Where Does Your Heart Lie?

I'm going through the Bible study by Kelly Minter called No Other Gods. I feel like what I am learning I need to share with you.

As you know, idols look very different today than they did in the first century. There are less and less golden calves and bronze lady statues and more and more celebrities, artists, books, ideas and products that have become our modern day idols.

Truth be told, an idol is simply something in our heart that takes the place of God. 

Do you know what your idol is? Is there anything other than God that you have set your heart on? 
What gets your heart pumping and excited? What consumes most of your thoughts? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? 
Something the Lord has shown me is that it doesn't even have to be a bad thing. It can be your love for another person, or even your desire to live out the dreams God has for you. But if you put more of your focus on THAT than God, then it has become an idol for you.

Kelly Minter posts this question, "Can you think of anything in your life that is inherently good and right, but that has become detrimental simply because you desire it too much?"

Something that can happen when we want something badly, maybe we pray for it everyday, is that when we don't get it we start to question God's goodness. This is where the enemy loves to get us. If he knows we've been praying for something, then he is ready and waiting for us to feel discouraged. As soon as we feel discouraged he whispers that lie, "See, God isn't answering your prayer. He doesn't care about you. If he did, He would've helped you. Don't bother praying anymore." Etc etc. Have you experienced that?

If we desire God more than the thing we are praying for, then we will recognize Satan's lie for exactly what it is and we can dismiss it in the name of Jesus immediately. I wish someone had told me this years ago. It took me 10 years to learn it, and I almost lost my marriage because I was believing the lie that God didn't care enough to "fix" my situation. Turns out all I needed to do was fix my eyes on Him, not my desires!

Another point she makes is that sometimes we may worship God, but we serve other gods. We allow other things to be our "functioning god." Example: We pray for God's safety, but if we put our hope in the strength of our military or our country to keep us safe, then that has become our functioning god, instead of the One True God in whom we should place our trust. Does that make sense? 
A functioning god is like the place we put our hopes. We might be worshipping God, but we are putting our trust in something else. 
Looking at your life, can you define your functioning gods? Maybe it's your spouse, your job, your money?

Bottom line, God needs to be your only God. He needs to be the one that gets our praise, worship and TRUST. 

Is there anything in your life that you desire more than God? Is there something you put your hope in instead of Him?

Pray with me now: "Lord we come to you today as broken people. We try to love and serve You but sometimes we fall short, in fact most of the time we fall short. Thank you for Your unconditional love for us. Thank you that no matter how many times we mess up, You are always there, waiting with open arms. Please help our idols to fall away. Help us to turn from them and turn our eyes onto You. God draw us to You everyday so that we desire to be in Your word and to abide in You. Give us strength when we need to say "No" to any temptations (idols) that are harmful to us. Thank you Lord for Your amazing grace and forgiveness. Go before us and prepare the way, thank you Lord, In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen!"

Dear Churches

In the book of Revelation, Jesus writes (well actually He speaks and John writes) seven letters to seven churches of the first century. They all have one profound sentence in common: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
I want you to read that out loud and let that sink in.

The Spirit had words for the churches.  I like to think of it in terms of when I have words for my 5 year old, if you catch my tone.

Read Revelation chapters 2 & 3 and then meet me back here.

Ok so it sounds like a lot these churches had issues, just like today. And none of them were perfect, just like today. So we as the Church today should look at these letters and ask ourselves, which one are we? 
Or a better question, which one am I? Those letters were not isolated to that time. They are meant for us too.

I broke each one down to make it easier to see what was going on:

1. Ephesus- Legalistic

2. Smyrna- Persecuted yet faithful

3. Pergamum- Worldly/serving other idols

4. Thyatira- Allowing a false teacher/corrupt leader

5. Sardis- Fake

6. Philadelphia- Persecuted yet faithful

7. Laodicea- Lukewarm

Sound like any churches nowadays? Only 2 out of 7 were actually keeping His Word and remaining faithful, even under great persecution.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

We are the churches.

Pray with me, "Lord, please help us to be the church that you have called us to be. God if you see any offense in me, if I am lukewarm, fake, or too worldly, then please forgive me Lord. I want to turn from evil and only do what is good and pure in Your sight. Ignite a fire in me to love and serve You more than ever before. Help the church I attend to join me in pursuing You first God. Help us to love each other with a pure, authentic love that can only come from You, so that the world will know we are your followers. Thank you Lord for your gift of salvation, please use me to bring others to You in Jesus' name I pray, Amen!"

