Monday, January 12, 2026

Bible in a Year: ❏ Genesis 20-23 | ❏ Mark 6

Sometimes, I find myself walking and lingering, drifting, and settling where I never intended - and don’t want - to be.

Can you relate?

I never do well with New Year resolutions, so I am grateful for the reset that 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting provides. Rather than searching the internet for solutions or engaging in mind-numbing activity, it is an opportunity to focus my prayers on recognizing where I drifted and then course correct. 

God's help works much better than self-help. Like a beautiful painting left to weather, we begin to physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually fade when we drift from the faith that sustains us. Thankfully, God wants to point us back to the joy, love, and dreams that unchecked behaviors lead us away from. 

Psalm 1:1-3
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season….

It is a natural human tendency to gravitate toward what the heart wants - comfort, distraction, and self-reliance. For Solomon, it led to his downfall.

King Solomon had the prayers of his people that he would be an even greater king than his father, David, had been (1 Kings 1:30). However, as he was building a temple to honor God, he progressively made more trades and concessions. He began to marry into and form relationships with people of other beliefs, going so far as to raise their gods. 

Solomon slowly and unknowingly began to turn from God's command and seek other gods, eventually losing God's favor and protection. 

And it can happen to us, too. Because the drifting of our hearts begins long before the evidence that it is happening becomes apparent.  

Knowing how unintentionally this can happen, what can we do to avoid drifting? An idea would be to spend time in prayer and biblical fasting. These practices create space in our daily rhythms to stop and ask God to help us remove the pursuit of passions that do not align with his will. 

Sometimes, the path forward is uncomfortable, even embarrassing. However, I promise, God will lovingly and gently meet you where you are - and he won’t leave you there.

Questions: 
Do you know where your passions lie? 

Are you drifting? 

Are you curious about what God might want for your life?

Next Steps: 
Read Psalm 1 in its entirety, and meditate on it. Consider joining the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting by texting 21Days to 419-419-0707. Prayerfully ask God to lead you on a path that will bear fruit in his name. 

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting - Day 8

Today’s Prayer Focus: To Know my Calling  

Prayer:
Dear Father, as a follower of Jesus, you have given me the right to be your child. You have set me apart and called me one of your chosen people. I can now show others your goodness and be a light to them in this dark world. Help me shine so others can see you. 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 Julie Estep, a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.