Defeating Your Own Personal Drought

Someone published this request online: “Please pray for rain: "It’s so dry in Tennessee that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling; the Methodists are using wet-wipes; the Presbyterians are giving out rain-checks; and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water.”

As we look around us today we see trees so dry that the leaves are dying and falling off. We see grass that is no longer soft and green but brittle and brown. Evan as we look at our local wild life we notice that they too are not looking so well. They seem to have lost their color to a certain degree. The birds, rabbits, and squirrels are thin and look unhealthy. The effects of the drought are very apparent.

I told the story last week of the squirrels that often visit our backyard pond and how they literally are trying to soak up all they can from the pond. We are in a drought and the effects are all around us. We have been experiencing record highs this summer. We are without a doubt in the middle of a drought.

- A drought is a period of dry weather: a long period of extremely dry weather when there is not enough rain for the successful growing of crops or the replenishment of water supplies. This is what we are experiencing. This is our collective drought and this is what we all can relate to when we talk about a drought, but what about another type of drought?

A lot of us here today are in a more personal drought aren’t we! There comes a time in every person’s life they experience a drought of some type! It may be the drought of health-when it seems like there is no end in sight to your physical problems. And there is a lack of good health in your life.

It may be the drought of finances-when it seems like the bills are coming in faster than the money to pay them. And you lack the funds to care for your needs. It may be the drought of your occupation-because you have lost the enjoyment of doing what you do for a living. And you thirst for that excitement that you once had within your job.

There may be a drought in your marriage-It seems you have more bad days than good. Less smiles than frowns and it seems even though you are together, you are apart. Your emotions are crying out in thirst, just a hug or a kiss to quench that emotional need is what you desire.

What kind of drought are you in right now? What is it that is keeping you from receiving the Showers of Blessings that only God gives? What is it that you are thirsty for?

Perhaps you are so frustrated with your drought because it has gone on for far too long that you have simply accepted your lot and have weaved its existence into your life. The thought of getting rid of it has evaporated from your mind.

But I am here to tell you that this is not the way God desires us to live. God does not want us to stay in the drought of despair, He wants us to be replenished with all that He gives and receive life in the abundance. First of all, I believe that He wants us to soak in all that he offers in order for us to stop our personal droughts.

I.Soak in God’s word!

A. To lie immersed in liquid (as water) : become saturated by or as if by immersion. This is the picture of soaking that I want you to soak into your thoughts this morning.

1.I do believe the best way in which we can combat all the attacks that we are faced with each day of our lives from Satan is to use God’s Holy Word. To soak ourselves in His Word so to speak.

2.This has been shown to us through the life of Christ.

Matthew 4: 1-11 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.