We see it all around us, in the headlines, from the lives of those we know and even often, in our very own lives.
Sometimes it happens before we realize what’s occurred. It’s unintentional. We don’t plan it. Lulled by the slow pull away, swayed by other things we start deeming more important, we wake up one day and realize things seem different. We find ourselves in a place we’d never intended to go.
The drift happens. Sometimes out of busyness. Sometimes out of hurt. Sometimes things are bad. Sometimes because things are good. Sometimes because we’re overwhelmed. Sometimes it’s because it's too hard to forgive and move forward.
Temptation is fierce when we start to drift. The enemy waits for one wrong move. Sin crouches, ready to devour, as we head down a slippery slope. We can’t find a foothold and begin to lose our way.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
By definition, to drift means “a continuous slow movement from one place to another.”
It doesn’t happen quickly. It often takes us unaware. It’s simply the natural process that occurs when we lose our bearings and stop moving in the right direction. And one thing is for sure, it rarely happens because we intend for it to.
Maybe we're not looking, and become unaware, enjoying the moments. Temptation pulls us in the wrong direction. The pull of sin is real and dark. It can take us under before we even know what's happened. We suddenly realize we're stuck, we look and notice how far we've gone, and the price of what it's cost us.
This quote says it well: "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay."
Most of us don't ever set out to plunge deep into a pit of sin, turning away from what we know is right and true. What takes us there are the little steps all along that pathway. The slow drift in the wrong direction.
It can happen to any of us. I’m writing this post because it happened to me. I started to drift about four years ago and drifted and drifted. There were times that I was completely aware of my sin and I asked for and received forgiveness only to start drifting again sometimes within hours of being forgiven.
No one is immune. When we drift away from God, it’ll have a ripple effect on all other relationships we hold dear in this life because He is the reason we’re able to love well. Without Him, everything else gets dulled.
There’s danger in living within the drift. We rarely, if ever, will drift towards good things. Leaving the safety and covering of God’s protection takes us to dangerous places, often bringing great heartache and struggle that’s impossible to escape.
5 Dangers of Drifting
2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV [3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Sometimes it happens before we realize what’s occurred. It’s unintentional. We don’t plan it. Lulled by the slow pull away, swayed by other things we start deeming more important, we wake up one day and realize things seem different. We find ourselves in a place we’d never intended to go.
The drift happens. Sometimes out of busyness. Sometimes out of hurt. Sometimes things are bad. Sometimes because things are good. Sometimes because we’re overwhelmed. Sometimes it’s because it's too hard to forgive and move forward.
Temptation is fierce when we start to drift. The enemy waits for one wrong move. Sin crouches, ready to devour, as we head down a slippery slope. We can’t find a foothold and begin to lose our way.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
By definition, to drift means “a continuous slow movement from one place to another.”
It doesn’t happen quickly. It often takes us unaware. It’s simply the natural process that occurs when we lose our bearings and stop moving in the right direction. And one thing is for sure, it rarely happens because we intend for it to.
Maybe we're not looking, and become unaware, enjoying the moments. Temptation pulls us in the wrong direction. The pull of sin is real and dark. It can take us under before we even know what's happened. We suddenly realize we're stuck, we look and notice how far we've gone, and the price of what it's cost us.
This quote says it well: "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay."
Most of us don't ever set out to plunge deep into a pit of sin, turning away from what we know is right and true. What takes us there are the little steps all along that pathway. The slow drift in the wrong direction.
It can happen to any of us. I’m writing this post because it happened to me. I started to drift about four years ago and drifted and drifted. There were times that I was completely aware of my sin and I asked for and received forgiveness only to start drifting again sometimes within hours of being forgiven.
No one is immune. When we drift away from God, it’ll have a ripple effect on all other relationships we hold dear in this life because He is the reason we’re able to love well. Without Him, everything else gets dulled.
There’s danger in living within the drift. We rarely, if ever, will drift towards good things. Leaving the safety and covering of God’s protection takes us to dangerous places, often bringing great heartache and struggle that’s impossible to escape.
5 Dangers of Drifting
- We begin to pull away from godly influences. Relationships suffer. Trust gets broken. We lose our heart for others. We fall away from close fellowship with other believers. We neglect accountability and connection with those who would encourage our walk in Christ.
- We stopped praying. We’re too busy. We’re tired, or overwhelmed. We shoot a few prayers up His way, like, “Lord, bless our day,” but we’re unaffected by the lack of closeness we have with our Creator. We’re more in tune to what others are saying and doing on God’s will.
