Prone to Wander

Prone to Wander

“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!” Psalm 119:10

I became a Christian as a young boy, but I really got serious about following the Lord during my sophomore year in college. And as a dedicated follower of Christ, I discovered something about myself that virtually every other committed Christian down through history has discovered about himself or herself as well. I was prone to wander from God and his commands.

Even though I didn’t want to wander, the words of the popular hymn rang true for me: Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love. Like the psalmist who wrote the verse above I didn’t want to wander from the Lord, and like many Christians before me I learned that there are three keys to keep us from wandering from God and his ways.

First, we need to regularly read and study God’s word. That’s what the Lord told Joshua when he became the leader of Israel. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” (Joshua 1:8a). And the Psalmist writes, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11).

Second, we need to pray. The Apostle Paul tells us to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and Jesus said to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Mark 14:38).

Third, we need Christian fellowship. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25). And always remember “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17).

To avoid wandering away from God commit yourself to time in his word, in prayer, and in Christian fellowship.