Everyone experiences times of dryness in their relationship with God. Do you feel stagnant? Have you stopped growing? Have you plateaued in your vocation? Does it seem like you aren’t making an impact? Some of the causes of spiritual dryness are lack of prayer, sin, work imbalance, pagan rituals or superstition, spiritual undernourishment and following rules. Exodus 34 shows how to fight spiritual dryness so you are transformed into His image through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lack of Prayer
The Lord instructed Moses to cut out two stone tablets on Mount Sinai so God could write words that were on the earlier ones. The Lord descended in the cloud and stood there as Moses called upon the name of the Lord. He proclaimed the Lord as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and truth. He forgives sin but visits the iniquity of fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations. Moses asked favor and pardon for their sin so God could take them as His possession (Ex. 34:1-9). Call upon God to experience His love and forgiveness.
Sin
God made a covenant and performed miracles so everyone would see Him working to drive out the Amorites, Canaanites, etc. Make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land lest they become a snare as you play the harlot and sacrifice to their gods. Tear down altars, smash sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim to not worship any other god and cause your sons to play the harlot with their gods (Ex. 34:10-17). Worship God and trust His deliverance so you aren’t lured into sin.
Work Imbalance
Seven days you are to eat unleavened bread as a reminder when you came out of Egypt. The first offspring from cattle and sheep belonged to God. Work for six days and rest during the seventh even during plowing and harvest time. All the males are to appear before the Lord three times a year with no man coveting your land. God will drive out nations and enlarge your borders (Ex. 34:18-24). Take time to rest and trust God’s power and provision to expand your kingdom impact.
Pagan Rituals or Superstition
The sacrifice of the Feast of Passover was not be left over until morning. Bring the first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God. Don’t boil a kid in its mother’s milk (Ex. 34:25-26). Trust Christ’s sacrifice on the cross daily for power over sin.
Spiritual Undernourishment
Moses fasted while being with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights. He wrote the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments (Ex. 34:27-28). Spend quantity of time with God in fasting to hear Him speak to you.
Following Rules
Moses’ face shone as he came down from Mount Sinai after speaking with God. He commanded Aaron and Israel to do all the Lord had spoken. Then Moses put a veil over his face. He removed it while talking to God and replaced the veil when the people saw his face (Ex. 34:29-35). Behold God’s glory through the Holy Spirit to be transformed into God’s image.
Rate yourself on ways to to fight spiritual dryness on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being lowest and 10 highest): 1. Call upon God to experience His love and forgiveness
2. Worship God and trust His deliverance so you aren’t lured into sin
3. Take time to rest by trusting God’s power and provision to expand your kingdom impact
4. Trust Christ’s sacrifice on the cross daily for power over sin
5. Spend quantity of time with God in fasting to hear Him speak to you
6. Behold God’s glory through the Holy Spirit to be transformed into God’s image
