Avoiding the Idols that Separate Us from God

Seeking Wisdom and Strength

²⁴ He will give their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you; you will destroy them. ²⁵ The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the Lord your God. ²⁶ Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction. Deuteronomy 7:24-26

Throughout the Bible, we are warned against false idols. In my childish understanding of idols, I believed I followed this command. It was only with the experience of age and a deeper dive into the Wisdom of the Bible, did I grow to understand that idols are everywhere. The idols that God warns us about are anything that keeps us from communion and harmony with Him. I now see I have had many idols over the years.

In the weeks I have been pondering this post, from my devotion on March 27:

Anything can be an idol if it distracts you from [God] as your First Love, When [God is] the ultimate Desire of your heart, you are safe from the danger of idolatry. As you wait in God’s Presence, enjoy the greatest gift of all: Christ in you, the hope of Glory!

Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, Excerpt from March 27

The only answer is to seek God’s guidance and to be still in His presence. He promises He will provide it. In the meantime, what are your idols? What steps can you take to remove those distractions? God bless you all.

On this June 30, while preparing to post this, Sarah Young’s Jesus Listens provides the perfect conclusion:

…I need courage to persevere. Yet I trust that the path [God has] called me to travel with [Him] is exquisitely right for me. I’ve found that the more closely I follow [His] leading, the more fully [He] develop[s] my gifts….Still, my closeness to [God] can be a source of blessing to other people—as [God] enable[s] me to reflect [His] Glory in this dark world.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 NIV

¹³ Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14 NIV

¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
² for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

³ Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:1-7 NIV

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:6-10

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, ² turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—³ indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, ⁴ and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, ⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. ⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. ⁷ He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, ⁸ for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Proverbs 2:1-8

²⁵ I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.
²⁶ I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees.
²⁷ Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
²⁸ My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
²⁹ Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law.
³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.
³¹ I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame.
³² I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding. Psalm 119:25-32

⁷ I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. ⁸ So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. ⁹ Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.

¹⁰ A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. ¹¹ He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

¹² Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. ¹³ But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”

¹⁵ While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. ¹⁶ Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. ¹⁷ How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”

¹⁸ Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. ¹⁹ “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

²⁰ So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; ²¹ but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.) Daniel 10:7-21

Thank you, God, once again, for giving me wisdom and helping me to discern your will for me. Thank you for all the many places in your Word where you provide instruction. Please continue to arm me awith strength. If it is your time and your will, please bring peace and restore freedom. Thank you that you made us each unique, and thank you for giving us freedom.

Dear God, please help me to cast all my anxiety on you. Please be with those who are fighting for freedom and for truth. Please be with those who need comforting in this world full of chaos. Please help me to have the strength to identify the other idols in my life that keep me from communion with you and from doing your will.

Thank you, God, for the mercy you have granted me. Thank you for the blessings you have given my family. Thank you for my family. Thank you for the peace you give me in this chaos. Please be with our country and our leaders and potential leaders and guide them, Lord, in their decisions. Please be with the leaders of our country, Lord, now more than ever.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. In your name I pray. Amen.

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. ² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. ³ He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. ⁴ Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. ⁵ Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:1-5

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. ¹³ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law. I remember, LORD, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them. Psalm 119:45-52

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.  The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  Deuteronomy 31:6-8 

For those of you who need extra prayers of strength to deal with the challenges you face, NIV Bible posted this at a moment when I knew someone could use these prayers. Sharing in the event they help you.

NIV: Ten Prayers for Strength from the Bible

P.S. This particular post has been in my drafts for months. I received a private message with some beautiful analysis of Colossians that brought it to mind, and I mentioned it to my friend. They reminded me that God guides our steps and to post it. A few hours later, I saw this Note from Biblical Man on the same subject, which seems appropriate to share.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they prosper who love you! Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers!” Psalm 122:6

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” John 13:7