Fighting the Summer Drift
By Ryan Dawson
Summer is one of my favourite seasons. The weather warms up and the days get longer. Schedules loosen and the pace changes. It’s a time for holidays, trips, cottages, barbecues, and time outside with family, friends, and neighbours. Summer can be a gift as it gives us a time to create space for rest and renewal, enjoying God’s many good gifts.
But if we're not careful, summer can also become a season of spiritual drift.
Many of us would never intentionally walk away from Jesus. Yet we can slowly slide into rhythms where time with Christ becomes occasional rather than intentional. Church attendance and connecting with our faith community becomes sporadic. Prayer gets pushed aside. Scripture remains unopened. Before long, we find ourselves feeling distant from the very One who gives life, joy, and peace.
In Joshua 3, we see the people of Israel on the edge of the Promised Land. A new season was before them, but before God led them across the Jordan River, Joshua gave a surprising command: "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you." (Joshua 3:5)
Before the miracle came, there was consecration.
Before the breakthrough came, there was preparation.
The people were called to set themselves apart for God because they were about to experience His power and presence in a fresh way.
The same principle applies to us today.
Grace Comes First
It's important to understand that consecration is not about earning God's love.
We don't pursue holiness so that God will accept us. We pursue holiness because, through Jesus, He already has.
The good news of the gospel is that Jesus has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. Through His life, death, and resurrection, our sins are forgiven, our shame is removed, and we are declared righteous before God.
The book of Hebrews tells us that the blood of Christ cleanses our consciences so that we can serve the living God. Through Christ, we are made holy.
That is grace. And because we have received such grace, we respond by pursuing Jesus wholeheartedly.
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
In Joshua 3, the people were instructed to keep their eyes on the Ark of the Covenant as it went before them. The Ark represented God's presence, His truth, His provision, and His power.
Today, Jesus is our focus.
He is God's presence with us.
He is the Truth who guides us.
He is the Bread of Life who satisfies us.
He is the risen King who empowers us.
The challenge of summer is that many other things compete for our attention. Holidays, sports, projects, entertainment, and recreation are all good gifts from God. But good gifts can never replace the Giver.
What if this summer became a season of intentionally pursuing Jesus?
What if you committed to staying connected to God's Word, maintaining a rhythm of prayer, and gathering consistently with God's people?
Not out of guilt. Not out of obligation.
But because you know that life is found in Jesus and His Kingdom.
Make Room for God to Work
Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves because God was about to do wonders among them.
I wonder what God wants to do in your life this summer.
Perhaps He wants to deepen your faith.
Perhaps He wants to heal an old wound.
Perhaps He wants to strengthen your marriage or family.
Perhaps He wants to use you to encourage someone who is struggling.
Perhaps He wants to use you to bring a friend or neighbour a step closer to Jesus.
Perhaps He wants to prepare you for what lies ahead this fall.
Too often we want God's power without God's presence, His blessing without His leadership, or His wonders without surrender. But consecration is preparation.
When we confess our sins, surrender our agendas, and intentionally seek Christ, we position ourselves to experience more of what God wants to do in and through us.
Three Simple Summer Practices
As we head into the summer months, let me encourage you with three simple practices:
1. Spend time daily with Jesus.
Even 15–20 intentional minutes in Scripture and prayer can reshape your day. Build off that time throughout the day to enjoy an ongoing conversation with God through prayer. Don't let your spiritual life take a vacation.
2. Stay connected to your faith community.
Travel and family commitments are part of summer, but don't disconnect from the people who help you follow Jesus. We need one another more than we often realize.
3. Regularly confess and surrender.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything that is hindering your walk with Christ. Receive His forgiveness and keep short accounts with God.
If you approach your summer with spiritual intentionality you won't drift, you will grow! You will come out of summer feeling stronger, more rooted, rested, and alive in Christ, ready to tackle all that the fall holds.
A Prayer for This Summer
My prayer for all of us is that we would not drift, but draw near.
That we would keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
That we would receive His grace afresh.
That we would pursue holiness not out of fear, but out of love.
And that as we consecrate ourselves to Him, we would discover that God is still doing great wonders among His people.
May this summer be a season of rest, renewal, and deeper intimacy with Christ.
