After serving in the ministry for many years, routine, duty, and the “noise” of distractions can affect even the most dedicated servant. The mundane can subtly replace perspective. 

Hymn writers have often expressed these basic human tendencies in spiritual songs.

For example, no one could debate the potentially discouraging emotion from the events that led Horatio Spafford to write It Is Well with My Soul or George Beverly Shea’s expressions of reviving the wayward soul with the hymns The Wonder of It All and I’d Rather Have Jesus. Even the great King David prayed and asked God to restore the joy of salvation (Psalm 51:12). If we are spiritually mature, we will admit that at certain times we can all be prey to bouts of discouragement that may or may not be rooted in sin, as was the case with David. Many times, just plodding along doing the right thing can invite oppression; consider Job, Elijah, Nehemiah. 

Romans 7:19-25 summarizes Paul’s inner struggle: though he wants to do what is right, he repeatedly fails because of a sinful force within him. He describes two competing laws—the law of his mind that delights in God’s law, and the law of sin that lives in his members and leads him to do what he hates. This conflict leaves him anguished and helpless, until he gives thanks for deliverance through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are prone to wander from God. 

Prone to wander is a phrase from the 1758 Christian hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. The hymn was written by Robert Robinson, who experienced the sad reality of yielding to the temptation to wander away from God.

Later in life, Robert, a very unhappy man, expressed the degeneration of his spiritual life, “I would give a thousand worlds, if I had the chance to enjoy the feelings I had then.” At the age of 19, Robert was saved out of deep sin while attending a church service and hearing the preaching of George Whitefield. Later, Robinson became a preacher in the Methodist Church, then he fled to the Baptists, and eventually ended in a Unitarian Church. The Unitarians deny the deity of Jesus Christ.

He wrote that hymn when he was a young Pastor, still in love and communion with Christ. However, at the end of his life he knew about wandering and about the terrible price it can bring. He died a miserable, wayward soul.

If you are not as close to Christ as you once were, guess who moved? It was not God who is a fixed point. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). When Moses asked God, who was speaking to him out of the burning bush, who shall I say to Pharaoh has sent me. God replied with His eternal name: "I am that I am." (Exodus 3:14). This profound divine name signifies the self-existence, eternal constancy, and ultimate sovereignty of God. I am Who I always have been and Who I always will be.

After serving in the ministry for many years, routine, duty, and the “noise” of distractions can affect even the most dedicated servant. The mundane can subtly replace perspective. 

Hymn writers have often expressed these basic human tendencies in spiritual songs.

For example, no one could debate the potentially discouraging emotion from the events that led Horatio Spafford to write It Is Well with My Soul or George Beverly Shea’s expressions of reviving the wayward soul with the hymns The Wonder of It All and I’d Rather Have Jesus. Even the great King David prayed and asked God to restore the joy of salvation (Psalm 51:12). If we are spiritually mature, we will admit that at certain times we can all be prey to bouts of discouragement that may or may not be rooted in sin, as was the case with David. Many times, just plodding along doing the right thing can invite oppression; consider Job, Elijah, Nehemiah. 

Romans 7:19-25 summarizes Paul’s inner struggle: though he wants to do what is right, he repeatedly fails because of a sinful force within him. He describes two competing laws—the law of his mind that delights in God’s law, and the law of sin that lives in his members and leads him to do what he hates. This conflict leaves him anguished and helpless, until he gives thanks for deliverance through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are prone to wander from God. 

Prone to wander is a phrase from the 1758 Christian hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. The hymn was written by Robert Robinson, who experienced the sad reality of yielding to the temptation to wander away from God.

Later in life, Robert, a very unhappy man, expressed the degeneration of his spiritual life, “I would give a thousand worlds, if I had the chance to enjoy the feelings I had then.” At the age of 19, Robert was saved out of deep sin while attending a church service and hearing the preaching of George Whitefield. Later, Robinson became a preacher in the Methodist Church, then he fled to the Baptists, and eventually ended in a Unitarian Church. The Unitarians deny the deity of Jesus Christ.

He wrote that hymn when he was a young Pastor, still in love and communion with Christ. However, at the end of his life he knew about wandering and about the terrible price it can bring. He died a miserable, wayward soul.

If you are not as close to Christ as you once were, guess who moved? It was not God who is a fixed point. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). When Moses asked God, who was speaking to him out of the burning bush, who shall I say to Pharaoh has sent me. God replied with His eternal name: "I am that I am." (Exodus 3:14). This profound divine name signifies the self-existence, eternal constancy, and ultimate sovereignty of God. I am Who I always have been and Who I always will be.

The final principle about being prone to wander is that your direction always determines your destination.

