How to Avoid Drifting

Courtnaye Richard

This article first appeared on www,insideoutwithcourtnaye.org.

Drifting happens. Yet, it can be avoided if you catch yourself. Just think about it in a natural sense - like driving a car late for an extended trip. You know that you’ve been driving the distance, but then all of a sudden, you find yourself becoming more and more exhausted as the journey continues. Before you know it, you have to fight to stay awake. And maybe, just maybe, if not awake enough, you start drifting onto the side of the highway, without even realizing it. But then you catch yourself and keep moving forward until you reach your intended destination. Well, just as slowly as that can happen in the natural, it can totally happen spiritually. 

I just recently had a moment when I was completely exhausted, yet I needed to drive a long distance to get back home. Sis, I was struggling behind that wheel! However, I had my kids in the back seat of the car, so I knew that I had to fight to stay awake even more for their sake. I kept looking back at them, praying, “Lord, please help me to get us home safely.” 

As I was driving, I saw signs that read, “Stay alert.” Granted it was talking specifically about not driving and texting, but the Holy Spirit had just reminded me to stay alert and then I saw that sign right afterward. So, long story short. The Lord was with me. We made it home safely. But I have to say, I was totally trying to avoid drifting.  

Sometimes you have to think about others when you feel yourself drifting even spiritually. People are watching your walk in Christ. Sinners need to see the real thing as it relates to Christianity. And just for your own spiritual health, you need to make sure that you stay strong in the Lord and alert from the enemy’s tactics.  

Naturally drifting means to be carried slowly by a current of air or water (ex. “No one noticed that the boat had begun to drift out to sea.”). Biblically, there are many Scriptures concerning drifting. Here are a few…

- “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (NOTE: This verse is speaking specifically about apostasy – turning away from God)

- “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” 

- “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” 

- “For it, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.” 

- “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

So that’s what the Bible has to say about it. And now, here is what it can look like in life…

• Less interest in the things of God
• More interested in worldly things and events
• Less prayer (i.e. short and quick – and not because it’s just a simple short prayer, but because it feels more forced or like a duty, rather than a desire to connect with your heavenly Father)
• Falling asleep while you’re reading the Bible or just not interested as you once were. 
• Busyness! When you get too focused on your job, working for the Lord, or building your business or platform, you can find yourself unintentionally drifting away from God.  
• Getting into a comfort zone. When you have abundance and everything is going well for you, enjoy God’s blessings, but don’t get so comfortable that you begin to enjoy the gifts more than the Giver. ;-)
• Trials that become so tough that you feel like giving up.
• Getting caught up in the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life ( See )

THIS is what drifting looks like. So, if you feel yourself drifting, catch yourself. Recognize where you are and fight to get back to a spiritually healthy place. Here are a few ways of how to avoid drifting…

• Be mindful of your spiritual life. Examine yourself to see if you are drawing closer to God or becoming stagnant in your walk with Him.
• Watch your schedule. Don’t add too much to it. Scale back if it means spending more time with the Lord, so that you’ll be spiritually healthy.
• Make uninterrupted time in prayer. Even if you have to set a timer for yourself to avoid giving quick dutiful prayers. And be intentional. Be more passionate about talking to God and being still enough to listen to Him, too. 
• Plan ahead to read the Bible. And not just plan ahead, but try planning which book of the Bible you’re going to read, or which topic you’re going to study more about, or consider doing a Bible character study. Read a Proverb and Psalm daily. The more you get to know God, the more you’ll want to spend time with Him (the Bible is very enlightening, especially when you make time for it). 
• Pull up some spiritual videos from YouTube, www.rightnowmedia.com, or purchase a series.
• Stay connected to other believers through your church, Christian Facebook groups, spiritual organizations, conferences, and small group Bible Studies (there’s strength in numbers).    
• Listen to the Bible on your phone (download a good Bible app).

Whatever you do, avoid drifting, sis. Stay the course. And remain close. 

Remember, Jesus is coming back soon! And those who endure unto the end shall be saved. So let’s be ready from the Inside Out!

~Courtnaye 

QUESTION: Have you ever felt like you were drifting away from God? Are you there now? If you need prayer, feel free to email me directly for prayer @ insideoutwithcourtnaye@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you and praying for you.

ALSO, my NEW 8-Week Study Guide and Video Teaching Series from my book, "IDENTIFIED: Knowing Who You Are in Christ & Moving Forward in Your Purpose” is FINALLY available!!! Purchase here.

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