How to Return to God After Spiritual Drift | Come Back to God—The Time Is Now

How to Return to God After Spiritual Drift | Come Back to God—The Time Is Now

If I’m honest, I’ve felt spiritually distant before… not because I stopped believing, but because life slowly crowded out my time with God. Maybe you want to spend time with God… but life has become overwhelming, distractions have taken over, and consistency in His Word feels harder than it used to. In this episode of The Wake Up My Daughters Podcast, Kathy Lindberg shares a gentle but urgent invitation from Isaiah 55: God is calling you to return. Not someday. Not when I finally feel ready. Not when life slows down.Now—while He is still inviting me back. Together, we explore what spiritual drift looks like, why many Christian women struggle to return to consistent time in God’s Word, and how simple daily faithfulness begins with one small step back toward Him. This episode will encourage you to stop striving for perfection and simply come back to the Lord—one day at a time. In This Episode * What spiritual drift often looks like in everyday life * Why distraction slowly pulls us away from God * The connection between divided attention and spiritual inconsistency * Isaiah 55 and God’s invitation to return * Why consistency with God starts small * The difference between trying harder and truly turning back to Him * Building a simple rooted rhythm in God’s Word * Encouragement for women who feel spiritually dry or distant from God Key Scripture Isaiah 55:1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters…” Isaiah 55:6–7 “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near…” Key Takeaways * Spiritual drift often happens slowly through distraction and divided attention. * Returning to God does not require perfection or a complicated plan. * Consistency in God’s Word begins with simple daily surrender. * God is inviting you to return to Him now—not later. * Spiritual growth is built through steady rhythms, not pressure or striving. Free Resource: From Busy to Rooted Ready to begin building a simple daily rhythm in God’s Word? Download the free guide: From Busy to Rooted: 5 Days in God’s Word This free resource will help you begin building a simple, sustainable rooted rhythm with God—without overwhelm or pressure. 🌿 Access the guide here:From Busy to Rooted: 5 Days in God’s Word [https://wateredbytheword.com/busytorooted] Subscribe & Review If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe to The Wake Up My Daughters Podcast and leave a review so more women can discover encouragement and discipleship rooted in God’s Word. If you’re in a season of returning to God, I’d love to hear this from you:What is one thing that has been pulling your attention away from time with Him? Next Steps 🌿 Begin building a simple daily rhythm in God’s Word:From Busy to Rooted Resources [https://wateredbytheword.com/busytorooted] 🤍 Looking for deeper discipleship and community?Join the Watered By the Word Community [https://wateredbytheword.com/community] ✉️ Receive devotionals, scripture encouragement, and ministry updates:Join the Email List [https://wateredbytheword.com/devotionals] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wateredbytheword.substack.com [https://wateredbytheword.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Walking It Out: Moving From Inspiration to Daily Discipleship

What does it look like to move beyond simply listening to God’s Word… and begin truly living it? In this special one-year anniversary episode of The Wake Up My Daughters Podcast, Kathy Lindberg reflects on the journey God has led this community through over the past year—and shares a powerful invitation for the season ahead. If you’ve been feeling spiritually distracted, inconsistent in your time with God, or hungry for a deeper daily rhythm with Him, this episode will encourage you to stop striving and start walking steadily with Jesus again. Together, we revisit the themes of spiritual drift and rest in Christ, while stepping into a new focus: learning how to consistently walk out God’s Word in everyday life. This is more than inspiration.This is discipleship. In This Episode * Celebrating 1 year of The Wake Up My Daughters Podcast * Why spiritual growth requires more than encouragement * The difference between listening to truth and living it * Jesus’ call to “make disciples” in Matthew 28 * How spiritual drift happens slowly and subtly * Building simple, sustainable rhythms in God’s Word * Why consistency matters more than intensity * Creating a daily rooted rhythm with Jesus * Encouragement for women who feel spiritually stuck or behind Key Scripture Matthew 28:19–20 “Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Key Takeaways * Discipleship is not passive listening—it is daily obedience. * Transformation happens through consistency with God, not information overload. * Spiritual maturity is built through simple rhythms practiced over time. * You are not starting over; God is building on what He has already begun in you. * It is never too late to return to God’s Word and walk closely with Jesus again. Mentioned in This Episode Previous Podcast Challenges * Spiritual Drift Challenge * Rest in Christ Challenge If you missed these previous challenges, now is a wonderful time to go back and walk through them prayerfully. Free Resource: From Busy to Rooted Ready to begin building a simple daily rhythm in God’s Word? Download the free guide: From Busy to Rooted: 5 Days in God’s Word This resource is designed to help Christian women create a simple, sustainable rooted rhythm with God—without overwhelm or pressure. Grab it HERE [https://wateredbytheword.com/busytorooted] This Episode Is For You If… * You feel spiritually distracted or disconnected * You struggle with consistency in God’s Word * You want a deeper relationship with Jesus * You are tired of consuming content without growing spiritually * You desire simple daily rhythms rooted in Scripture * You are longing to mature in your faith and walk closely with God Subscribe & Review If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe to The Wake Up My Daughters Podcast and leave a review so more women can discover encouragement and discipleship rooted in God’s Word. Next Steps 🌿 Begin building a simple daily rhythm in God’s Word:From Busy to Rooted Resources [https://wateredbytheword.com/busytorooted] 🤍 Looking for deeper discipleship and community?Join the Watered By the Word Community [https://wateredbytheword.com/community] ✉️ Receive devotionals, scripture encouragement, and ministry updates:Join the Email List [https://wateredbytheword.com/devotionals] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wateredbytheword.substack.com [https://wateredbytheword.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Come to Me Challenge: Day 7 — Abiding in a Sabbath Way of Life

