Idolatry Scoots God Out of the Spotlight

Anything that scoots God out of the spotlight is idolatry in our heart. 

We often convince ourselves that our lives and hearts are free of idolatry.

Because we believe and serve the one true God…God Almighty. 

And maybe our homes are free of graven images we bow to or worship. 

But idols can creep into the sacred spot only meant for the Lord.

So let’s look at how present-day I-D-O-L-S scoot God out of the spotlight in our heart. 

I – Identify areas where God is not my focus.

Certain life seasons may cause us to veer off our focus of God as number one in our heart. Like seeking status, money, dreams, goals, things, people, positions, and more. What about an addiction?

But when we pursue unhindered and unadulterated desire and passion for the one true God above anything else in this world, powerful things take place. Idols fall from their pedestals in our heart. 

Ask the hard questions in our current season of life. Where am I focused on God? In what ways do I focus on something else? 

D – Depend on God alone. 

Is independence an idol in my life where I’m becoming my own “other god”? Because when I solely depend on my own efforts, plans, power, wisdom, and expertise, God is scooted out of the way.

Idolatry in our life is sometimes seen in our own independence or depending on things, people, position, social status, and more.

Culture tells us to strive for independence. God says, depend on Me.

2 Major Ways We Grow to Resemble Jesus

To resemble Jesus is one of the most important aspects of the Christian life.

But if we miss this, we miss the purest meaning for CHRISTian. A little christ.

My granddaugher, Laney, loves all things princess. She has princess dresses and dolls. And Laney sings Disney princess songs, knowing every lyric. Even to watch Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast with me is pure joy for her. My husband calls her little princess.

Many of her birthday parties have carried a princess theme. But this past July, her theme for her 7th birthday was Jesus and Barbie (so cute and sweet). Because in May, Laney FaceTimed me that she had accepted Jesus into her heart. We were overjoyed.

She has her own Bible and a girls devotional. Her parents are worship leaders at church and both Laney and her brother, Foster, know lyrics to many worship and Christain songs.

Oh, she still loves all things princess. But Laney loves Jesus, too. I pray as she grows, she also grows more and more to resemble Jesus, to become a little christ as much as she likes to be a little princess.

So let’s look at these 2 major ways we grow to resemble Christ.

(1.) We resemble Jesus as we grow in the aspects of Christ and His likeness.

We are each uniquely formed in the womb. Aren’t you glad God doesn’t create cookie-cutter people? I’m a twin but we are still each unique.

And we are created in the image of God. But our new life in Christ is about growing in His likeness.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) 

The key to growing more each day like Jesus is staying close to Him—knowing Him, being in His presence. We let Him permeate every area of our lives.

There’s Nothing Better Than Jesus

There really is nothing in this world better than Jesus.

Oh, maybe we’ve tried to find the “better” of something.

Or, we attempt to find satisfaction in people or things.

But we soon realize how Jesus is unmatched.

Have you ever said or thought, I want a better car…a better house…a better _____________ (fill in the blank).

And we hope the good parts of life outweigh the bad.

Like when the world seems half mad and all the sad things that happen because of evil.

Still, what ushers in a well-spring of satisfaction deep in my soul? What in the world feeds the human soul’s hunger and quenches our spirit’s thirst? Jesus.

Fullness of Joy: Better Than Jesus

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

You see, as the Lord shows us the path of life and we find joy in His presence, we also discover spiritual pleasures in His right hand. And how long do they last? Forevermore.

Eternal Bread and Life

Not only do we feed our bodies to sustain life, but we must also nourish our souls. Something much deeper than feeding our stomachs to be merry and full. Nothing the world offers curbs our spiritual appetites, gives long-lasting satisfaction, or transforms our character. 

“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 (ESV)

“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

Overflowing

Do I Seek to Please God or People?

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 (ESV)

Before we were in Christ, we sought the approval of people and wanted to please others. Here, the Apostle Paul is reminding us that if we are still on that road, we’re not true servants of Christ. 

