How to Avoid Spiritual Drift: Lessons from Psalm 1 and Jesus’ Temptation
Have you ever found yourself in a place spiritually that you never intended to be? Maybe God feels distant, or you’re questioning your purpose. This happens more often than we realize, and it’s called spiritual drift. Just like a riptide can slowly pull swimmers away from shore without them noticing, we can drift away from God gradually, not through dramatic rebellion, but through subtle, everyday choices.
What Is Spiritual Drift?
Spiritual drift doesn’t happen because we stop believing in God. It happens because we allow something else to become more comfortable. We turn to our phones for comfort, scroll through social media, or consume news that fills us with anxiety and fear. These seemingly innocent activities shape us and move us in directions we never intended to go.
The drift happens quietly and simply. We don’t wake up one day and decide to distance ourselves from God. Instead, it occurs gradually over time as we’re not paying attention to the direction we’re moving spiritually.
The Blessed Life According to Psalm 1
What Does “Blessed” Really Mean?
Psalm 1 begins with “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.” The Hebrew word for “blessed” is ashre, and it’s not about feelings or emotions. It’s about alignment. Being properly positioned in life, like a car with properly aligned tires that drives smoothly.
The Dangerous Progression: Walk, Stand, Sit
Notice the progression in this verse: walk, stand, sit. This describes how drift works in our lives:
- Walk: We start walking alongside something harmful
- Stand: We become comfortable and slow down around it
- Sit: We become complacent and allow it to form us
In Hebrew culture, to “sit” was deeply formational. Students would “sit at the feet” of a rabbi to be shaped and taught by them. Whatever we sit with will inevitably form us.
The Power of Delight
The psalm continues: “But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” The word “delight” in Hebrew means to lean toward something we enjoy and find comfort in. It’s like a craftsman lingering over his creation or hitting repeat on a song that brings joy.
Here’s a crucial truth: You are formed more by what you enjoy than by simply what you believe. You can believe something intellectually, but if you don’t find joy and delight in it, you will drift away from it.
How Does Spiritual Formation Actually Work?
It’s Not About Instant Gratification
Just as giant sequoia trees can take months just to germinate and years to grow strong, spiritual formation is “a rewarding project for the truly dedicated, but not for instant gratification.” We often expect immediate transformation in our walk with Christ, but real growth happens slowly over years of following Jesus.
The Beauty of Slow Growth
While the slow process might seem frustrating, it develops depth and strength in our spiritual roots. Quick fixes don’t create lasting change, but consistent, gradual formation builds unshakeable foundations.
Jesus’ Example in the Wilderness
Preparation, Not Punishment
After Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit led him into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. This wasn’t punishment. It was preparation. Before Jesus ever healed anyone or preached, he was formed and prepared for ministry.
How Jesus Resisted Temptation
When Satan tempted Jesus three times, Jesus responded each time by quoting Scripture. He had been formed by God’s Word, delighting in it and meditating on it. Every temptation began with identity confusion – Satan questioning whether Jesus was really who God said he was.
Jesus held onto the Father’s words from his baptism: “This is my son. I love him. I’m pleased with him.” His identity was secure, and his responses came from deep formation in God’s Word.
What Temptation Really Targets
Every temptation you face begins with identity confusion. The tempter tries to convince you that you’re not really who God says you are and that you need to prove yourself. When we lose sight of our God-given identity, we start searching for validation everywhere else, allowing others to define who we are.
The Key to Staying Rooted
The blessed life isn’t one that escapes testing, but one that is deeply rooted enough to remain faithful within the testing. Like a tree planted by streams of water, we need to be intentionally positioned near our source of life – God’s Word.
We all meditate on something. Whether it’s fear, anxiety, or Scripture, we all give our constant attention to something. The question is: what are you choosing to meditate on?
Life Application
This week, commit to intentional spiritual formation rather than allowing drift to happen. Instead of reaching for your phone first thing in the morning, reach for God’s promises first. Choose one verse to memorize, pray through, and meditate on throughout your day.
Consider this: formation will happen in your life either intentionally or unintentionally, but you will be formed by something. The choice is whether you’ll be shaped by God’s Word and truth, or by the countless other influences competing for your attention.
Questions for reflection:
- What am I currently “sitting with” that might be forming me in ways I don’t intend?
- What brings me delight and comfort when I’m struggling – is it drawing me closer to God or further away?
- How can I create daily rhythms that position me near the “streams of water” of God’s Word?
- What would change in my life if I truly believed and delighted in my identity as God’s beloved child?
Remember, spiritual formation doesn’t happen quickly, but if you allow it to work slowly and consistently, your roots will grow deep enough to withstand any storm.