Do you ever feel spiritually unsettled?
Like there’s an underlying lack of peace in your soul?
No matter what you do, you just feel off balance?
No matter how old we are or how long we’ve been following Jesus, these feelings are natural and inevitable. As long we we sojourn in the land of the living we’re subject to a variety of factors that effect our internal souls.
While we can’t achieve perfection, there are a few diagnostic questions we can ask ourselves next time we find ourselves in a rut.
1) Have I been making space to be alone with Jesus?
To be a Christian is to be one who has entered into a loving relationship with Jesus of Nazareth.
But like any relationship, one-on-one time is essential. If we aren’t getting alone with Jesus, how can we expect to experience his presence, love, guidance, and forgiveness? How can we expect to grow closer to someone when we never set aside time to be with them?
If we’re running on spiritual fumes the culprit is often a lack of alone time with the lover of our souls.
2) Have I been looking for opportunities to serve others?
The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve—we were saved not to be served but to serve.
Service is at the heart of what it means to live into the kingdom of God. Our lives are not our own but are to be leveraged for realizing the kingdom by giving to those around us.
Giving of ourselves generously puts us in line with the Holy Spirit and the very nature of our God.
Where can you give?
Right now?
Next week?
This year?
3) Have I been setting aside times of fasting?
Basil the Great wrote in the fourth century, “you will find that fasting guided all the saints to a godly way of life.”
Regular abstinence from food has a way of resetting our internal compass and refocusing our hearts. As we hunger for food we’re moved to hunger for God. We’re weaned off the desires of our flesh and pushed into dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Fasting isn’t easy—or fun—but it’s a powerful ingredient in the spiritual life.
4) Have I been gathering with Christ’s church?
To be in Christ is to be united to his people.
In weekly worship and the rhythms of church life, we find regular encouragement, reminders, and grace to live into our faith. Church isn’t always exciting and can often feel ineffective but Jesus has promised to be in the midst of his people.
Whenever we gather, the Holy Spirit is at work.
Diagnosis
The next time you’re feeling spiritually dry, prayerfully ask yourself these questions.
I’m not suggesting that by doing so you’ll immediately be thrust into the presence of God and all your unsettledness will dissolve.
My only hope is that they can be helpful guides—starting points in finding what we all long for—life and rest in Jesus.