- We lose focus, or desire, for His Words. We’re no longer reading or hearing it. We’re distracted by all that calls our name through the day. To-do lists, crazy schedules leave no room for moments with Him. Or maybe we find ourselves just disconnected completely. Stone cold, distant, withdrawn, His words of life and truth fall on deaf ears and hardened hearts.
- We lose our heart for worship. We stop going to church and fill our minds with excuses for why we can’t or why it’s not that important.
- The spiritual things that once concerned us no longer concern us. We’re more easily influenced by the opinions of the world instead of the truth of God’s Word. Compassion for people wanes. His Spirit within us is stifled. Our heart for God is dulled. The pull toward sin increases. We begin to see life through selfish motives, blurred by pride, and our quest to live happily on our terms. We find ourselves twisting the truth to meet our own needs. We become numb to the danger that surrounds us, often until it’s too late to avoid great consequences that follow our choices.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV [3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
We Don’t Have to Drift We Can Choose to Live Differently
And that’s not always easy, because often, it's easier to just go with the flow. It takes effort, hard work, not to drift away. Knowing "of" truth isn't the same as immersing ourselves "in" truth. One will keep us aware and close to our Safety, the other may allow us to drift slowly in the wrong direction.
4 Ways to Stop Drifting
1. Pay careful attention, stay aware and alert.
Mark 14:38 ESV Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
1 Peter 5:8 ESV Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
2. Be strong in the Lord, put on the armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV 10] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. [14] Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. [16] In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; [17] and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
3. Listen to meditate on, His words. They are Truth.
John 8:31-32 ESV [31] So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Psalm 1:1-6 ESV [1] Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; [2] but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. [3] He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. [4] The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. [5] Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; [6] for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
4. Choose to stay close, to remain anchored in Him.
Joshua 24:15 ESV [15] And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (emphasis mine)
Sometimes we get a wake-up call (and I got mine). We’re stirred out of the lull, suddenly realizing how far we’ve gone. We see where we’re headed. And we start paddling to safety.
If you find yourself there, He longs to pull you back, close to Himself. Don’t wait till tomorrow to set your heart in the right direction. Confess where you’re at, turn back to Him. It’s never too late, no matter where you find yourself now.
We have the power, through Christ, to choose wisely. It's there we find safety under His protection and live within His blessing.
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
If you are drifting away from God’s protection and His will this is my prayer for you and for me.
Dear God,
Forgive us for drifting away from you, for allowing other things to become more important in our lives. Help us to live aware, to choose wisely, to stay close to you, and anchored in your Truth. Apart from you, we have no hope. Thank you for your great love and mercy; thank you for waiting for us, that you call us to yourself, and you strengthen us in our weakness. Thank you that you alone are our Refuge and Safety, and you fill us with hope. We come to you today, choosing to walk in your Presence and Light. In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
And that’s not always easy, because often, it's easier to just go with the flow. It takes effort, hard work, not to drift away. Knowing "of" truth isn't the same as immersing ourselves "in" truth. One will keep us aware and close to our Safety, the other may allow us to drift slowly in the wrong direction.
4 Ways to Stop Drifting
1. Pay careful attention, stay aware and alert.
Mark 14:38 ESV Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
1 Peter 5:8 ESV Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
2. Be strong in the Lord, put on the armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV 10] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. [14] Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. [16] In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; [17] and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
3. Listen to meditate on, His words. They are Truth.
John 8:31-32 ESV [31] So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Psalm 1:1-6 ESV [1] Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; [2] but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. [3] He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. [4] The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. [5] Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; [6] for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
4. Choose to stay close, to remain anchored in Him.
Joshua 24:15 ESV [15] And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (emphasis mine)
Sometimes we get a wake-up call (and I got mine). We’re stirred out of the lull, suddenly realizing how far we’ve gone. We see where we’re headed. And we start paddling to safety.
If you find yourself there, He longs to pull you back, close to Himself. Don’t wait till tomorrow to set your heart in the right direction. Confess where you’re at, turn back to Him. It’s never too late, no matter where you find yourself now.
We have the power, through Christ, to choose wisely. It's there we find safety under His protection and live within His blessing.
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
If you are drifting away from God’s protection and His will this is my prayer for you and for me.
Dear God,
Forgive us for drifting away from you, for allowing other things to become more important in our lives. Help us to live aware, to choose wisely, to stay close to you, and anchored in your Truth. Apart from you, we have no hope. Thank you for your great love and mercy; thank you for waiting for us, that you call us to yourself, and you strengthen us in our weakness. Thank you that you alone are our Refuge and Safety, and you fill us with hope. We come to you today, choosing to walk in your Presence and Light. In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
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