Yesterday I was feeling very low. Mostly because I was frustrated with a bunch of events in the week, but when I vented out my frustration on God, He made me realize I had a spiritual problem at the root of it all--an idol. Many idols, actually. As I identified them, I realized that I had over 10 main activities in my life that, while they might not have been sinful, they were stealing my time and sapping my desire for God. A few of them include the Internet, shopping, reading, and *ouch* sometimes even my blog!
Daughters, and Sons...we tend to replace God so easily, don't we? Once we start to love (be devoted to) something else more than Him, in essence, we begin to worship ourselves. God repeatedly commands us to worship Him alone.
"You shall have no other gods before me." (Deuteronomy 5:7)
"Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." (Exodus 34:14)
Indeed: "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you--majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" (Exodus 15:11)
To wrap this up, I'd like to share a passage from a sermon preached by Charles Spurgeon, who was known in the 1800's as the "Prince of Preachers". I read it earlier today on "Spurgeon's Daily Devotional" for October 25 (on SermonAudio.com). It's entitled: "God First, Then Extras"
See how the Bible opens: "In the beginning God." Let your life open in the same way. Seek with your whole soul, first and foremost, the kingdom of God, as the place of your citizenship, and His righteousness as the character of your life. As for the rest, it will come from the LORD Himself without your being anxious concerning it. All that is needful for this life and godliness "shall be added unto you." What a promise this is! Food, raiment, home, and so forth, God undertakes to add to you while you seek Him. You mind His business, and He will mind yours. If you want paper and string, you get them given in when you buy more important goods; and just so all that we need of earthly things we shall have thrown in with the kingdom. He who is an heir of salvation shall not die of starvation; and he who clothes his soul with the righteousness of God cannot be left of the LORD with a naked body. Away with carping care. Set all your mind upon seeking the LORD. Covetousness is poverty, and anxiety is misery: trust in God is an estate, and likeness of God is a heavenly inheritance. LORD, I seek Thee; be found of me. (Spurgeon, 1834-92)
We all have our battles to fight, interior and exterior; some secret, some a roaring storm we all must wade through. But Christian, no matter what, be confident-- you do not walk alone.
Leah
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