**Resist the Drift: A Call to Stay Anchored in Christ**
As we step into February, it's a great time to reflect on our spiritual journey and the commitments we've made at the start of the year. Just like the gym is packed in January with those eager to fulfill their New Year’s resolutions, many of us start the year with a fresh fire for God. But as the month progresses, we may find ourselves drifting away from that initial zeal. Today, let’s explore how we can resist that drift and stay anchored in Christ.
### 1. **Recognize the Drift**
Our hearts are naturally prone to drift. If we don’t actively pursue our relationship with Jesus, we can easily find ourselves moving away from Him. Hebrews 2:1 reminds us, “We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it”. This drifting often happens slowly, and before we know it, we look up and realize we’ve moved far from where we started.
### 2. **Fight for Simplicity**
In our busy lives, it’s easy to get caught up in complexities and lose sight of the simple things that keep us grounded in faith. God calls us back to simplicity—spending time in prayer, reading His Word, and worshiping Him in our daily lives. Our hearts can easily drift toward complexity, but we must prioritize the simple acts of faith that draw us closer to Him.
### 3. **Stay Anchored in Hope**
Hebrews 6:19 tells us that we have this hope as an anchor for our souls. In times of calm and storm, we need to cling tightly to this anchor, which is our hope in Christ. Just like a boat needs an anchor to stay in place amidst the currents, we need to anchor ourselves in the presence of God. This means actively seeking Him, especially when life feels peaceful, as that’s when we can be most vulnerable to drifting.
### 4. **Press In and Pursue**
To resist the drift, we must put in the effort to pursue Jesus. Just like Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, or the woman with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd to touch Him, we too must be willing to press in and seek Him actively. It’s not enough to be part of the crowd; we need to be intentional about our relationship with Him.
### 5. **Avoid Complacency**
Being content in Christ is not the same as being complacent. We must remain desperate for Him, just as we were when we first came to know Him. Complacency can lead to drifting, so we need to fight to stay connected and engaged in our faith.
### 6. **Respond to His Call**
Finally, let today be a reminder to respond to God’s call. If you feel you’ve drifted, don’t hesitate to come back to Him. There’s no shame in recognizing that we need to refocus and recommit ourselves to His presence. As we worship together, let’s take this opportunity to run back to Him and declare that we are resisting the drift.
In conclusion, let’s commit to resisting the drift in our lives. Let’s prioritize our relationship with Jesus, stay anchored in hope, and actively pursue Him every day. Remember, we are not just called to be part of the crowd; we are called to be after runners, chasing after Jesus with all our hearts.
May we all leave here today with a renewed commitment to stay close to Him and resist the drift. Amen.
As we step into February, it's a great time to reflect on our spiritual journey and the commitments we've made at the start of the year. Just like the gym is packed in January with those eager to fulfill their New Year’s resolutions, many of us start the year with a fresh fire for God. But as the month progresses, we may find ourselves drifting away from that initial zeal. Today, let’s explore how we can resist that drift and stay anchored in Christ.
### 1. **Recognize the Drift**
Our hearts are naturally prone to drift. If we don’t actively pursue our relationship with Jesus, we can easily find ourselves moving away from Him. Hebrews 2:1 reminds us, “We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it”. This drifting often happens slowly, and before we know it, we look up and realize we’ve moved far from where we started.
### 2. **Fight for Simplicity**
In our busy lives, it’s easy to get caught up in complexities and lose sight of the simple things that keep us grounded in faith. God calls us back to simplicity—spending time in prayer, reading His Word, and worshiping Him in our daily lives. Our hearts can easily drift toward complexity, but we must prioritize the simple acts of faith that draw us closer to Him.
### 3. **Stay Anchored in Hope**
Hebrews 6:19 tells us that we have this hope as an anchor for our souls. In times of calm and storm, we need to cling tightly to this anchor, which is our hope in Christ. Just like a boat needs an anchor to stay in place amidst the currents, we need to anchor ourselves in the presence of God. This means actively seeking Him, especially when life feels peaceful, as that’s when we can be most vulnerable to drifting.
### 4. **Press In and Pursue**
To resist the drift, we must put in the effort to pursue Jesus. Just like Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, or the woman with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd to touch Him, we too must be willing to press in and seek Him actively. It’s not enough to be part of the crowd; we need to be intentional about our relationship with Him.
### 5. **Avoid Complacency**
Being content in Christ is not the same as being complacent. We must remain desperate for Him, just as we were when we first came to know Him. Complacency can lead to drifting, so we need to fight to stay connected and engaged in our faith.
### 6. **Respond to His Call**
Finally, let today be a reminder to respond to God’s call. If you feel you’ve drifted, don’t hesitate to come back to Him. There’s no shame in recognizing that we need to refocus and recommit ourselves to His presence. As we worship together, let’s take this opportunity to run back to Him and declare that we are resisting the drift.
In conclusion, let’s commit to resisting the drift in our lives. Let’s prioritize our relationship with Jesus, stay anchored in hope, and actively pursue Him every day. Remember, we are not just called to be part of the crowd; we are called to be after runners, chasing after Jesus with all our hearts.
May we all leave here today with a renewed commitment to stay close to Him and resist the drift. Amen.