GUARD AGAINST LOW MOMENTS

There is a spiritual syndrome I want to describe. I call it the low moments. I used that expression because I'm lost for words but I believe the Holy Spirit will interpret it clearly in your heart.

What do I mean by low moments? This is simply the time in a man's spiritual walk when there is laxity and lukewarmness in his fellowship with God. For some, they struggle to pray as they use to while others may not be interested in studying the word. Others experience both at the same time.

There were two occasions in the life of David that reflected he had a low moments spiritually. I deduced from his actions that he was not fully in tune with God as he should and that led him into error with repercussions beyond what he could handle.

The first was the case of adultery between him and the wife of Uriah and how he masterminded his death. The bible aptly describes where King David should be at the time he saw the wife of Uriah from the rooftop in her bathroom. The bible says: "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war,..But David remained in Jerusalem."(2Sam11:1).

Note, he was at the right place at the wrong time. He was not where he should be physically as a king and spiritually as a man ordained to lead in the Lord's battles.

The second occasion that revealed his low moments was in 1Chron21:1 "Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel." David became cold spiritually to the point where Satan influenced his actions.

How can a worshipper who was always ministering before God with psalms become so lax to the point of coming under the influence of Satan? Something must have gone wrong somewhere. If a believers lives in sin perpetually, something is wrong somewhere.

A preacher in his low moments may study the bible because he want to preach not for personal devotion. He may fast because there's a corporate declaration for fasting in the church not for his personal spiritual growth. In fact, he may attend church services because he is obliged to do so by reason of his office not because he love to.

Surprisingly, he may preach powerfully but his spiritual stamina for a fruitful Christian life is low if not empty. These and many more are the signs of low moments.

The seemingly obvious fall of a man into sin is always preceded by low moments in prayer, bible study and watchfulness.The devil will not strike his deadly blow of moral failure on a believer until the low moments sets in.

The antidote to low moments is to stay in the place of consistent fellowship with God in the place of prayer, word and watchfulness. We cannot outgrow these essentials. Show me a sinning believer and I'll describe to you the temperature of his relationship with God.

When the devil want to deal with a believer, he makes such a person to become too busy to pray, makes bible study a boring burden thereby reducing the spiritual strength of such a person.

Spiritual manifestations in your meetings isn't a measure of your spiritual stamina. Samson was still performing exploits when he was playing around with strange women. When Delilah dealt with him, he thought he could do like before not knowing the Spirit of God had left him. Low moments is the precursor to a fall.

If you're in your low moments, you need to come out of it quickly by retreating from activities and staying alone with God until you sense the surge of God's revival in your spiritual life.

If you're a preacher, you may need to turn down preaching invitations and go sort yourself with God till you're back on your feet on again. Don't jump on the altar with weak spiritual stamina and empty tank.