How can we daily remember and prioritize God to prevent spiritual drift? The Warning in Judges 3:7 “ And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.” Israel’s slide began with simple forgetfulness. Neglect led to idolatry, and idolatry opened the door to bondage. The pattern is timeless: when God is no longer front-and-center, hearts drift. Daily Anchors That Keep Us From Forgetting • Start and end the day with His Word – Deuteronomy 6:6-9 urges us to bind God’s commands “as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes.” Morning reading frames the day; evening review seals it. – Psalm 1:2: “His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.” • Speak of Him as life happens – Talk about answered prayer while driving, quote a promise before a meal, recall His character in conflict. This constant conversation fulfills Deuteronomy 6:7: “Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road.” • Guard the influences that compete for affection – Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” – Evaluate media, friendships, and ambitions. Anything that cools love for Christ is today’s Baal. • Keep a gratitude record – Psalm 103:2: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” – A simple journal noting daily mercies trains the heart to remember. • Practice weekly corporate worship – Hebrews 10:24-25 warns against neglecting the assembly. Shared praise recalibrates priorities and reminds us we’re part of a redeemed people, not solo travelers. • Fast from hurry – Luke 10:41-42 shows Martha distracted while Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet.” Build unhurried moments to listen, reflect, and adore. • Memorize and recite key verses – Psalm 119:11: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” – Carry one verse each week; recite it at stoplights, in checkout lines, on walks. Heart Checks That Reveal Drift Ask: • Has love cooled? Revelation 2:4-5 calls us back to “first love.” • Is obedience delayed or selective? John 14:15 ties love to obeying commands. • Are quiet times rushed or skipped? Hebrews 2:1: “We must pay closer attention…so that we do not drift away.” • Do idols promise what only God provides—security, identity, pleasure? 1 John 5:21: “Keep yourselves from idols.” Building a Life That Seeks Him First Matthew 6:33 commands, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Practically, that looks like: 1. Calendar: schedule time with God before adding anything else. 2. Wallet: give the firstfruits, not the leftovers (Proverbs 3:9-10). 3. Goals: shape dreams around His mission—making disciples, loving neighbors. 4. Relationships: choose companions who spur you toward Christ (Proverbs 13:20). Encouragement for the Journey Lamentations 3:22-23 promises mercies new every morning. If drift has begun, return today; He restores quickly. Stay connected like branches to the Vine (John 15:4-5), and spiritual drift gives way to steady growth. |
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