Getting Out of a Spiritual Slump - Part Two

'Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with [God]...' Genesis 35:14
When you recall God's faithfulness to you it causes hope to rise in your soul. It enables you to face the future with confidence and say, '...He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who... keep his commands' (Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV). Looking back and remembering is a scriptural principle that works. 'Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with [God]'; 'Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan...' (Joshua 4:9 NAS); 'Samuel took a stone... set it up... and called [it]...Ebenezer, saying, '..."Thus far the Lord has helped us"' (1 Samuel 7:12 NKJV). The Bible says, 'No test... that comes your way is beyond... what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God... [will] always be there...' (1 Corinthians 10:13 TM). Going back through Scripture and remembering the ups and downs of God's people and how He consistently came through for them, lends fresh perspective to your own situation and enables you to see a bigger picture. In Psalm 22 David starts out saying, 'God... I call to you... but you do not answer' (v. 2 NCV). But as soon as he starts remembering God's faithfulness he does a 180-degree turn around and says, 'Our ancestors trusted you... and you saved them. They called to you for help and... were not disappointed' (vv. 4-5 NCV). When you're in a spiritual free fall, stop dwelling on yourself and your disappointment and begin to focus on God. '...Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave...' (1 Kings 8:56 NIV). He's still the same; He hasn't changed

Getting Out of a Spiritual Slump

'As soon as they began singing...' 2 Chronicles 20:22
Here's a simple but effective formula for handling a spiritual slump. Praise your way out! David starts Psalm 22 by asking, 'God, why have You forsaken me?' and ends it saying, '...You... dwell... [where]... praises... [are offered]' (Psalm 22:3 AMP). You won't always feel like praising God - that's why it's called '...the sacrifice of praise...' (Hebrews 13:15). But when you're in a slump you need the discipline of praise more than ever. It brings a sense of God's power and presence like nothing else does. That's why the Psalmist wrote, 'I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth' (Psalm 34:1). By praising God in advance for the victory, you open a channel for Him to intervene in your circumstances, hope rises in your soul, and it's impossible to stay down and defeated. And praise fits every personality, so you've no excuse! You can clap and shout (Psalm 47:1), use music and dance (Psalm 150:4), sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19-20), make a joyful noise (Psalm 98:4), lift your hands (Psalm 134:2), be still before God (Psalm 4:3-5), and you can even be loud! (Psalm 33:3, 95:1-6). Your praises thwart the enemy's best-laid plan! When the Israelites were outnumbered, they prayed and God told them the battle was His and that He would do the fighting. Judah (which means 'praise') went out ahead of the army, and 'As soon as they began singing, the Lord confused the enemy... and... they turned against each other'. The minute you start praising God He releases His power to start working on your behalf.