What or Whom are you Worshiping?

We all have something that steals our time and affections. We were created to worship something - the question is: What or whom are you worshiping?

Idols have been defined as anything or anyone that captures your heart, mind and affections more than God. Don't think you have idols...try the following questions on for size:

What or who...
do you worry the most about?
do you think about most often?
are you willing to sacrifice for?
are you willing to spend the most time on/with?
do you spend the most money on - (following your money trail can be very revealing!)?
do you build your schedule around?
do you talk about the most?
are you willing to protect - even if you have to sin?
do you fear not having in your life?
do you protect - at all costs - becoming very defensive if it is threatened or if someone brings it up?
Are you willing to sin if you think you are going to lose it?
Do you run to it for a refuge?

Often we think about idols as being addictions, bad or evil desires when in fact, our desires can be good things - the well-being of our children, a Godly marriage, a peaceful home, good health...these are all good things to desire. However, when we turn that desire to a demand, need, expectation and disappointment if we don't get our desire most often someone is going to be punished because we have a tendency to use people to get our desires met.

How many times have you seen a parent berate a child because they didn't live up to the parent's expectations on the playing field, in the class room, on the basketball court? How many wives have you overheard slamming her husband as she tells of what a loser he is? How many families are in debt because they have spent more than they should in pursuit of an image or an image for their children? How many people leave relationships because they don't feel the "thrill" any more? How much has our health been affected by our lust to consume instant pleasures of all kinds from food, drugs, alcohol and sex. How many marriages have been threatened because of pornography, control, and chaos?

Obsessing about our idols doesn't distant them from our hearts but we must be willing to examine our lives and ask hard questions like above. We must be willing to act and change and most important, be willing for God to make a heart change within us. No matter where you find yourself today - no matter what bondage or how far you think you have fallen, or how deeply you feel you've been wronged - your hope is found at the foot of the cross. Redemption, beloved, is most glorious and God is willing to offer you mercy, grace and redeem your life from the pit, from the idols that have held your heart in bondage way too long.

You were meant to worship - what or whom do you choose to worship?

Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Jonah 2:8