We have finally reached the end of our second devotional together! I am excited to begin the new year with a new devotional and see what the Lord has to teach us. If you will open your bibles and read Matthew 22:37 and Philippians 3:8.
We have gone over so many things that we can turn into idols, things I didn’t even know we could turn into idols. I hope you have learned much from this devotional and how it is so easy to look for comfort in others things and people. God has equipped us with all we need to fight the temptations and turn from idols. There are a few general ways to think preventatively and practically about dethroning our idols. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit must convict us. We must actively seek the Lord and walk with Him to take away our idols. We cannot just ask Him to do it and then continue to follow the path of sin. That is not how it works. That is kind of like saying we can sin over and over again as long as we ask Jesus for forgiveness. That is taking advantage of His grace. We will not always be able to see ourselves clearly, which is why we need the work of the Spirit in our hearts to expose our idols. This is the transforming work of the gospel. With the help of the Spirit, our blind eyes are continually unveiled to see our sin and sanctified to see the righteousness of God. We can pray daily and ask God to point out any misplaced worship in our lives, to convict us, and to uncover the hidden motives of our hearts. We must also surround ourselves with godly people who will lovingly and truthfully redirect us. Normally, our greatest moments of weakness are in isolation and when no one knows about our sin. We are safeguarded when we confess and share our temptations. Others can pray for us, share our burdens, and help us fight against any idolatrous way in us. We are wise when we share with others and ask them for accountability and encouragement.
When you think of worship do you think of singing at church or in the car? Do you believe that is the only place and/or the way to worship? We can worship the Lord in so many ways. Worship can be when we take notice of God’s goodness, His glorious attributes, when we praise, acknowledge, and thank Him for His gifts. He has His hand in all things and He is worthy of us actively worshipping Him. He is worthy of our display of gratitude and worship in our hearts. When we acknowledge His righteous rule and reign in our hearts there is no room idolatry.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 (ESV).
Well, ladies, we are finished our last week of More Than Anything together! As we wrap this study up I want you to answer a few more questions. Make sure you’re comfortable, get your coffee, your blanket, and let’s reflect on this week.
- What passages stood out to you the most this week?
- What did you observe from this week’s text about God and His character?
- What do these passages teach about the condition of mankind?
- How do these passages point to the gospel?
- How should you respond to these passages? What is the personal application?
- What specific actions steps can you take this week to apply these passages?
God must receive all the glory, honor, and praise that our hearts have to offer- He is deserving. When we have a deep and devoted love for Him, then we have a deep and devoted heart for Him. Our greatest hope for turning from idolatry is loving God more than anything. God is the One who satisfies us, He comforts us, He gives us purpose, He keeps His covenants with us, He is the One who sustains us from birth until death, what other god can do this? NONE. Why do we run from Him? Why are we looking elsewhere to be loved and fulfilled? Because we choose to believe in the lies that the things of this world will give us life. Jesus is the one who is worthy! Jesus is the only one who can give us purpose and life.
I want to pray over you as we need this study and the year of our Lord 2024.
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with an honest assessment of our limitations. We know our hearts wander and that we are tempted to love other things more than You. We are tempted to doubt You and question You. We are tempted to believe lies that You withhold good things from us. We are tempted to search for identity and purpose in other things. We are tempted to become impatient and discontent with Your timing. We are tempted to believe that we can make better gods for ourselves. We are tempted to believe that created things will satisfy and fulfill us more than You, the Creator. Lord, I pray that You continually convict us of our idolatrous ways. Leave us discontent and dissatisfied when misplacing our worship to anything other than You. Open our eyes to see that nothing of this world will satisfy our needs and fulfill our every longing like You will. Expose the sinful inclinations of our hearts and wicked desires in us. Turn our eyes from being enticed and consumed by the things of this world. Use our failings and shortcomings to draw closer to You. Use our weakness to remind us of Your strength. Father, we praise You for Your compassionate love towards us. Even when we fail You, You never fail us. You search us out and pursue us. You were willing to send Your only Son to rescue us, to sacrifice His life for us, and to reunite us with You. You have given us abundant joy and eternal life through Jesus. Every good thing is found in You. You deserve all our honor and worship and praise. Help us delight in the riches and instruction of Your Word. Surround us with those who will lovingly and truthfully point us back to You. Help us lead a life of intentional, heartfelt worship unto You. Deepen our understanding and delight in You. Help our unbelief. Remind us of the worthlessness of idols. Equip us in every way to fight them. Lead us to love You more than anything else.
I pray these things in the Mighty name of Jesus. Amen.