Episode Description Welcome to Day 7 of Come to Me: A 7-Day Invitation to Sabbath Rest. This week has been a journey: naming weariness, releasing misconceptions, trusting God, learning rhythms, practicing rest, and protecting it from drift. Today, we step into the final invitation: to live Sabbath not as a single day, but as a way of life. Sabbath is more than pausing—it’s abiding in Jesus, letting Him sustain you daily, and allowing rest to flow naturally from your connection with Him. Scripture Focus John 15:5–7 — Jesus reminds us: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Every Sabbath pause, every intentional rest, every daily pause—it’s an invitation to abide in Him. In This Episode, You’ll Experience * Reflection on living Sabbath as a lifestyle rather than a checklist * Teaching on abiding in Christ daily, not striving for perfection * Guided reflection to bring God’s presence into your season * Practical action step to establish a daily rhythm of rest and abiding Reflection Questions Take a moment to reflect: * What part of my schedule, mind, or heart needs His presence to turn busyness into rhythm? * How can my Sabbath pauses become moments of abiding, not just tasks to check off? Today’s Takeaway Sabbath rest is the fruit of abiding, not striving. Each pause, each intentional moment with Jesus reminds us: rest isn’t about what we do or don’t do—it’s about who we are. You are fully known, fully loved, and fully enough. Living Sabbath as a lifestyle is ongoing, and it begins with small, faithful steps each day. Short Action Pick one daily moment to pause and intentionally abide today: * Sit with Scripture or prayer for a few minutes * Take a mindful pause before a task or decision * Play or sing John 15:5–7 softly as a reminder that rest flows from abiding * Invite God’s presence to guide your pace, priorities, and energy Each small step is a seed of Sabbath living—a lifestyle that grows as you stay connected to the vine. Next Steps * Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future series * Leave a review to help other women find the show * Visit the show notes or WateredBytheWord.com [https://www.wateredbytheword.com/] for reflection prompts, resources, and community support Closing Encouragement Today, you’ve stepped fully into the invitation to live Sabbath as a lifestyle—abiding in Jesus and letting rest shape your life. By pausing, trusting, and surrendering, you’ve practiced living from who you are, not from what you do. This is not an ending—it’s a beginning. To help you continue, the Come to Me Challenge Companion Guide gathers all seven days in one place for review or replay. You can grab your copy at wateredbytheword.com/come [https://www.wateredbytheword.com/come]  Let’s wake up, abide in Him, and walk it out—together. Next Steps 🌿 Begin building a simple daily rhythm in God’s Word: From Busy to Rooted Resources [https://wateredbytheword.com/busytorooted] 🤍 Looking for deeper discipleship and community? Join the Watered By the Word Community [https://wateredbytheword.com/community] ✉️ Receive devotionals, scripture encouragement, and ministry updates: Join the Email List [https://wateredbytheword.com/devotionals] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wateredbytheword.substack.com [https://wateredbytheword.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Come to Me Challenge: Day 6 — Protecting Sabbath from Drift

