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He changes rivers into deserts,
and springs of water into dry, thirsty land.
He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands,
because of the wickedness of those who live there.
But he also turns deserts into pools of water,
the dry land into springs of water.
He brings the hungry to settle there
and to build their cities. Psalm 107:33-36
You may live where rain has been abundant this Spring. Not here. The forecast predicted rain today, and yes, there were approximately 100 drops of rain on my windshield when I drove about earlier today. No more. Sunshine. My outside plants are crying dry tears and wilting. All the lovely sweet-violets I planted by the back door are dried up. My rose almost gave up the ghost when I went on vacation, but the flower is now surviving only by a daily watering, and the blooms are small. Of course all this will change in June and July, when we will wish for a dry day.
I think of this dry season as a picture of what may happen in our spiritual life. How does such a drought happen? We may have a dry season, because we become too bogged down in our life events; we may have a dry season for several reasons.
- Worldliness: 1 John 2: 15: For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
- Desires of the flesh—unrestrained passions
- Desires of the eyes—greed, possessions
- Pride of life—power struggles, self-importance
- Neglect of Spiritual habits: 1 Timothy 2: 15: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
- Leaving the Bible on the shelf
- Prayerlessness
- Legalism in place of Grace
- Neglect of fellowship with other believers
- Neglect of the needs of others
- Neglect of self-care: 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
- Lack of physical exercise
- Avoidance of nature and the beauty of God’s creation
- Emotional concerns about things over which we have no control
In an article by Derek Brown, 9 Reasons You May Be in a Spiritual Drought—and How to Find Refreshment – Beautiful Christian Life , he states, “…There is coming a day when there will be no more drought, only abundance. We will someday enjoy the actual presence of Christ and find at his right hand pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11)—increasing joy and satisfaction for all for eternity.”
Meanwhile, back on earth, we are susceptible to spiritual drought because of our lingering sinfulness, we can expect to face a spiritual dry and thirsty land. We need frequent refreshing. Drink often at the Fountain of Living Water.
[i] https://bibleoffline.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/site/fountain-living-water-Jesus.jpg
