A Prayer to Overcome Religious Drought
By Laura Bailey
Bible Studying
“Right here I’m! I stand on the door and knock. If anybody hears my voice and opens the door, I’ll are available and eat with that particular person, and so they with me.” Revelation 3:20 NIV
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“I’m not certain what’s fallacious with me; I simply don’t really feel like studying my Bible. I don’t want to do something associated to praying, church, and God,” I admitted to a good friend over espresso one morning. My normal zeal and non secular fervor have been changed with dullness and apathy. Not an incredible place to be as the ladies’s chief of my church, Christian author and Bible instructor, and customarily somebody folks go to for non secular steering when they’re struggling. I’d tried all of the issues I inspired others with. I set my thoughts to “ faux it until you make it,” trudging via my every day Bible studying, providing a fast prayer over my meals, and faithfully attending company worship.
It wasn’t that I’d rejected God, however I simply misplaced my fireplace, my ardour for the Church. Sensing my non secular slide, my good friend and sister in Christ requested me for espresso, and I used to be grateful she did. We talked via just a few conditions that have been inflicting me explicit disappointment, grief, or frustration. She listened intently, not with a crucial ear however with a coronary heart of compassion. After a couple of minutes of speaking, she grabbed my hand and stated, “ I understand how you could really feel at the moment, however I wish to remind you that God nonetheless loves you and is patiently, graciously ready so that you can return to Him.”
I couldn’t management the tears within the corners of my eyes; my weary soul desperately wanted to listen to that reminder. In my sharing, I by no means talked about that deep down, I’d felt I used to be a disappointment to God. Every day I struggled, I satisfied myself that the Lord was indignant and pissed off with me, making it much more tough to regain my non secular footing. I take into consideration our key verse in Revelation 3:20: “Right here I’m! I stand on the door and knock. If anybody hears my voice and opens the door, I’ll are available and eat with that particular person, and so they with me.” Just a few verses earlier, John writes to the church of Laodicea, warning them about their lukewarm religion. He admonishes them to get up and alter as a result of if not, the Lord will “spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16).
This verse is usually utilized to unbelievers, however the context is extra to a church or physique of people that have turn out to be apathetic of their religion. Jesus, although he may rapidly drive himself or demand the church flip again to Him, waits patiently for an invite in. If the church at Laodicea had invited Jesus to fellowship with him, regardless of their previous actions, He would have joined them in fellowship. Nevertheless, the church as an entire continued to harden their hearts, however Jesus’ message is that anybody prepared to listen to and obtain these phrases in Revelation 3:15-21, He’ll commune with them.
The principle takeaway from these verses, and what helped me transfer from a non secular drought to abundance, was that Jesus will restore us it doesn’t matter what we’ve achieved or how far we’ve tried to run from His presence if we’re prepared to show to Him and obey. So many people are merely going via the motions. We’ve allowed church harm, unexplained circumstances, and the results of dwelling in a sinful world to rob us of our pleasure in Christ. And, our enemy wishes nothing greater than to maintain us in that place, filling our hearts and minds with lies to additional drive us away as a substitute of in direction of our Savior. However, so long as there’s breath in your lungs, it’s not too late to hunt the Lord. He’s ready; you simply need to open the door and let him in.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, once we are in a season of non secular drought, allow us to hunt down your consolation and peace. We rebuke the enemy’s lies and ask that you simply assist us see his schemes clearly and combat with biblical reality. Thanks for being affected person, loving us unconditionally, and renewing your mercies each morning. We love you, Lord. In Jesus’ title, Amen.
Picture credit score: Patrick Schneider/Unsplash
Laura Bailey is an creator and Bible instructor who encourages girls to know what they imagine, why it issues, and apply biblical truths to their lives. Her current ebook, Embracing Eternity within the Right here and Now, explores how the timeless truths of Ecclesiastes assist us reside extra peaceable, purposeful, and plentiful lives at the moment.
She lives in Upstate South Carolina along with her husband and three younger ladies, the place she serves as director of ladies’s ministries at her church. Her ardour is educating the Bible to girls, equipping them to reside with an everlasting perspective. Invite Laura to talk at your subsequent occasion or be taught extra: www.LauraRBailey.com
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