Tammy On Tuesday ~ Fight against the Drift

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Over the past week, while spending time in God’s Word, when a specific passage stood out to me or spoke to my heart I would jot it down. Today I decided to pull out the passages and read through them and I noticed how they tied together in a progression toward a theme for today’s blog – a deeper walk with God.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from those I have the privilege of sitting with and talking about the things of God is that they struggle to feel the joy of Lord. They struggle to feel peace in their circumstances. They struggle to hope. And many have said they are just too busy to feel anything at all.

Can you identify?

I know I can.  And I have learned over the years that peace, joy and hope are a byproduct of an active pursuit and relationship with God.

Growing in my faith, developing a deeper walk with the Lord, will ALWAYS require action on my part.

• I will NEVER drift toward holiness.
• I will NEVER drift toward peace and contentment.
• I must choose to hope.
• I must choose to know God more.

But there IS something I CAN drift toward if I’m not careful.

Psalm 141:4 in the New Living Translation says, Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness.

I like the way this version describes our bent toward sin…we drift.

We drift.

It reminds me of the many times I would go out into the surf at the beach and jump the waves. I always loved the feeling of being lifted off my feet by the invigorating power of the ocean. One thing has always been the case, whether going in or out, the waves did not stop for you. Coming in to shore wasn’t like getting off a ride at an amusement park. So getting in and out took a lot of navigating on my part.

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Inevitably, after a while of wave jumping, I’d look back at the shore to get my bearings and would find that I had drifted quite a ways down the beach.   How did I get so far from where I started out?

I drifted.

Getting back to where I wanted to be always took purposed effort.

Friend, we drift toward evil.

We drift toward the trappings of this world.

We drift toward complacency.

And so we must make conscious effort to fight against the drift.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 says, Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1 Tim 4:7-8 (emphasis mine)

Here in this passage Paul is warning Timothy about the dangers of the world’s ideologies (irreverent – worldly, godless). He says, Rather train yourself in godliness.

How?

How do we train ourselves in godliness?

What does it mean to be godly?

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines godliness as denoting character and conduct determined by the principle of love or fear of God in the heart.

In other words, our character and conduct will reflect a love for and fear of God in our hearts.

How do we develop a love and fear for God?  By learning more about Him in His love letter to us – the Bible.

Of the people that I talk with about struggles for peace and joy and freedom, the one ingredient that is often lacking is the practice of regularly going to God’s Word.

How can we follow God if we don’t know Him?

How can we train ourselves to walk in His Way if we don’t go to His Word?

Well, I listen to Christian radio.

I listen to podcasts.

I’m doing a study by…

I go to church every Sunday.

I do all of the above.

Friend, although these resources are good for the edifying of the believer, they cannot take the place of the power of God’s Word in our lives.

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Ps. 119:11

How do we avoid the drift toward sin? By storing up Christian radio, podcasts, bible studies, Christian activities, Your Word in my heart.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

I say this not to in any way speak negatively about Christian resources, but to point out the fact that they cannot take the place of a regular diet of God’s Word. God tells us who He is in His infallible, inspired Word.

As we take time reading and studying God’s Word, His Spirit teaches us who He is. When we hide God’s Word in our hearts, we are molded and shaped by His Word through His Spirit.

What happens when we fight against the drift by seeking to know God through His Word?

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says,  Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.  (emphasis mine)

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Do you desire to go deeper in reading the Word of God?  I recommend finding a reading plan.  You can find many available online, in book form, and in app form.  I have only one week left in the One Year Bible plan.  Once I am done, I will begin again.  I have done this for quite a few years now.  Each time I read through, God uses the Bible in new ways to capture and mold my heart.  He teaches me how to live in freedom.  He instructs me daily.  He reveals more of His character to me.  All through reading His Word.  Friend, fight the drift and grow in Him.