But I want to please God, and I want my heavenly Father’s approval above all. He’s the only One that matters in this life…and the next.

So let’s look at how to please God.

P – Praise the one true living God: Please God

God inhabits the praise of His people (Psalm 22:3). So we not only praise Him but we also celebrate how God inhabits our praise.  

Because it not only encourages us to want to enter His presence with praise and thanksgiving, but it also grows our faith.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:4 (ESV)

L – Live for an audience of One

Once we turn to Jesus as Savior and Lord, to please God and desire His approval becomes our life focus—our new life passion. And pleasing people and winning approval from others is not as important as it once was. 

E – Exalt the name of Jesus: Please God

4 Ways God Mends Our Heart After Sadness

Do you have a broken heart from some kind of loss? God mends our heart after sadness.

I’m no stranger to a hurting heart. You know, the kind that aches and feels shattered into a thousand pieces. 

I experienced loss when my father and friends passed away, the loss of beloved pets, and even a baby in utero.

Oh, there are many kinds of loss in our present broken world.

No doubt you’ve experienced some form of loss in your life.

Recently, we remembered the thousands of lost lives and loved ones affected by the sad events on 9/11.

And we also mourned the murder of Charlie Kirk. Charlie touched countless lives for the gospel of Jesus Christ and so many moral issues in culture. These issues are biblical as well. Let’s continue to pray for his family and loved ones.

Mends Our Heart

Perhaps your broken heart came from losing a pet, a loved one, a relationship, or a marriage. 

Even though I’m not a stranger to heart break, I’m also not a stranger to the One who mends broken hearts. The One who has healed and mended my broken heart many times over. Especially after sadness.

Sure, life itself may never be the same again after some sadness, but God never changes and He wants to mend our broken hearts as only He can.

4 ways God mends our heart.

M – Mourn authentically and fully for our heart.

Once, a local Christian radio host gave a challenge, “Stop sanitizing grief.” Sometimes we sanitize grief and mourning and broken hearts by trying to clean it up. But this is not how God meant for us to react to a great loss. 

God is With You and For You

Do you believe God is with you? And do you know He is for you?

Have you ever felt all alone? Whether we are physically alone in a particular moment, or we are in a crowded room, our hearts may feel alone.

Yet, these are promises in God’s Word. 

But if I’m honest, there are times that believing God is with me and for me proves difficult. Especially when hardships and hard situations come my way. 

And I’ve learned it is not “if” but “when” life turns topsy-turvy without any warning. 

Still, these promises never change and always remain true.

So let’s look at what the Bible says.

God Is With You

Even though it’s not easy to admit out loud, sometimes it doesn’t seem like God is really with me. Friend, this is a lie from the enemy of our souls. Because we belong to God.

The Lord promises He is with us. And it all started with prophecy that the virgin would bear a child, Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” (Isaiah 7:14) 

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

There’s No Easy Road That Leads to Holiness

There’s no easy road that leads to holiness. Why? Because the road that leads to being holy is the way of a true follower of Jesus. It means seeking His face daily and growing in His image.

God calls us to holiness: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'” 1 Peter 14-16 (ESV)

Yet, God knows, without Christ, it’s impossible. Our flesh battles against holiness, desiring to pursue the indulgences the world offers.

Holiness Forms Deep Inside Us

You see, holiness forms deep inside as we spend time with a Holy God, then shows up outwardly in how we live our lives.

Spending time with our Holy God includes: meditating on God’s Word, being in His holy presence in worship (Psalm 96:9) and prayer, keeping in step with the Spirit not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5), growing in the fruit of the Spirit, and becoming more and more like Jesus every day.

Also, let me note here that if you haven’t known Jesus long, having a strong Christian disciple and mentor you helps build you up in the faith. And a chuch community of other believers and Bible studies encourages you on the road to holiness.

Obedience Leads to Holiness

Our Job is Trusting God Instead of Worrying

Is trusting God difficult for you?

And have you ever wondered:

How will I get through this?

Where do I turn?

