Beyond the Weekend: Correcting Spiritual Drift
In Correcting Spiritual Drift, Pastors Jeff Manion and Aaron Buer explore stories from the lives of the Old Testament prophets Elijah and Elisha. This series helps us see the pull toward spiritual drift and motivates us to fight against it. Through the stories, we see God continuing to work and call all people to him even as the people of Israel drift spiritually.
Week 1 Verses: 1 KINGS 16:29–33, 17:1
Week 2 Verses: I KINGS 18:30–39
Week 3 Verses: I KINGS 18:30–39
Week 4 Verses: I KINGS 19:1–6
Week 5 Verses: I KINGS 19:19–21
Week 6 Verses: 2 KINGS 6:8-21
Week 7 Verses: 2 KINGS 4:8–17
Week 8 Verses: 2 KINGS 5:1-10
Heart Exposure
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. James 5:17
Read: James 5:17
Listen: James 5:17
TODAY'S MESSAGE
God moves to bring his people back as Israel is awash in idolatry. Elijah prays, and the clouds produce no rain for more than three years. Israel is in a severe drought. Growing seasons come and growing seasons go with absolutely no rain. The ground is hard and parched. The people are hungry and desperate. It must have felt like the drought would never end.
At some point, all of us have been there. A drought of any kind in our lives, whether disciplinary or not, is an opportunity to find out what’s going on in our heart. When we let go of something, there is legitimate sorrow and sadness over the loss. It could be an unexpected job change, your last child leaving for college or the end of an athletic career. Even if it’s something we choose, we can experience great sadness.
But there’s a difference between traveling through sorrow or sadness and building a residence to dwell. If we say, “I’ve lost everything. I’m nobody now,” it is possible we have placed our hope in that and not the Creator God of the world. When we cling to the God who loves us very much, we can move through a drought without feeling like you’ve lost everything.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
As you open your journal, reflect on seasons of drought in your life. Write a paragraph or two describing how you responded during that difficult time. Have you moved through or are you stuck? Please know that God’s grace is available to you. If you need help to move through a drought, we have people who can help. Email us at btw@adabible.org to start a conversation.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