Blessings,
Ryan
Summer is one of my favourite seasons. The weather warms up and the days get longer. Schedules loosen and the pace changes. It’s a time for holidays, trips, cottages, barbecues, and time outside with family, friends, and neighbours. Summer can be a gift as it gives us a time to create space for rest and renewal, enjoying God’s many good gifts.
But if we're not careful, summer can also become a season of spiritual drift.
Many of us would never intentionally walk away from Jesus. Yet we can slowly slide into rhythms where time with Christ becomes occasional rather than intentional. Church attendance and connecting with our faith community becomes sporadic. Prayer gets pushed aside. Scripture remains unopened. Before long, we find ourselves feeling distant from the very One who gives life, joy, and peace.
In Joshua 3, we see the people of Israel on the edge of the Promised Land. A new season was before them, but before God led them across the Jordan River, Joshua gave a surprising command: "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you." (Joshua 3:5)
Before the miracle came, there was consecration.
Before the breakthrough came, there was preparation.
The people were called to set themselves apart for God because they were about to experience His power and presence in a fresh way.
The same principle applies to us today.
Grace Comes First
It's important to understand that consecration is not about earning God's love.
We don't pursue holiness so that God will accept us. We pursue holiness because, through Jesus, He already has.
The good news of the gospel is that Jesus has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. Through His life, death, and resurrection, our sins are forgiven, our shame is removed, and we are declared righteous before God.
The book of Hebrews tells us that the blood of Christ cleanses our consciences so that we can serve the living God. Through Christ, we are made holy.
That is grace. And because we have received such grace, we respond by pursuing Jesus wholeheartedly.
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
In Joshua 3, the people were instructed to keep their eyes on the Ark of the Covenant as it went before them. The Ark represented God's presence, His truth, His provision, and His power.
Today, Jesus is our focus.
He is God's presence with us.
He is the Truth who guides us.
He is the Bread of Life who satisfies us.
He is the risen King who empowers us.
The challenge of summer is that many other things compete for our attention. Holidays, sports, projects, entertainment, and recreation are all good gifts from God. But good gifts can never replace the Giver.
What if this summer became a season of intentionally pursuing Jesus?
What if you committed to staying connected to God's Word, maintaining a rhythm of prayer, and gathering consistently with God's people?
Not out of guilt. Not out of obligation.
But because you know that life is found in Jesus and His Kingdom.
Make Room for God to Work
Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves because God was about to do wonders among them.
I wonder what God wants to do in your life this summer.
Perhaps He wants to deepen your faith.
Perhaps He wants to heal an old wound.
Perhaps He wants to strengthen your marriage or family.
Perhaps He wants to use you to encourage someone who is struggling.
Perhaps He wants to use you to bring a friend or neighbour a step closer to Jesus.
Perhaps He wants to prepare you for what lies ahead this fall.
Too often we want God's power without God's presence, His blessing without His leadership, or His wonders without surrender. But consecration is preparation.
When we confess our sins, surrender our agendas, and intentionally seek Christ, we position ourselves to experience more of what God wants to do in and through us.
Three Simple Summer Practices
As we head into the summer months, let me encourage you with three simple practices:
1. Spend time daily with Jesus.
Even 15–20 intentional minutes in Scripture and prayer can reshape your day. Build off that time throughout the day to enjoy an ongoing conversation with God through prayer. Don't let your spiritual life take a vacation.
2. Stay connected to your faith community.
Travel and family commitments are part of summer, but don't disconnect from the people who help you follow Jesus. We need one another more than we often realize.
3. Regularly confess and surrender.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything that is hindering your walk with Christ. Receive His forgiveness and keep short accounts with God.
If you approach your summer with spiritual intentionality you won't drift, you will grow! You will come out of summer feeling stronger, more rooted, rested, and alive in Christ, ready to tackle all that the fall holds.
A Prayer for This Summer
My prayer for all of us is that we would not drift, but draw near.
That we would keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
That we would receive His grace afresh.
That we would pursue holiness not out of fear, but out of love.
And that as we consecrate ourselves to Him, we would discover that God is still doing great wonders among His people.
May this summer be a season of rest, renewal, and deeper intimacy with Christ.
Blessings,
Ryan