Episode Description Welcome to Day 6 of Come to Me: A 7-Day Invitation to Sabbath Rest. By now, you’ve named your weariness, released misconceptions, practiced trusting God, learned daily rhythms, and even applied Sabbath in your real life. Today, we focus on a crucial step: protecting the rest you’ve been practicing. Sabbath isn’t just a one-time act—it can drift, be stolen, or squeezed out if we aren’t intentional. Often, the biggest obstacles come from within: guilt, subtle pressures, and old mindsets. In this episode, we explore how renewing your mind, setting boundaries, and releasing guilt can help you safeguard the rest God intended. Scripture Focus Romans 12:2 — Paul reminds us: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” This passage invites us to see rest as obedience, not indulgence, and to guard it with awareness and faith. In This Episode, You’ll Experience * Reflection on how guilt, expectations, and societal pressures threaten Sabbath * Teaching on renewing your mind and establishing healthy boundaries * Guided reflection to identify subtle drift in your rest practice * A practical action step to protect your Sabbath today Reflection Questions Take a few moments to consider: * What boundaries do I need to set—small or large—to protect my rest? * What subtle pressures or voices threaten my Sabbath, and how can I guard it today? Today’s Takeaway Sabbath is a gift—not a task—and it is meant to be protected. Boundaries, awareness, and intentionality are acts of faith. Guilt is not a command; it’s a reminder to rethink your heart about rest. Each step you take to defend your Sabbath is a declaration: you trust God, honor His gift, and embrace your identity as His beloved daughter. Short Action Choose one way to protect your Sabbath today: * Silence your phone or notifications for a period of intentional rest * Say no to one activity or task that competes with your Sabbath * Give yourself permission to pause even when guilt or pressure whispers, “You can’t” * Affirm: “I honor God’s gift of rest today” Each act of protection reinforces that Sabbath is not optional—it is part of living from your true identity in Christ. Next Steps * Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss the final episode in this series * Leave a review to help other women find the show * Visit the show notes or WateredBytheWord.com [https://www.wateredbytheword.com/] for reflection prompts, resources, and community Closing Encouragement Today, you practiced boundaries, released guilt, and defended your Sabbath. Each step is faith in action—living from your true identity, not from approval or performance. Protecting Sabbath is not about perfection; it’s about trusting that God’s gift is sufficient, and you are fully enough in Christ. Tomorrow, we step into the final invitation: living Sabbath not as a single day, but as a lifestyle. Abiding in Jesus daily allows rest to flow naturally, your soul to flourish, and your heart to stay anchored in Him. Let’s wake up, guard our rest, and walk it out—together. Next Steps 🌿 Begin building a simple daily rhythm in God’s Word: From Busy to Rooted Resources [https://wateredbytheword.com/busytorooted] 🤍 Looking for deeper discipleship and community? Join the Watered By the Word Community [https://wateredbytheword.com/community] ✉️ Receive devotionals, scripture encouragement, and ministry updates: Join the Email List [https://wateredbytheword.com/devotionals] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wateredbytheword.substack.com [https://wateredbytheword.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Come to Me Challenge: Day 5 — Practicing Sabbath in Real Life

Episode Description Welcome to Day 5 of Come to Me: A 7-Day Invitation to Sabbath Rest. By now, we’ve named our weariness, released false ideas about rest, practiced trusting God enough to stop, and begun building a rhythm of daily pauses. Today, we bring Sabbath into your real life—because rest isn’t meant for an ideal world; it’s meant for your season. In this episode, we explore practical ways to embrace Sabbath where you are—regardless of responsibilities, energy, or schedule. You’ll learn how even small pauses can become meaningful acts of trust, presence, and obedience. Scripture Focus Deuteronomy 5:12–15 — God commands His people to observe the Sabbath: “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy… remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out… therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” This passage reminds us that Sabbath is a gift, not a burden, given by a faithful God to restore and refresh His people. In This Episode, You’ll Experience * A warm, reflective opening to invite Sabbath into your season * Scripture reading that grounds rest in God’s design * Teaching on practical ways to practice Sabbath today * Guided reflection questions to see where Sabbath fits in your life * A hands-on action step to pause and trust God in your current season Reflection Questions Take a few moments to consider: * Where can I create space for God today, even in the middle of responsibilities? * What small act of Sabbath will help me trust Him with the rest? * How can I receive Sabbath as a gift rather than something to earn? * In what ways can I honor God with my rest in this particular season of life? Today’s Takeaway Sabbath doesn’t require perfect conditions or an empty calendar. It’s about presence, not perfection. Even small pauses—15–30 minutes of intentional rest, quiet, prayer, or Scripture—can nurture your soul, renew your energy, and remind you that your worth is secure in Christ. Short Action Choose one practical way to practice Sabbath today: * Step away from at least one responsibility for 15–30 minutes—without guilt—and simply be with God. * Identify one chore, task, or worry to intentionally release to Him. * Use a favorite ritual—tea, journaling, Scripture—as a Sabbath anchor. * Turn off screens, enjoy a restful meal, or take intentional time in Scripture. Each pause is an act of trust and obedience, training your heart to live from rest, not striving. Next Steps * Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode in this series * Leave a review to help other women find the show * Visit the show notes or WateredBytheWord.com [https://www.wateredbytheword.com/] for reflection prompts, resources, and community Closing Encouragement Today, you practiced Sabbath in your season of life. Even small, intentional pauses are powerful reminders that rest flows from trust, not performance. Your worth is intrinsic, fully known, and deeply loved by God. Tomorrow, we’ll focus on guarding your Sabbath—learning how to protect the rest you’ve been practicing, release guilt, and live from freedom in your identity as God’s beloved daughter. Let’s wake up, rest intentionally, and walk it out—together. Next Steps 🌿 Begin building a simple daily rhythm in God’s Word: From Busy to Rooted Resources [https://wateredbytheword.com/busytorooted] 🤍 Looking for deeper discipleship and community? Join the Watered By the Word Community [https://wateredbytheword.com/community] ✉️ Receive devotionals, scripture encouragement, and ministry updates: Join the Email List [https://wateredbytheword.com/devotionals] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wateredbytheword.substack.com [https://wateredbytheword.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]