The Spiritual Plateau; Getting Out of it

 Merriam-Webster describes a plateau as:-

1.  A large flat area of land that s higher than other areas of land that surround it.

2.  A period when something does not increase or advance any further.

        Yesterday at church, our pastor was giving us a story of a young man who went to his office and told him that he is tired of christian life; that he is just not being excited about his walk with the Lord anymore; that nothing is happening in his life.  The pastor went on to say that he challenged him to remember what Christ has done for him and that even when he is not putting any effort he continues to breathe and that breath is from God and he pays nothing for it.

       But as the pastor was speaking, something came to my mind - the word plateau.  You see, that is a word that is not unfamiliar to me.   I remember being in the same very place.  I was a Christian yes;  was still going to church and doing all those churchy things that Christians do.  God had blessed me.  I had walked with God.  I was not a "beginner" Christian.   I knew how to speak the church lingo.  I had seen Christ fight for me and experienced him win battles for me.  I knew the scriptures;  had even memorised a few verses and if you work me up in the middle of the night,  I could say them without blinking an eye.  After all, doesn't David say to hide his word in our hearts?  I even remember my pastor used to call me the walking bible. 

     You see, just like that area of land; God had enlarged me.  He had raised me up and elevated me spiritually.  There is nothing wrong with that you day.   Well,  there is no problem with the enlargement or elevation above the rest.   The only problem is the flatness.  I had plateaued spiritually.  I reached a place where I was not no longer progressing.   I would get excited at church but that excitement did not last long. The joy of a daily walk with Christ was no longer there.   

    

       In a spiritual Plateau the Christian lives each day in trial and error or rather in spiritual highs and lows.  One day she/he feels the presence of God and joy of being a christian then the next day that joy is gone and they don't even want to pray or study the word of God.  And to be honest with you, the spiritual lows are usually more than the spiritual highs.   

  

       Christian friends, this is usually where the road meets the rubber.  If one is not careful, they would easily fall off the charts here never to be mentioned in the Christian Chronicles.  If one does not have accountability partners, it is very easy to fall through the cracks. 

      So then, you ask dear friend, how does one overcome the spiritual lows and highs?  How does one come out of the spiritual plateau?   Well, the answer is very simple.  I will tell you shortly.   It came to me yesterday when I was sitting in the pew at church.   I realised that I was no longer in the spiritual plateau.   I don't even remember when I came out of it but somehow I was no longer stagnant.   Then I understood why I was no longer in stagnation.  

          As I sat in that pew, my heart was burdened and constantly lifted up in prayer for one my spiritual sons who to me looks like he is not spiritually progressing.   I was thanking God for the others who are making baby steps in their walk of salvation.   Then I realised I have no time to be stagnant when I am doing that which I was called to do.  THAT IS IT.

        Today, I went to mail some parcels via G4S (FedEx or DHL equivalent).  The G4S  closest to us is a moving van and not an office.   So when I got there, the sun was already up (for those who know Nairobi weather,  the sun is scorching hot at this time of the year).  The G4S guy got in to write the mailing forms for me.   When I mentioned I was uncomfortable with the heat, he invited me to sit with him inside the van (I felt like Phillip being invited into the chariot by the Ethiopian Eunuch).  So I sat there I waited for him to finish writing the forms.  As soon as he finished, I started on the ABC's of the gospel.  And right there and then he accepted Christ as his Lord and Saviour. 

     So as I walked back to the office filled with joy #unspeakable, I continued to think high so many Christians reach a spiritual plateau.   It is so wrong to sit in a church pew Sunday after Sunday and receive spiritual impartation/anointing and yet do nothing with it.  We go for conferences and seminars and when we come back we do not share the knowledge we have received or try to reach out others.   You see, many of us are like that servant who hid the talent.  We are not occupying till he comes so to speak (Luke 19:13).

       Dear friend,  to whom much is given, of him shall much be required (Luke 12:48).   So if you bury your talents, you are not only in danger of it being taken away from you but you are also in danger of hitting a spiritual plateau.   So if you are already there, IN THAT PLACE OF STAGNAGNATION, please get up and start occupying.   Get up and start doing what God called you to do.  The anointing you have received is to be used to advance God's Kingdom and bring the glory unto his name.  SO OFF ON YOUR TOES AND STARTING RUNNING THE RACE YOU WERE MEANT TO RUN.  If you are not a Christian,  it is never too late to start.  Pray the prayer below and look for a bible believing church and tell them of your decision to follow Christ. 

     

      Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name.

Amen.  

     You can also read more about how to know God at http://www.billygrahamlibrary.org/PGView.aspx?pid=13