 12, 2004

Called,

All you can do is stay faithful to your prayers and Bible study. Have other brothers and sisters praying for you as well. I can't recall the exact verses but remember the story where someone in the Old Testament had been praying and an angel finally arrived and told the person that had been praying that the reason for the delay was spiritual warfare that was being fought before they could come to him. I'm sorry I can't give you exact verses but I think it was Elijah although I could be mistaking on that also. I do know that it is there though. Maybe there is some spiritual warfare going on that is detaining your answers you seek. Stay faithful and know that God hears your every prayer. May God bless you.

Respectfully,

Strservant

jamie · August 12, 2004

It always happens to me when I get distracted and other things start to occupy my time and mind. It is always a battle to get back on course every time it happens, so dont give up because God said He is found when we seek Him with our whole heart.

Botz · August 12, 2004

Strservant I suspect this is the verse you were referring too from Daniel.

Dan 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words' sake.

Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Dan 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days:

Dan 10:15 and when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb.

I have found over the years that when the Heavens seem as brass it is a good time for a spiritual check-up from the neck-up...or it is a time when I need to break a routine that has had its time and been effective in my life but has now become stale and regimented and ask G-d to show me and encourage me in new ways to seek His face..I think it is a question sometimes of new-wineskins.

The over-riding confidence that we have throughout our walk with the L-rd is that He loves us and His love is constant...He is totally for us...and however we might feel or how circumstances might vary he does not change or vary...what a friend we have in Jesus.

Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Phi 4:9 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Phi 4:10 But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity.

Phi 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.

Phi 4:12 I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want.

Phi 4:13 I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.

There are seasons in our walk with G-d when we feel especially close to Him and experiencing great inner joy is not too difficult as the Holy Ghost keeps bubbling away...but we are those called to walk by faith and not by feelings so when the 'doo dabs' cease we need to see and experiencially understand deep in our spirit that our joy is not reliant on ourselves or on how we feel...but our joy stems from our fellowship with the Holy Ghost who makes alive to us the Living Word of G-d that shows us how great a salvation Jesus has won for us...and cries out 'Abba...Father.' All is based on relationship..we are children of the King.

Also patience and endurance are part of a Believers 'lot' as we grow in Christ and we work out our salvation with fear and trembling...ah the process of sanctification.

Jam 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receive the early and latter rain.

Jam 5:8 Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

2Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amein.

Through it all, Through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus I've learned to trust in God; Through it all, Through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word.

Having said all of that...if and when there might be a hard period in my life I am learning to be a worshipper...I lay down all my doubts and fears and begin to praise my Saviour with my whole being...even if I feel totally wretched...and invariably G-d meets with me and encourages me and strengthens me and speaks words of love to my spirit...and if I need to lay things down for a period of time and just seek Him and stay in His presence to recharge my spirit..then I try to do so for the next days or weeks.(This goes hand in hand with a good soak in the Scriptures...when G-d bypasses my intellect and my emotions and directly connects to my spirit even when I feel nothing...or seem to draw little from the Word.) Be patient and be expectant in faith.

One Way · August 12, 2004

Ohhhhhhhhhh... all too often.

What I usually try and do is just focus on the grace of God and realize that He is all knowing. He knows where you are and He knew that you would be on this particular day. Yet, He still loves you!

God is never surprised by our failings or distance from Him. He just wants us to come back and experience Him in all His fulness!

Focus on the grace of God in light of our sinful flesh. Focus on the fact that God is holy beyond comprehension and that we deserve absolutely nothing out of His hand.

Then, read this classic discourse for a fresh perspective of that. Trust me, you will be instantly humbled and you will realize what an amazing gift it is that God has given to us in Christ Jesus!

August 12, 2004

Strservant I suspect this is the verse you were referring too from Daniel.

Dan 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words' sake.

Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Dan 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days:

Dan 10:15 and when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb.

Botz,

That was the exact verses I was talking about. I was not near my study materials and couldn't just look it up like I usually do. Thanks for the help.

Respectfully,

Strservant

Orr v'emet · August 12, 2004

I know I experience this from time to time. Some times I feel like my prayers are going nowhere or I'm not getting a word from my Bible study. I think the key thing is to keep on keeping on. God still hears our prayers even though we may not feel it. There is still knowledge and discipline to be gained from Bible study. Keep praising God and doing all that you do now and you can't go wrong! Love you sis. I will be praying for God to restore the joy of your salvation and to consume you with the Holy Spirit! :hug:

August 12, 2004

Ohhhhhhhhhh... all too often.

What I usually try and do is just focus on the grace of God and realize that He is all knowing. He knows where you are and He knew that you would be on this particular day. Yet, He still loves you!

God is never surprised by our failings or distance from Him. He just wants us to come back and experience Him in all His fulness!

Focus on the grace of God in light of our sinful flesh. Focus on the fact that God is holy beyond comprehension and that we deserve absolutely nothing out of His hand.

Then, read this classic discourse for a fresh perspective of that. Trust me, you will be instantly humbled and you will realize what an amazing gift it is that God has given to us in Christ Jesus!

After reading that all I can say is THANK YOU GOD FOR YOUR MERCY AND GRACE! WOW.... thank you for sharing that.....How mighty is God... :il:

August 12, 2004

Strservant I suspect this is the verse you were referring too from Daniel.

Dan 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words' sake.
Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Dan 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days:
Dan 10:15 and when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb.

I have found over the years that when the Heavens seem as brass it is a good time for a spiritual check-up from the neck-up...or it is a time when I need to break a routine that has had its time and been effective in my life but has now become stale and regimented and ask G-d to show me and encourage me in new ways to seek His face..I think it is a question sometimes of new-wineskins.
The over-riding confidence that we have throughout our walk with the L-rd is that He loves us and His love is constant...He is totally for us...and however we might feel or how circumstances might vary he does not change or vary...what a friend we have in Jesus.

Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Phi 4:9 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Phi 4:10 But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity.
Phi 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.
Phi 4:12 I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want.
Phi 4:13 I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.

There are seasons in our walk with G-d when we feel especially close to Him and experiencing great inner joy is not too difficult as the Holy Ghost keeps bubbling away...but we are those called to walk by faith and not by feelings so when the 'doo dabs' cease we need to see and experiencially understand deep in our spirit that our joy is not reliant on ourselves or on how we feel...but our joy stems from our fellowship with the Holy Ghost who makes alive to us the Living Word of G-d that shows us how great a salvation Jesus has won for us...and cries out 'Abba...Father.' All is based on relationship..we are children of the King.

Also patience and endurance are part of a Believers 'lot' as we grow in Christ and we work out our salvation with fear and trembling...ah the process of sanctification.

Jam 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receive the early and latter rain.
Jam 5:8 Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

2Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amein.

Through it all, Through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus I've learned to trust in God; Through it all, Through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word.

Having said all of that...if and when there might be a hard period in my life I am learning to be a worshipper...I lay down all my doubts and fears and begin to praise my Saviour with my whole being...even if I feel totally wretched...and invariably G-d meets with me and encourages me and strengthens me and speaks words of love to my spirit...and if I need to lay things down for a period of time and just seek Him and stay in His presence to recharge my spirit..then I try to do so for the next days or weeks.(This goes hand in hand with a good soak in the Scriptures...when G-d bypasses my intellect and my emotions and directly connects to my spirit even when I feel nothing...or seem to draw little from the Word.) Be patient and be expectant in faith.