Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Bible in a Year: ❏ Genesis 24-27 | ❏ Mark 7

It is so easy to focus on ourselves and get off track - or in other words - drift away from God.

Several years ago, I started writing down three things I am grateful for and a few prayer requests each day to remind me of God’s blessings. At the beginning of each New Year, I reflect on how God answered my prayers from the prior year. This practice fills me with deep awe, joy, and gratitude. I am reminded of how much God loves me and how faithful he is. It has kept me focused on God rather than all the things going on around me and in my head. 

Spiritual drifting is gradual and, unfortunately, prevalent. It's an unnoticed move away from one’s faith, beliefs, or spiritual practices. Often, it starts as a simple decision or action that isn’t bad in itself … until it starts leading to a pattern or habit. 

Drifting starts when we take our eyes off God and start focusing on ourselves. It can happen to any of us. As we go about our days, living for ourselves instead of following him, the strength of our faith doesn’t make us immune. We can still drift away from God.

So, how do we prevent the drift?  

Proverbs 4:23 tells us:
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

We guard our hearts by keeping our focus on Jesus. We incorporate good habits in our lives that draw us closer to God. We make him our priority. We get to know him through prayer and Bible study. We make attending church and serving a priority. We engage in fellowship with other followers. We build relationship with him. 

It is not about doing things to earn his love; it is about accepting and basking in his love, and letting him change us in the process.

This is why CedarCreek starts the new year off with 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Prayer and fasting are amazing ways to guard our hearts. Fasting helps us refocus on God and draw closer to him. It teaches us to surrender our wants and desires to him and depend on him to accomplish things we cannot do ourselves. 

It’s not too late to stop the drift! Join us for the rest of 21 days of Prayer and Fasting.

Questions: 
In what ways are you drifting now?

How can you guard your heart?

What daily practices can you put in place to prevent yourself from drifting?

Next Steps: 
Participate in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.

Get back on track by taking your next step:

Get baptized

Complete GrowthTrack

Join or lead a Group

Join the DreamTeam

Commit to or increase your giving

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting - Day 9

Today’s Prayer Focus: To Live Confidently  

Prayer:
Father in heaven, thank you for loving me. I know I can trust you with all I am. I am confident in the salvation you have given me. Help me to abide in you, to become more like your Son every day. Show me how to live like him, according to your will, and working for your kingdom in all I do. May my love for you and others be perfected through your love for me. In Jesus' name, amen. 

Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 2:1
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

This post was written by Marsha Raymond, an Oregon attendee, and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.