From the Study

Lack of Bible Reading, Meditation, and Prayer
When we neglect Bible reading, meditation, and prayer, we are cutting ourselves off from essential nourishment for our souls. It is impossible to thrive spiritually without feeding our minds and hearts with God’s Word. Psalm 1 reminds us of the benefits of meditation,

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, or stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the sear of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither, in al that he does, he prospers (vv. 1-3)

On the other hand, our leaf will wither if we are not planting ourselves near the life-giving streams of God’s Word.  This reminder is especially important for those of us to tend toward service and who desire to stay busy and productive.  Although it is good to be busy and always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58), our work can become empty, heartless, and sapped of power if we are not fueling ourselves with the spiritual food that comes from God’s Word.  We need to fight to set aside regular time to read, meditate, and pray over Scripture.  It is also beneficial to memorize Scripture so that we can receive refreshment from Biblical truth any time during the day.  If we refuse to drink from the well of God’s Word on a regular basis, we should only expect dry ground and withered leaves.

Too Much Time Indoors
It is easy to see why blatant sins like lust, pride, and the love of money can impede spiritual passion and affection.  It is not so easy to discern the subtle effects other lifestyle habits have on our zeal and vitality.  One area that I find receives little attention is the role of the creation in maintaining our spiritual health.  But if the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalms 19:1), and if we are refreshed by seeing God’s glory, it would only make sense to go outside in order to behold that glory!  At times I can literally feel my faith revived as I spend a few minutes looking up at the grandeur of a clear night sky, filled with unfathomable expressions of power and creativity.  I can find refreshment in a simple hike or walk.  And I do not think this is simply because I “love the outdoors.”  I love the outdoors, not because I can get REI dividend credits, but because I can see glory; and seeing this glory has often served to restore my weary soul.

Lack of Exercise
This ties in with the last point but belongs in its own category because one does not necessarily need to be outdoors in order to get exercise.  Now, lest this sound unspiritual and more like I am suggesting things that are only beneficial to those of a particular physiological makeup, let me have Don Whitney weigh in on this often neglected yet important topic,

Our bodies are not merely disposable containers for our eternal souls. God could have made us to be disembodied souls, living forever in a condition like the souls in Heaven live while waiting for resurrected bodies…But He created us to be complete as a unity of body and soul…

One of the ways the body can have a positive effect upon the soul is through recreational physical activity. Because most spiritual practices [disciplines: reading, writing, study, meditation, etc.] are by definition spiritual and not very physical, if our daily work is mostly mental and sedentary then there’s little diversity in the kind of stimuli we experience. And the monotony of that can lessen the impact of our spiritual practices. The variety that recreational physical activity provides to the brain cells and muscle fibers of a body may help to refresh the soul that dwells in it (Simplify Your Spiritual Life)

Many will find their spiritual vitality renewed by simply going on a thirty minute walk or run, or by going for a swim, or by riding their bike, or by hiking some of the trails near their house.  I am often amazed at how a little bit of exercise benefits me mentally and spiritually.  Perhaps you are pursuing the Lord, mortifying sin, regular in Bible reading and prayer, and yet find your soul dry and dusty—maybe you should go on a run.

Next: Spiritual Drought: Thoughts for Refreshment (3)