What are we going to do?

Several times in my life, it felt as if I were free-falling. Like an amusement park ride, the bottom fell out from under me.

Such as the times my husband or I lost a job, our livelihood. And when I miscarried our second baby and hoped to have another child. Also, when my father passed away.

In all those cases, insecurity locked arms with me as my unwelcome companion.

Trusting God Will Bring Good

And honestly, I struggled to believe God would get us through this and bring about our good in some way. Even though my trust waned in the past, we had indeed made it through the same hardship before.

After the miscarriage, the Lord blessed us with another child. But, if I never carried another baby to full term, would my trust in God seem futile? When a loved one passes away instead of receiving a healing, is trusting God still possible?

While we may desire to place our full trust in God’s care, power, control, purpose, plan, and believe He has our best interest at heart, it’s not an easy thing. In fact, it’s super hard.

So is it possible to fully trust our heavenly Father, no matter our circumstances?

Oh, sure, I trust God when life is going along without a hitch. But what about when life isn’t good?

I’m realizing the Lord grows my faith and trust in Him more when life seems unknown than when things are going as planned. 

Here’s what I’m learning.

Our Job is Trusting Instead of Worrying

Our job as a Christ-follower is to trust God’s power, ways, and purposes. 

And God’s job is everything else. He does the heavy-lifting. 

There’s Never Been a Day God Didn’t Love You

Have there been days you didn’t feel loved? Maybe days you didn’t love yourself? My hand’s raised.

Good news and God news: God lavished His love on you from the beginning. Even from day one in your mother’s womb, God loved you.

And there’s never been a day God didn’t love you. Not one single day. 

Because God’s love is past, present, and future tense.

He loved us while knitting us in the womb, He loves us with every breath we take, and He will love us every tomorrow.

So let’s look at how we know there’s never been a day God didn’t L-O-V-E us. 

L – Live loved by the Savior: never been a day

You are the beloved child of the Most High God. 

Because love is not only something God does, but also who He is. In fact, God cannot not love. God loved us so much, He gave His only Son to give us eternal life.

When we know God loves us, we live differently. 

We choose to live loved by the Savior and walk in freedom. Then we won’t waste another minute believing something about love God didn’t say. Whatever the world or culture or people tell you about love, God is the true definition of love.

There’s never been a day God didn’t love you.

O – Open your eyes and heart to God’s love

With humans, love sometimes has a beginning and an end. But this is not the case with God. His love is eternal and never-failing. It has no end. 

“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3b (ESV)

How God Moves and Acts in Our Lives

Do you believe God moves and acts on your behalf? 

Often, we find it difficult to believe something is happening, especially when we don’t see it. 

Yet, believing without seeing is the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1. 

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (ESV)

Years ago, I told the Lord I do not like it when I can’t see what He’s doing or how He’s moving. But that wouldn’t be faith. 

Instead, we rest assured that God is working and moving in the heavenly realm and in the world and our lives—no matter what we see or can’t see.

Let’s look at 3 assuring ways God moves and acts.

(1.) God moves and acts through prayer.

Many times we underestimate the power of prayer to change situations and people…to change us. 

Because we move the spiritual world when we praise the Lord, recognize who God is, petition the Almighty, intercede for others, and speak God’s Word in prayer.

But sometimes our own thoughts, the enemy, or other people trick our heart into thinking God is holding out on us. 

Maybe a prayer went unanswered in how we wanted the situation to turn out. Perhaps we feel God didn’t come through for us in what we wanted to happen. Or, we’ve prayed for something so long, it seems impossible. 

Remind your heart: God. Is. Not. Holding. Out. On. Me. 

God moves and acts to work out His best for me. God continues to remind me that His timing really is perfect; His plans for me are always for my good and His glory. 

So we don’t stop praying, we pray on. I’m thankful for the power of prayer: mountains still move, seas still part, mana still rains from heaven, and because God can raise the dead, ashes turn to beauty again.

(2.) The God of the impossible moves mountians.

“What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27b (ESV)