Christian Drift

Letting the Current Lead You

I heard a great word from a pastor at my church last week. He said sometimes God will give you a shove into something, or sometimes he will tug on a string, and the softer he pulls, the more he wants to see if you’ll respond.

That’s a whole word.

The soft tug from God reminds me of a new phrase I thought of, “Christian Drift,” (which sounds like a book waiting to be written.) I might just do that.

I’m defining it as the tendency for Christians to drift away or towards something in all areas, big or small. This could be negative if you drift away from your faith and have a “slow fade” until you look back and realize you are far from where you began. But this could also be a good thing if you drift toward something that the Lord is leading you into, like a new theology, dogma, and way of life; as we become more Christlike, we naturally drift towards being formed in his image.

I’m currently experiencing Christian Drift—in a good way. I’m exploring the practices and doctrines of our cousins, the Catholics, and the Orthodox Christians. It has been a fun ride of learning, and surprisingly, I’m coming away as a stronger Protestant. However, I also have deep respect for these two faith practices.

My new favorite YouTube channel is Gavin Ortland’s. Example video:

I sense a drifting away from my Pentecostal roots and towards a more contemplative season. I like the term Contemplative Charismatic. That resonates. I’m starting the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises next week, and it will be a nine-month journey of intentional focus on reflection and hearing the voice of God.

I’m thrilled!

If you’re a faithful reader of this blog, you know that hearing the voice of God has been a theme here. So, I’ll be documenting the richness that comes with spending more time with Him.

Humble yourselves, therefore,
under God’s mighty hand,
that he may lift you up in due time.

1 Peter 5:6 NIV

I will be humbling myself and submitting to this current that is setting me drift on a new adventure.

Dear Jesus,

Sweep us away,
Toward your perfect likeness,
Becoming more and more
Peaceful, faithful, joyful
Loving, patient, kind, good
Gentle and self-controlled.

Amen