Idolatry

 Almost a month ago, a mentor of mine challenged me to check my heart & make sure that it is free from idolatry. Since then, God has brought the topic to mind several different times (through books, sermons, conversations etc). Here is what I have learned:

An idol is something in your life that you are unwilling to let go, something that comes in between you & God. It can be self, movies, music, relationships, books, sin, activities, hobbies etc. Anything that distracts you from the Lord or turns your heart away from Him. 

"God spoke all these words, saying, 'I am the Lord your God...
You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself
a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that
is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall
not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God...'"

- Exodus 20:1-5

What is making it harder for you to focus on Christ? If any pastime, activity, habit, relationship or friendship in your life tends to pull you away from Christ, that's a sign that it doesn't belong in your life. 

Idolatry happens when we look to other things (besides Christ) to give our life purpose, identity, meaning, peace, joy, contentment, excitement, refreshment etc. God grieves over our distracted, wandering, lukewarm, divided hearts! We often look for excuses to keep living self- ruled, pleasure- seeking, sin- loving lives. Submit yourself fully & completely to His transforming work. Lay your selfish pursuits & worldly addictions upon the altar at His feet!

"Whoever loves his life, loses it & whoever hates his life
in this world will keep it for eternal life."

- John 12:25 

When we invite Christ into our life, we don't "make room" for Him amidst our selfishness, sin & worldly pursuits. Rather, by the power of His Grace, we are transformed & made completely new!

"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 

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, & make no
provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."

- Romans 13:14

Every moment of every day we have a choice to make. We can either listen to our selfish whims & wants or we can listen to the Spirit of God. There is a constant battle between our flesh & the Spirit of God. We are commanded by God to put to death our fleshly desires & yield to the Spirit's commands. Will you listen to His Voice? Or will you listen to your own selfish desires? Daily life is filled with hundreds of choices to either give in to selfish whims or yield to Christ's Spirit. 

What in your life is keeping you from being consumed by Him alone? Do you have habits of laziness? Selfishness? Are you addicted to worldly entertainment? Is your thirst for comfort & material possessions? Are you longing for popularity & attention? Do you feel the need to control your future? Are you fascinated with the culture? Have you allowed other gods to woo your heart? Have you forsaken your covenant with the King of all kings? Nothing in this world is worth jeopardizing your relationship with Christ. Is Jesus Christ merely a part of your life? Or is He your entire life?

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires
of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the
Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its
desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever..."

- 1 John 2:15-17

 

"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the
world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of
the world makes himself an enemy of God."

- James 4:4

Do you live as if your time & decisions were your own? Or does everything you have belong to Him? Do you allow the distractions & allurements of this world to turn your head, to occupy your thoughts, or to dictate your choices? Or is Christ your sole pursuit? What selfish patterns do you have that need to be remade by Christ's Spirit?

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love;
according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity & cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions & my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned & done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You may be justified in your words & blameless in your judgment...
Purge me with hyssop & I shall be clean; wash me & I shall be whiter than snow."

- Psalm 51:1-7

 
I would encourage you to spend some focused time in prayer & waiting on the Lord, allowing Him to gently reveal those areas of your life that need His transforming touch. All His Spirit to open your eyes to any parts of your daily existence in which you typically yield to your selfish whims & desires. This requires much prayer, repentance & a change of direction- a focused, lifestyle change. It may take a few days, weeks or months for those old habits to fully die. But if you allow Him to retrain & enable you to "deny yourself, pick up your cross & follow Him," you will soon understand what Paul meant when he said, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me" (Galatians 2:20)

" Search me, O God & know my heart! Try me & know my thoughts!
See if there be any wicked way in me & lead me in the way everlasting!"

- Psalm 139:23-24

 

Some questions (food for thought) :

* What can't you live without?
* Are you totally & completely surrendered unto Him?
* What other things might you be looking towards to give your life identity, purpose & meaning? 

* Are you willing to give up all the pleasures & enticements of the world for His sake? 

* What have you not yet surrendered unto the Father?
* Do you love what the Father loves & hate what the Father hates?

* What are you still holding onto???

 *  Why do you do what you do?
* Who are you working for?
* What motivates you?
* What is your work ethic?

* Are you working for the Lord?
* Do you care more about what the Lord thinks of you, than what mere man does?
* Are you working diligently for the Lord?
* When you receive praise for work well done, who gets the glory?
* Do you do the Lord's work in humility, with no thought of self?
* What are your ulterior motives when serving?
* Who are you?
* Where do you find your identity?
* Who do you align/associate yourself with?
* Where do you find enjoyment/pleasure?
* What are your priorities?
* Where do you invest your time?
* Where do you invest your money?
* Why do you "do what you do"?
* Are you trying to save face amongst other Christians?

