Staying anchored in faith.

In our walk of faith, we often envision ourselves as steadfast believers, unwavering in our commitment to God. We might think, "I could never imagine a situation where I'm not walking with the Lord." Yet, the reality is far more nuanced and potentially perilous. The journey of faith isn't always a straight path, and even the most devout can find themselves slowly drifting away from their spiritual moorings.

The concept of "spiritual drift" is a powerful one to consider. It's not an overnight transformation but a gradual process that can happen so subtly that we may not even realize it's occurring. This drift doesn't necessarily manifest as an outright rejection of faith, but rather as a slow erosion of our spiritual priorities and practices.

Consider the ancient Israelites as a cautionary tale. They didn't wake up one day and decide to abandon God. Instead, their journey away from Him was a gradual one, marked by small compromises and shifting priorities. They went from a nation wholly devoted to God to one that God described as having "broken my covenant and rebelled against my law."

One of the first signs of spiritual drift is a change in how we make decisions. When our relationship with God is strong, we naturally seek His guidance in all aspects of our lives. We pray about important choices and look to Scripture for wisdom. However, as we begin to drift, we might find ourselves making more and more decisions without consulting God. It starts small – perhaps not praying about a minor choice – but can eventually lead to major life decisions being made without any consideration of God's will.

Another indicator of drift is a shift in our priorities. When we're closely following Christ, He is at the center of our lives. Everything revolves around our relationship with Him. But as we drift, other things can start to take precedence. It might be our career, our hobbies, or our relationships. These aren't necessarily bad things, but they can slowly push God to the periphery of our lives.

This shift in priorities often leads to a dangerous form of spiritual complacency. We might still consider ourselves believers, but our faith becomes more of a background element in our lives rather than the driving force. We might still attend church or engage in religious activities, but these can become mere rituals rather than meaningful acts of worship.

The book of Hosea provides a stark illustration of this. God says of Israel, "They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval." This passage reminds us that even good things, when pursued without God's guidance, can lead us astray.

One of the most insidious aspects of spiritual drift is that it doesn't always feel negative. In fact, life might seem to be going well. We might be successful in our careers, have good relationships, and enjoy good health. This outward success can mask the inner spiritual emptiness that's developing. As one pastor reflected on a period of drift in his own life: "From a human perspective, life was good. I had a job, I was healthy... but after recommitting my life to the Lord, when I would look back on that time, to me, that was the most miserable time of my life."

This sentiment echoes the words in Hosea: "Israel has rejected what is good." When we drift from God, we're not just moving away from Him – we're rejecting the ultimate source of goodness and fulfillment in our lives.

So how do we guard against this drift? The answer lies in intentional cultivation of our relationship with God. Just as a garden left untended will be overtaken by weeds, our spiritual life requires constant care and attention.

This cultivation involves regular time in God's Word, consistent prayer, and fellowship with other believers. It means making a conscious effort to seek God's will in all aspects of our lives, not just the big decisions. It involves regularly examining our hearts and priorities, asking ourselves tough questions about where our true focus lies.

The principle of sowing and reaping is crucial here. As believers, we're either sowing to the Spirit or sowing to our flesh. If we're not actively cultivating our relationship with God, we're likely cultivating our relationship with the world. And what we sow, we will eventually reap.

It's also important to remember that the world cannot truly satisfy our deepest needs. We might find temporary satisfaction in worldly pursuits, but true, lasting fulfillment can only come from God. As Saint Augustine famously said, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."

The journey of faith is not about perfection, but direction. It's about consistently turning our hearts back to God, even when we notice we've begun to drift. It's about cultivating a deep, abiding relationship with Him that can withstand the pull of the world.

Let us be vigilant, then, in guarding our hearts. Let's not fall into the trap of thinking, "That wouldn't happen to me." Instead, let's stay close to God, continually seeking His presence and guidance in our lives. Let's make it our goal to be able to say, like the Psalmist, "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge" (Psalm 73:28).

In a world full of distractions and competing priorities, staying anchored in our faith requires intentional effort. But the reward – a deep, fulfilling relationship with our Creator – is worth every ounce of that effort. May we all strive to remain close to God, resisting the subtle pull of spiritual drift, and experiencing the joy and peace that come from walking closely with Him.