Idol much?!

“I am the Lord; that is My Name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols. Isaiah 42:8

Whether we like it or not, whether we care to admit it or not, we all have idols in our life. An idol isn’t just something or someone we “worship” over God. An idol can be anything that holds captive our undivided attention, consumes our time, and has our fondest affection. But also, an idol, can be anything that clouds our judgment into thinking that it is an answer to our need for help. In short, an idol can be anything that plays the role of God, in our life. Ah! Now some of you without batting an eyelid may think, ‘That’s surely not me! God has THE UTMOST HONOUR in my life! I would NEVER replace Him!’ That’s exactly what I thought. My mind briefly scanned through all the things that could possibly attract my attention and crave my affection, and in the same speed dismissed them all. My mind’s voice, “Thank God none of those things I give importance to, over God.”

I love that in the exact same momentum the Spirit intruded, for me to slow down and reconsider.  Yes, there are days I am more attentive, eager towards or even entirely consumed by something or someone other than God. Maybe some days I love someone or something more than expressing my heart to God. How often does this happen for you?

But where the Holy Spirit really jolted me into thinking was, “What do you pride in as self-efficient?” Let me explain. Anything we depend on or resort to as an automated solution without considering God’s measures, takes His place. The solution may be our go-to because of its proved efficiency and reliability from prior experiences. And yes, there’s no denying that God may use these measures we fall back on to truly help us. However, the measure in itself is not our aid, God is. To think otherwise is foolishness. God alone is our true source of relief. A failure to recoginse this can lead us to turn to these resources spontaneously for our need, and not God.

Honestly, until I was reading on what God had to say about idols through Isaiah, I did not realise I was prey to idols. I failed to see the areas in my life where I depended on something I knew worked best for me, rather than depend on God. That’s the level of subtlety at which Satan works.

I’ve had a past. That has made me efficient in looking after my emotional needs. I have a seamless system in place. I know what to do when I have a bad day. It does involve an amount of talking and listening to God. Yet I know I depend more solidly on the system I have in place.  I do know there is nothing wrong with the system per se. However, if it has my allegiance over the active knowledge that God alone is able to help me overcome a bad day (even if it is through that system), then, isn’t it an idol?!

God has surely used the system to help me look out for myself. Nonetheless I needed that jolt from the Spirit, to remind me that relief itself comes only from God. And so, my prayer as I dwell on this truth and share it with you is:

God continue showing me people or things that I have allowed in my life to take Your place; that I may depose them and give You, Your rightful place! I want You to be stuck in my every waking thought. I want You alone to be my efficient sustenance system. And to You belongs my fondest affection, always. Keep me from making idols for myself. In Jesus’ matchless Name. Amen.