* Are you placing things above Him (idols)?

* Is Jesus most glorious to you?
*Am you more devoted to ________________ than to Christ?
*What things are trying to replace your “first love”? (job, wealth, relationships etc)

* Is Jesus first in your life right now?

* How can your love (obedience) for God be more genuine (consistent etc)?
* How can your love for others be more ____________ (genuine etc)?

Faithfulness In Marriage

 I am to be marry to the man of my dreams in 5 short months. We have been courting for 7 months & yet I am still in shock & surprised by it all! Mark is amazing & I do not deserve someone as awesome as him in my life!!! He has exceeded my wildest dreams! God's ways are definitely better than our ways!!! :) [Isaiah 55:8-9]

In preparation for getting married, my mind have turned towards thoughts of love, marriage, children, a house of our own etc. Asking questions like, "What does a God-centered marriage look like? How can I best serve & honor my husband? What is 'true love'? What does 'true love' look like?" I am thinking about the sacredness, solemnity & responsibility of marriage. Of the real depth & magnitude of the words "'til death do us part."

On those lines, if someone were to ask me what character qualities I most desire/ look for in a husband, I would definitely say that he must be a man of strong faith. No if's, and's or but's about it.

But a close second to that would be that he must plan on being faithful, a man of no compromise. This is very important to me. Divorce is not an option, in my eyes.

Two & a half years ago, something happened that radically changed the way I view everything- God, faith, family, life, love, marriage etc. Not a day goes by that I don't think about it all. September 2010 was the hardest thing that I have ever walked through. [You can read more about that situation here]

Back then, my friends & I had a lot of conversations about what real love, faithfulness in marriage, sacrificial love etc look like. About what really matters in life. How there is a "slow fade" into sin. [Here I am reminded of the "Slow Fade" song by Casting Crowns] How it starts with small, baby steps in the wrong direction & all of a sudden, you wake up, years later & you are way off the beaten path, not knowing how in the world you ended up there! What we can do, to keep "that" from happening with us. The importance of prayer, accountability, community etc. How we are Called to a life of integrity, of living "without a hint of... immorality" (Ephesians 5:3) in our lives

Almost 3 years later, I still haven't forgotten those conversations. This desire for purity, faithfulness, accountability etc has not waned. If anything, it has grown stronger with time. I want my marriage to "go against the odds." To change the divorce statistics (that one in two marriages end in divorce; how more 'Christian' marriages end in divorce, than those of unbelievers!) To show the world what real, Christ-like, God-centered, sacrificial love looks like.

"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."
- 1 Corinthians 10:12

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded;
& from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

- Luke 12:48b

What to DO While You Wait???

Many times, I have heard girls ask what they are supposed to do while they are waiting for the Lord to bring the right young man into their lives. Questions like "But what will I do, spending all day at home? What are you supposed to do, if you choose to not go to College? Can't I better serve God by getting a degree? But what if _________________ happens???" So many times I have heard phrases like "You must have a lot of free time, right???" haha! I wish!!! ;) People, just don't have a clue, do they?

My advice is this: use this time of singleness to actively prepare for your future. Stay at home. Serve your parents & siblings. Learn everything you can, from home. Read profusely (non-fiction, of course!), on all beneficial subjects. Do the mundane, everyday, so- called "boring" tasks that no one else wants to do. Learn a new skill, that will bless your family. Serve your family, Church body & the community. Learn more than just how to cook, clean, budget, balance a checkbook, decorate, teach school, do laundry, garden & sew. That is the bare minimum. Walk with integrity. Strengthen your faith. Ask God to purify your character. Go above & beyond what is expected or required (Do Hard Things #2). Do everything you can now to learn how to be a good wife & mother. And above all, do it with a happy heart.

"A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

- Proverbs 17:22

I say this, speaking from experience. I am to be married to the man of my dreams in 5 short months & there is SO much to do, learn & prepare. I feel ill- prepared. If I could go back & do things over, there is SO much I would change & do differently, to be more prepared to better serve my husband! Speaking from experience, do NOT waste this time of singleness. Because you can't get back this season of your life!

I am reminded of the Apostle Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians 7 (especially verses 32-34), about how a single person is able to use this time to serve the Lord & her or her family, while a married person is primarily preoccupied with serving his or her spouse. Use this time of singleness to best serve the Lord & your family, to learn & to prepare!

Another thing us girls can do is to pray for our future husbands now, even if you might not know who he is yet. Ask the Lord to bless him mightily, to increase his faith, to strengthen his character, to teach him how to lead your family, that God would give him a multi-generational Vision, that He would teach you how to be a good helpmate & wife to him, that the two of you might raise a godly family, walking in His Ways.

