When I was a little girl, our family loved to go to the beach. We'd pack up all of our beach gear, load up the cooler with snacks, drinks, and treats we didn't normally have. We'd pull out our beach towels, blankets and a giant red, sun umbrella. It was always so much fun and I couldn't wait to get in the water when we arrived. One afternoon, I was having so much fun playing in the water. I'd jump in the waves for a little bit, then swim out a little ways and float back to shore. After a while, I looked up and didn't see my mom on the beach. I didn't see our beach towels, blanket, cooler, or our bright red sun umbrella. In fact, as I looked around, nothing looked familiar. I was in a completely different part of the beach. I was having so much fun that I didn't realize the under current was causing me to drift and I was about 100 feet from where I started. I instantly walked up to the shore and back to where my mom was. Boy, was she glad to see me! I learned my lesson to always keep my eye on that red umbrella! It became my personal beach marker to help me make sure I avoided the drift!
Sometimes the same thing happens in life. We get busy and focused on what we are doing and then we look up and realize we are far away from where we are supposed to be. Maybe your relationships are suffering. Maybe you feel distanced from God. Maybe your finances are off course and you're just not sure what happened. The good news is, God has a marker for us to gage where we are. His Word is like that big red umbrella was for me. It helps us see how far we are and gives us a target to work towards.
If you've drifted today, stop and take a look at where you are. We're never really too far from God. He is as close as the air we breathe and He will help you get right back on course. Ask Him to help you. Ask Him to strengthen you for the journey. Ask Him to lead you and guide and keep your life on course. Always remember that your life will go in the direction of your focus. Focus on things above. Focus on God, focus on His Word so you can avoid the drift!
"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105 NLT).