The idol of 'ME"

I used to think that I was so rid of idols in my life!

Or so I thought!!!

What is an idol anyway - I have heard it explained that an idol can be anything! In fact an idol can be anything that gets in the way of God and you - that takes precedence in your life - that can be something/someone you just can't live without.

Some idols can be our addictions or our pastimes - they can also be our homes, our jobs, our hobbies even our families.

So where do we go from here? Well personally I have prayed and considered idols in my own life for quite a while now and I figured I had it all pretty much worked out. I realised that my idols can come between God and me and my wonderful God who loves me so much is a jealous God (if I can use that word in all sincerity) and He wants my total life often in all of its wretchedness and wants nothing to come between us.

I read with all honesty Colossians 3 and prayed that God would enable me to put aside all of these things that could come between Him and me.

"So put to death the sinful, earthly things, lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust and shameful desires. don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things"

I realised that to follow God I would have to put aside all things that came between Him and me so I tried not to be greedy for the so-called 'good' things in life.

So all these things I faithfully tried to out aside and worship Him alone.

It was just recently that I have realised that I have left ONE big idol out of my cleansing and that BIG idol is ME!

"ME" probably the biggest idol of all - talk about not seeing the elephant in the room!!

The idol of "ME" can be so so deceptive. "Me" can creep up on us often without our even knowing it.

"ME" likes to control our own will and whatever else we can grab hold of. I found I liked responsibility and being noticed - I liked to influence others - I liked to be in control of every situation I found myself.

When I look back on my life I can see just a few instances where I have not been in control and master of my destiny - taking responsibility of my choices and decisions.

The moment I came to the ultimate conclusion that having "ME" in my life was a real problem and such a huge idol I am astounded as the patience of God that He never gave up on me.

What is so hard is letting go of control and letting God take it. Handing over the reigns as it were to Him can be so hard and scary because for years that is all I have ever known - "ME" in control of ALL situations that impinge on my life.

It's really scary letting go and learning to live again in Jesus - handing everything over to Him and obeying Him to the utmost degree and learning afresh what it means to actually REALLY live by faith.

I have finally come to the very same conclusion as to what God has been saying to me over all of these years to remove "ME" that wretched idol sitting there brazenly on the throne of life and putting God in His rightful place as Lord of my entire being.

So how do we remove "ME" the idol? Well can I say it is not going to be easy. "ME" will not willingly give up the throne - he may have to be dragged screaming, biting and punching but with God's real help he WILL be removed.

It will get easier, for once we have named and identified "ME" as the BIG idol in our lives then when we do falter God's amazing Holy Spirit will encourage and support us.

"ME" is not hidden any more - I have identified him and know his little tricks to ursurp the rightful King and re-gain his control. God is the ever faithful Warrior and He is there beside us helping us to press on to victory.

So how are you with idols - Have you identified any at all? Who do you give glory to?

Are you like me with a BIG "ME" idol lurking there in the middle of the room yet unseen by you?

We need to be willing to hand everything over to God - even  your own personal "ME"

Sometimes we have to drop the curtain

How amazing is communication these days - we have everything at our finger tips - just recently there was a huge debate in our home as to what computer our year seven Grandblessings was going to take to High school?

It doesn't seem that long ago we didn't really have a lot of communication devices to rely on - I mean how amazing is it that our phones can turn into virtually anything we want them to - our simple notebook is way out line - Mr Google has smashed the encyclopedia even writing is becoming obsolete.

Our lives are crowded - almost ready to burst I'd say! Crowded with information, ads, TV, ipods, mobiles - you name it  our lives are crowded and in turn so are our minds and hearts.

We can get to the stage in our lives where we just don't know of any other existence other than crowds - but on saying that Jesus Himself welcomed crowds.

It seemed everywhere there were people crowding around him, pushing and shoving.  At one stage He had to climb into a boat and push it a little off-shore so that he wasn't physically pushed into the sea.

On another occasion a little lady who was sick for donkey's years pushed past a huge crowd just to touch His clothing.

So Jesus was a crowd gatherer - no matter where He went there seemed to be crowds jostling Him and needing His attention.

Isn't it the same for us to day - we get bombarded with all sorts of amazing and interesting sometimes super-frustrating priorities in our lives that simply overwhelm us.

Buy this, do that, exercise here, go here, go there, sell this, eat this, take that and so the list goes on.

It seems to me that Jesus spent so much time jostling the crowds through His ministry of three years - makes me wonder how any of us would cope today? it's ironic isn't that the same crowd all turned their backs on Him that fateful yet wonderful day at mount Calvary when he gave His life for you and me.

You know, sometimes we have to 'drop the curtain' on our busy lives and actually see where we are and where we stand with Jesus - He at times made a huge point in 'dropping the curtain' against the overcrowdedness of His own life and be alone with His Father.

Jesus often went away on His own and prayed - finding lonely places far away from the crowds and the noise of everyday life. (Luke 5:16). He needed desperately to get alone with God. Jesus knew that time alone with the Father was the only way He could "refresh and re-focus" His life and get the rejuvenation He needed to continue walking the path he had to walk.

How often do we even think of "dropping the curtain' on our distractions and getting alone with God? Do we ever get alone with God? If we really want God's vision in our lives then getting alone with Him is vitally important. If Jesus Himself felt that then surely we must as well.

It may mean turning off the phone, the computer and whatever other distractions happen to be abroad and dropping the curtain and being alone - just He and you. Just try to be you - honestly and open with Jesus - don't use the usual platitudes - and become humble in His presence. You may even notice that the focus then will shift from you and those overcrowding thoughts and ideas and become centred on Him.

What is amazing is this simple truth:- God is waiting for you! He wants to meet with you - I feel He wants you to get to know Him just as well He knows you.

Our relationship with Jesus is not legalistic - we do have a will of our own - we don't have to bound by rules and regulations of how and when and what we should say in our prayer time. It's a relationship built on love and that relationship will not depend one iota what you do and don't do.

It's only through Jesus - He is the one who changes our lives and carries us from the whirling hubbub that surrounds us into a real and sustaining peace that sees us through any crisis the world may throw at us.

But to get that amazing change and peace in our lives we have to spend time with Him - drawing the curtain on our distractions and setting aside real time for prayer, talking and listening asking Him to show us where our life is heading and showing us what the next steps will be.

Huge blessings to you as you decide to listen to GOD this week. Remember God often speaks in a still small voice and to hear Him properly first we have to be quiet.