"I continually bring to mind the fact that I will not be single
forever & I do not want to waste this time as a single! There is no
other season in life like it, when it's just me & the Lord!...
Another thing I do is to pray & ask the Lord what specifically my
future husband needs me to pray for right now, in this moment.
Even though I don't know him, God does, & I want to pray very
intentionally for him. Sometimes I hear very specific things &
sometimes I don't, so I just pray about more general things for him.
Either way, mountains get moved in the spirit."

- When God Writes Your Love Story, testimony by Lauren (age 24)

You can also use this time of singleness to practice being a wife & mother, by serving your parents & siblings. "The habits you form now & how you treat your family now will have a direct impact on how you will treat your own husband & children someday." That can be a scary thought!

You can also serve your future husband now by closely watching how you interact with other men, whether they be fathers, brothers, friends, your Pastor, strangers or acquaintances. You do not want to cultivate habits of flirtatiousness, immodesty, disrespect, dishonor, flightiness etc now (& thus gaining that kind of reputation), if you do not plan on acting like that once you are married.

Faithfulness is a discipline that is refined & honed through years of practice. It is developing a habit of loving your future husband through patiently waiting, consistently hoping & living by the high standard to which you've been Called. It is strength learned through persevering; integrity gained through waiting.

I am reminded of the Proverbs 31 woman, who "does her husband good ALL the days of her life," (verse 12), not just after she has met him, or once they are married. There are good habits, character traits etc to be cultivated & practiced now, in preparation for the "someday," when we are married, the good Lord willing.

And, we must remember that not all people are Called to marry. Some strong Christians remain single their entire lives, married to their Eternal, Heavenly Bridegroom, instead of an earthly husband. Marriage is not the end- all goal of life. The goal of life is Christ-likeness. Marriage is just one of the means of achieving that.

Remember Who it is that you are working for. We are working for the Lord, seeking to honor Him (& not man) in our activities, educational pursuits, hobbies, pastimes, decisions about the future, how we use our time etc. We are not required to compete with (nor report to) society, the culture, the world etc as to how we spend our single years. We are Called to something better than that!!! :)

 "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything
in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through Him... Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord & not for men..."
- Colossians 3:17, 23

Do not waste away your life, simply dreaming of & longing for "that blissful state." Instead, be active while you wait! :)

Persevero, my friends!

Read Part I of this series here- "Waiting for God to Write Your Love Story"

---------------------------------

Related blog posts to read-

Don't Waste Your Life (January 2013)
Guard Your Heart (October 2012)
Surrendering Our Precious Dreams to God (September 2012)
Fully Surrendering Our Dreams to God (July 2012)
Walk with the Wise (July 2012)
Are You a Woman That a Man Would Die For? (July 2012)
All For the Glory of God (July 2012)
A Multi-Generational Vision (July 2012)
Why Modesty? Part I (May 2012)
What Is "True Modesty"? Part II (May 2012)
Contentment (May 2012)
Goals (April 2012)
God First! (Priorities) (March 2012)
Do Not Give Up! (March 2012)
The Rubber Meets the Road (February 2012)
Contentment (Waiting on God) (November 2011)
Surrendering Yourself to God (November 2011)
Obeying the Voice of God (November 2011)
Do Hard Things! (October 2011)
Only What's Done For Christ Will Last (September 2011)
The Tragedy of a Wasted Life (August 2011)

Waiting for GOD to Write Your Love Story

Hello dear readers!

I hope y'all are doing well. I want to apologize for the recent silence on this blog. While I have been more faithful in posting on my photography blog, I have sorely neglected writing on here. In fact, in preparing to write this post, I just realized that I haven't written anything on here since January 17th! Wow.

The fact is that I have not had much time at all to read or write recently. Work was very busy over the Christmas celebration. Then the man of my dreams proposed!!! on February 13. Since then we have been feverishly been making plans for the wedding (this September), house & new business.

But, this morning, I was able to do some reading. I finished the book When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric & Leslie Ludy, which I highly recommend. I read it before (two or three years ago, I think), but I definitely learned a lot more from it this time!

The second half of the book really impressed me. Especially the theme of "waiting patiently for God to bring the right person into your life," of letting Him write your "love story."

I feel like every girl dreams of a "fairytale wedding" from the time they are little girls, playing dolls & house & reading fictional novels. This ideal has been much propagated by the Disney Princess movies. Every girl dreams of her "Prince Charming" to come riding into her life & sweeping her off her feet...

