PATMOS BIBLE STUDY Lesson 1 – A Dry and Weary Land Where There Is No Water

PATMOS BIBLE STUDY

FINDING GOD IN THE DESERT OF THE SOUL

“In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye ~ Deuteronomy 32:10

Lesson 1 – A Dry and Weary Land Where There Is No Water

“My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. ~ Psalm 63:8 (NIV)

There are three kinds of soul deserts:

• When the .
• When your .
• When there is more than .

Your desert prayer is, “God, I don’t have anything left to give.”

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” ~ Psalm 63:1 (NIV)

Three questions to consider in the desert:
• How did I get here?
• What am I supposed to learn?
• When will I get out of here?

When God leads you into a desert, don’t be in a hurry. If you rush you way through, you might miss something. There is a special beauty in the desert that is unlike anywhere else. The Bible says, “[God] has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

Let our desert prayer be, “God, you can take as long as you need because I don’t want to go through this again. I want to learn the lesson the first time.”

How long you spend in the desert, to a great extent, depends on you. Od wants to see if you will remain faithful to what is right and true.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” ~ Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

“In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” ~ Romans 8:28 (NIV)

2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. 3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. 5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. 6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.”
~ Psalm 63:2-6 (NIV)

What do you think about through the watches of the night? When sleep eludes you and you find yourself at the ceiling or pacing the floor, do what David did: Take an inventory. Remember what God has already done for you. Think about his love and faithfulness:

• How has he provided for you?
• How has he protected you?
• How did you first meet him?
• How has he answered your prayers in the past?

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” – Cynthia Ozick

Don’t focus on the prayers he has not answered yet. Instead, think about what God has already done in your life. It will build your faith for your current situation. Instead of blowing your worries out of proportion, it will bring everything into a perspective of faith.

“Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.” ~ Psalm 63:7 (NIV)

Begin to fill your world with songs of faith and worship.

“My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” ~ Psalm 63:8 (NIV)

If you remember him, think of him, and sing to him, it will help your soul cling to him in the darkest hours of your desert experience. I can’t tell you how long your season in the desert will last, but I can tell you this: Don’t give up hope. God has not abandoned you. He promises in his Word, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b NIV).

“Just remember…if things look hopeless, maybe you’re facing the wrong direction! – Ziggy, from “Ziggy,” on having the right attitude.