I was amazed at how many of you were compelled to love God more than smoking, worrying, ________ you fill in the blank. Ya’ll ARE living proof that love does change everything—especially when we love God with all our heart, mind and soul as each of us do. However, if we were honest, we’d have to admit how tempting it is to look away and fall in love with idols. It happens to me more often than I’d like to own up to. When I realize I’ve given my devotion to something or someone other than God, it breaks my heart. Mainly because I know it breaks His.
So what’s an idol? It’s anything we put before God. It can be our job, our children, exercise (that would never be one of my idols) or a habit of some sort. What does God think of idols? He hates them. He knows that whatever draws our attention away from Him is dangerous. In fact, focusing only partially on the Lord is a sure way to stumble into temptation, sin, and forfeiting His blessings.
Another danger, or warning sign that we have drifted from our devotion to God , is we pursue our own interests and neglect the things that interest God. Writing that sentence makes me think of Paul. He challenges me on every level. I’m not talking about “girls rule and boys drool” kind of challenge. Paul challenges me spiritually especially when he said, “I am made all thing to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
Wow! You and I don’t hear or see that kind of devotion often today. Instead, when someone desires to be holy, they put themselves on a pedestal away from others who are not “as” holy. Paul, on the other hand, offered himself to Christ to be used as He liked.
Since we were created to love the Lord and be loved by Him, anything that competes for our devotion simply does not fit with our life purpose.
For our protection, God calls us to be faithful to Him alone. I’m so excited that many of you chose to return and offer your whole heart to God. Others jumped in with verses to cling to during times of temptation. Isn’t it wonderful to be in the family of God?!! We so much family support, we cannot fail!
Let me encourage you to press on today. Stand firm against temptation. Devote your whole self to God and He will bless your faithfulness.
The winner of my book, An Untroubled Heart is… Amy V. annae07@aol.com
The winner of Confessions of a Good Christian Girl is… Shelia baker4fam@yahoo.com
Congrats, ya’ll! Please send me your mailing address at miccacampbell@comcast.net
Have a great weekend!! I’ll be speaking in MS. Say a prayer for me. Hugs!!
I just finished pouring over your devotional from yesterday, your post, and all the responses. I have my pad and pen ready to write down all of the verses that I need to carry with me. Thank you for your encouragement, as it was just what I needed to hear. The Word of God hidden in my heart… what a beautiful image and one that will surely give me strength, through God, who strengthens me.
Our message at church yesterday was so similiar – never a coincidence when that happens! Time to be working on this harder!
Thanks for posting this, fear was and still is a big issue in my life, as a teenager I watched my Mom suffer from agorophobia and back in the 1970s little was known about this disorder.. Now more progression has been made in this area with depression and anxiety, thanks be to God. One of my passions is speaking with others who are dealing with these issues, thanks for writing this book and once again addressing a difficult subject..