But, when these girls become teenagers, too often they say they are waiting for God to bring the right young man into their life. But as time goes on, they get frustrated with the waiting & decide to take life into their own hands. They start to decide what path they will take. They lower their standards to match the ungodly, worldly guys around them. They compromise. They give away parts of their heart, piece by piece, to each different guy they date. They fall into sin. By the time their "knight in shining armor" does come into their life, they have nothing left to give him.

Ladies, there IS another way. We have been Called to SO much more than this!!! I strongly encourage you to wait patiently for God to write your love story. Put the Pen into His hands & leave it there. Trust Him to write your love story- done His way & in HIS perfect Timing.

Some questions we must ask ourselves are, "Are we content with where God has us right now? Is God enough to satisfy us??? What is the greatest desire of your heart? Is it to glorify God, no matter what? Whether he calls you to marriage OR singleness? What if God's Plans for your life don't match yours??? Whose Plan/ Will shall prevail???"

We must not lose sight of the fact that we are living in purity as an act of love for our King, not just so we can reap the reward of a God-written love story. The only way we can be really happy & fulfilled is for God to fill the void in our hearts. Nothing else will satisfy that "God-shaped hole in all of us"! Remember- "A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man must seek Him in order to find her.":) Focusing solely on Christ & His Path is the only way that you will be absolutely content & fulfilled, single or married.

"Your longing to be with an earthly lover may be overwhelming at times.
But until your heart is consumed with love & longing for your heavenly
Bridegroom, you'll miss out on the greatest love story of all time. Jesus
Christ is not meant to be our stand-in until we meet our spouse. Rather, Jesus
Christ is our spouse- our Bridegroom, our Husband, the Lover of our soul. Earthly
marriage is only meant to give us a small glimpse of a much more important marriage:
our heavenly marriage. Our longing to be with our future spouse should pale in
comparison to our longing to be with our true Bridegroom..."
- Eric & Leslie Ludy, in When God Writes Your Love Story

"Delight yourself in the Lord & He will give you the desires of your heart..."

- Psalm 37:4

" For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

- Luke 12:34

Speaking from experience, it is WELL worth the wait!!! :) If you would have told me 8 months ago, that I would meet the man of my dreams within the month, I wouldn't have believed you. Mark came literally out of nowhere, without any help from me or any other human (except maybe Momma Ritter! hehehe). I was not "looking" for a guy & was finally content with where God had me in life. I had (literally!) just put the Pen back into God's Hands, saying, "God, I don't know what You are doing here, but I am going to trust You with this part of my life, because I know You know what to do, better than I do!" And I am SO glad that I did!!!

God's Plans are WAY better than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Speaking from experience, He definitely knows what He is doing!!! :) Trust me, there are still good, godly, strong Christan guys out there. My man is way better than I had ever hoped, expected or dreamed he would be!!! ;) Looking back, I am SO glad that I trusted God with this area of my life. He has blessed me SO much!!! I do not deserve someone as amazing & perfect (yes, I am just a bit biased!!! ;) as Mark in my life!!! God is SO Faithful!

"We serve a big God. It's time to start believing He is capable of bringing a
marriage partner into your life in His own perfect, miraculous way-
and that He doesn't need your help. He doesn't need your fumbling fingers
grabbing the pen back out of His hand & trying to script your own story.

This doesn't mean you remain passive in the process. But your role

is not to frantically search for a spouse & then ask God to bless

your selfishly motivated decisions. Rather, your role is to pray, to
trust, to build your life around Him, to listen to His still, small
voice of guidance... and let Him take care of the rest..."
- Eric & Leslie Ludy, in When God Writes Your Love Story

"Be assured, if you walk with Him,
& look to Him & expect help from Him,
He will never fail you."
- George Mueller

 Obviously this theme of total surrender to Him & dependence on Him applies to all of life (& not just your love life!)

Speaking from experience, believe me, it is well worth the wait!!! :) Press on, to win the prize! 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Read Part II to this series here- "What to DO While You Wait???"
----------------

Related blog posts to read-

Don't Waste Your Life (January 2013)
Waiting Patiently For the Lord's Timing (October 2012)
Guard Your Heart (October 2012)
Surrendering Our Precious Dreams to God (September 2012)
Walk with the Wise (July 2012)
Are You a Woman That a Man Would Die For? (July 2012)
Fully Surrendering Our Dreams to God (July 2012)
Why Modesty? Part I (May 2012)
What Is "True Modesty"? Part II (May 2012)
Contentment (May 2012)
 Do Not Give Up! (March 2012)
Contentment (Waiting on God) (November 2011)
Surrendering Yourself to God (November 2011)
Obeying the Voice of God (November 2011)
Do Hard Things! (October 2011)