Stop Your Wandering

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand’ring from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.

O, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter,
Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.

Robert Robinson, 1758

Brothers and Sisters,

In summer, my spiritual discipline rots.  Small groups take breaks; vacations remove us from Sunday worship; the entire daily routine cracks from uncertain childcare.  Late in the day, I can find myself shocked at the lack of spiritual “touches” I have acknowledged.  I am one of those undisciplined Christians in need of a robust “spiritual infrastructure” to provide guard rails to keep me on track.  Like the people of Israel, as the hymn above refers, I am prone to wander. My wandering is not necessarily willfully disobedient, but more of an aimless absence of the Spirit.  Needless to say, I look forward to autumn, when contrary to the architype, my heart swells with renewal through a reinvestment in spiritual infrastructure.  

However, this autumn, career endeavors are robbing me of this accustomed renewal.  My weeks are spent in a hotel, absent from small groups and Midweek gatherings.  Early morning meetings and physical exhaustion are used as an excuse to skip devotional time.  Most of my free time is lonely, separated from the fellowship of believers.  

So in fear of wandering too far into the desert, I have sought to alternative infrastructure.  For instance, I have created a Spotify station based on Grace’s weekly hymns to pull me close during treks in the car.  I have started testing Wednesday night services in Nashville.  Devotionals now take place in the middle of the day during much-needed breaks.  

Sanctification cannot successfully occur one day per week.  Through intentional investment in spiritual infrastructure, the Spirit will pull my wandering heart away from the daily turmoil of life and bind me closer to Him.  

God did not abandon Israel, Israel gradually wandered away from God.  God sent judges and prophets repeatedly to tug Israel back into the fold.  We are far more fortunate with readily available tools.  His word lays on our bedside tables.  Our church provides ample opportunity to participate.  We are witness to the completed work of Jesus Christ.  His infrastructure surrounds us.  God will use these tools in our day so that we are consistently acknowledging Him and the shaping of our hearts.  Stop your wandering.  Be Intentional.  Set up guard rails that work for you, and enjoy fulltime, all-season renewal.  

A fellow wanderer,

Thomas Goodrich