How can I avoid carelessness in my relationship with God?

Deuteronomy 4:9“Watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”

Deuteronomy 6:12“Be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.”

Deuteronomy 31:12“Call them all together—men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns—so they may hear this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions.”

We can avoid carelessness by making it a priority to remember what God has done for us. We can do this by sharing with others (family, friends, children, grandchildren) what he has done in our life and in the lives of others. Perhaps keeping a journal and recording ways God is working will provide a constant reminder of the things God has done within our view.

Deuteronomy 4:1“Now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.”

Deuteronomy 5:1Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, “Listen carefully, Israel. Hear the decrees and regulations I am giving you today, so you may learn them and obey them!”

Deuteronomy 11:22“Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.”

Deuteronomy 12:32“So be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to them or subtract anything from them.”

2 Chronicles 27:6King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

Proverbs 3:1My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart.

We can avoid carelessness in our relationship with God by diligently studying Scripture and seeking its guidance for our lives. When we know God’s commands and can store them in our hearts, you will be able to obey him and follow his ways. It is through our obedience that we show our love for God.

Ephesians 5:15So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.

Hebrews 6:10-12For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

Our lives should reflect wise choices. We can avoid carelessness in our relationship with God by being careful how we live and seeking God in order to make wise decisions. When we do these things, we will avoid becoming spiritually dull and indifferent.

Romans 12:11Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Colossians 3:23Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

We can avoid carelessness in our relationship with God by doing every task, no matter how mundane, as if we are working directly for God.

Deuteronomy 8:11, 14“But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. . . . Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

Ecclesiastes 12:1Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”

1 Corinthians 10:12If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

We can avoid carelessness in our relationship with God by being aware of areas and times of vulnerability. For instance, times when we feel confident and think we are standing strong or times when we have all we need and everything is going well. In addition, young people should be especially careful not to let the excitement of youth cause them to be careless, leading to unwise or life-altering decisions.