For Lent this year I’m giving up my idol…well, okay idols. The more I give up the more I find to give up. You know the ones; we all have them in some form or another.
Most, if not all, stem from the need for approval and to be loved.
I wrote about a portion of the idol in my life here. Most of the time I am able to keep it locked in a closet and occasionally pull it out to polish like an Oscar award for best performance.
This year for Lent, I packed a box of idols and took them to the street only to find myself bumping into them in the most unlikely places. Those places where you think you have it all nailed down, and God doesn’t need to worry about any idols there, because I have that one covered! (Can you already see my dilemma?)
So, grabbing my liquid hot motivation with cream and Stevia Extract, and plopping into my cozy nesting place, I pull my Bible and prayer journal into my lap to seek The Lord for His Wisdom.
Before the sun has fully unfurled its golden rays, I read out loud the Word of God. I like to read it out loud. I want these words of life to hang heavy in the room all day as I wander back and forth with this day’s work.
Idols are seductive, and addictive. They lure you in with sweet words of affirmation, then shoot into your blood immediate gratification, and within a few hours, we are craving another fix.
Our addictions fix screams, “See me, Like me, Choose me, Ask me.”
With pen in hand I begin to write the fear within my heart to the Lord – the lies these idols bring.
It is here, in the early part of the day, where the slow breathing of my black Lab is only sound, and then comes wisdom from The Lord.
I repeat it over several times.
There, in one sentence is the cure for any idol, any addiction, and the filler for any void in our lives. One prayer asked daily, “Make me whole, and allow me favor with you.”
When Christ makes us whole, then, the imperfect in our lives becomes perfectly useful.
God can take our oddness, our failures, our unfulfilled dreams, removing the sin from it. Then, what remains will be called and used for His Glory.
I am reading two amazing books right now I think you will enjoy.
Love-Idols by Jennifer Lee, and
Why Your Weirdness is Wonderful by Laurie Wallin.
Jennifer’s book helps us removed the Idols that take importance over God in our lives.
Laurie’s book helps us love the way God created us.
What do you struggle with more the need for approval from people and face your Love Idols, or the need your accept and know your Weirdness is Wonderful?
Linking with Michelle and Ann today.
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Diane, I love this…”I want these words of life to hang heavy in the room all day as I wander back and forth with this day’s work.” That’s the challenge isn’t it? Keeping our minds staid on Him as we go about our day. Thanks for the reminder. Stopping by from Ann’s .
Thank you for taking the time to stop by as well Jenna!
Hi Jenna! I love the idea of walking through the words like decorations for a party! Yes, remembering to keep our mind on Christ is the challenge!
Stopping in from Michelle’s. I too am in that stage of life where I’m not ready to sit down and grow old, but the children have presented us with grandchildren who are now in college and our stepgrandchildren are presenting us with great-grands. The house is quiet except for the tapping of these keys and my husband’s soft classical music playing in the background. All these idols are, I think, the major of struggles of losing our attachment to those other beautiful creations of God — our chicks, if you will. Thanks for setting my mind at ease knowing I’m not alone and for the beautiful daily prayer, “Make me whole, and allow me favor with you.”
Sherrey, I can see how having an empty nest can be filled with idols. It is so nice to meet you, thank you for stopping by!
I LOVE this Diane! And this: “I read out loud the Word of God. I like to read it out loud. I want these words of life to hang heavy in the room all day” Oh yes! I do the same thing!!!
Karrilee, There is a place in the Psalms that tells us His angels respond to His spoken Word. I love the idea of reading His Word out loud and the angels responding because they hear Him!
“See me, Like me, Choose me, Ask me.” Profound Diane. And I haven’t read the Word aloud in a while. Beautiful, powerful, reminder.
Hi Rhonda! Don’t we all want those acknowledgements? It is so nice to have you here!
Oh… yes. Love this, Diane. I’ll share tomorrow on the Love Idol Movement page!
Thank you, Jennifer, I love your book and I know others will as well.
Love this, Diane. I’m wrestling through so much right now. I’m amazed (and giddy) at how He speaks in the quiet moments when we’re alone with our pets 🙂
You know how pets and prayer seem to go together! You are still in my prayers, Susan. ((hugs))