It’s surprising how God’s people awaken one day and suddenly realize they have fallen away from the closeness they used to enjoy with the Lord. The signs have been there all along, but they were not paying attention.
Here are some tests I have discovered for spotting signs of slippage in my own walk with the Lord, evidence that I’m losing the intimacy with Him that always meant so much in my personal life.
10. You know you’re slipping when the big thing you look forward to on a Sunday is a football game.
9. You know you’re slipping when reading the Bible no longer excites you, angers you, or challenges you.
8. You know you’re slipping when you finally get up off the couch and get involved in some ministry the Lord has been laying on your heart and the first thing you do is start criticizing all the other couch potatoes who are only doing the same thing you have been doing all this time.
7. You know you’re slipping when, after slacking off in your tithing over the past year, instead of feeling guilty, you find yourself criticizing the regular tithers for their self-righteous and legalistic attitudes.
6. You know you’re slipping when you can read the Ten Commandments and give yourself a passing grade on all of them.
5. You know you’re slipping when you can go a whole day without praying and it not bother you one bit.
4. You know you’re slipping when you can have a dirty thought and justify it as “what normal humans do.”
3. You know you’re slipping when you feel a nudging from the Holy Spirit to speak to that person or give to this one or make a phone call to another and you squelch it.
2. You know you’re slipping when you decide to reward yourself for doing well by skipping your Bible reading and prayer for that day.
1. You know you’re really, really slipping when the problem of slipping doesn’t cause you great concern.
(Take a moment and tell us ways you’ve noticed when you are slipping from your faithfulness.)
WOW . . . or should I say, “Ouch!” Great job as always, Joe. Kinda hard to add to that list.
But one thing I notice in my life is that I can tell I am slipping when I am at all concerned with what is happening TO me and not at all concerned with what is happening IN me.
Boy did that every hit home. Been knowing for a long time. How? That dip in my sofa keeps getting deeper. A little humor there. But I know I’m slipping because I’m not receiving those blessings God has ready for me every day by doing His will.
I know I am slipping when I start feeling so tired and somewhat depressed. Just kind of knowing that my focus is in the wrong place! Thanks for the geat reminder that we are not alone in our humanity! Have a great 2008!
I woke up to “slipping” 2 years ago and my life has radically be changed by God. I was a young mother who used my children, chores or need for rest as my excuses to slip.
When I called it what it was, sinfully neglecting God and my worship of Him my life began to radically change. My husband began to experience a spiritual awakening at the same time by God’s divine order. Our family is not the same and neither are our hearts. I thank God every day for the tender care He takes of me and how patient He has been with me. I think my testimony is one of my best ministry tools.
When I wake up and don’t have a song on my heart. Thanks for bringing these things to our minds.
I recognize my slipping when I haven’t read a bible verse or an inspirational piece from someone like yourself for a few days, and I didn’t miss it. Mind you that hasn’t happened in a while because I so look forward to filling up on God’s Word every chance I get. Thank you for the reminder.
you know you are slipping when looking at dirty pics and doing a man type thing dont effect you as much as it used to, and theres a desire to stop, but because you are separated, you make excuses for your actions and think”i hope god understands”,and you havent tithed because of the bills being more important,to which i say, i repent lord jesus and i am truly sorry,i dont like doing it and it truly bothers me deep down inside.wheres the brotherly fellowship i thought was supposed to be in this town? reading online messages about the bible and listening isnt the same,jesus,help me, i dont want to fall away,i am nothing without you and would have no life,please help.my soul and heart long to feel close,dont want to be a castaway.
I recognize I am slipping when I stop setting my alarm clock because it is Sunday.