I don’t know about you, but I know I have drifted from God many times, allowing my thoughts, feelings, emotions and fleshly desires to take root in my heart. I’ll list out four signs you may be drifting in your walk with God and how you can restore your relationship with Him.
1. Emotions dominate your thoughts
Emotions are a real thing. Our emotions are sparked by memories from our past and circumstances we have endured through. Sometimes we allow our ever so real emotions to overcome God’s truth. Have you allowed your emotions to victimize your mind, causing you to dwell on everything but what God says is true? Do you listen to the lies and subtle deceptions from Satan, but fail to place God’s Word first and filter it through His truth before you allow it to take root in your heart?
When your emotions dominate your thoughts…
- You feel victimized by your feelings
- Your attitude constantly fluctuates
When we sanction unhealthy thoughts into our daily routine, we are walking down a path causing us to drift away from God’s truth. Once Satan leads us, even one small step away from God, our whole perspective gets distorted and our perceptions become askew.
When a compass is slightly malfunctioned, even the slightest of defect can greatly influence your course of navigation when traveling to a destination. One initial wrong small turn can lead you down an unintended path, leading you one step farther away from your intended destination with every turn.
1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Step of Action
The next time your feelings are overcoming what you know to be true, take note of the emotion but replace it with a promise that God has stated. Seek God in prayer asking Satan to flee. Don’t allow your faith to be thwarted by Satan’s lies. Remember God is ultimate in control.
2. You focus on the negative
Life can bring some pretty nasty circumstances our way, causing negative emotions to arise. It’s easy when things are going wrong to only fixate on the negativity life brings.
When you focus on the negative, you may be…
- Complaining instead of thanking
- Downgrading instead of complimenting
- Imagining the worst instead of trusting God in the unknown
- Becoming hopeless instead of confident in God’s capability
When we focus on the negative, it gets our minds so wrapped up on what is wrong, or could go wrong, that we fail to view our lives the way God does, allowing Him to use us most effectively. When we have a negative approach on life, we are modeling the very traits Jesus instructed us to abstain from. God never intended us to become so engulfed in all that’s wrong in our lives we forget to see all that God has provided for us. We as Christians have a joy that other’s are unable to experience. May we hold onto the unfading joy of being God’s Children and the eternal home that awaits us.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Step of Action
Next time you find yourself falling into a negative mindset, focus on three blessings God has given you. Remember this world is not your home. The pain is only temporary, don’t get trapped in all that’s wrong in the moment that you forget the eternal future you have as God’s child.
3. You prioritize God last
In our busy lives it can be incredibly effortless to place anything and everything before God. With endless tasks, texts, emails and people pulling at our attention, God can seem like an afterthought. When God seems silent, it’s easy to listen to the noise of this world, causing us to prioritize our fleshly desires first. We can fall into the deception that God is kind, understanding and gracious, allowing us to prioritize him behind all the high demands and acceptance of this world. I know I can become so focused on seeking everyone else’s approval, I conform to their every need, and place God’s approval last.
Signs you prioritize God last…
- You aren’t in prayer frequently
- God seems like a box to be checked off, not a privilege
- You are determined to control your situations
- You base your worth off what others think of you
- Your success is determined by your performance
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Step of Action
Analyze the schedule you currently have, your obligations, tasks and responsibilities. Intentionally schedule a time to spend with God, allowing you to prioritize Him into your schedule. It could be a few hours on a day you’re off or spending time in prayer more before work, whether it be in the car or before bed. Involve God deeply into your schedule, instead of removing Him from your daily routine.
4. Your focus is materialistic
Drifting from God can cause temporal things to become our primary focus. We become consumed with what others think of us, our success and appearance. Material items will fade, but our character will remain. I want to be a woman whose focus is less on her appearance, worldly success and popularity, but on the character of her heart.
When your focus is materialistic, you may be
- Seeking to compare
- Thinking items will satisfy
- Thinking fame/success will fulfill
- Thinking perfection will captivate