Dear Church Shopper

Have you ever gone "Church shopping?" You know, try different churches until you find the one that meets your list of requirements? Great children's ministry, awesome worship experience, engaging sermons, etc.
Most of us do this, but I think it's time for a paradigm shift.
As followers of Christ, our great commission is to go and tell the world about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20) So how does that fit in with "church shopping"?

I have an idea for you. The next time you are looking for a new church, pray with your spouse beforehand. Ask God to make you both sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. If you don't like something or it doesn't fit your needs, ask God to show you if He wants you there anyway.

We cannot guess God's plan for us, and we cannot know what adventures await us when we submit to His will. There might be a whole new group of friends waiting to embrace you that you never would've met had you listened to your own desires.
Another thing we need to realize is that when you are walking closely with the Lord, church is not about meeting YOUR needs, it's about YOU meeting the needs of the church, according to His purpose. God has gifted each of us with unique talents and abilities. The body of Christ cannot function without you! We are all called to serve.

1 Corinthians 12:14 says, "Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many." 
It takes all of us, with our different talents and callings to be a functioning and glorifying body of Christ.

Let's BE the church, instead of just going to church.

Before you say, "Oh we can't go to this church, I don't like the childcare", how about saying, "God, are you calling me to serve the children at this church in Your name?"

BE the change you want to see.

Dear Weakness

God knows how to turn your greatest weakness into your greatest strength.

What is your greatest weakness? Think about it and answer honestly. Is it Fear? Anxiety? Pride? Or maybe it's an addiction or the endless cycle of poor choices? Whatever it is, God knows how to redirect it into a strength. 

My greatest weakness for many years was selfishness. I focused so much on my own wants and desires that it began to consume me. I was so self-involved that I began to see myself as a victim of life. I was the "everything bad always happens to me" kinda girl. I expected things to go wrong, I expected to be miserable because I was so focused on my own feelings of unhappiness. ME ME ME. 

I almost lost my marriage because of my selfishness and life as I know it now may have never existed. Who knows where I would be, what my kids would be like right now, and what kind of situations I would've found myself in. Honestly I don't even know if I would be alive. My greatest weakness could've taken me out.

But God came to my rescue. 

As my marriage was about to crumble and I was about to dive head first into trying to fulfill my own selfish desires, God grabbed hold of my heart. 
Through my husband's unconditional love and desire to not give up on me, I found my way back to Christ. I was finally ready to surrender all of my selfishness to Him. I was ready to take Step One with God and let Him lead the way. 

My journey back to the Lord started with another gift from my husband. He gave me the book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. As I read it's daily messages my perspective began to change. I started thanking God for the good things instead of complaining to Him about the bad. The more I read that book and the few short Bible verses it quoted each day, the more I craved God's Word! So I began reading my Bible. I began talking to God more and more, thanking Him for anything and everything. 
The more thankful I was, the more peace I felt, and the more peace I felt, the more joy I experienced welling up inside me. True joy finally took the place of the unhappiness that I had felt for 10+ years. 

I was free.

I believe God turned my greatest weakness of selfishness into my greatest strength, because through my story I can help others. My greatest desire now is to HELP people. I just want to help people experience the same life change that I did! I want the world to know the peace and joy that Jesus can give them. 
I want to help other women who would consider themselves a "desperate housewife" to not make the same mistakes I did. 
It is possible to fall in love with your husband again, it is possible to experience unconditional love, it is possible to have peace that surpasses all understanding. And it all comes from a relationship with Jesus.

God took a selfish girl and turned her into someone who desires to love and serve others.  My desire is no longer to please my wants, but to please God. 
I heard a pastor say recently, "Your greatest weakness is your strength misdirected." 

Won't you let Christ redirect your strength today? Let Him turn your weakness into something amazing that only He can do. Take that first step with God today. I did it 3 years ago and I am living proof of His love and grace. God bless you friends.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

Pray it Forward

I woke up a couple mornings ago happy. I had gotten to sleep-in (a very rare thing for a mommy) and my bed felt so nice and comfy. I didn't have a 5 year old jabbing her foot into my back and I knew she slept in her bed all night. It was a good feeling. "Good morning Lord," I said, "Thank you so much for letting me sleep in today, thank you for my warm cozy bed, and thank you that my daughter slept in her own bed last night. These might seem simple and futile but I just want to thank You for them. They are blessings to me." 

