> General Discussions

Spiritual Pendulum

(1/4) > >>

hillsbororiver:
Sometimes I recognize and identify with what I call the spiritual pendulum, what I mean by this is I see (and personally experience) this comfort and clarity of the Spirit within and I am figuratively shouting for joy.

 Psa 32:11  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

This wonderful glorious experience is then followed by a period of anxiety where I feel the Spirit has withdrawn a bit and I am left to my own understanding with the resulting lack of clarity, not a loss of faith but the Words do not jump off the page at me as they do at other times. My feelings of remorse and regret for the many hurtful things I have done to others in the past return, I know consciously I am forgiven, but I am not really comforted in that knowledge.

Eze 36:31  Then shall ye remember your own evil ways and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

It is then that I pray for the increase of His Spirit, to once again feel His love and to let go of my guilty and confused state of mind.
   
Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

This "pendulum" has not been swinging as far as it has in the past but there are still times when I am anxiously awaiting the restoration of His Spirit in me. It seems that tribulations do not necessarily have to come from external situations or problems although they certainly can and do. Again we come back to faith and patience.

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

I must admit I do not always have the "glory in tribulations" down pat, but it is a work in progress, the Lord is constantly strengthening me and this part of the journey is becoming more of a reality. Patience is growing.

Any comments or thoughts on this?

Joe

shibboleth:
I was just thinking the same things as you, Joe. I thought do I want to go through all the trials and tribulations to be one of the elect? I told myself no, I don't. But then I said, how can I be an overcomer if there's nothing to overcome? The things God has caused me to go through this year have not been big trials. But, I just said God, I know you are in complete control of all the situations in my life. You put me in the country, state, town, street, house address you wanted me in. You planned out every detail of my life for your own purpose. Your will is the only free will. So I pray I can withstand any trial, tribulation, suffering He puts my way.

Becky:
I completely understand this analogy!

I can sometimes lose sight of the purpose for the down times...but then I always feel the Spirit anew again.  

Many times the internal challenges are harder to understand, but I see why I went through that experience after the fact (as always)

Thanks for the illustration! :)
Becky

Mickyd:
I can identify with what you have said. I too have periods where the spirit has drawn away and then returned. It's all part of the carnal experiance. We have to constantly be reminded of our carnality to appreciate the spiritual. There will come a time when this will no longer be needed.

zander:
Well i have been having some guilty consience recently.  I feel guilty at times of using my "new found joy/peace" to a point where it makes me feel so good inside and so good with other people to the point where its almost like a drug.  I then think to myself.  Hang on a minute.  I shouldnt be using this peace to be "at peace".  It really doesnt make sense.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page