The prodigal son didn’t end up among the
pigs the day he left his father’s house; he
went through a gradual process of decline
(see Luke 15:11-15).

So it is with us. If
the enemy presented the end with the
first temptation, it would be easy to
resist! But usually the departure from
grace is so subtle that even leaders take
the bait.
The warning signs are visible long before
we fully embrace sin. One of the first is
that we allow other people or things to
take the place in our hearts that belongs
only to God.

Preferring any earthly thing over God is a
clear sign that our hearts have wandered.
Even the spiritually mature are in danger
of allowing what is visible to usurp the
place of the eternal, invisible God.
The result is that we become lukewarm in
our pursuit of God. Complacency sets in.
We compare ourselves to the standard of
others rather than to the standard of the
Word and justify what we know is
compromise.
We begin to live “a form of godliness,”
being outwardly religious but having no
power in our lives (2 Tim. 3:5, KJV).
Self
then takes the throne (see vv. 2-4).
We are no longer able to express the pure
love God desires and are often
judgmental and critical of others.
Ultimately, like the prodigal son
squandering his inheritance, we end up
on the path to sin and spiritual death.
If your heart has wandered, recognizing
your condition and crying out for God’s
help is the first step back into His
empowering grace. Even your failure can
be a stepping stone to a higher place
spiritually if you come to see that your
flesh can’t be trusted. Understanding
your own weakness is a key to releasing
God’s power on your behalf.
The next step is to get right with God and
others. Even if you have been wronged,
you must forgive. This may seem difficult,
but it is essential to maintaining
communication with God and it is worth
the price. As one saint wrote: “When the
soul seeks nothing in the universe but
the smile of God and fears nothing but
offending Him, it will gladly consent to
any price to get right with Him.”

Third, look to God and His Word as your
standard rather than to those around you.
Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even
as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect” (Matt. 5:48). This is an
impossible standard for us to attain on
our own, but with God we can do all
things (see Phil. 4:13).

Finally, learn to walk in the Spirit, keeping
your mind on God and His kingdom by
praying continually. In this manner the
Holy Spirit will become a filter for your
thoughts.
Daily pray Psalm 139:23-24,
“Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way
everlasting” (NIV). God will be faithful to
answer this prayer and to keep your heart
stayed on Him.

www.charismamag.com/blogs/power-up/18908-how-to-get-your-wandering-heart-right-with-god