Idols . . . They aren’t always what you think

For the past month, a group of girls and I have been doing a Bible study called “No Other Gods” by Kelly Minter and let me just say that it has been awesome! I am a little ashamed of myself, because I started out thinking that this was kind of silly. I mean, how are we going to spend 8 weeks on golden calves and graven images? Boy, did I have the wrong mindset! Did you know that idols don’t have to be a physical object? Sure, people get attached to money, houses, cars, technology, or just fill in the blank for what fits you, but let me tell you, friend, it gets way deeper than that. Idols can be things like alcohol, drug or pornography addiction, but the truth is that an idol can be ANYTHING that we put before God. That means that even good things can become idols. John Calvin said, “The evil in our desire typically does not lie in what we want, but that we want it too much.” Ouch . . . that’s deep, guys.

I know that personally, my biggest struggle is that I have people idols. I look to people in my life and wonder why I can’t be like Miss Perfect who does so much for the Lord and always has the best advice or why I can’t have Miss Models rockin’ body. I long for acceptance and love. I struggle with identity in Christ. I also forget. I forget that God doesn’t make junk. God makes original masterpieces. (Psalm 139:14) Say it out loud, “(Insert name here) is Not junk. (Insert name here) is an original masterpiece!” Doesn’t that feel amazing? I’ve been saying that while looking in the mirror on days that I especially struggle with my idols and it has been helping tremendously! (Try it out sometime and let me know how it goes for you. )

(Just take a minute and breath, because this is a lot to digest . . . . . . )

So we know that idols can be bad or good, but what does that mean specifically for you? I told you my answers, but if you are looking for me to answer this for you, I am sorry, but I can’t. This is something you need to do on your own, because only you and God truly know what all is in your heart. Friend, I challenge you to get alone with God today and work it out, even if it is painful . . . and don’t worry if you don’t figure it all out in one day. I have been working on this for a month and still haven’t come close to mastering conquering my idols, but you know what? I don’t think I ever will. I know I can’t do it on my own and you can’t either. The only way we are going to conquer our idols is to renew our minds day by day (Romans 12:1-2) asking God for strength and wisdom. So now that we got our game plan, let’s get out there and put those idols in their proper place!

Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

God has a Plan!

A few minutes ago I was extremely excited about my first ever blog. I published it, announced it to all my followers on twitter and waited to see how this new thing of mine would turn out. So here I am going back to read what I had worked so hard on and it’s gone! I try everything and still can not get it to come back. There’s just one word for how I felt . . . FUSTRATED. I thought to myself, “God, why would you allow me to put so much in to this for it to just be taken away?” I huffed and puffed around the house wallowing in how much of a failure I was for what had happened. As I was doing all of this, God spoke to me in that still, small voice of His and all of a sudden . . . peace.  I realized that God has a plan and everything works together for His good! (Romans 8;28) He is the One who is working behind the scenes in my life and knows everything that has happened and everything that will happen. He has done things and is continuing to do things that I may not know the result of until I get to Heaven and you know what? That’s ok.  I may not get to talk to you about personal idols and keeping God first today, but I do get to share this with you  . .

Things don’t always turn out as planned and it can be really frustrating after you put all of that hard work and effort into it. We, as Christians, seem to have this idea of how everything is going to turn out when we do something for God, but we forget one thing. We aren’t in control . . . God is! I want to encourage us to not get so caught up in how we think things should go and focus on God’s will for the situation, because He is the only one who knows the intended end result.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.