Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
11 5 2025
Comfort can kill your faith. Are you awake—or just coasting?
Forgive me if my devotionals have been more challenging and have asked more penetrating questions about your current practical relationship with Jesus. I have set my own trap at different times in my life that said, “I’m OK”, and before I know it, I’m coasting. But I must be obedient to what I feel the Spirit is leading me to say. For you…and for me. So please don’t tune me out. Wherever we are in Christ… As soon as we even think that we are OK with our actions, and don’t stop and ponder, and pray about those more probing questions. We are setting ourselves up for a fall.
There’s a quiet danger in one’s spiritual life that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late:
Complacency.
It sneaks slowly, like rust on metal or weeds in a garden. At first, everything seems fine—your routines are in place, your faith looks intact, and life carries on without obvious disruption. But inside, the fire has dimmed. You’re going through the motions rather than living in a vibrant relationship with God.
That was the state of the Laodicean church. It appears they were doing a lot of good stuff for God. But, Jesus said to them, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). Imagine the shock: they thought they were spiritually rich, confident in their own strength, but God saw their hearts and found them lacking. Complacency can be invisible until it confronts us suddenly, and the wake-up call can be startling. But honestly, who in your life would be that voice or throw a shot across your bow? Most of us suffer from not having a spiritually trustworthy accountability partner in our lives and I’m not talking about our spouses.
What does complacency look like today? It’s spiritual apathy—
When prayer becomes a habit rather than a heartfelt conversation with God,
When reading the Bible feels like checking a box, or
When church attendance is routine without real engagement.
It’s choosing comfort over courage, avoiding growth, and quietly ignoring the mission God has called you to. Proverbs 1:32 warns, “The complacency of fools will destroy them.” When we coast, we risk letting the weeds of sin and neglect overrun the garden of our souls.
Complacency also has a cost.
James 2:17 reminds us, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Spiritually stagnant Christians miss opportunities to love, serve, and witness. They risk being blindsided by life’s challenges because their faith isn’t alive and resilient. Like the Laodiceans, we may be shocked one day to realize how far we’ve drifted without noticing.
So how do we respond when we feel the shock of complacency? The Bible gives a clear roadmap.
1. Repentance and Self-Examination
The first step is acknowledging the problem. God calls us to honest reflection. Lamentations 3:40 says, “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” Complacency thrives in denial, but the moment we confront it with humility, we open the door for renewal.
2. Renewed Passion for God’s Word
God’s Word is the lamp that guides us through spiritual darkness (Psalm 119:105). Double down and rediscover the joy of Scripture by not just reading it, but meditating on it, applying it, and letting it shape your thoughts and actions.
3. Active Faith and Service
Faith without action is dead. Step out of your comfort zone—serve someone in need, share your testimony, mentor a younger believer, or engage in a ministry that stretches you. James 2:17 is not just a warning; it’s a promise that action enlivens faith.
4. Accountability and Fellowship
Complacency is difficult to overcome alone. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…” Seek out friends or small groups who challenge you to grow and hold you accountable in love. (How we tend to avoid accountability like the plague.) I think there is more resistance to reading the Bible and to prayer than finding…searching out, and beginning a new type of accountability relationship.
May I be direct? Spiritual accountability is not just about belonging to a small group—it’s about walking in truth with another believer who knows your battles and loves you enough to call you higher. It’s the courageous act of inviting someone into the private corners of your life—where temptation whispers, pride hides, and compromise tries to take root. This kind of relationship isn’t casual; it’s sacred. It’s a lifeline that keeps you anchored when the current of culture or comfort tries to pull you away from God’s best. True accountability is built on trust, humility, and a shared commitment to holiness. It’s not about judgment but about protection—helping you stay plugged in, on track, and spiritually safe. Because no man stands strong alone for long. We need that brother or sister who looks us in the eye and says, “I’m not letting you fall without a fight.” But that means we need to ask people? Pray for God to reveal them to you. Have courage to approach them and then be both transparent and vulnerable. God is watching.
The beauty of this journey is that God meets us right where we are. Revelation 3:20 offers hope: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Even in our lukewarm state, God doesn’t abandon us. He invites us into intimacy, ready to reignite our hearts and passions.
Take a moment to reflect: Are there areas of your spiritual life where you’ve become complacent? Are you coasting instead of pressing forward? God is calling you to wake up. Shake off the comfort of routine and step into the vibrant, purposeful life He prepared for you.
Practical Steps:
This week, identify one area where your faith has grown lukewarm. Commit to one specific action—perhaps a prayer revival, a Scripture goal, or an intentional act of service. Ask God to rekindle your passion, remove spiritual rust, and restore your joy in Him.
Complacency may feel safe, but it’s a trap. Shock can be a gift when it wakes us up. Serving God, reading His word, and taking time to talk with Him in prayer are supposed to be an overflow of our love for Jesus. Until we can gain the ground of true happiness by being in His presence via His word or in prayer. We have far to go to know the kind of Love He has for us to live in. I think that’s what’s called heaven on earth. Let today be the day you open your heart fully to God, ignite your faith, and live with fervor for His glory. Make sure you take someone along with you! If you don’t have that someone…
Go praying and Go Hunting for them.
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