We are going to spend some time focusing on your devotional life. I have known people that read the Bible faithfully, but it didn't seem to help them with their marriage or their other problems. Others pray consistently with no observable results. I spoke with a minister several years ago that admitted a real dryness in his spiritual life. I know others that profess to be Christians but don't have time to pray, read the Bible or even go to church. How can this be? Is there an answer to these situations? Yes, there is an answer if the one acknowledging their spiritual weakness or dryness has a desire to have it change.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 as paraphrased in The Message Bible: "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
I like the last phrase: "you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Is that the desire of your heart today? If so, know this that desire did not come from you. That desire was placed inside you by the Holy Spirit. That means that God is drawing you to a place of rest in Him. Please don't misunderstand this section; the rest will be an active rest and not you just laying around doing nothing. The rest in Jesus Christ will be having real communication and fellowship with Him while you live on earth. The people described in the first paragraph had lost their communion with the Lord and it resulted in spiritual dryness. It is sufficient today for you to relax in the fact that if you are desiring more of God, it is by His drawing that you are doing so. Further, you can take comfort in that He will finish what He started. God is not through with you; privately thank Him for His faithfulness.
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