Those who "walk in the Spirit rather than in the flesh" (those who "walk in the light, as He [Christ] is in the light," those who "walk in His [Christ's] steps") are sensitive and obedient to the Holy Spirit's leading, bringing "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ," "keeping His commandments and doing that which is pleasing in His sight."
This requires active faith, abiding love, constantly casting our cares upon Him. If we falter in our love, faith, submission, we will falter and "fail of (fall short of or lack) the grace of God." This requires us to trust, repent (turn) and obediently follow by faith.
Those who choose not to follow fully will either drift away from God slowly or they will take overt steps into obvious sin. They may eventually hear the voice of God calling them back to repentance. However, the shroud of sin can blind the mind and harden the heart so quickly and silently that the backsliding person does not even realize he has failed and fallen from salvation into an empty form or likeness of godliness, which denies the power to deliver from sin.
It can be the allure of treasures and pleasures or the intimidation of oppression that moves a person from God. THIS IS WHY it is important for people to TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY, TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD, TO SEEK THE LORD. Open His word and open your heart. Call upon Him while He is near. Sincerely pray, "SEARCH MY HEART, TRY MY THOUGHTS, SEE IF THERE BE ANY WICKED WAY IN MY, AND LEAD ME IN THE TRUTH."
God will show you how you have neglected Him and rejected Him. He will show you how you have allowed your time, your reason, your desires, your emotions, your conscience, your will and your allegiance to turn from Christ. Moving away from God may be related to your work, your alliances, your associations, your recreations, your pressures, your weaknesses, your opportunities or your obligations. But whatever the reason for your distancing yourself from God, there is a way back to Him and a right relationship with Him. Be sure to seek, find and follow God's directions for reconciliation and restoration. It will require a turning from something in order to turn to Jesus, or as Hebrews 12:2 tells us in the Greek, we need to turn our eyes from something and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus is the beginning of our faith, the way of faith and the perfecter (completer) of our faith. We are saved by faith, we walk (live) by faith, we overcome, and we are triumphant through faith. Without active faith it is impossible to please God. (By the way, what the Bible says about "pleasing" God is another worthy subject to study).
Don't allow the voice of God to become faint, distant, ignored, muted. God loves you enough that He will draw you to Himself, or if you have been intentionally rejecting Him, He will take steps to drive you to Himself. In both cases, it is God loving you. But God never forces our faith and love. It is our own responsibility.
God enables us to either accept or reject His call.
Isaiah 55:6-7
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Do not deny Him and do not delay in turning to Him. Hardening the heart can lead to a ruin, which cannot be remedied.
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