SPIRITUAL SPIRITUAL DRYNESSDRYNESS

SFC Unit Assembly

When was the last time When was the last time you experienced the you experienced the LOVE LOVE

of GOD?of GOD?

However, along the way However, along the way clouds start to cover…clouds start to cover…

we are drawn away from we are drawn away from GodGod

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear

much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he

is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown

into the fire and burned.(John 15:5-6)

How is my relationship with

God now?

“For if you live according to your human nature, you are going to die, but if by the

Spirit you put to death your sinful actions, you will live.”

(Romans 8:13)

Apart from sin that draws Apart from sin that draws us away from God…us away from God…

• Our Our BusynessBusyness..• The The demandsdemands of our work and different roles. of our work and different roles.• Our Our FearsFears• Our Our DoubtsDoubts• We became We became tiredtired• UncertaintiesUncertainties in life in life• Our Our prioritiespriorities

We experience We experience “dryness” in our “dryness” in our

spiritual life.spiritual life.

• We can’t hear GodWe can’t hear God• We don’t have time for HimWe don’t have time for Him• We are not as excited as we used to be about We are not as excited as we used to be about

HimHim• We are not as passionate as beforeWe are not as passionate as before• We may not see the need of Him nowWe may not see the need of Him now• We are in the darkWe are in the dark

At times, Jesus invites us into this

state…“Let us cross to the other

side of the lake..

Elijah“Elijah walked the whole day

into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. Its’ too much, Lord” (1Kings 19:4)

The sorrows of Jerusalem

“The thought of my pain, my homelessness, is bitter poison. I think of it constantly and my spirit is depressed” (Lam 3:19)

Jesus in the wilderness

What should we do?

• Stop and Rest in the Lord. Listen to God in Silence. (retreat, contemplation)

– “He lay down under the tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said Wake up and Eat…He ate and drank, and lay down again.” (1 Kings 19:5-13)

• Go back to His UNFAILING LOVEGo back to His UNFAILING LOVE““Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The

steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercy’s steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercy’s never comes to an end. They are new every morning.” never comes to an end. They are new every morning.” (Lam 3:22-23)(Lam 3:22-23)

““I have loved you with an everlasting Love” (Jer 31:3)I have loved you with an everlasting Love” (Jer 31:3)““How can I give up on you, Israel? How can I abandon How can I give up on you, Israel? How can I abandon

you? My heart will not let me do it! My love for you is you? My heart will not let me do it! My love for you is too strong” (Hosea 11:8-9) too strong” (Hosea 11:8-9)

• Go back to your JORDAN RIVER. Remember. Go back to the fervor of our first love with God. Memories. Moments with God.

• Continue to be FAITHFUL. Press On.– Be faithful in small things because it is in them

that your strength lies.– Mo.Teresa– Following the Lord is an everyday decision.– Spend time with HIM. (mass, rosary, confess)– Why press on? • Because when we look back..we cannot see just a

history of faithful people but of a FAITHFUL God.

• Wait in HOPEWait in HOPE– ““The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in him. The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in him.

So its best for us to wait in patience- to wait for So its best for us to wait in patience- to wait for Him to save us.” (Lam 3:25)Him to save us.” (Lam 3:25)

Being in the dark, storm, wilderness, Being in the dark, storm, wilderness, feeling spiritually dry could be a feeling spiritually dry could be a

GRACEGRACE……for us to see the HAND of the LORD for us to see the HAND of the LORD more. For us to see the NEED of Him more. For us to see the NEED of Him

in our life. in our life.

“My grace is all you need, for my power is “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak” greatest when you are weak” (2 Cor 12:9) (2 Cor 12:9)

In this time, we may feel we are away from God but God has never

left us. He is just there with us.

“For I am certain that nothing can separate us from the love of God…” (Rom 8:37)

Psalm 23Psalm 23

““The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack,The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack, In green pastures you let me gaze, in safe waters you In green pastures you let me gaze, in safe waters you

lead me.lead me.you restore my strength, You guide me along he right you restore my strength, You guide me along he right

path for the sake of your name.path for the sake of your name. Even when I walk through the dark valley I feel no harm, Even when I walk through the dark valley I feel no harm,

your rod and your staff give me courage.your rod and your staff give me courage. You set the table before me as my enemies watch. You You set the table before me as my enemies watch. You

anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Only goodness and love will follow me all the days of my Only goodness and love will follow me all the days of my

life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come”to come”

O D’yos Ikaw and laging hanap O D’yos Ikaw and laging hanap Loob ko’y Ikaw ang tanging hangad Loob ko’y Ikaw ang tanging hangad Nauuhaw akong parang tigang na lupa Nauuhaw akong parang tigang na lupa Sa tubig ng ‘Yong pag-aaruga. Sa tubig ng ‘Yong pag-aaruga.

Ika’y pagmamasdan sa dakong banal Ika’y pagmamasdan sa dakong banal Nang makita ko ang ‘Yong pagkarangal Nang makita ko ang ‘Yong pagkarangal Dadalangin akong nakataas aking kamay Dadalangin akong nakataas aking kamay Magagalak na aawit ng papuring iaalay. Magagalak na aawit ng papuring iaalay.

Refrain: Refrain: Gunita ko’y ikaw habang nahihimlay Gunita ko’y ikaw habang nahihimlay Pagka’t ang tulong Mo sa t’wina’y taglay. Pagka’t ang tulong Mo sa t’wina’y taglay. Sa lilim ng Iyong mga pakpak, Sa lilim ng Iyong mga pakpak, Umaawit akong buong galak. Umaawit akong buong galak. Aking kaluluwa’y kumakapit sa ‘Yo Aking kaluluwa’y kumakapit sa ‘Yo Kaligtasa’y t’yak kung hawak Mo ako. Kaligtasa’y t’yak kung hawak Mo ako. Magdiriwang ang Hari, ang D’yos S’yang dahilan Magdiriwang ang Hari, ang D’yos S’yang dahilan Ang sa Iyo ay nangako galak yoong makakamtan. Ang sa Iyo ay nangako galak yoong makakamtan. Gunita ko’y ikaw habang nahihimlay Gunita ko’y ikaw habang nahihimlay Pagka’t ang tulong Mo sa t’wina’y taglay. Pagka’t ang tulong Mo sa t’wina’y taglay. Sa lilim ng Iyong mga pakpak, Sa lilim ng Iyong mga pakpak, Umaawit, umaawit, umaawit akong buong galak..Umaawit, umaawit, umaawit akong buong galak..