Guarding Against Spiritual Drift
I recently read Deuteronomy 6:10–15 again, and as soon as my eyes fell on the words, I felt the weight of conviction all over again. This passage has always struck me deeply, and I can’t read it without sensing the Holy Spirit pressing on my heart. It’s a warning, not only to Israel but to all of us who’ve received God’s blessings and yet struggle to remember where they came from.
Moses speaks to the Israelites on the brink of entering the Promised Land, reminding them of all that God has done. He says,
And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you – with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant – and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:10–12).
It’s not just that God was giving them a land; He was giving them a ready-made inheritance. The cities were already built, the houses were already furnished, the wells were already dug, and the fields were already producing fruit. They were walking into a fully prepared blessing, a land overflowing with God’s goodness. But Moses gives them a warning – be careful! Be careful that once you’re comfortable, you don’t forget the One who made it possible.
The Subtle Drift Toward Forgetfulness
How easy it is for us to take God’s gifts for granted! We pray, we long, we labor for something – a job, a relationship, a healing, a financial breakthrough – and when God provides, we rejoice! We give thanks! But then, over time, something happens. What once amazed us becomes ordinary. We settle in. We move on. And then, without even realizing it, we begin to act as though we were entitled to the blessing all along.
Have you ever experienced this? I certainly have. I look back at my life and see things that once felt like an impossible dream – things I begged God for – that are now just part of my normal, everyday existence. Worse yet, there are moments when I start to think of them as mine by right rather than gifts of grace. This is the danger Moses warns about: “Then take care lest you forget the Lord.”
The Slavery We Forget
Moses reminds Israel not only of what God has given them, but also of what he rescued them from: “It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve… You shall not go after other gods… for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 6:13–15).
The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. They had lived under oppression, crying out for deliverance. God had heard their cries, sent Moses to lead them, and performed mighty miracles to bring them to freedom. And yet, once they were free, how often did they long to return to Egypt? How often did they forget their chains? How quickly did they turn to idols?
We may not have been in literal slavery, but we’ve all been rescued from something. Some of us from addiction, from destructive relationships, from financial ruin, from deep sin, from hopelessness. And yet, how quickly do we forget what it was like before God intervened? How quickly do we forget that every good thing in our lives comes from him?
Entitlement or Gratitude?
When we forget, we become entitled. We start asking, “What has God done for me lately?” We begin looking at what we lack rather than what we have. We drift. We seek fulfillment elsewhere. We start to chase after other “gods” – not statues of stone, but the gods of comfort, success, security, recognition, and self-sufficiency.
Moses warns Israel, “You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you” (Deuteronomy 6:14). Why? Because the one true God is jealous. He isn’t interested in being just one option among many. He alone is the source of life, the giver of every good gift, the One who rescued and redeemed us. To forget him, to turn to idols, is to insult the very One who has given us everything.
Keeping a Long Memory of God’s Goodness
Over the years, I have kept a journal. Every now and then, I’ll pull out an old one – sometimes from ten, fifteen, even twenty years ago – and reread it. I’m always struck by two things: (1) how much I’ve forgotten, and (2) how many prayers God has answered that I once swore I would never forget.
There are moments I recorded where I was in awe of what God had done – so moved that I thought I would carry that gratitude for the rest of my life. But time passed. The intensity of the moment faded. And before I knew it, I had forgotten. Sometimes I even read entries where I was desperate for something that I now have but barely even acknowledge. It humbles me. It grieves me. And it reminds me why Scripture so often commands us to remember.
This is why Moses, again and again, calls Israel to recall what God has done. Remember! Set up memorials. Tell your children. Repeat the stories. Keep God’s works before you, so you never forget that everything you have is from him.
A Heart of Perpetual Gratitude
How do we guard against forgetfulness? How do we keep ourselves from entitlement?
- We cultivate gratitude. Not just a one-time prayer of thanks, but a lifestyle of thanksgiving. “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
- We remind ourselves regularly. Keep a journal, write down answered prayers, recount what God has done in your life. Keep his goodness fresh in your mind.
- We worship. Worship is an act of remembrance. It refocuses our hearts and reminds us of who God is and what he’s done.
- We stay humble. The moment we start thinking we deserve our blessings, we’ve lost sight of grace. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).
God doesn’t owe us anything. Every blessing we have is an act of his grace. Let’s never take him for granted. Instead, let’s keep short accounts of his goodness and long memories of his faithfulness, always giving thanks for all he’s done.
Questions for Personal Reflection
- Have you ever realized you were taking one of God’s blessings for granted? How did you regain a heart of gratitude?
- What are some specific ways you can remind yourself daily of God’s goodness in your life?
- Are there areas where you’ve become entitled rather than thankful? How can you repent and refocus on God’s grace?
Walking Points
- Take time today to write down three specific things God has done for you that you never want to forget. Keep the list somewhere visible as a reminder.
- Make a habit of thanking God daily – not just for new blessings, but for ones you may have taken for granted.
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