Idols

-idols always disappoint and enslave.  They do not bring the satisfaction you hope fornor expect.

-an idols competes with God in our lives.

-Things like sex and money are good gifts from God, but it is important to enjoy them within God's rules.  It is the same with idols.  When I schedule my time and existence around something, in have crossed the line and made it an idol.  I have taken the gift and made it an idol - misusing that gift from God.

-when you make something an idol, God by His nature cannot bless your efforts in it.  And any success you ever have in something is directly related to how God chooses to bless it.

You have to identify the idols in your life and then replace them with something good and of God.  If you don't get down to the rroot cause of the idol then it will just manifest itself in some other way.  Therefore find the cause, replace it and speak scriptural truth into your life to help yourself change permanently by "the renewing of your mind".

The reasons for my idols is a desire for significance.  I want to be recognised and praised for my accomplishments.  I like being the centre of attention.  I am not proud of this but it is true.  I need to find my significance in surrendering to  God and glorifying Him alone for anything that He chooses to accomplish through me.  " He must become greater, I must become less."

It is embarrassing to think of how often I have tried to receive praise for things accomplished in my life.  I must give the glory to God.  He accomplished it.  I can enjoy the process of Him accomplishing things through me - after all, that is really cool.  The key however is that I must not delight in praising myself, but rather God.

If I am truly delighting in the Lord, if my greatest joy on life is Him alone and not just His blessings, than I will delight in glorifying Him and have no desire to glorify myself.  I must look at everything through the lense of what He has accomplished through me and rejoice and praise Him for it.