Have You Drifted? (Good Reads To Help You Stay The Course)
/I received a free copy of this product from Front Gate Blogger Network in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the FTC regulations. Huge thank you to Front Gate Media!
Picture this: It’s summer. You’re at the beach. The weather is perfect. Not too hot. Everyone is having a great time. You’re out n the water. It feels great. No to-do lists. Full vacation mode. You’re floating and it’s a complete bliss.
It’s nice, right?
Have you ever thought about the fact that while in the water in order to drift all you have to do is. . .
nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Do nothing and you drift.
It may be slow. Probably subtle. A little wave here, another wave there. But nonetheless, if you do nothing, you’ll drift.
The same thing happens to us spiritually. When we do nothing, we can drift away. And that is undoubtedly the resounding heart beat of Christine Caine’s new book, “How Did I Get Here?”.
As I got the chance to read through this book before it released over the last week, I realized while I may personally not find myself currently drifted off somewhere, unsure as to where I am spiritually or what got me there, there are so many of us that at some point in our lives will relate to this message. I once was there, I may be there again one day. You may be there now. Either way, I came to the conclusion that it is, in fact, a great read for everyone.
HAVE YOU DRIFTED?
Drifting isn’t necessarily you out, running wild and living rebelliously. (Though, for some it leads to that dangerous path.) Drifting is as simple as doing nothing. No longer reading your Bible, no longer praying, no longer gathering with Godly community, no longer trusting God, no longer working for the Kingdom. No longer anchoring yourself in Jesus and the truth found in God’s word. You get the idea.
Christine refers it as a drifting from obedience, a drifting from purpose, a drifting from fruitfulness.
So, have you drifted? Have you just been coasting? Maybe on auto-pilot? Possibly going through the motions?
If you’re the gal that used to go to church all the time but over the years have sort of drifted away from the things of God…
If you’re the family that has sort of “hit pause” on all things God since the pandemic hit and now wondering how to get back...
If you once felt like a “strong” Christians but lately it feels like the waves and storms of life are overwhelming you…
If you’ve been so focused on everything and everyone else around you that you’ve not had the chance to look up lately and check in with yourself in regards to your faith…
If you’re the guy or gal in the middle of your college years wrestling through your faith and have your questions or doubts…
If you are just worn out after this past year and needing a guide to help get you back up and back to connection with God…
THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.
“No one, whether you’re a Christian leader, or you’re very new to the faith, you’re a second generation Christian or a first generation Christian, NOBODY is exempt from the possibility of drifting, because all you have to do to drift. . . is nothing. ”
With any Christine Caine book, you’re guaranteed to get a TON of scripture references, and I love that the entire book specifically shares multiple passages from Hebrews. Just as the book of Hebrews calls Christians to endurance over and over again, Christine challenges readers to remain anchored in Christ, stay the course, and press on in the faith.
Life is hard, its demands and currents ever changing. But God has given us everything we need IN HIM to help keep us anchored when in our everyday lives and when the seas wage war.
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention... lest we drift away...”
GOOD READS TO HELP YOU STAY THE COURSE:
I mean, it should go without saying that my first and foremost recommended read to help get you back on course and stay anchored is none other than the Bible! Open it. Read it. Start today. Don’t put it off. Matter of fact, at the end of this blog post, I share more helpful posts pertaining to Bible reading, check them out! But there are other books I have currently read that have helped me reel me back in from them temptation to drift and I hope they’ll help you, too!
How did i get here?
A book I can now truly recommend to believers at all levels of faith. Christine doesn’t shy away from sharing her personal experiences and lessons learned during one of her most difficult seasons. And since none of us are exempt from hardships, I took away great “markers” (as she refers them) to help keep me anchored and press on when those troubles do come.
In How Did I Get Here? [you] will find refreshing candor, biblical insights, and relatable humor, helping [you] to:
Identify nine signs you are drifting off course and learn how to line up again with God’s purpose;
Ask the right questions about your relationships with God, others, and your own heart so you can stay anchored in truth despite the world’s shifting currents;
Move from a what-if faith to an even-if faith as you discover how to trust God more deeply; and
Wrestle honestly with your soul’s longings so we can respond to all the ways God answers—even when it feels like he doesn’t.*
*book synopsis from https://www.howdidigetherebook.com
Image credit: Touchstone
2. the power of positive thinking
A classic. Said to be a must-read for all entrepreneurs / business people but I say it should be read by everyone and anyone. One Christmas, my father-in-law gifted all of us (his sons and their wives) 5 books that changed his life. This was one of those books. Finally reading through it from cover to cover earlier this year, I can honestly say, it has also changed mine. If I’m going to drift, my mind and thought process will play a leading role in that, this book has helped me to learn how to do something about that!
Click here to purchase your copy of The Power of Positive Thinking
image credit: good reads
3. the ruthless elimination of hurry
This read came highly recommended by friends and one chapter in, I could see why. I had heard/seen all the buzz about it when it released in 2019 and no one lied. A must read for believers. We’re all so rushed, so busy, that in that, we stop doing the things that are actually good for us, life giving, and restful. If you’re drifting, my guess is that you might need a refresher on some of the spiritual disciplines that truly anchor us to Jesus. Eliminating hurry and strife from your life to make room for silence, rest, and prayer is a great start.
Click here to purchase your copy of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Thank you for reading, friends! If you have any other questions about any of these books, feel free to comment below or send me a message! Or if you’ve read/decide to read any of them, comment below what you thought of them. Next on my list is The Hiding Place (Can y’all believe I’ve never read it before!?!?) and I just pre-ordered Jackie Hill Perry’s next book, Holier Than Thou! What’s on your reading list?
- Crystal
MORE ON FAITH:
How To Read Your Bible More | Free Devotional | 6 Life Tips From The Psalms