In fact they were such wonderful blessings to me that I wanted someone else to experience them too! Maybe another mom, or a homeless person, or a soldier out in a foreign land missing home. So I "prayed" it forward.  "Lord, please let someone else out there, (well even more than just someone, a lot of people!) experience a morning of waking up warm, well slept, happy and thankful. And may they realize the gifts You have given them so that they can pray it forward too. In Jesus' name, Amen." :)

Thus, praying it forward has begun in my heart. Won't you try it in yours?

Dear Wanderer

Have you ever gotten so overwhelmed by life that you thought you might need counseling? Have you wandered from the Lord because your problems seem too big? 

Counseling by a godly, trusted person is a very good thing. God can use that person to help give you the clarity that you've been too blind to see. But sometimes getting a counseling session takes time and money. Did you know there is a free way to receive the council you need the minute you need it?

It's called God's Word.

Now hold on, I can see someone right now rolling their eyes and getting ready to exit out of here but please hear me out.

Psalm 119:24 says, Your testimonies are my delight;
    they are my counselors. (ESV)

They are my what? Counselors. 
We have FREE counseling available anytime, anywhere right at the time we need it. You just have open your Bible. 

Psalm 119:9-16 says this: (and even though it says "man" it also applies to women too!) 

How can a young man keep his way pure?

    By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
    teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I declare
    all the rules of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight
    as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word. (ESV)

Sin separates us from God. He gave us the Bible not as an annoying rule book set to destroy our lives but as a guide book to make our lives blessed, peace-filled, and joyful! To draw us closer to Him!

If you were one of my "eye-rollers" at the beginning of this post then the first thing you've got to do is change your perspective on God's Word. Think of it as a love note from someone who cares so much about you that they don't want you to get hurt. Now, read back Psalm 119:9-16.  

With your whole heart seek the Lord, ask Him to help you not wander from His ways. Store up His words in your heart so that they become a part of you. When a moment comes along where you would normally lash out at someone, or  give in to sexual desire, or tell a little white lie, remember what He has taught you in His Word, and turn from the temptation to sin.  The first time you do it will be very hard, but the feeling after you obey Him is so amazing! You will feel stronger, accomplished, and worthy of something more. That "something more" is a life after God's heart. 

Let God's Word be your counselor. Deep down you desire to live in purity with the Lord. You desire to not be in bondage of sin. Well Believer, this is the answer: Hide His Word in your heart, follow His ways, and your way will be pure. There is no greater peace in this world than the peace He gives you when you are walking with Him. 

Do you need counseling? Try opening your Bible and letting His instruction guide you. Let His words comfort you, and let His peace wash over you. Let Him be your mighty Counselor!

When You are Given a False Name

Have you ever been labeled a name that wasn't true? Maybe someone called you a liar or accused you of being really fake?  Maybe someone said you weren't worthy of their love, or they called you "unsafe". It hurts to be labeled something that isn't true. It's extra painful when there is gossip involved. Your name and character get dragged through the mud and you are powerless to stop it. Sometimes defending yourself only makes you look more guilty but on the other hand, taking the high road and not saying anything might make you look weak. What do you do??

Jesus knows exactly what this feels like. The experience leading up to His crucifixion was everything you've experienced AND WAY MORE.  So just remember this: you are not alone and He knows how you feel. He loves you and values you more than you could ever realize and He wants to walk you through this.

Whether it feels like it or not, He has a purpose for what you are going through. Just like there was a purpose for what He had to go through.

Sometimes He allows people to come against you because He wants to teach you some things. Things like: how to rely completely on Him, how to love and pray for your enemies, and how to get strength and clarity from Him so that you can help another friend when they go through something similar. The biggest lesson of all however, is learning how to place ALL of your value in Him, and Him alone.  So that no matter what anyone says about you, you know your place with Jesus. Check out this verse: And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Romans 8:17 (NLT)

I could not have said that better. We are heirs with Christ! We get to inherit what He is inheriting. Our inheritance is waiting in heaven. Eternity spent with God…there is nothing greater! But if we get to share His glory, then we must also share his suffering. And that's what is happening when people are mean or cruel to us.

But every trial we face has a purpose. I have found that seeking God for that purpose helps you get through the hurt, and helps your heart to heal much faster.

So the next time people start to slander your name and accuse you of things that you know aren't true, ask the Lord to help you love and forgive them, and ask Him to show you His purposes for this. Abide in Him and His Word and He will comfort you and show you what He is doing. Journal about it so that you never forget what He has taught you and how He was there for you. One verse that helped me through hard times of rejection and accusation was Exodus 14:14. It says, "The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (ESV)

The Lord will fight for YOU. Never forget that. You are an heir with Christ, and He will fight for you because He loves you. 

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NLT)