Everyone has felt spiritually empty before. Maybe you’ve had a time of spiritual dryness…spiritual burnout…exhaustion—a time when we don’t feel like our prayers are reaching heaven and our passion for the things of God has become lackluster. That’s when it’s time to follow the Apostle Paul’s advice and stir ourselves up for God and for His Word. The Apostle Paul gives us key ways to do this. Let’s explore eight ways to stir up your faith so you know what to do when you feel spiritually empty.
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When You’re Spiritually Empty, Overcome Spiritual Dryness With Faith
Ephesians 2:8, NKJV, says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
God gave you faith when you were saved. That faith gives you the assurance that God’s Word is always true, and you can trust it— despite your circumstances. When spiritual drought comes, it’s time to follow Jesus’ command to “have faith in God” (Mark 11:22) and to stir up that faith by opening His Word, lining your words up with Scripture, and praising Him for all He’s done in your life. The same God who saved you and gave you His Spirit is still working in your life. That’s something to celebrate!
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When You’re Spiritually Empty, Overcome Spiritual Dryness With God’s Power
Second Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power.…”
You need power to defeat the enemy and to live an abundant life in God. Thankfully, as a child of God, you have it on the inside of you because you have the Holy Spirit inside of you.
Take healing. No, you don’t have the power to heal in and of yourself, but God does. You don’t have the power to make a way where there is no way, but God does. You can’t multiply food or stop storms, but Jesus can! God gave you His Holy Spirit, so you can use His power to heal, to help and to encourage yourself and others.
Right now, begin thanking God for His Holy Spirit in your life. If necessary, spend some time studying the Holy Spirit and His work.
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When You’re Spiritually Empty, Overcome Spiritual Dryness With God’s Love
The Bible tells us, “God is love” (1 John 4:8), but what does that really mean? In modern times, the word love is often conditional, shallow and thrown around haphazardly. Without a deeper understanding, we can mistakenly equate this modern interpretation with our heavenly Father, but His love isn’t shallow, conditional or haphazard.
First Corinthians 13:4-7 explains the God kind of love this way: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
That’s the kind of love God has for you. Take a minute and relish in that. That’s how He loves you, and it’s the kind of love He allows you to have for others. You develop it by stirring it up as an act of faith instead of reacting to feelings or emotions. Choose, by faith, to give and receive the love of God.
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When You’re Spiritually Empty, Overcome Spiritual Dryness With Mental Clarity
Mental clarity, or as the Word calls it, a sound mind, is stirred up by feeding—thinking about, watching, listening to and reading—the right things. As you do this in light of the Word of God, your thinking will become clearer.
Philippians 4:8 says, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
God, through His Holy Spirit, will give you increased mental clarity and focus as you think about Him and His Word. Choose to receive God’s wisdom. Then, do what you believe God wants you to do. Stir up mental clarity that is in you by keeping your mind on the Word of God.
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When You’re Spiritually Empty, Overcome Spiritual Dryness With Your Testimony
You need to stir up that life you felt when you first accepted Jesus as your Savior. Put your eyes and thoughts on what God has done, is doing, and will continue to do for you and through you!
Second Timothy 1:8 says, “So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord….”
The Lord wants you to share the gospel with others. This includes sharing your testimony and how having a relationship with the Lord positively affects your life on a daily basis. It doesn’t have to be a long, well-rehearsed speech. Simply live your faith openly so that others can see the difference Jesus makes. Even if someone doesn’t receive what you have to say, at least you will have given them something to think about, so keep sharing!
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When You’re Spiritually Empty, Overcome Spiritual Dryness With God’s Calling
Times of spiritual dryness can result from losing sight of the calling of God on your life. Paul reminded Timothy that the same God who “saved us” has also “called us to live a holy life…. because that was His plan from before the beginning of time—to show us His grace through Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:9).
God hasn’t changed His call on your life. Romans 11:29 says, “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.”
In addition to sharing Jesus with others (something every believer is called to do), He has given you specific assignments—ministries, outreaches, jobs, businesses, volunteer opportunities, even positions like that of a spouse, parent, mentor, intercessor, neighbor, etc. Whatever your calling, stir up the purpose of God inside your spirit. It’s holy, special and just for you.
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When You’re Spiritually Empty, Overcome Spiritual Dryness With God’s Care
Consider the good things in your life—your family, your friends, your church body—or the gifts that you’ve experienced today—being allowed to merge into heavy traffic by a kind driver, the extra time and kindness showed to you by the barista, the beautiful sunrise or sunset that met you, the favorable response you received from the IRS. All of these small and not-so-small gifts are an expression of God’s care for you.
James 1:17 says, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”
Your heavenly Father enjoys blessing you with good gifts. Sometimes those gifts are big and sometimes they are small. That’s why it’s a good practice to notice and be thankful for each one. Instead of focusing on the negative things in life—wounds, pains, sicknesses, diseases, irritations, loneliness, burnout, weariness and persecutions—focus on and watch for the gifts God continually sends your way.
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When You’re Spiritually Empty, Overcome Spiritual Dryness With Joy
Joy is not simply a feeling of euphoria; it’s an active part of your life in Christ. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength!”
The joy from the Lord brings strength to your body, mind, will and emotions. It comes from knowing whose you are (God’s) and reminding yourself of His love and His care for you.
Romans 15:13 says, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
As you stir up your faith, focus on the Word, and remain watchful and thankful for all God has given you, joy will come.
If you want to study overcoming spiritual dryness in more detail, then open the book of 2 Timothy. In it, the Apostle Paul shares these keys to stirring yourself up. Of course, overcoming spiritual burnout and exhaustion requires one undeniable component—you! Only you can make the decision to put these keys into practice and reap the rewards of doing so. God has already given you the tools. Now, it’s up to you to use them not only when you feel spiritually empty, but before you get to that place!
If you would like to learn more about overcoming spiritual drought, check out Kenneth Copeland’s book Stir Yourself Up: 8 Steps Out of Spiritual Drought.
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