The Drift Happens Quietly

Read: James 1:14

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust…

”

Notice the language. Drawn away. Temptation doesn’t kick the door down. It pulls. Slowly.

Gradually. Almost imperceptibly.

You don’t wake up one morning planning to sin. You wake up one morning having slowly drifted.

Drift begins with attention.

What are you feeding? A thought you revisit. A memory you replay. A scenario you fantasize

about. A resentment you protect. An insecurity you rehearse. Desire grows where attention

lingers. And what makes this even more sobering is this phrase: “His own lust.

” Temptation

connects to internal desire. It doesn’t create desire — it exploits it.

If you crave validation, temptation offers attention. If you crave control, temptation offers

manipulation. If you crave relief, temptation offers escape. If you crave admiration, temptation

offers performance. The enemy does not invent hunger. He offers counterfeit bread.

Which means the real question is not:

“What is tempting me?”

But:

“What is my heart craving?”

If you do not examine desire at its root, you will only treat symptoms.And James wants roots

exposed.

The Hidden Danger of DriftDrift feels manageable at first. You tell yourself: “It’s just a thought.

” “It’s not hurting anyone.

” “I

deserve this small indulgence.

” “I’m strong enough to handle this.

” But drift has direction. And

direction determines destination. The earlier you notice drift, the easier it is to correct course.

The longer you ignore it, the stronger the pull becomes. Mature believers do not pretend they

are immune. They monitor their direction.

Deep Reflection

What have I been allowing to drift lately?

Is there a thought pattern I’ve been entertaining too comfortably?

Is there something I’ve been justifying that needs interrupting?

Prayer

Lord, expose drift early. Train my heart to notice movement before it becomes momentum.