In 2 Timothy 4:10, Paul shares the last reference to Demas in the Bible. He says that Demas abandoned him and went back to the world. The temptations and the pull of the world were greater than his commitment to the Lord. He just allowed his heart to grow colder and colder until his love for the world eclipsed his love for God. Somewhere along the way, he chose the wrong path and ended in a place that he never intended to be. Pastor Adrian Rogers said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”

Satan has used these principles since the Garden of Eden and even before that when he successfully convinced a third of the host of Heaven to rebel against God. Let us not kid ourselves, God created us to love. Love is the identifier of a disciple (John 13:35). The first step in leading someone to Christ is the observable God-given love (all men know---how do they know? --- They observe that you are my disciples…) that draws others to meet the Source of that love. We cannot genuinely love Him if we are in love with the world, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

When we choose to walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the company of mockers (Psalm 1:1) rather than the narrow way of righteousness, we should not be surprised when our path leads us far away from the Lord, cools our heart, and moves us deep into sin. There is nothing sadder than to witness the spiritual destruction of a believer through his own indulgence and self-deception.

To illustrate this point, I am reminded of a story one of my former students, a captain in the Army, stationed in Alaska, told me about how Eskimos kill a wolf. He said that they will sharpen a knife as sharp as possible. Then he will coat the knife with seal or walrus blood and allow it to freeze. He will then dip the knife and freeze it until it is hidden in the layers of frozen blood. He will set the block of ice out in the open. Wolves have a keen sense of smell and will come along, smell the blood, and begin to lick the blood off the blade of the knife. The wolf will lick the blood with its warm tongue until it reaches the sharpened blade of the knife. By the time the wolf’s tongue touches the blade, it is numbed by the cold. When it reaches the knife, it keeps on licking, not realizing it is now tasting its own blood from its own tongue as the knife cuts into its flesh. This sends the wolf into a feeding frenzy, and he licks until he eventually bleeds to death.

When we feed the flesh and not the spirit, we will find that its appetite grows beyond our control (Galatians 5-6). It will demand more than we can give it. Not realizing that the thing we desire is slowly killing us spiritually. What might seem your slave today may soon become your master tomorrow.

Perhaps the saddest phrase in the Bible is when Samson jumped up off of Delilah’s lap after giving in to temptation, lost his divinely granted strength, and declared: "I will jump up as I always have and shake myself." He was unaware that God’s power had left him (Judges 16:20).

I wonder how many of our ministries are doing the same, going through the motions of preprogrammed Christianity, not even aware that God has removed His power.

I had a professor in college say, “We have legislated our church services so meticulously that if the Holy Spirit wanted to move in the congregation, He would need to make an appointment to lay out His goals and objectives at the next scheduled deacon’s meeting.”

Let me summarize the principles that lead to meandering away from the Lord:

1. A perfect start does not guarantee a perfect ending (Philemon 1:24)
2. The downward slope is subtle and gradual (Colossians 4:14)
3. Your direction always decides your destination (2 Timothy 4:10)

Here are 10 things that can help anchor our hearts from wandering:

1. Stay close to God's Word.

The Bible renews our thinking, exposes sinful attitudes, and reminds us of God's character.

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psalm 119:11).

2. Cultivate a daily prayer life.

Prayer is more than presenting requests; it is fellowship with God. Honest prayer keeps your heart sensitive to His leading.

3. Watch what shapes your affections.

Proverbs 4:23 says: "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Your heart follows what you consistently feed it. Paul reminds us that not everything that is permissible is beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23).

• What occupies your thoughts?
• What entertainment influences your desires?
• Who has the greatest influence on your life?

4. Confess sin quickly.

Do not allow unconfessed sin to harden your heart. Keep short sin accounts with God.

1 John 1:9 reminds believers: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

5. Stay connected to a faithful church.

God designed Christians to grow together. Worship, biblical preaching, fellowship, and accountability help protect against spiritual isolation. Hebrews 10:24–25 encourages believers not to neglect meeting together because we strengthen one another.

6. Practice obedience in small things.

Hearts rarely wander overnight. Drift often begins with small compromises. Faithfulness in everyday decisions builds spiritual strength. Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).

7. Bring your thoughts into captivity (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Don't merely remember what God has done for you; remember who Christ is. A heart captivated by Christ is less likely to be captivated by the world.

8. Examine yourself regularly.

Ask questions like:

• Is my love for Christ growing or cooling?
• Am I obeying what I already know?
• Do I desire holiness?
• Am I serving God out of love or merely habit?
• What has become more important to me than Christ?

9. Depend on the Holy Spirit.

Guarding your heart is not accomplished by willpower alone. God gives His Spirit to empower believers to grow in holiness.

10. Remember that wondering leads to wandering.

Satan is the master deceiver, and plants doubt in the mind and heart. He did it with Eve by asking her to question what God really said or meant. He creates a discontented spirit and makes us believe God owes us something or is holding back something we deserve.  

Why do the wicked prosper is a question that has troubled many Bible writers. Read Jeremiah 12:1; Psalm 73:3-12; and Job 21:7-9. Discontentment is built on a faulty view of God. He has provided everything we need for our current happiness, no more, no less.

Final Thoughts:

In contrast to Demas,  Paul’s life ended with these words, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8-9).   

I think we can all admit that we are prone to wander.  Prone to leave the God I love. Let us purpose to not allow our hearts to veer away; here is my heart, Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for thy courts above.